Skill Discussions

If you have someone to haul for you, then yes, you'll make more money in a Hulk. It has a higher yield per cycle but it has a small ore hold. If you are solo mining, you'd be better off sticking with the Retriever as it would mean less runs to and from a station.

Failing that, you could jetcan mine and then do the odd run to and from the can in an indy. This of course runs the risk of can flippers.

As a side note, refining the ore may be a bad idea if you do not have decent refining skills. You may well be better off just selling it raw.

well, T2 miners with T2 crystals are the first thing that comes to mind. also, if you have an orca on grid, and you have a higher yield with the hulk, then you obviously take the hulk (if you can afford it).

1) not unless you've got another account on hand to haul. no.

2) (1) isn't correct. what can you train that will give you a better yield that doesn't take too much time? cybernetics for the +3% mining yield implant, and attribute implants to help the rest of your skill training. mining, and astrogeology take almost no time what so every to get to IV. if you've got the relevant refining skills, t2 crystals take about 2 days per or type at most i think.

3) t1 strip miners, (only use t2 strip miners if you can use t2 crystals otherwise it honestly isn't worth it), and 3 MLU IIs. there's not much point trying to tank a retriever, you're better off just insuring it and if some one wants to pop you, they will. you have 1 mid slot and that's not enough for a worth while tank, especially on such a cheap ship.

((360*1.75)-540)/540 = 16.66% increase.

360 is the base yield for a t2 strip.
1.75 is the t2 crystal bonus.
540 is the base yield for a t1 strip.
the formula is your basic a change of x in an original of y. (the one thing i remember from my business teacher at school)

also note, i have not made a mistake, t2 strips have a LOWER base yield than t1 strips, therefore if you do not have crystals do NOT use t2 strips. (and t1 strips simply can't use them).

easily one of the best ways to increase yield, however it requires investing time training some basic refining skills and then you have to train for each crystal individually. however, it's well worth it and you won't regret it.

BlackLabel Actual

Only training a few more skills, probably a months worth.

Then this is character will be extremely close to being a "perfect miner".

Thanks, very detailed, extremely helpful (because I was discussing the order of the skills needed yesterday). Highly appreciated!

I would train the skills in the following order, assuming a Hulk miner with Orca support:

Exhumers III (quick train for increased yield)
Mining V (it's a rank 1 skill that increases yield and enables T2 strip miners)
Veldspar, etc. Processing IV (T2 crystals for whatever ores you mine every day)
Mining Upgrades IV (needed to fit T2 mining upgrades, and to make the fit work)
Astrogeology V (increased yield; might be already trained as a prereq for exhumers)

Exhumers IV (moar yield)
Drones V (rank 1 skill that lets you fly five drones)
Mining Drone Operation IV (increased drone yield)
Drone Interfacing IV (increased mining drone yield)
Drone Navigation IV (faster trips = less downtime for drones)

Mining Drone Operation V (T2 mining drones)
Drone Interfacing V (the last 20% yield boost)
Drone Navigation V (a little bit moar speed for less downtime)
Exhumers V (increased yield again, but should be your last train after all else is done)
Mining Upgrades V (makes all fits easier and some fits possible)

Only train Cybernetics V if you run out of anything else to train, and you find yourself with 1.3B ISK that you have no idea how to get rid of, because that's how much a Michi's implant will run you. As I recall, Cybernetics II is all you need for the 3% Highwall implant, which is probably all you're going to be able to afford for a while.