Player Features and Ideas Discussion

I recognize this has been talked about at length in other threads, but most of those were missing one or many points about some possible improvements to the mining profession, or sought to repurpose ships that have purposes already.

THE PROBLEM:
Currently the only way to make a viable living comparable to other forms of gameplay is to multi-box many different accounts. This works because mining is a low click-per-minute activity (a diplomatic way of saying, not very engaging). Given the SP invested in a perfect extractor toon, a comparable level of SP either in hi- or null-sec would yield multiples of income levels. I understand this trade-off because you can do other things while mining (movies, studying, etc.). I have done these things myself.

PROPOSAL:
1) Leave the current mining mechanics alone. All barges, lasers, etc. remain the same. Those who want to catch up on Archer or The Walking Dead in skiffs are still free to do so.

2) Introduce a new ship class (Fracturers, as a working title). Choices within the class: tanky, yieldy, and large ore bay. The "Frackers" can fit a special type of module, the Modified Fracturing Laser, avail in T1 and T2 w/ crystals. All Frackers come with a fleet hangar, and are large-ish types of vessels (thinking the cost can range in the 50/100/250m range based on current prices). New skillbooks will be introduced both for the ship class and possibly for the module itself (thought tying in with Astrogeology, etc. probably is a better idea). As a total aside, these ships should have comically large grinding teeth littering the bow of the ship, or I don't want them anymore.

NEW MECHANICS:
Once the fracking laser is activated on an asteroid, a 3-D minigame window opens up showing you your asteroid (similar to the current hacking/archaeology game). You can rotate the asteroid to expose "faults" where you plant a mining drill and proceed to hack along to a "fracture" within the asteroid. Larger asteroids have more fractures, and all must be "planted with charge" before a "stability timer" expires. Drill integrity can also be affected by running into "veins" similar to knots in a piece of wood. Stability timer would be extended by successfully planting charges. Inital time available can be affected by skills, and is some less-than-one non-linear power of the fractures in the 'roid (ex. 5 fractures, 2:00, but 10 maybe 3:30, and 20 ~6:00).

If all fractures are successfully planted, the asteroid is broken up, and all otherwise available ore is placed in several containers which will last approx 2-3 minutes directly in front of the Fracker. I also think there should be a multiplier for planting the fractures in some kind of correct order, perhaps either wasting 50% or gaining an additional 50% of ore based on the likeness of actual vs. ideal sequencing of hacking. Also, 1%, or some other number, of asteroids, are unfrackable (i.e. the game has no solution), but like a game of solitaire that wasn't winnable from the start, you don't know this until you're already far in.

CONSEQUENCES:
Failure to properly frack the asteroid results in a massive explosion as the rock destabilizes and breaks up chaotically. Different asteroids do varying damage types, and deal AoE damage to not only the Fracker but all ships in the vicinity. Damage increases with the percentage of fractures SUCCESSFULLY planted (making it more dangerous as time goes on), to the point where a large, nullsec-sized asteroid would be essentially unsurvivable - and trying this on The Spod out in null would be some sort of epic achievement, with failure wiping out nearly everything on grid.

Additionally, a potentially hilarious mechanic would be to send an equivalent "feedback pulse" to any other lasers currently on the asteroid (of course less powerful).

This can also act as a conflict driver in HS (or anywhere), as large asteroids would be favored, but as these take several days to accumulate, it would drive folks to shepherd "their" belts, etc. Also, perhaps make detonating rocks a suspect-flag offense? Probably too late for that untanked Covetor on grid, but watching miners revenge each other would just be far too entertaining.

GOAL:
Overall, making mining somewhat dangerous, but boost the yields to the point where a reasonable number of accounts (one Fracker, several haulers) can make a solid living doing it. A perfectly skilled (and skillful at the game) pilot should be able to rake in L4 mission cash in HS and hi-end anom cash in nullsec. TL;DR as engaging and rewarding as shooting red crosses.

Commence trolling!

1. Warp to belt with unsuspecting afk miners.
2. "Fail" to "fracture" one of those big asteroids.
3. Watch shiny explosions.
4. Repeat.
5. Enjoy tears.

This falls under the same issue as the AOE self destruct. Ganker heaven.
The only way this could work as a mining device would be if it enclosed the Asteroid so it was the only ship inside the enclosure somehow. However even that is griefer heaven, since they can just pop all the asteroids in 10 minutes, no need to mine them, just deliberately fail to destroy them all.

So, a single miner should be able to pull up 200 millions of ore per hour (somewhere arround peak lv4 income?).

You know how much yield that would mean, and how much mineral prices would plummet?

Bottom line:

Dangerous.. dangerous idea.

1) I must be terrible as missioning. I think you average solo missioner likely pulls in 60-80mil/hr.

2) Without speculating overly much on behavioral economics, this seems like alot more fun than ISboxing 10 accounts - I would imagine overall GUP wouldn't be terribly affected.

3) Yes, dangerous is good. I generally favor anything that encourages additional adaptation.

One of the secondary uses of this would actually be very much down this road. AoE effects would be great vs. careless multi-boxers, and the potential for supply interdiction with creative use of these vessels could have interesting effects.

+1 to OP cause of this Post^

1.) I pull 150 mil on average atleast (yes, I ruin my standings, I farm specific missions). Blitzing Lv4's yields much higher rewards.

2.) You failed to see the mechanic. A miner with 10 ISboxing accounts will still make more money than your new system offers. You believe that those miners will go back for less isk, just because you think it's more fun? OH DEAR, you still have a lot to learn.

Only thing this does is: increse the yield by 300-1000% for solo miners, which in return leads to mineral prices plummeting.

3.) No, dangerous ideas aren't good. Well thought ideas, which can improve the game are good. Dangerous ideas, which can screw the whole game for you, me, everyone else AND CCP (that multiboxer pays his 10 accounts with money after all) are not good.

Bottom line:

Another "NERF MULTIBOXER!!" whine-thread.

I like people who announce what they do before doing it. I assume you mean this rule:

"22. Post constructively.

Negative feedback can be very useful to further improve EVE Online provided that it is presented in a civil and factual manner. All users are encouraged to honestly express their feelings regarding EVE Online and how it can be improved. Posts that are non-constructive, insulting or in breach of the rules will be deleted regardless of how valid the ideas behind them may be. Users are also reminded that posting with a lack of content also constitutes non-constructive posting."

The three mining threads in the commonly proposed ideas thread all link to the old forums... and yeah... have you read some of the other ideas? I at least attempted balance!

No I'm referring to the thread at the top of the F&I Forum that says 'Commonly Proposed Ideas' and if you scroll down you see that there is already a plethora of mining changes.

You aren't supposed to post ideas that area already in the Commonly Proposed Ideas thread.