EVE General Discussion

The test server forum has a number of threads about the forthcoming changes to Mining Barges and Exhumers. There has been little developer response to these threads, and I am particularly interested in one specific issue. On the test server's current build, all of the Exhumers -- including the Hulk -- have only 350 m3 of cargo capacity in which to store mining crystals. While these ships all have fairly large ore bays, their cargo capacity is very limited.

Each T2 mining crystal takes up 50 m3 of space, and at least one crystal (50 m3) of space must be kept free in order to shift from one crystal to another while mining. So when a Hulk heads into a belt, it can carry only 3 crystals loaded into their strip miners, plus another 6 crystals in the cargo bay. Assuming that you what a "full set" of 3 crystals for each type of ore, you can cover only 3 different ore types with a single Hulk without having to get a hold of more crystals. More to the point, you will have no spares onboard if one of your crystals should happen to go "pop" while you are mining.

If you go read those threads, you can read all kinds of complaints, whining, whinging, and counter-arguments back and forth in the proud tradition of the Eve forums. So if you want to get into the fight, you have no less than 4 or 5 different threads there to engage in your flame wars.

What I'm trying to understand is why these limits are being put into place, and whether any changes are possible before things go live on Tranquility. Having access to only 3 different crystal types isn't a huge limitation in high sec mining, where there are at most 4 different types of ore in any given belt. In null sec, however, this could be a serious hindrance to any kind of efficient mining, especially in the hidden grav sites. I'm guessing that haulers are going to have to bring out a constant stream of different crystals to keep a fleet going. It's either that or Hulks will need to constantly warp back to the station to reequip for different types of ore.

Maybe the idea of having to work in a team, with haulers constantly bringing out new crystals for the Hulks, is the main reason for this limitation. I guess I can see where this situation could promote teamwork, but that would really affect null sec mining much more than high sec, and we usually already work as a team when mining in null sec.

In the end, here are some questions I'm left with:

1. What is the goal of limiting Hulks to just 3 full sets of crystals at a time?

2. Shouldn't Hulk be given 3 times more space for crystals than the Skiff, since it has 3 times more strip miners? Or at least twice as much?

3. Is there any chance that the cargo space on the Barges and Exhumers might be increased before these changes go live? Most Hulk pilots would probably be happy to give up space in the ore bay to get more room for crystals, especially those who mine in null sec.

4. Is there any chance that the mining crystals will be shrunk from 50 m3 to something more in line with combat laser crystals?

I realize that many, many players have answers that they prefer to each of these questions. But I'm far more interested in some developer feedback, so that I can begin to plan what my mining fleet will look like in a few weeks. And I'm particularly concerned that the threads in the Test Server Feedback forum have gone unaddressed by the developers. It feels very much like where things were with the Unified Inventory a few months ago, when CCP seemed to ignore the feedback from the test server and released the changes (seemingly) without reading it.

So I may not like the answers that I might get from these questions, but at the very least I'll know that someone at the developer team has seen them.

Hulks aren't meant for soloing. Use a mackinaw, which requires less crystals.

In a hulk, you can just refit off the orca.

no you can't! my alt can't see in the corp hangar of my main's orca. even worse if you're in an npc corp because you can't even get roles to alleviate this problem.

even worse on multi-corp ops.

IMO, the idea behind such a small cargohold is to prevent miners from equipping cargo rigs and expanded cargoholds, which in the end makes ganking that much easier, since they reduce total armor and total hull hitpoints.

It does seem like CCP is doing some serious hand holding. It takes away the ability for idiots to make idiot fits. (although I'm sure someone out there will still find a way after the changes)

so why does the covetor still have a 500m3 cargo bay? and why wasn't the 150m3 added to the hulk's ore bay? ccp said they wanted to split the 8k cargo capacity not split it and remove some.

Right-click, configure ship, allow fleet access...

Because they are still making changes? It's on the test server still isn't it?

CCP has been slowly shifting its primary purchasing currency since the months leading up to Incarage last year. They realized they couldn't come up with the dollars to quell their investors, so they promised them tears instead. What you see now is the birth of a new era in finance; where companies trade in the rage-filled bile that are game forum posts. A 100-page threadnaught about ganking being nerfed or even how miners need to work in teams is now worth more than its weight in any rare metal of your choosing.
And while CCP pioneered this revolution in the way corporations do business, they are no longer alone. With other big players like EA, Microsoft, and even Bethesda getting in on the action, we as consumers had best be prepared to start literally paying for our games in tears...

Well, there we go. Can't complain again for at least another day.

it is a horror when the hulk is no where near as fast as a skiff :)