Revamping Mining and Resource Distribution in EVE Online

1. Dynamic Resource Shifting – Mining That Shapes the Universe

To prevent predictability and static farming, mining should actively impact the resource landscape:

  • Belt Depletion and Regeneration: If an asteroid belt is heavily mined for an extended period, it shrinks and eventually disappears, pushing ore to new locations.
  • Ore Redistribution Across Regions: The total ore in New Eden remains constant, but its location shifts dynamically—heavily mined areas deplete faster, while under-mined areas accumulate richer deposits.
  • Redistribution Must Be Severe Enough to Prevent Equilibrium: The mechanics should ensure that ore locations constantly shift, preventing industrial players from setting up permanent mining hubs and reinforcing a constantly evolving resource landscape.
  • Encourages Industrial Exploration: With Rorquals scanning regions and prospector ships pinpointing exact deposits, mining becomes an active and evolving process.
  • Ore Distribution Unlinked from System Security Class: High-sec, low-sec, and null-sec should all have the potential to spawn all ore types, with redistribution mechanics determining ore placement rather than static security classifications.

2. Industrial Scanning and Prospector Roles

A scanning-based mining system would create a more interactive and strategic approach to resource gathering:

  • Rorquals scan entire regions, identifying potential hotspots and ore distributions.
  • Prospector ships (like Ventures) perform local scans, finding the exact locations of ore deposits either in asteroid belts or by finding anomalies.
  • Industrial Cyno Beacons would be used to summon mining fleets to asteroid belts.
  • This scanning & exploration process creates competition, forcing players to actively locate and secure mining sites rather than staying static.

3. The Rorqual as a Strategic Mining Command Platform

The Rorqual remains a capital mining vessel, but its role shifts towards fleet coordination, resource discovery, and logistical support, reinforcing it as a cornerstone of organized mining operations rather than an overpowered solo miner.

  • Long-Range Industrial Scanning: Can scan entire regions to identify high-value asteroid belts and shifting ore deposits, allowing fleets to mobilize efficiently. (Possibly the Orca could have a less powerful scanning ability)
  • Retains the Industrial Core Module: The Rorqual will keep its ability to enter industrial siege mode, boosting defensive capabilities and fleet bonuses while locking it in place.
  • Loses the Ability to Mine Independently: To shift focus to fleet support, the Rorqual will no longer mine directly but instead offer powerful bonuses and coordination tools to mining ships.
  • Greatly Increased Command Bonuses: Instead of mining itself, the Rorqual’s buffs to mining fleets will be significantly increased, encouraging organized fleet operations over solo mining dominance.
  • Expanded Ore Storage & Compression: Larger ore bays and enhanced compression efficiency make the Rorqual a mobile industrial hub, improving fleet logistics.
  • Fleet Mobility & Coordination: Equipped with an Industrial Jump Bridge, enabling it to move itself and industrial ships to discovered ore locations, reducing downtime and enhancing mining efficiency.
  • Asteroid Tractor Beams: Allows the Rorqual to pull in distant asteroids, optimizing large-belt mining operations while maintaining asteroid field size and immersiveness.
  • Industrial Jump Bridge: Works in tandem with industrial cyno equip prospector ships (like the Venture), which perform localized scans and deploy beacons to summon mining fleets.

4. Ore Anomalies vs. Asteroid Belts – A Shift in Mining Structures

Mining structures should evolve to offer distinct choices based on risk, organization, and fleet size:

Ore Anomalies – Dynamic, Solo-Focused Mining

  • Smaller-scale mining zones discovered through traditional scanning systems.
  • Ore type and anomaly spawn rates dynamically shift—anomalies become more or less frequent based on mining activity rather than remaining static.
  • Some safety advantages—limited entry points via acceleration gates, making them easier to defend against roaming threats.
  • Designed for solo miners or small groups, offering an accessible but lower-yield per site alternative to asteroid belts.
  • Rorquals/Orca could still be used to help identify regions and systems with better anomalies but not risked by fielding the ship itself if the risk is too high.

Asteroid Belts – Large-Scale, High-Risk, High-Reward Mining

  • Major ore sources designed for organized mining fleets.
  • Fully exposed in space, meaning no acceleration gates—ships must rely on coordination, intel, and escort support for protection.
  • Higher ore volumes and richer deposits, rewarding large fleet operations willing to take the risk.
  • Asteroids are densely packed yet spread over a large area, requiring prospectors to locate valuable zones and Rorquals to consolidate the best resources.
  • Subject to ore migration and depletion mechanics, ensuring belts change dynamically based on mining activity rather than remaining static.
  • Return of asteroid belts to null security space, creating larger, riskier, but more lucrative mining opportunities.
2 Likes

Good ideas overall, I like the general concept. Not really much to critizise.

You probably should implement some effects for Sov-Null systems that are developed by the holders. Investment into ones home systems infrastructure should grant benefits of some sort, to reward people doing it if they can defend those infrastructure upgrades and/or grab those benefits successfully.

1 Like

Thanks for the feed back! Its of course just an overview of the direction I feel things should be progressing towards.

While I do agree that SOV holders should have rewards for the investment into their home systems, I do not know if I agree that these benefits should effect the volume or type of ore that spawns. Maybe bonuses to scanning for ore deposits in your own SOV / structures for automated scanning etc. allowing for time advantage on resources within your own space. Manufacturing and refining SOV bonuses make much more sense to me if you are looking for Indy SOV bonuses.

I would love to hear more feedback in general and get a gauge on if people think these would be positive changes. I really feel more attention needs to be drawn to this area but that could just be me.