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.
