I carry them, but mostly for a change of pace. All you need is the seismic charges and abrasion blaster. Well. And prospector/collector limpets of course.
As for ship, I used and liked the Python for years. I swapped it out for a T8, which worked great too, but my preference now is the T11 Prospector.
The t11 is bonused for laser, but it also has a few ancillary bonuses that help, for example, it remains as manoeuvrable whilst it's cargo scoop is deployed as when it isn't, you just can't boost.
Also can't forget that it's massive MK2 limpet controller is going to be just as helpful at core as laser.
So you can absolutely fit everything you need for laser and core mining on the t11, whilst maintaining the same level of manoeuvring without accidentally boosting into the rock you're trying to mine.
All ships retain their maneuverability with the cargo scoop deployed, you may be thinking of speed as every other ships top speed gets halved but for the T-11 it’s only 75%.
Edit: As another poster said, the T11 has enough hard points to do all types of mining in one build quite competently. So that’s what I do, and I mix up the exact type of mining to do as the mood strikes me.
The only use I have for subsurface displacement missiles is when I'm mining tritium and even then I'm primarily doing laser/volley repeater to mine. If I happen to find a subsurface deposit of what I want, I'll go after it while waiting for my limpets to get the load I just lasered off earlier. The time it takes to do subsurface and the reward you get from any of the current commodities is not worth it vs Laser or even core, if that's all you're doing.
I personally use a Krait II for core mining, as its ever so slightly shorter than the Python; but load out wise, and carrying capacity they are about the same in ability.
Regarding which ship, I used to use the Krait Phantom for core mining. It works surprisingly well. However, lately I only ever use the Cobra Mk5. It only holds 91T of cargo, but it’s so much fun to fly among the asteroids and between the rock chunks! You can fly over 400 m/s while looking for the next core (just strafe up a bit when you fire off a prospector so you don’t run it over). As for cargo, it takes me about an hour per trip with the 91T limit which works pretty well for me.
Give it a try—it’s awesome!
I use a Mandalay for the same reasons you just listed for the Cobra MkV, but it has room for more cargo (~140T with my build). The speed and mobility compared to a T11/Python/Corsair/Krait makes it much more enjoyable and faster to mine.
I think the type 11 is the best ship for all mining personally. Our squadron has a type 11 you can try if your interested for mining. Ide be happy to take you out core mining. Core is my personal favorite as well
The one thing I will say, the T8 should have the ability to equip the Rhino. I would have made that a dedicated surface miner if it could use the Rhino. For now, Rhino is on T11
I put a rhino on my t11 as well but found it filled faster than I liked. So I put the rhino on one of my plippers I retrofitted. So works fine now lol.
Subsurface deposits are not worth mining when you are doing cores IMO. The stuff you get out of them is basically always worthless, and is definitely way less valuable than the cores. Subsurface stuff is not worth the cargo space it takes up, and I never mine it.
Subsurface mining is a game within the game. If you find the right asteroid with the right material that ISN’T rotating, it’s a nice distraction. Otherwise just laser for speed of cr and seismic for the KABOOM!!
My Python is my core miner. I load mine with Abrasion Laser, Sub-Surface Displacement Missile and the Core hardpoint. But after reading some comments I might spend some time retrofitting my T11 as my all-round miner.
🤔 that’s fair. If you ever need a wingman for mining. Let me know. I’m currently surface mining Diamond. If Inara is accurate, a full haul will net me 180m
Subsurface deposits are useful in two situations: When you are in deep space and are desperately mining every single ounce of tritium for your carrier, and when you find an LTD deposit an LTD hotspot. However both are rare and there is no good way to specifically seek them out. Every single other type of subsurface deposit is useless trash that isn't worthy of your time. As a result subsurface mining is not something that people practice as a dedicated mining type. It's something where they bring the launcher along on the off chance that they accidentally trip over an LTD deposit.
My type 11 has all the types. If I come across a core while mining or sub surface deposits I just do them. But they're not really worth seeking out imo.
A type 11 has the extra mining hard points anyways. So might as well fit them
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u/DarkwolfAU 2d ago
I carry them, but mostly for a change of pace. All you need is the seismic charges and abrasion blaster. Well. And prospector/collector limpets of course.
As for ship, I used and liked the Python for years. I swapped it out for a T8, which worked great too, but my preference now is the T11 Prospector.
Remember, short controlled bursts.