Matthew
Caldari
BloodStar Technologies
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Posted - 2011.08.21 21:01:00 -
[1]
Ice Mining
 Originally by: CCP Greyscale
Thinking about it a bit, not sure where we're going to go. We might not change it at all, we might just make hisec belts deplete (and regen as normal) so they can roughly meet hisec demand.
Very much in favour of changing ice mining in high-sec rather than removing it. While I take on board the point you make about mining filling a "not exciting" niche, I think the current state of ice mining takes it too far. I'd like to see ice rocks popping more often in high-sec, up to about the same frequency as roids would pop, provided the associated respawn was fast enough to keep up with high-sec demand. Keeping the null-sec ice as far more plentiful will reinforce the impression that null-sec is more rich in resources (as well as the ice types themselves being better)
If you want to make an element of ice null-sec only, then I would go with Strontium Clathrates. POS reinforced mode is something that could reasonably be made a premium item in high-sec, given the wardec mechanics, and the other uses of it are things you want to encourage into null-sec anyway. Would it with high-sec being able to supply itself with the basics, but needing null-sec for the advanced elements.
If you are willing to do a bit of worldshaping, you could also shift the high-sec belts towards the fringes of high-sec space. That is where most of the high-sec POS are going to be anyway due to faction standing need trending them towards the 0.5's, and you could align them with the null-sec access pipe hubs we talked about in previous threads to help stimulate trade in those areas.
Wormhole Mining
Originally by: CCP Greyscale
According to the latest data I have, 27% of Arkonor, 21% of Bistot and 25% of Crokite is mined in wormholes (including the improved ores).
Surprised it is as high as that, can see why you are looking at it.
I think the problem with ABC ores in WH boils down to the same issue of transportational efficiency as I detailed in response to your first blog. Exporting goods from a wormhole is very volume-dependant, and high-end minerals have a good isk/m3 ratio, which is probably what is making them attractive.
However, given that the high-end minerals are also needed in the lowest volume for typical manufacturing, they are the easiest to restrict access to in WH space as it would mean relatively little importation volume. Though clearly the importation difficulty increases the deeper into the WH space structure you go, so there would be an argument for high-end access improving the deeper you go.
However, this value/volume balance also opens up the possibility of extending "super-veld" into WH space. This would make it far easier for WH residents to obtain their low-end requirements, to balance out the increased difficulty of the high-ends. Just as I previously argued why I don't think you'll see lots of trit exported from null-sec, it isn't going to be attractive to use limited WH volume to export the low-end minerals.
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