Mining Drones: observe or dismantle?

[CacoSteven]

Wondering what others typically do. Prior to 2.0.X, the option to fight them was pretty useless. But now they give 500 credits for both the fleets and stations.

However, what about the "listening post" option? Are the mineral rich systems always out there and all this does is tell you where they are? Or do the minerals only "spawn" if you select this option?

[corisai]

They always there, listening post will only point you on them.

[tempest.of.emptiness]

I consider the listening post option to be worthless. If the systems are near you then you'll almost certainly survey them yourself (or someone else will claim them first, in which case you will see the system anyway). If the systems are far from you then knowing about them doesn't do much good, and someone else is bound to claim them first which will mean that you'll see the mineral wealth anyway.

[EleventhStar]

drone optimizations edict all the way. though guess that depends on your ethos.

[HugsAndSnuggles]

Pacifists get +25% mineral edict from observing.

[Botji]

Originally posted by HugsAndSnuggles:

Pacifists get +25% mineral edict from observing.

Machine intelligence also gets it and I think hive minds do too... though not 100% sure on hive minds.

[mcsproot]

I almost always choose to observe, usually I'm too weak to destroy them when I find them.

Observing them gives you 5 or so markers on systems with above average minerals. One of them will contain the Central Processing Hub. If you choose to observe it (once you enter the system for the first time) then you get the Drone Mining edict, which is an upgraded version of Production Targets,

[CacoSteven]

Originally posted by mcsproot:

I almost always choose to observe, usually I'm too weak to destroy them when I find them.

Observing them gives you 5 or so markers on systems with above average minerals. One of them will contain the Central Processing Hub. If you choose to observe it (once you enter the system for the first time) then you get the Drone Mining edict, which is an upgraded version of Production Targets,

What I just learned in current game when I made this post: destroying them is not as hard as one might think. They have zero shields and are all laser weapons. A 1k -1.5k corvette and destroyer fleet equipped with shields and energy weapons rips through them with little to no casualties.

Like you, I used to always do the listening post option because the dismantling one used to suck balls. I think it was a meager 30 or 50 energy, the edict cost monthly influence, and it only counted for the drone fleets. Now, the edict is a one-time 80-100 influence for 120 years and gives 500 credits per drone fleet and station, meaning one mining drone system is worth 1000 credits.

I decided to go with the hunting/dismantling option this time and I was swimming in energy credits. I capped my energy storage of 10,000. They're finally viable to hunt and destroy for those who aren't Pacifist or Xenophile. Although I'd still take the mineral production edict those ethics get over the energy, but eh, at least it's something now.

[HugsAndSnuggles]

Did not have to pay anything: before 2.0 there was no upfront cost for edicts, so all that energy was free :P

[tempest.of.emptiness]

Originally posted by Cacodemon:

Although I'd still take the mineral production edict those ethics get over the energy, but eh, at least it's something now.

You may not have to choose. You can get droning optimizations from the main mining drone base, even if you have chosen the "destructive" option. The first time you enter the system with the main base after you have finished the initial analysis of the mining drones (ie the research that lets you choose to study or dismantle them) you will get the option to observe the main base. As long as you complete that project before anyone destroys the main base you will get droning optimizations as the reward.

Of course this hinges on being able to locate and travel to the system with the main base.

[CacoSteven]

Originally posted by tempest.of.emptiness:

Originally posted by Cacodemon:

Although I'd still take the mineral production edict those ethics get over the energy, but eh, at least it's something now.

You may not have to choose. You can get droning optimizations from the main mining drone base, even if you have chosen the "destructive" option. The first time you enter the system with the main base after you have finished the initial analysis of the mining drones (ie the research that lets you choose to study or dismantle them) you will get the option to observe the main base. As long as you complete that project before anyone destroys the main base you will get droning optimizations as the reward.

Of course this hinges on being able to locate and travel to the system with the main base.

Ah, I did not know that. Cheers.

[Felinis]

Originally posted by Cacodemon:

Originally posted by mcsproot:

I almost always choose to observe, usually I'm too weak to destroy them when I find them.

Observing them gives you 5 or so markers on systems with above average minerals. One of them will contain the Central Processing Hub. If you choose to observe it (once you enter the system for the first time) then you get the Drone Mining edict, which is an upgraded version of Production Targets,

What I just learned in current game when I made this post: destroying them is not as hard as one might think. They have zero shields and are all laser weapons. A 1k -1.5k corvette and destroyer fleet equipped with shields and energy weapons rips through them with little to no casualties.

Like you, I used to always do the listening post option because the dismantling one used to suck balls. I think it was a meager 30 or 50 energy, the edict cost monthly influence, and it only counted for the drone fleets. Now, the edict is a one-time 80-100 influence for 120 years and gives 500 credits per drone fleet and station, meaning one mining drone system is worth 1000 credits.

I decided to go with the hunting/dismantling option this time and I was swimming in energy credits. I capped my energy storage of 10,000. They're finally viable to hunt and destroy for those who aren't Pacifist or Xenophile. Although I'd still take the mineral production edict those ethics get over the energy, but eh, at least it's something now.

[Felinis]

"A 1k -1.5k corvette and destroyer fleet equipped with shields and energy weapons rips through them with little to no casualties."

This has not been my experience with version 2.5.1. I send Corvettes that exceed their Evasion and Speed, armed with Gamma Lasers with 0% accuracy and 50% tracking and my ships cannot touch them - they are too fast pr they are magically protected.

[corisai]

Originally posted by Felinis:

armed with Gamma Lasers with 0% accuracy and 50% tracking and my ships cannot touch them - they are too fast pr they are magically protected.

0% accuracy mean weapon will NEVER hit anything (as tracking used only to counter enemy evasion and don't increase your base chance-to-hit from accuracy).

Seems you had some usual mod incompatibility issues.

[Nightmyre]

Necro alert.