Can't Decide Mining Lvl 5 Choice

[Frosey]

I just got my mining skill up to level 5 (been rushing the mines as often as possible to get access to better metals and museum stuff), and now I have the choice of Miner or Geologist paths. Each path sounds pretty good.

Miner adds +1 ore per vein, while Geologist gives a chance for gems to appear in pairs.

Both are pretty handy, I can always use more metals for building around the farm and upgrading my tools/buildings. However, if I really need more metal, I can still buy the ore from the blacksmith. Meanwhile, gems make pretty good gifts and are worth quite a bit of gold when sold. However, I'm not sure if this perk effects all minerals or just the minerals that are gem-like, and the perk says it's a "chance" of dropping a pair not a guarantee. Furthermore, I have no idea what the level 10 skill perks will be like for either path.

Overall, I'm leaning towards geologist. I can always buy more ore if I really need it, but if I really need a gem I have no choice but to travel the mines and hope I come across it. Considering how many craftables need metals, I can see why getting an extra ore per vein can add up in the long run. But again, I can probably buy the ores I need with gold I make selling gems, and then some.

What do you guys think?

[Shurenai]

I chose geologist, For ore, even short of buying it, a quick trip through 5 floors of the mine is often a ton of ore, but only 1-3 gems, of which 1-2 is likely quartz. Ore is easy to get, and as you mentioned, buyable. Not quite to level 10 mining though, so I cant share what the level 10 choices were. Sorry :(

[Zloy_Wolf ^_^]

Vein is rock, incrusting by ore/gem. Geologist perk adds constant(!) bonus (two gems per vein) and it works with all type of geodes (its gem too) drops from random rock. Two diamonds instead one? Huh!

[Riftweaver]

i went with the one for extra ore. gems are mostly useless from what i've figured out, sure they are good gifts but theres tons of gifts out there. theres only one way to get ore. the extra ores really do help in the long run

[Bijat]

gems is good for cash tho...lot of end game gems sell for loads while ore is pritty worthless...5 ore and 1 coal maby add up to 1 gem from same level...i rather use those coal to make more preserve jars...prob more worthwile longterm.

[changtau2005]

With iridium being so incredibly rare, miner is the only good choice to me. You can duplicate gems using the free crystalarium you get from one of the bundles, but the good ones take a while to pop out (days).

[Ansalem1]

Originally posted by changtau2005:

With iridium being so incredibly rare, miner is the only good choice to me. You can duplicate gems using the free crystalarium you get from one of the bundles, but the good ones take a while to pop out (days).

Agreed. The other ores may be showering at my feet but iridium is all I desire. It's worth a perk all by itself.

[Riftweaver]

Originally posted by Bijat:

gems is good for cash tho...lot of end game gems sell for loads while ore is pritty worthless...5 ore and 1 coal maby add up to 1 gem from same level...i rather use those coal to make more preserve jars...prob more worthwile longterm.

money isnt really that much of an issue once you have a bunch of honey producers. but yes, the gem option is a good choice, im not denying that. its just that without a real use for gems other than money/gifts, i dont see it as a choice worth picking. you need ores for crafting so many things. you dont 'need' gems

[Pyroblap]

I chose ore and didn't regret it. This perk means 250 G every 5 gold ore rocks you mine, guaranteed. It also works perfectly with the level 10 Mining perk that...



[SPOILERS]







...Increases metal bar selling price by 25% (The other level 10 perk does not synergize with gems at all). That's 312 G per 5 gold-ore-bearing rocks mined. Gem rocks are far, far less plentiful than ore, and the gems themselves are only going to sell for 150-250 most of the time, AND geologist doesn't guarentee that extra gem. If the chance is anything similar to the foraging double-harvest, the +1 ore is miles ahead for money-making purposes.

Plus, on the terribly rare occasion you come across an iridium ore rock, you get an extra piece!