Mining Help

[Shininglight (OP)]

I'm not absolutely positive if this is the right section and if it isn't then i apologize but i've been having some issues with mining.  I'm new at the game and i keep running into shortages of duranium and Corundium, both in access and total supply, I've tried to jumpstart civilian mining but so far i've had no luck, can anyone help?

[Erik L]

You'll get two general answers.

1 - Use SM mode and give your homeworld a boost in starting minerals. This is usually what I do. Just tack a zero onto the end of the amounts, then mine. Yes I still run into shortages, but they don't seem as severe.

2 - Mine the crap out of everything you can. Assuming a Sol start, mine Mars, Venus, Mercury, and any moons/asteroids that have minerals.

[Shininglight (OP)]

Thanks i'll try that, i've just started the game so i've been getting used to the GUI . . .  such as it is, trying to build a decent fleet and mines and construction factories for my colonies has been murder. 

[Erik L]

Initially, all you will need are your survey fleets and a home defense fleet. Of course, that will bite you when you run into your first hostile race

[Shininglight (OP)]

I know that's why i have a fairly heavy deence fleet for antimissile work, 3 King. . . .  whatevers, armed with gauss cannons, 4 missile destroyers, 2 cobra class particle beam destroyers, ne ship of another class i can't remember, lost one of my survey vessels to a missile buoy, or mines. . . .  not really sure, all i know is that when i entered alpha centauri i found about 4 planets with 2. 00 coloniz costs and a buttload of wrecks ruins on two of the planets, one of my geo survey boats got too close to a planet and went poof, my Kings and cobras killed the missiles pretty quickly so all went well.  My colonization has sucked though and i have another month or so until my colony ships are finished.

[xeryon]

I try not to "cheat" so I follow option #2.  For the first 20 years I play with my head down low.  Minimal expansion and surveying.  Spend most of my energy expanding mining operations and technology.  I often do not even start to plan my first offensive ship until 20 years in.