I usually build the biggest possible commercial engine, since that seems to be the way to minimize fuel usage (It's "well over" 100,000, but ~75 Sorium to transport one automated mine doesn't seem too terrible. Especially since Saturn has like 27 millions of the stuff). So building better drives seems like the way to go. I'll get to that right after I'm done with jump ship designs.
I need to look back at comets, since those seems to be the only really good mineral sources in the solar system right now; I always have this fear of my asteroid miners getting stuck in the middle of nowhere for a hundred years, without me getting my minerals. How long can comets be out of reach, and how do I tell? If I watch out for slow-moving ones that are flying towards the sun (those seem like the best bet), how much time do I get?
If I put automated mines and a mass driver on a comet, will the mass driver get me my stuff? The comet will be far away but not technically leave the system, right?
- I'm getting kind of paranoid about this because I've never designed any kind of military ship - when do I need to start preparing for combat? I have a 4000 ton naval shipyard with two slipways, high density duranium armor and I've developed enough railgun tech to, well, mount railguns. Though I suspect I need to research some Fire Control to aim them. I can only find teach referring to "beam fire control" though; are those used for railguns or gauss, too?