¶ Mining Overview
https://youtu.be/cB_TaRiPS7U?si=SDA88Hg0Y8x0eObV
¶ About Mining
Resource extraction is at the base of the entire economic system of Influence. Without raw materials, there is no manufacturing of finished goods. This guide will cover prospection and resource extraction. Those two activities have a strong affinity with the miner class, so if you want to focus on extracting resources, I recommend you have a miner-heavy crew. Having more miners will grant your crew better core sampling results and increased extraction speed.
¶ Needed Items
ExtractorCore DrillImprove Core SampleStart the ExtractionComplete the Extraction
¶ Mechanics
Selecting a Mining LocationCore Sampling
¶ Mechanic 1: Selecting a Mining Location
Not all lots are created equal in terms of resource abundance. Once you have decided which resource you would like to extract, it is important to find the high abundance areas.
Switch to Asteroid View: Ensure no lot is selected.Open the Resources Tab: From the right-side menu, choose the resource you plan to extract.Interpret the Heat Map: More intense colors correspond to higher abundance spots.
Choose your favorite location based on color intensity and proximity to your crew base, and build an extractor on the site. Building steps are not covered here, but you can refer to my [How to Build Safely Guide] if you need support. You will also need a place to store your core drills and extracted resources, so you should probably build a warehouse if you do not have one already.
¶ Mechanic 2: Core Sampling
In order to extract resources, you need to first prospect the lot where your extractor is located to obtain a core sample (this can be done during the construction!).
Purchase a Core Drill: Buy it from the market and deliver it to your warehouse.Start Core Sampling:- Select your extractor lot.
- Click the Start Core Sample icon to open the prospection window.
- Select your resource and a source for the core drill.
- Click Prospect to start sampling.
Core drills are single-use tools and are consumed in the process.
Analyze the Sample:- Wait for the teal notification on the crew activity list.
- Click on it to open the prospection window again.
- Complete the sampling by clicking Analyze.
A new window will display the sampling result, indicating the maximum mass of extractable materials with this core sample.
¶ Mechanic 3: Improve Core Sample
When analyzing the core sample, a value is drawn at random between the Discovery Minimum and Discovery Maximum values (based on lot abundance and crew bonuses). If you are unsatisfied with the result, you can optimize the core sample.
Select the Sampled Lot: Open the resources menu (the same as for the heatmaps).Optimize the Core Sample:- Select your core sample and click the
Improve Core Sampleicon. - In the new window, select a new core drill and click
Optimizeto roll a better value within the new boundaries.
- Select your core sample and click the
Note that core sample optimization has diminishing returns and cannot exceed the initial maximum value.
¶ Mechanic 4: Start the Extraction
Once you reach a satisfying value on the core sample, it is time for the actual extraction.
Select Your Extractor Lot: Click on theExtract Resourceicon.Configure Extraction:- In the resource extraction window, select the core sample to extract.
- Choose the inventory for the extracted resources.
- Select the quantity of resources to extract using the slider or by entering precise numbers manually.
The extraction rate decreases over time, so to maximize the extraction rate, focus on short cycles at the beginning of the core sample.
¶ Mechanic 5: Complete the Extraction
Once the extraction ends:
- Click the teal notification to open the completion window.
- Click Complete.
The extracted resources are now available in your target inventory.
This template covers the essential steps and considerations for mining and resource extraction in Influence. Follow these guidelines to optimize your resource gathering efforts and support your economic growth within the game.