Gas harvesters can only be installed in the turret slot, and therefore specialized mining barges are not suitable for them. Until recently, gas production is carried out by a variety of BC, like Hurricane. To fit the maximum, 5 harvesters, required different tricks to increase the CPU.
It was somewhat illogical - well, why combat ships does gas harvesting, and why specialized mining barge unable to do this? But, in general, are all used. In this regard, EVE developers are trying to make the game more logical, but they not too strive. This is not chess, where the horse goes only by one manner, there you can throw it to the head of your opponent.
However, with the advent of the mining frigate Venture everything finally fell into place. Its rate of harvesting is comparable to previous method. When you have all the necessary skills his two harvester extract per unit of time as much gas as 5 of the traditional BC. No additional crutches is necessary. A volume of 5.000 m3 cargohold is brilliant. Previously, it was necessary to have the industrial ship to drag the extracted gas. It is no longer necessary.
Fit
In low sec there are no rats in gas sites. But there are PvP players. So I recommend fit:
- one extra warp stab in low slot
- in middle and shield extenders and shield hardener
- cloacking device and 2 gas harvesters in high slots
- rigs for agility
Shield booster isn’t useful, if fight happens, it will be too quick.
Fit for nulls is different, it is determined that you need to protect yourselves from the NPC and cloud blows. Otherwise, you simply will not live till meeting with the PvP players. So, this fit is more for PvE.
- Damage Control
- Shield Extender + Shield Booster + EM Shield Hardener
- cloacking device and 2 gas harvesters in high slots
- 3 Anti-Thermal shirld rigs
Harvesting
Gas harvesting is nervous job. It is mined mainly in low and null secs, there are constellations where the most frequent gas clouds. About null sec gases and their constellations I will tell separately, low sec constellations:
- The Forge: Mivora
- Lonetrek: Umamon
- Placid: Amevync
- Solitude: Elerelle
- Aridia: Fabai
- Derelik: Joas
- Heimatar: Hed
- Molden Heath: Tartatven
It also comes in other constellations, in nulss and in the empire, but in much smaller amounts. You can fly through systems for a long time and won't find anything. So if you do this on a serious basis, it will have to go to mentioned above.
Good news – only few of the players do gas harvesting. So you have a weak competition. And it's not asteroid belts, where PvP players can just to click and go to visit you. They will have to run the probes, scan you ... Accordingly, at this stage regular scan checking will give you a chance.
The bad news – it is low sec, there are lots of PvP players. Gate camps, tacklers on station undock. By the way, despite the decent amount of cargohold, it is still not enough. Appetite comes with eating :) You need to fly somewhere and unload mined. It is best, of course, if you have own POS - no one has caught you on the undocking. But it is expensive, troublesome and even the question of how local residents would reacted on it : maybe someone for no good reason, according to this system of their own, and you - an unwelcome guest. In addition you will have to go to neighboring systems, gas clouds are not that big and fast running out.
The best alternative - transport on twink char. Dug up, thrown into the container out, twink had logged in, collected, and disappeared again we go mein. Similarly, we proceed with the scout - in fact most of the time he has nothing to do.
Example
I came across a Pipe Nebula, there are three clouds with Vermillion Mykoserocin, 1.000 units each.
Production cycle of T2-harvesters is 30 seconds, they extract 20 m3. With the 100% bonus it is 40 m3. Two harvester - 80 m3, 160 m3 of gas per minute. 3,000 units, the volume of 10 m3 each, a total of 30,000 / 160 = 187.5 minutes, a little more than three hours by one miner. In reality, all four - it takes time to travel. The cost of ~ 7,000 per unit, for a total of 4 hours 21KK = 5KK on the miner per hour. So of course it is better to use three or four windows.
Thrice was hiding from the probes, but it was a false alarm - probably looking for WH. I almost got caught by Machariel on undocking. Locale and scan are full of enemies, but no one has arrived to me.
Then I was scaned. For the fourth time, I was too lazy and did not hide. Immediately Nemesis has arrived and tried to kill me. Although it's weird - stealth bomber could fly cloacked and I would not see him before he flew up and burst out with all guns. So i was lucky twice. Apparently he was lazy too.
