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'''Ice harvesting''' is the process of obtaining resources from ice fields (commonly called "ice belts"). This mined ice can then be [[refining|refined]] and used to fuel capital ship [[jump drive]]s, manufacture fuel for [[player-owned starbases]] and [[Citadels|structure]] services, and light [[cynosural field]]s. Ice harvesting requires specialized modules or drones, and so is generally only performed by the same ships used for regular mining: [[ORE Basic Ship and Skill Guide|Mining Barges and Exhumers]], [[Expedition Frigates]], Industrial Command Ships, the [[Rorqual]], the Capital Industrial Ship. | '''Ice harvesting''' is the process of obtaining resources from ice fields (commonly called "ice belts"). This mined ice can then be [[refining|refined]] and used to fuel capital ship [[jump drive]]s, manufacture fuel for [[player-owned starbases]] and [[Citadels|structure]] services, and light [[cynosural field]]s. Ice harvesting requires specialized modules or drones, and so is generally only performed by the same ships used for regular mining: [[ORE Basic Ship and Skill Guide|Mining Barges and Exhumers]], [[Expedition Frigates]], Industrial Command Ships, the [[Rorqual]], the Capital Industrial Ship. | ||
Unlike the various [[Mining|ore mining]] tools, ice harvesting tools always harvest one block of ice (with a volume of | Unlike the various [[Mining|ore mining]] tools, ice harvesting tools always harvest one block of ice (with a volume of 1,000{{m3}}) per cycle; because of this, the best method of harvesting ice more efficiently is to decrease the ice harvesters' cycle times. | ||
{{expansion past|The [[Expansions#Odyssey|Odyssey expansion]] (June 2013) changed ice mining considerably. Before the expansion, ice belts were permanent features in a system, with thousands of ice asteroids spread over hundreds of kilometers. This was changed to much smaller (10-20 ice asteroids each with 50-200 units of ice) dynamic belts which disappear once mined out, and then respawn four hours later.}} | {{expansion past|The [[Expansions#Odyssey|Odyssey expansion]] (June 2013) changed ice mining considerably. Before the expansion, ice belts were permanent features in a system, with thousands of ice asteroids spread over hundreds of kilometers. This was changed to much smaller (10-20 ice asteroids each with 50-200 units of ice) dynamic belts which disappear once mined out, and then respawn four hours later.}} | ||
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Like asteroid ore, unrefined ice takes up a large amount of space and can therefore be time-consuming to transport. The best sub-capital ships for transporting ice (and ore) are the [[Miasmos]], a Gallente hauler which can transport up to 63,000 | Like asteroid ore, unrefined ice takes up a large amount of space and can therefore be time-consuming to transport. The best sub-capital ships for transporting ice (and ore) are the [[Miasmos]], a Gallente hauler which can transport up to 63,000{{m3}} (63 blocks, about two loads from a minimally-skilled [[Mackinaw]], or less than 1.5 loads at max [[Exhumer]] skills) of ice, and the [[Kryos]], another Gallente hauler which has a dedicated ice hold (max. 45,000{{m3}}) in a 2021 update. If you need to haul even larger quantities, it may be worth training to fly a [[freighter]] (which can hold over ten times as much), or to ship the ice by courier contract. | ||
Ice can also be compressed in [[Upwell structures]] with active Standup Reprocessing Facilities, or by an [[Orca]] or [[Rorqual]] with an Ice Compressor and an active Industrial Core. Compressed ice takes up only 100 | Ice can also be compressed in [[Upwell structures]] with active Standup Reprocessing Facilities, or by an [[Orca]] or [[Rorqual]] with an Ice Compressor and an active Industrial Core. Compressed ice takes up only 100{{m3}} per block and, like compressed ore, compressing ice does not change its reprocessing yield. | ||
=== Ice distribution === | === Ice distribution === | ||
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== Ice harvesting mechanics == | == Ice harvesting mechanics == | ||
{{main|Mining}} | {{main|Mining}} | ||
Ice mining works in much the same way as [[mining|ore mining]]: equip a ship with ice mining modules, approach and target an ice asteroid, and activate the mining module. At the ''end'' of each cycle, one unit of ice will be deposited in your ship's cargo or | Ice mining works in much the same way as [[mining|ore mining]]: equip a ship with ice mining modules, approach and target an ice asteroid, and activate the mining module. At the ''end'' of each cycle, one unit of ice will be deposited in your ship's cargo or mining hold. However (unlike ore mining) ice mining modules can only be fit on [[Mining Barges]] and [[Exhumers]], and the asteroid [[Drones#Mining Drones|mining drones]] cannot be used. Specialized [[Drones#Ice Harvesting Drones|ice harvesting drones]] must be used, which also come in T1, T2, Augmented, and Excavator flavors, and also use their own skills: {{Sk|Ice Harvesting Drone Operation}}, and {{Sk|Ice Harvesting Drone Specialization}}. | ||
=== Skills === | === Skills === | ||
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==== Mining Barges ==== | ==== Mining Barges ==== | ||
All three barges have a 2% reduction in Ice Harvester duration per level of {{sk|Mining Barge|icon=yes}}. As with standard mining, each hull is suited for a different style of mining, but none have any particular focus in harvesting ice resources. For example, the [[Covetor]] has an extra role bonus to ice mining yield (25% reduction in cycle time and activation cost) and 5% bonus to range, the only one with such a bonus amongst the three barges, but however it also has a fairly small | All three barges have a 2% reduction in Ice Harvester duration per level of {{sk|Mining Barge|icon=yes}}. As with standard mining, each hull is suited for a different style of mining, but none have any particular focus in harvesting ice resources. For example, the [[Covetor]] has an extra role bonus to ice mining yield (25% reduction in cycle time and activation cost) and 5% bonus to range, the only one with such a bonus amongst the three barges, but however it also has a fairly small mining hold (7,000{{m3}}), and will fill up fairly quickly. The [[Procurer]] and the [[Retriever]] have a bonus of 2% each and the same ice mining yield, and each ship has a different strength (the Retriever has a very large mining hold, and the Procurer a very tough tank). As when using these ships for ore mining, the choice depends on your play style. Flying in a dangerous region of space? Use a Procurer. Want to mine for long stretches without returning to a station? Use a Retriever. Want to get the absolute maximum amount of ice you can? Use a Covetor. | ||
==== Exhumers ==== | ==== Exhumers ==== | ||
Exhumers are straight upgrades from their Mining Barge counterparts, and the same reflections hold true for them. One small difference is that both the [[Skiff]] and the [[Mackinaw]] get a smaller (2%) reduction to ice harvester cycle time per level of {{sk|Exhumers|icon=yes}} (the [[Hulk]] gets a 3% reduction per skill level) | Exhumers are straight upgrades from their Mining Barge counterparts, and the same reflections hold true for them. One small difference is that both the [[Skiff]] and the [[Mackinaw]] get a smaller (2%) reduction to ice harvester cycle time per level of {{sk|Exhumers|icon=yes}} (the [[Hulk]] gets a 3% reduction per skill level). | ||
==== Industrial Command and Capital Industrial Ships ==== | ==== Industrial Command and Capital Industrial Ships ==== | ||
With the release of the [[Expansions#Ascension|]] update, the [[Orca]], [[Rorqual]], and the newly-introduced [[Porpoise]] all have bonuses to ice harvesting drone cycle time. As a result, these ships have become viable ice harvesting platforms post-Ascension. | With the release of the [[Expansions#Ascension|Ascension]] update, the [[Orca]], [[Rorqual]], and the newly-introduced [[Porpoise]] all have bonuses to ice harvesting drone cycle time. As a result, these ships have become viable ice harvesting platforms post-Ascension. | ||
=== Drones === | === Drones === | ||
{{main|Drones#Ice Harvesting Drones|Drones}} | {{main|Drones#Ice Harvesting Drones|Drones}} | ||
The skill {{sk|Ice Harvesting Drone Operation|icon=yes}} reduces cycle time by 5% per skill level. | The skill {{sk|Ice Harvesting Drone Operation|icon=yes}} reduces cycle time by 5% per skill level. | ||
Ice harvesting drones do exist, and are in fact the only way for the {{co|wheat|Porpoise}}, {{co|wheat|Orca}}, and {{co|wheat|Rorqual}} to harvest ice. However, ice harvesting drones use considerably more bandwidth and drone bay space than their ore mining counterparts (50 vs 5 Mbits/s / {{m3}}), so most ships can only field a single drone of this type and the Rorqual, with the maximum amount of bandwidth (125 Mbit/s) can only utilize two at a time. | Ice harvesting drones do exist, and are in fact the only way for the {{co|wheat|Porpoise}}, {{co|wheat|Orca}}, and {{co|wheat|Rorqual}} to harvest ice. However, ice harvesting drones use considerably more bandwidth and drone bay space than their ore mining counterparts (50 vs 5 Mbits/s /{{m3}}), so most ships can only field a single drone of this type and the Rorqual, with the maximum amount of bandwidth (125 Mbit/s) can only utilize two at a time. | ||
The {{co|wheat|Rorqual}} also has access to the powerful ice-harvesting variant of the Excavator drone. Unlike regular ice harvesting drones, Excavators only require 25 Mbit/s of bandwidth, allowing a {{co|wheat|Rorqual}} to field a full flight of five. Excavators have phenomenal ice harvesting capabilities, with a cycle time more than 100 seconds faster than normal ice harvesting drones, though they also move at half the speed. | The {{co|wheat|Rorqual}} also has access to the powerful ice-harvesting variant of the Excavator drone. Unlike regular ice harvesting drones, Excavators only require 25 Mbit/s of bandwidth, allowing a {{co|wheat|Rorqual}} to field a full flight of five. Excavators have phenomenal ice harvesting capabilities, with a cycle time more than 100 seconds faster than normal ice harvesting drones, though they also move at half the speed. | ||
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=== Improving yield === | === Improving yield === | ||
{{main|Mining yield}} | {{main|Mining yield}} | ||
In contrast with ore mining, all ice mining modules mine exactly one unit (1000 | In contrast with ore mining, all ice mining modules mine exactly one unit (1000{{m3}}) of ice per cycle; therefore, the only way to increase your mining efficiency is to decrease your modules' cycle time. This can be done by training skills (see above), installing more advanced [[ORE Basic Ship and Skill Guide#Ice miners|ice mining]] and [[ORE Basic Ship and Skill Guide#Mining laser upgrades and ice harvester upgrades|mining upgrade modules]], fitting [[ORE Basic Ship and Skill Guide#Ice harvester accelerator|Ice Harvester Accelerator]] rigs, flying more advanced ships (Exhumers instead of Mining Barges), or using [[implants]] (the IH-100x Inherent Implants 'Yeti' Ice Harvesting series). Additionally, if you are in a fleet, you can receive further bonuses through [[Mining yield#Command Bursts|Command bursts]]. | ||
While each bonus may seem small, when taken together they can make a significant difference: | While each bonus may seem small, when taken together they can make a significant difference: | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/mining-foreman-revolution Mining Foreman Revolution], | * Dev blog: [https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/mining-foreman-revolution Mining Foreman Revolution], detailing mining changes in [[Expansions#Ascension|Ascension]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||