NPC Mining Operations
NPC mining operations are mining fleets formed by NPC corporations in order to mine nearby asteroid fields to support their industry. They can be attacked and killed for their drops. If attacked they will call in reinforcements. These fleets can be identified from normal rats from "♦" in front of their name.
Behavior
The mining ships / industrial ship will warp off if attacked. They can be located with combat probes.
When mining ships / industrial ship are attacked they will call reinforcements that will warp in in few seconds.
The defence will attack the ship that attacked their allies and all who help the attacker with remote assistance modules.
Composition
The mining fleet will sit on an asteroid field. The fleet will be a group of mining ships ranging from ventures, mining barges to exhumers. Periodically a hauler will warp in for a moment. The occurence frequency of the hauler depends on the mining vessels at field, the more efficienct mining vessels needs frequent hauler runs to empty their ore holds. Hauler can be T1 industrial or T2 industrial. While T1 industrial needs 1 point to tackle and hold it on position, T2 variant needs at least 3 points to hold.
The defence fleet can include frigates, cruisers, battlecruisers, battleships and logistic support ships. The combat ships will point and, and use EWAR suited to their faction. Depending on the system's security status the hull types of the defence fleet may vary from frigates to battleships. Higher securtiy systems has higher chance to have frigate level defence fleet while the lower securtiy systems tends to have cruiser and even battleship defense fleet. Defense fleet is very successfull in simulating a capable capsuleer combat (PvP) fleet with having damage dealer ships as well support ships like logistics, tackle and e-war.
Standings
Capsuleers who engage the mining fleet operation get a standing hit from related NPC corporation. A capsuleer with good standings with the defence fleet will get repairs from defence fleet if attacked by someone else.
Useful Tactics
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Loot
Strong Box drops from Hauler. A Strong Box can hold various items such as Faction Module BPCs, Faction Drone BPCs and Permanent Empire Faction Skins for ORE Mining Vessel and Industrial Ships. The wrecks of T2 ships can be salvaged for T2 Salvage Materials and Ore can be looted. No further drop from defense (combat) fleet.
