I'd like to remind everyone that secondary bonuses on Tier 1 ores are 3.0x multipliers, which is a buff for most factions receiving them (many had 2.0x or 1.5x). Hooray for uniformity. Also, these listings are very much tentative, which is why we've brought them to you. The way that so many people have decided to make attacks personal, against the developers or other players (or both), is counterproductive and entirely unnecessary.
JorgeRyan, I appreciate your response. Ideal mining fields should not be located in well-protected areas such as that field. Omicron Omega is beyond the standard reach for both the Hessians (plus it is the Admins who would have to grant them ZoI) as well as the Outcasts, also Calborona contains a jump point that leads directly to the Corsairs' capital system, and supposing that a raiding party decided to make its way over, it would not be hard for miners there to run and dock. Convenience for POBs is not a consideration for game development. Further, Tier 2 ores are meant to be fought over even more than regular ores; almost no faction with a bonus for them is a corporation, and the only two that are (Planetform and Cryer) are not primarily mining factions* who will be going out of their way for the opportunity.
The Outcasts may have a better route to Bretonia, however the Corsairs have somewhat easier access to Azurite Gas and Iridium Ore. Since the Corsairs have only a secondary/2.0x bonus for Cryo Organisms, I suppose for the sake of balance, the Outcasts should receive the same treatment for Xeno Relics, yet that does mean they will still retain a secondary bonus.
Unlawfuls: Granting the Hessians, Xenos, and Mollys each one primary bonus is something that a lot of people had requested or been interested in seeing, and clearly this has brought some opposition as well. This will be a trial period for the three factions to see how well it works. Note well, once finalized and implemented, these settings will be relatively easy for us to adjust as we see fit. So on that note, to ease the minds of their benefactors in addition to their detractors, bonuses can be added, buffed, nerfed, or removed for any of these factions. Unlawfuls are also limited on the size of their cargohold, limited on the number of destinations, and limited on the profitability of destinations. Anyone actually trying to make a quick buck will still find it most efficient to join a mining or trading corporation.
EFL: See earlier text, "they are not primarily a mining faction."*
*Planetform, Cryer, and EFL are all corporations which are not primarily mining factions. They each have varying levels of interest in, access to, and experience with the deed. They are not based around mining, and while their set of bonuses are limited to a single ore each, that's sufficient for their mining needs and also a buff over former/present conditions. ALG isn't a mining faction in the sense that they pew rocks for shiny baubles, however they are in the sense that they are specialized in cleanup practices. EFL has ancillary experience with waste disposal and had scrap metal bonuses in the past, but so did the Council, and both were not as primary duties (see: GMS), but because Languedoc is covered in wrecks. Many factions do not have and have never had mining bonuses but have seen active player groups, so the difference between a 4.0x and a 3.0x for EFL for Ignitable Toxic Waste (when it wasn't even a bonused ore before) isn't going to make or break a faction. That said, I will stand by my statement to review this in the case of a group having issues with the multiplier.
To sum up and link together many of the points of this reply: Mining for ex-miner unlawfuls, as well as non-mining corporations, is intended to exist as a compliment to their roleplay and offer the chance for another way to spend "free time" when not going about their daily business or striving to achieve their goals and aspirations. It also helps generate conflict with potentially preying hostiles and possibly competition with non-hostiles over mining zone rights. The same can be said for the Hispania and (N)Omicron factions which have 3.0x and 2.0x bonuses for the Tier 2 ores. Mining is one of the many aspects of this game, prompted by lore and fueling many varieties of interactions, in addition to the in-game economy, but it is not the end all be all for every faction with a tie to mining to have a full bonus on all nearby ores. That's a slight exaggeration.
I appreciate the input and will continue to make some edits. Please be friendly and constructive, and note that my explanations are just that - they aren't meant to provoke or cause stress. You ask why, I say why, I might adjust, I might not adjust. Signed, a man trying to find happiness today and avoid more stress. Make use of the old sandwich rule if you have to, and remember to not jump to accusations if you feel at a disadvantage. We each have reasoning to back up our opinions, and decisions will be helped along by everyone forming a better understanding of each other.
tl;dr that last paragraph was initially going to be a tl;dr but then it got to be too long. Read the whole post.
