Mining Quests

I used to play EVE Online and loved mining to boost money to buy warships, and the missions where great. They each had levels, with increasing difficulty.

Lvl 1 - Simple mine (unique ore) Lvl 2 - Amount needed, needs 2 mining trips Lvl 3- You could expect combat Lvl 4 - Huge amounts, would need storage (better to park a transport nearby to haul the cargo) Lvl 5 - Gas mining.

With the above, you would be upgrading your tools as you went to make the mining more efficient, and also your limited combat ability. All this without a roleplayer element, which would be great if added too.

For example, coming a full set of missions from a level should give you something, perhaps greater scan ability in mining vessel. Unique equipment, etc.

I also think it would be great for newbies into mining to pass a license before they buy the prospector, as a short sitting video ingame at a nice location would explain all the complexities. Would push peeps to do it too, if they gave you a permanent 10% to mining tools.

So in short, it would add fun, goal driven with epic purpose.

One thing I miss from Eve Online's mining? Drones to help you mine, or help in combat.

Finally have drones every been discussed in SC yet?