INDUSTRIAL GAMEPLAY MASTERCLASS

Introduction

Combat might get the spotlight, but the industrial backbone of Star Citizen— miners, salvagers, traders and refiners—keeps the verse humming. This guide merges the Mining Operations, Salvage Operations and Trading Basics tutorials into one cohesive play-book so you can build a multi-career empire or excel at a single profession.

Industrial Career Paths

Industrial gameplay splits into four tightly-linked tracks:

Mining

Extract raw ore and gemstones from planets and asteroids. Entry level: hand-mining; end-game: Orion industrial platform.

Salvage

Convert wrecks into sellable components and raw hull materials. Early gameplay focuses on hull scraping; future updates add component stripping.

Trading

Buy low, haul safely, sell high. Scales from 6 SCU starter boxes to 3 000+ SCU bulk haulers.

Refining & Logistics

Convert raw resources into higher-value outputs and move them to market. Often the profit multipliers that industrial orgs rely on.

Mining Fundamentals

M-scan → Break rock → Collect → Sell sounds simple, but mastering laser control and material economics is what separates hobbyists from industrialists.

Hand-Mining Loop

  1. Locate veins — cave or surface ping (T on multi-tool).
  2. Stabilise — modulate laser to keep charge in the “green”.
  3. Extract — switch to extraction mode, collect gemstones.
  4. Sell — trade terminals pay best at refinery hubs.

Essential Gear

  • Pyro RYT multi-tool + OreBit attachment
  • Backpack with 2 × SCU ore storage
  • Tram and Metro pass (quick sell runs)

Ship-Based Mining

The jump to ship mining amplifies both profits and complexity.

Popular Mining Vessels

ShipLaser SlotsCargo (SCU)Role
Prospector1 × S232Solo starter
ARGO MOLE3 × S296Multi-crew efficiency
RSI Orion6 × S31 800*Industrial end-game (concept)

Laser Control 101

  • Keep instability below 0.3 with correct laser head & sub-items.
  • Pulse power when the fracture bar nears 90 % to avoid catastrophic explosion.
  • Use a consumable (Optimum or Brandt) on high-resistance rocks.

Salvage Fundamentals

Patch 3.23 introduced hull scraping—turning wreck-skin into Recycled Material Composite (RMC) that sells at most refinery kiosks.

Entry-Level Tools

  • Greycat Multi-Tool + CambioLite Salvage Attachment
  • Crusader Vulture — 32 SCU single-pilot salvage ship
  • Drake Reclaimer — multi-crew behemoth with onboard grinder

Scraping Workflow

  1. Scan target for boardable zones and remaining cargo.
  2. Strip panels into RMC boxes; avoid cutting near fuel tanks.
  3. Optional — EVA inside for component extraction (future patch roadmap).

Advanced Salvage

Beyond RMC crates, high-value play revolves around component recovery and structural dismantling:

Component Recovery Flow

  • Cut access panels with your hand plasma cutter.
  • Detach intact shield generators, QT drives, or coolers.
  • Tractor them into storage racks; sell to DD or upgrade your own fleet.

Future Salvage Mechanics

CIG’s roadmap lists munching (grinding whole hulls), crafting with RMC, and mission-based derelict clearing. Keep skills sharp now to profit later.

Trading Fundamentals

Industrial profit is meaningless until you convert → haul → sell.

Choosing Cargo

Raw Ore

Low margin, high volume—fills big haulers fast.

Refined Metals

Mid-tier profit, steady demand at shipyards.

Luxury Goods

High profit per SCU; risk of piracy spikes.

Route Planner Checklist


                        1. Origin price ≤ historical low?
                        2. Destination demand ≥ medium?
                        3. Quantum legs ≤ 3  jumps?
                        4. Hostile activity < 2 interdictions / hr?
                        5. ROI ≥ 12 % (starter) or ≥ 6 % (bulk)

Logistics & Refining

Smart industrialists turn raw ore → refined ingots → finished parts.

Refinery Workflow

  1. Choose a station with bonuses for your primary ore (e.g. Agrim Hex for Bexalite).
  2. Select the Dinyx or Cormack – Dolivox method for higher yield vs. speed.
  3. Queue jobs; 4 – 12 hr timers scale with volume and method.
  4. Collect ingots, then either haul or contract transport to a major market.

Fleet Roles

  • Extractor — Prospector / MOLE gathers ore.
  • Hauler — Hull C / Freelancer MAX moves raw cargo.
  • Refiner — Station or eventual mobile refinery module.
  • Trader — Carrack or Mercury Star Runner delivers refined stock.

Risk Management

Industrial careers attract pirates like moths to a flare.

Top Threats

Piracy

Yela and Pyro-jump corridors are hot zones.

Market Volatility

Patch-day wipes can nuke prices. Never empty the bank on one load.

Overheating Gear

Mining lasers blow rocks—and profits—if unmanaged.

Salvage Hazards

Derelict reactors may vent radiation.

Mitigation Checklist

  • Carry HQF reserve for emergency jumps.
  • Insure every ship and cargo load (commodity insurance available at kiosks).
  • Run org convoys: miner, overwatch gunboat, logistics hauler.
  • Keep 30 % of UEC liquid for disasters.

Practice Exercises

Prospector Drill

Fill 32 SCU with Quantainium, land before it degrades (≈ 15 min). Logs teach timing.

Vulture Scrap Race

Strip a Cutlass wreck to 100 % RMC in under 8 minutes — focus beam overlap.

Cargo Math Sprint

Plan a three-stop loop that nets ≥ 15 % ROI in 40 min using only in-game terminals.

Common Issues & Solutions

Quantainium explodes on final approach

Fix : Reduce throttle to cool cargo; hit pad request sooner; carry Helium fuel for faster VTOL descent.

RMC boxes “vanish” on pad

Fix : Ensure ship is stored then retrieved before sale; current persistence bug eats loose cargo on first pad spawn.

Market price tanked mid-haul

Fix : Divert to secondary buyer list; hold cargo in storage if ROI < 2 %. Track price history via community sheets.

Quick Tips

Start Small, Scale Smart

Hand mine or 6 SCU trade boxes until you learn loops.

Bookmark Refineries

Set quantum bookmarks to skip map bugs.

Backup Gear

Keep spare multi-tools and attachments in ship inventory.

Stay Insured

Patch wipes hurt less when cargo insurance is active.

Next Steps

You now have the tools to build an industrial empire. Branch out by:

  • Joining a specialist org (mining, salvage or logistics).
  • Experimenting with Quant Conversion commodities on the PTU.
  • Saving toward a mobile refinery or Hull C for bulk profit scaling.
  • Teaching newer players—nothing cements knowledge faster.