Oolite Bulletins

Does every asteroid field contain a Rock Hermit?

Also is there a good way of identifying them? About he only thing I noticed is that they reside in a larger-than-normal asteroid.

10 No, not always
2) shiny new OXP should answer this: https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?t=3735

Well, apart from the new OXP, their size is the good way to identify them, isn't it?

And of course they're named 'Rock Hermit' instead of 'Asteroid' if you lock onto them.

Commander McLane wrote:

And of course they're named 'Rock Hermit' instead of 'Asteroid' if you lock onto them.

True, but when there are 30+ objects in your scope it's kind of hard to pick them out.

What I've tried to do is blast all asteroids, either eliminating them from the viewscreen or rendering them into boulders, but I've never found a Rock Hermit that way.

Fraoch wrote:

Commander McLane wrote:

And of course they're named 'Rock Hermit' instead of 'Asteroid' if you lock onto them.

True, but when there are 30+ objects in your scope it's kind of hard to pick them out.

What I've tried to do is blast all asteroids, either eliminating them from the viewscreen or rendering them into boulders, but I've never found a Rock Hermit that way.

Which is why when you have Purchased the Rock Hermit Locator you will notice that a Beacon Next or Quite close to the Rock Hermit Is flashing lights in order to Guide you..

The Rock Hermit Locator can be found here...

https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?t=3735

Target it like you target normal beacons, with the Advanced Space Compas, An R will show you that you have targeted a Rock Hermit Beacon...

Cheers Frame...

Is there any particular reason why the Rock Hermit Locater is so expensive? 15000cr seems a bit steep- that's 2.5 military lasers!

I know that Hermits have some good deals on a few commodities, and that one can reap some respectable profits with a handful of trading milk-runs. I've found RH's on my own several times. However, the profits are not such that I can justify the expense, even though I've got my ship kitted out just about as good as you can for a noob, and enough cash in the bank to buy one if I thought it was worth it...

What is the rationale/game-balance justification for the RH locator's price tag? I'd say it's only worth about 1/10th the price - 1500cr would seem just about right. I'm tempted to modify the OXP to reflect this opinion, but before I make such a blatant cheat, I'd be interested in knowing the justification for the price as it stands now.

As with the Docking Computer, I suppose it is because you get a chance to learn to do it the hard way first and make it easier when you get more resources.

Shall we say, it stimulates you to explore all facets of the game.

On a related note, most largish objects have a "shadow" on the HUD radar showing their size. Rock Hermits don't seem to have this. Are they not quite big enough? Or am I just inattentive?