Gameplay/Archive/John's prospecting scenario

Historical scenario — not a walkthrough or approved rule set. Jason Reskin supplied this story on 24 October 2026 for the Gameplay consolidation. The original writing date was not supplied. Wording and spelling are retained below; paragraph spacing is normalized.

The story illustrates exploration, capital constraints, production, transport, investment, and consequences. Its survey timings, resource percentages, prices, mining machines, automatic gun behavior, theft, loan terms, and foreclosure must not be taken as current mechanics. Gameplay reconciles the ideas with documented systems and unresolved policy. Its land-owning career is outside the eligibility set by Demo Limits.

Supplied story

Story line
This is the story of John, he wants to earn some money, so he gets a ship. Buys a Basic Survey unit takes off for the outskirts. He lands and releases the drone. Since it is only a basic unit it takes 5-10 minutes to tell him that it found 90% dirt, 7% rock, 3% carbon. He looks at the report and remembers that Easy Dock is offering 100 CR. Per ton. He needs some money so. He claims the land. Then he flies to the VLM building and names the claim “Carbon Hole”. Next he goes to Ben’s mining shop. Ben has 1 carbon digger for 300 CR. That is to high so John goes to Uncle Sam’s used shop bingo, a 100 CR., but its used and will not produce as much. Hey John is and poor this works. He buys it and flies back to “Carbon Hole” unloading the digger and the survey unit (this give it a better chance of finding the carbon). Since he doesn’t have any more money he flies home for the night.
Next day he flies out and the digger found 2 tons of carbon. He loads the carbon on to the ship and takes off for Easy Dock. On the way to Easy Dock he see a digger. He lands next to it. This plot is Steve’s and Steve has not been here recently, poor Steve his digger found 10 tons of Iron but he has no defenses up. John loads the Iron and flies to Easy dock. John then sells the Carbon and Iron. With the extra money John quick heads over to Bill’s Homeland defenses and buy a platform with 3 guns (the guns automatically shoot and anyone trying to land with an IVR that does not match John’s) to keep people from landing on his carbon field.
Next day John buys a survey and drone flies out to find another claim. Today this land tests out to be 80% dirt, 10% rock, 5% carbon, 3% iron, 2% gold. Well you bet John claims the land and races back to VLM. He names this claim “Irish Luck”. He unfortunately will not have enough money to buy 2 more drones, the 3 diggers, or any defenses. John Decides to fly to Vieno Express and take out an advertisement for investors offering a 200% payout for 1 month on 10000 CR. If he can not pay back the money, the claim and all property on it become the investor’s after 1 month. After placing the advertisement he flies out to Carbon Hole loads up 1 ton and head towards Steve’s claim. As he gets closer he see that Steve put up a gun. Well John still feel good. If he can hit that 1 gun before it hits him he will get 30 seconds to land and load before the gun can reset. John circles, weaves and bobs but in the end bang, John crashes. Well Steve gets to keep his iron that day.
Finally 2 days later IVR 55555 comes up with the money that John wants to develop “Irish Luck”. John literally races to the to pick up the equipment. Then he flies to Irish luck. He sets up the 3 diggers and 2 platforms with 5 guns each. He is sure this will keep his gold safe. Unfortunately John keeps forgetting to save up the 20000 CR he needs to pay off his loan. At the end of 30 days IVR 55555 gets the land the equipment and any minerals that John didn’t pick up yet. This makes Steve happy when he logs in and sees a claim listed that he does not recognize.