Data Theory (2500) > Industrial Engineering (7500) > High Efficiency Parts (7500) > Basic Bluespace Theory (2500) > Applied Bluespace Theory (5000) > Basic Plasma Research (2500) > Mining Technology (2500) > Electromagnetic Theory (2500) > Advanced Engineering (2500) > Advanced Power Manipulation (2500) > Advanced Plasma Research (2500) > Advanced Mining Technology (2500)
Cost: 42500
Advanced mining technology and its prerequisites not including technologies researched anyway:
Electromagnetic Theory (2500) > Advanced Engineering (2500) > Advanced Power Manipulation (2500) > Advanced Plasma Research (2500) > Advanced Mining Technology (2500)
Cost: 12500
Not researching advanced mining technology and its prerequisities drops the cost to 30000. Sometimes people skip basic and applied bluespace theory, dropping the cost to 35000, swapping satchels of holding in favor of advanced plasma cutters.
What advanced mining technology unlocks:
Diamond-tipped mining drill, sonic jackhammer, kinetic accelerator mining AoE mod, and advanced plasma cutter.
The first two can't be made without diamond, which is usually not found early. Standard plasma cutters are better than the AoE mod. Advanced plasma cutters are minimally better than standard cutters. Sonic jackhammers could be useful if the AI is rogue.
Range comparison:
Range comparison before hitting rock:
Damage comparison:
/obj/item/projectile/plasma
damage = 20
/obj/item/projectile/plasma/adv
damage = 28
/obj/item/projectile/kinetic
damage = 40
Delay comparison:
/obj/item/ammo_casing/energy/plasma
delay = 15 (1.5 seconds)
/obj/item/ammo_casing/energy/plasma/adv
delay = 10 (1 second)
/obj/item/gun/energy/kinetic_accelerator
var/overheat_time = 16 (1.6 seconds)