Why just have the beams cause damage? The beams should be able to mine a deshielded ship of Its component ores.

+1

As far as actually mining things from ships, I think that should only apply for rarer ores. When you don't get lucky and extract a rare ore, you should just extract a unit of scrap instead (as opposed to common ores).

+1 Pizza. excellent idea

+1. I find it strange that a beam that tears apart rock makes no sound at all. I want them to make a sound that makes me feel as though I am blasting the ores from that rock. Plus damaging ships mildly would be cool to.

@Death Fluffy, sorry for reposting this suggestion. This was actually posted almost a month ago.

+1 for mining beams doing damage. Extraction rate * heat rate (so beams that suck at mining because of heat are great at damaging ships)

-1 for beams extracting ore from ships, short of destroying the ship, some of it's cargo, and/or equipment, etc.

Now, on the other hand, if you destroy a ship with a mining beam, you should get a big bonus.

I suddenly like the idea of a pirate with a power cell blaster and a mining beam threatening to hold a victim in system and extract all his cargo in the form of ore unless the victim pays. What ore does Sedina chocolates give?

Mining beams should use energy.