Basic Gameplay Instructions
MINING 101
People who are new to Cruiser Command are usually asked to go mine asteroids.
To get to your miner, walk either to the left or to the right and hop on the big orange circle. The circle is an elevator that takes you to the Hanger deck.
Once you've arrived you'll notice six small blue circles next to six small light blue circles. Walk onto one of the light blue circles. It does not matter which one.
The select small ship screen will pop up and allow you to choose which ship you want to take for a spin. Select the miner and launch.
Once in space, you need to find some asteroids. Accelerate your ship by using the W key and Decelerate your ship by using the S key. Usually there are asteroids right next to the Battle Cruiser (BC), but sometimes you must go look for them.
After you find a field of asteroids use the Cut Engines skill (hot key X) to stop the miner. Miners cannot mine while moving.
If the upgrades guy on the BC has upgraded your miner with Scanner Sweep use it (hot key C). Scanner Sweep shows you the color of the asteroids around your miner.
Now you'll use the skill Mine Asteroid (hot key E) to start mining.
You've been mining and you have around 50 ore in the hold (you'll notice the inventory in the bottom right of your screen just above the skill panel) you'll want to send the ore back to the BC. Use your Return Minerals skill (hot key R) to send the ore back home. Be careful when sending the ore home. It's launched in a fast moving pod that can be shot down and if it passes an enemy player he'll know the general direction you're in.
Now you're mining, but there are still a few more things to learn.
If you look at your skill panel there's a skill called Accelerate Mining Beam (hot key Q) I'm pretty sure it increases your mining speed by three. Whatever the real number is it's far better than the normal mining beam.
The next skill on your skill panel is Turbo Jump (hot key T) This skill will save your bacon, or your miner at least. It takes a second after you activate it to charge up, which gives you time to pick a direction to go. Don't point your ship at asteroids, and try to go where a friendly combat ship is. If the enemy ship is at low health you can point at them, if you have good aim and kill them by ramming. This is not recommended, but another way to use it is to find an enemy miner (first compare your ships hull to theirs, don't engage if your health is lower) go right up to him till you're bumping against him and activate Turbo Jump. The increased acceleration will either kill or almost kill the enemy miner (or other ship). Just make sure there are no asteroids where you're going to end up, because, you'll be at low health too. The last thing I'd like to say about Turbo Jump is you should always have 250 power in your core so you can use it. The skill will not help you if you don't have the power. I usually only start using Accelerate Mining Beam after my power reaches 400. The reason for that is Accelerate Mining Beam drains 150 power from your core.
Okay, you've been mining for awhile, bashing into asteroids and being bashed by asteroids, and maybe taken some shots from the enemy. Your hull is damaged and you need repairs. To repair your ship dock with your BC and launch again. Your hull will be fully repaired, but your power core will be almost empty. Docking always drains your power core.
The last thing new people should know is the flying asteroids. The flying asteroids contain the only source of Kermiculite (green) ore in the beginning of the game. Later a field of green will spawn, but that field is generally contested (death trap).
REFINING 101
Refining is another job that usually gets tossed to the new guy. That does not make the job unimportant, but it's a boring job.
The ore the miners send back ends up at the bottom of the Hanger deck, and it's easy to see. The ore shows up as colored cylinders either yellow, blue, red, or green.
To grab the ore you can use your skill Drop/Pick up Items (hot key Q). Use it when you're standing right on top of the ore, and your avatar will pick up all the ore he can carry.
Now you need to run the length of the Hanger deck (I know it's a long way. Take it up with the man who designed the ship. Your Sprint skill (hot key T) can help with this.) to the refinery.
There will be a blue outlined box with red letters that say "Drop here to refine".
Run into the box and press Q. All the ore in your inventory should drop inside the box.
Run back down to the bottom of the Hanger deck and repeat in an endless cycle (Unless Command take pity on you and buys a drone for the job).