Multi-Box Mining

I presently run 2 accounts ... one for advanced mining (Hulk, T2 Crystals -- Refinery Efficiency 4 and Mineral Specific Efficiency 4 {obviously ... I need that for the T2 crystals}) and one for Hauling (Mammoth, cargo expanders -- 20 days to Obelisk). Most of the time I mine in .9 space but it (obviously) gets mined out quite fast. I was considering dropping to .7 space, maybe .5 space. As a result of this shift, I have considered opening a third account for rat patrol ... maybe Kestrel or other missile boat .. for protection. I have good tanks on both the hauler and the miner, but it's annoying sitting there with 3-4 rats shooting at you the whole time. I have also considered training up Sentry drones. Anyone have a suggestion on that? Are Sentry drones enough to blast annoying rats into oblivion in .5 space?

I mine .5 and 5 light drones are more than enough to take down any rats that spawn. Obviously, sentries would work but they would be overkill. With the hulk's 50 m3 drone bay, you can easily carry 5 light drones and 5 miners and just switch them out when rats spawn. With just passive regen ad no rat specific hardeners, 5 drones can usually take out the entire swarm before they burn through half of my shields.

Just make sure you repair your drones each time, they can get shot up fairly bad and eventually get popped if you're not paying attention.

If you want a third account anyways I'd suggest using the buddy program to start a new account from one of your current ones and train up another hulk pilot. That extra hulk will make you a lot of difference to your bottom line, a lot more than a ratter ever will. Then once the hulk pilot is trained you can add an extra character to that account and train for combat ships.

I have been boxing 4-5 accounts for mining (3 hulks, rorqual and/or hauler) and that works fine.