In my opinion, mining(Gathering skill) seem to be the easiest compare to blacksmith, armorer, culinary and fishing that i have tried so far.
Normally, mining point can be shared with other miners that are at the same point and each miner will have 6 mining chances for mining(UPDATE: The number of chances seem to be varies like in guild leves grade 2 mining point gives 6 chances for a lv 9 miner but when out of duty, only 4 chances are given... ^^ UPDATE AGAIN: lv 10 miner also get 4 chances only ~). There is one type of mining point call "nearly exhausted grade X mineral deposit" and it will DEPLETE after one of the miner have completed the last mining chances. The rest of the miner at the same point will be force to stop and the mining point will disappear.
Let me start introduce the "mini game" of mining...
1. Mostly we will start with the "Start frame" in the picture below. You will need to slide the bar up or down to select which part of the exposed ore to aim. I suspecting that the aim will affect the type of items you will get at the end. I hope someone will come out with some statistic on this soon! Hahaa!
Start frame:
2. Hit enter to fix your aim and you will see one message saying "You set your sights on an area". It will then change to the so call "Strike Frame". (my own naming haha)
Strike frame:
3. In this frame, you will see a reticule with a orange circle(pulsing sonar like) inside. This orange circle will determine the strength of your character is using to hit on the mining point. There is also a bar call with a label "remainder" under it. This bar will tell you how many more tries you can strike in this first try. It will decrease by a percentage depend on the strength you used to hit on that spot.
Following at the different type of possible outcome after you have hit strike.
You feel nothing promising. (Try to increase or decrease the strength of striking it)
You feel something promising. (Try to decrease the strength of striking slightly)
You are getting farther from the mark. (This show that you have either strike it too hard or too soft from your previous strike)
You are close to something, but cannot yet extract it. (Try to maintain the same strength)
You are getting closer to the mark. (Try to decrease the strength of striking slightly)
You lost sight of what felt like a "lost material". (This happen when the remainder bar reduced to zero)
You are unable to obtain anything. (This happen when the remainder bar reduced to zero)
You dig up "material". (This shows that you have successful dig out the items)
There is still some missing possible outcome i will add it in next time! =D
As i have said, mining is the easier gathering skill compare to crafting. Just make sure that you get all the guild leves quests from the city and go to the first starting town to start the quest. For me, i have tried on 2 character and both miner class will reach lv 6 - 7 after completing all the guild leves.
That's all of my introduction!! =D Have a nice mining day~