diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index 90059eb..4304ea8 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ var nearbyCommand = &Command{
 			return
 		}
 		fmt.Fprintf(conn, "--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n")
-		fmt.Fprintf(conn, "%-4s %-20s %s\n", "id", "name", "travel time")
+		fmt.Fprintf(conn, "%-4s %-20s %s\n", "id", "name", "distance")
 		fmt.Fprintf(conn, "--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n")
 		for _, neighbor := range neighbors {
 			other := index[neighbor.id]
-			fmt.Fprintf(conn, "%-4d %-20s %v\n", other.id, other.name, system.TravelTimeTo(other))
+			fmt.Fprintf(conn, "%-4d %-20s %v\n", other.id, other.name, neighbor.distance)
 		}
 		fmt.Fprintf(conn, "--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n")
 	},
diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index da2bd9c..c93b861 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -105,8 +105,19 @@ func (c *Connection) Tick(frame int64) {
 			c.land()
 		}
 	case mining:
-		c.Deposit(options.miningRate)
-		log_info("%v", c.money)
+		sys := c.System()
+		if sys == nil {
+			log_error("a player is in the mining state with no system. what?")
+			break
+		}
+		if sys.money <= 0 {
+			fmt.Fprintf(c, "system %s is all out of space duckets.\n", sys.Label())
+			c.StopMining()
+		} else {
+			c.Deposit(1)
+			sys.money -= 1
+			log_info("%v", c.money)
+		}
 	default:
 		log_error("connection %v has invalid state wtf", c)
 	}
@@ -197,7 +208,7 @@ func (c *Connection) MadeKill(victim *Connection) {
 func (c *Connection) Mine() {
 	switch c.state {
 	case idle:
-		fmt.Fprintf(c, "now mining %s with a payout rate of %v\n", c.System().name, c.System().miningRate)
+		fmt.Fprintf(c, "now mining %s. %v space duckets remaining.\n", c.System().name, c.System().money)
 		fmt.Fprintln(c, "(press enter to stop mining)")
 		c.state = mining
 	default:
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1952bfb..1b4e436 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ import (
 var options struct {
 	lightSpeed  float64
 	frameRate   int
-	miningRate  int
+	moneySigma  float64
+	moneyMean   float64
 	playerSpeed float64
 	bombSpeed   float64
 	economic    int
@@ -115,8 +116,9 @@ func main() {
 func init() {
 	flag.Float64Var(&options.lightSpeed, "light-speed", 0.01, "speed of light in parsecs per frame")
 	flag.IntVar(&options.frameRate, "frame-rate", 100, "frame rate, in frames per second")
-	flag.IntVar(&options.miningRate, "mining-rate", 1, "mining rate, in duckets per frame")
 	flag.Float64Var(&options.playerSpeed, "player-speed", 0.8, "player travel speed, relative to C, the speed of light")
 	flag.Float64Var(&options.bombSpeed, "bomb-speed", 0.9, "bomb travel speed, relattive to C, the speed of light")
 	flag.IntVar(&options.economic, "economic", 25000, "amount of money needed to win economic victory")
+	flag.Float64Var(&options.moneyMean, "money-mean", 10000, "mean amount of money on a system")
+	flag.Float64Var(&options.moneySigma, "money-sigma", 1500, "standard deviation in money per system")
 }
diff --git a/system.go b/system.go
index 9e26b0c..6aaed0c 100644
--- a/system.go
+++ b/system.go
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ type System struct {
 	planets     int
 	name        string
 	players     map[*Connection]bool
-	miningRate  float64
 	colonizedBy *Connection
 	distances   []Ray
+	money       int64
 }
 
 func (s *System) Tick(frame int64) {
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ func indexSystems() map[int]*System {
 		}
 		index[p.id] = &p
 		nameIndex[p.name] = &p
-		p.miningRate = rand.Float64()
+		p.money = int64(rand.NormFloat64()*options.moneySigma + options.moneyMean)
+		log_info("seeded system %s with %v monies", p.Label(), p.money)
 	}
 	return index
 }