The rank progression logic has officially beaten me - help please?

[DidierDrbois]

So. I read all the guides, checked every thread on this, searched the Net for hours. It's been a week (at least 25 hours net) of nothing but repping up with minors and no progress.

Funny thing is, I didn't particularly pursue any (Fed) ranks since I started playing (1.0 launch day). I just took the missions as they popped up, not caring much about the rank. Then I went exploring and forgotten about them altogether. Only when I realised I'd be getting a paycheck fat enough to buy the Fed Driftship, I hopped back on the rank train.

1) I understand that selling cartographics gives you rep. So I sold my +/- 30M of data to a Fed-aligned faction I've never visited before as word is, your rep with a major faction (Feds) is basically a sum of rep with minors. Please correct me if I'm wrong?
2) I got no rank mission after selling the data (well, duh) so I went on to do some BB work for the minors. I've done just about 20 missions from hauling to murdering and donations, all given by that particular faction, got the rep slider to the far right, nothing. Is this how it's supposed to work or am I missing something here?
3) From the numerous guides I understand that one should preferably find a minor faction that is aligned with major and that you're not allied with yet. But that simply is not possible! ALL Fed-aligned minor factions show I am allied to them! What the hell?
4) I moved to a Fed system far far away and had a go at it once more. I've done good 50 BB missions since and repped up with TWO minor, Fed-aligned factions. My rank-up mission? Nowhere to be found!

I love this game. I love this game A LOT. But I hope anybody would appreciate that doing some 70 BB missions for next to no money at all and getting nowhere is highly frustrating. I therefore ask you fellow commanders:

A) What am I doing wrong?
B) Is there another way to rep up (RES? Warzone? Trading?) and get the bloody rank progression over with?

 

[GJ51]

First - it's not you.

This has been an ongoing debate for sometime and FD doesn't comment on it.

I did all ranks and I'm allied with all 3 major factions, but it wasn't easy and I think I may have been lucky to get it done early; before the current problems started.

My recollection is that it took me about 32 hours of game time to move up from Baron to Earl for the Empire. Tons of missions that made me convinced it wasn't working, but finally I got it done. Since then I've also seen the problems with missions and the rep system and I suspect that something has changed, but we get no feedback from FD.

Lastly - you are not alone. Your thread is one of many reporting the same problems. I speculated that FD may be "sandbagging" because they plan to tie new ships to rank progression, but others disagree. Again, FD makes no comment on the situation.

My suggestion is to take a break and do other things to relieve your sense of frustration. I was focused on rank progression from day 1, but I found that I needed a break from the pursuit to build credits and try new ships, etc. At some point I think/hope FD might give a clue or fix it if it's not working, but we can't be certain that FD isn't adopting a position that it is working as designed.

I've noticed that they do not comment when someone complains about things they don't understand, so that just might be they're position on this topic.

HTH - bottom line, i don't think anyone but FD really knows and they aren't saying anything. Hope someone else can shed more light soon as I know many players are getting frustrated.

 

[Crimewave]

You could try this https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=102810 makes sense to me but i'm in the middle of trying to rank up Empire using this system so can't really comment if it's true or not.

 

[DidierDrbois]

Thanks for the response, appreciated!

Yeah, I'm aware of all the threads... is there a 'master' one? Also, re possibility of achieving the progression via RES, warzone, exploration or trading, can anyone (patient enough) confirm this? And if it IS possible, could you, nice Frontier people, give us a display of how the rep is affected after we claim bounties, bonds, sell cartographics or deliver cargo? That'd be nice I think.

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You could try this https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=102810 makes sense to me but i'm in the middle of trying to rank up Empire using this system so can't really comment if it's true or not.

I know that by heart but thanks anyway!

 

[Mister5150]

I also started a Rank progression thread, and just as I was about to lose it my next rank mission popped up! I'm not certain how it works however I decided to just keep hitting different stations and making sure I did missions for aligned factions, giving cargo just for rep and also doing carrier missions.

 

[DidierDrbois]

I also started a Rank progression thread, and just as I was about to lose it my next rank mission popped up! I'm not certain how it works however I decided to just keep hitting different stations and making sure I did missions for aligned factions, giving cargo just for rep and also doing carrier missions.

Maybe it'll pop up only after you get fed up and post on the forums? Congratz (to your shiny new Clipper I assume ) commander!

 

[GJ51]

I also started a Rank progression thread, and just as I was about to lose it my next rank mission popped up! I'm not certain how it works however I decided to just keep hitting different stations and making sure I did missions for aligned factions, giving cargo just for rep and also doing carrier missions.

I'm convinced you've hit on the secret. the system waits until you're about to lose it before popping the next mission.

Brilliant programming, I must say...

 

[Huros]

I was allied with Empire and was not getting anymore of the blue pointy rep triangles anymore no matter which faction I worked for only the faction rep increased. Browsed the threads and there was a suggestion. go to a completely new Loyal faction and accept three or four missions then abandon them. Within seconds the naval ascension mission hit. Counter intuitive I know but hey - it worked for me!

Use only if you are not getting any more Rep increases with Empire/Feds. If nothing comes up go back to where you were and start running missions again and it should appear.

 

[PhazonAran]

I gotta try the lower your rep to friendly and up it again thing...

 

[micky1984]

i reached post commander 2 weeks ago all you have to do is keep going and the missions will apear its about stamina and dont do anythingn to upset your factions

 

[CMDR Nick]

I reached Post Commander (which is a silly rank, it means a base commander in the USA doesn't it? There's no equivalent in the UK military. How am I a base commander - I'm a ship commander - anyway, that aside)

I did it mainly by doing those little cargo runs and delivering those 'important messages.' Just make sure you read carefully and don't accidentally favour a competing faction. Look out for 'this faction is incorporated with the government' etc., those factions are essentially allied to the main system faction.

 

[Troa Barton]

You have to lobby against an open and free internet before you can get a promotion.

 

[DannyLeigh]

I finally made Baron the other day. The last progression mission was anticlimactic to the point of being beautiful...

A delivery mission
For four tonnes of grain
Between two planets in the same system
200ls apart

 

[smiths121]

Hello OP,

I finally got another Fed ranking, after 2-3 weeks. I had tried moving around and repp'ing up with new minor factions, did not seem to help.
I kept seeing a "Fed Invitation" for a pass to Ross 128. So I headed there. I did missions for the major Fed factions, and obtained a new mission and became a warrant officer (I want to be commissioned for the Fed Dropship). At that point friends wanted some help, and a few of us want to look at flipping a system, so have detoured a bit.

So all I can say is follow the unobtainable mission pass clue being offered and do missions. Oh and try and stay focussed lol.

Good luck Cmdr

Simon

 

[babelfisch]

Just a thought: Would it be possible that only missions for controlling factions contribute to rank progression?

I would guess that controlling minor factions are legitimate while supporting others destabilize the system - something the major faction would nor be happy about. Maybe supporting the other factions even harms your progression.

 

[Imrus76]

You have to be allied with more different Federation factions.
Check for another system with different a different faction you are allied with it and work for them, then another, this way naval rank will increase continously.

 

[Major Plonker]

Just a thought: Would it be possible that only missions for controlling factions contribute to rank progression?

I would guess that controlling minor factions are legitimate while supporting others destabilize the system - something the major faction would nor be happy about. Maybe supporting the other factions even harms your progression.

I'm fairly sure I gained a rank mission by becoming allied to 2 minor factions in sol. That was some time ago (they were the first missions I ever did) so it may have changed.

 

[DidierDrbois]

I was allied with Empire and was not getting anymore of the blue pointy rep triangles anymore no matter which faction I worked for only the faction rep increased. Browsed the threads and there was a suggestion. go to a completely new Loyal faction and accept three or four missions then abandon them. Within seconds the naval ascension mission hit. Counter intuitive I know but hey - it worked for me!

Use only if you are not getting any more Rep increases with Empire/Feds. If nothing comes up go back to where you were and start running missions again and it should appear.

I am going to try this. It's sounds so silly it may just work. And it did for you so, here I come! Thanks!

 

[Huita]

Just do missions, switch stations after, say, 20. All that matters are missions i believe.

 

[DidierDrbois]

Just a thought: Would it be possible that only missions for controlling factions contribute to rank progression?

I would guess that controlling minor factions are legitimate while supporting others destabilize the system - something the major faction would nor be happy about. Maybe supporting the other factions even harms your progression.

This did cross my mind. I therefore made sure the third faction I repped up with was system-controlling, i.e. one with biggest influence. Unless my understanding of 'controlling' faction is wrong.

Thanks all you guys for responding btw, gonna hatch up a plan taking all into account and try again tonight. Good luck y'all!

edit: It'd really really help if Frontier could step in and shed some light onto this. Also, a 'rep-summary' screen, like the one in Freelancer would be cool. Looking forward to them updates whichever it is. I'm sure Frontier can and will pull it off.