Federation Trade Routes?

EpicRecluse · Dec 12, 2015

So I decided to restart my save game just before the new DLC, and because I have some major OCD issues. Nonetheless, this time around I decided to go with trading to start out with instead of Bounty Hunting. So first, my question is, If I trade only in Federation space, will that count towards my reputation and "rank" with them? I am very interested in getting the Federation Corvette, very sexy ship, so obviously I want to get ranked up with Federation. So will trading in Fed space work?

IF it does, can anyone give even a slightly decent trade route in Federation ONLY space?

Currently I am sitting in Kremainn in my puny sidewinder and trying to read these trade routes (solo play so don't bother trying to hunt me down) so any tips would be appreciated.

Chris Simon · Dec 12, 2015

Trading within the same systems does give you a reputation boost with system's factions. Be sure that controlling faction of the stations you're trading with is fed, and you should get some rep and eventually, navy ranking missions start to appear.
It's much slower than by doing missions, but still doable. (I got all the way to the baron in imperial navy by trading and bounty hunting). Then I had to start doing missions, though, because the gaps between ranks started to be too wide.)
Nice thing about 1.5/Horizons update is that you will now be able to see your progress, much like combat/trading/exploration progress bars.

As for the trading routes, well. I'm imperial, so I won't help you.

Try this and this

Adept Geraden · Dec 12, 2015

If you're not averse to using external tools, eddb.io does a multi-hop route planner. One of the parameters you can set is Allegiance. Free-range trading. Avoid the A-B-A-B ad infinitum boring grind.

EpicRecluse · Dec 12, 2015

Awesome tool, thanks for the tip. And thanks for the info.

happyfunball · Dec 13, 2015

EpicRecluse said:
So first, my question is, If I trade only in Federation space, will that count towards my reputation and "rank" with them? I am very interested in getting the Federation Corvette, very sexy ship, so obviously I want to get ranked up with Federation. So will trading in Fed space work?

You may already know this, but I just want to point out that reputation (neutral, friendly, allied) is not the same as naval ranks. Non-mission trading affects reputation, but does not appear to help with naval ranks, at least in the current game. I moved over 100 million credits worth of trade profit in Imperial space bulk trading and became Allied with the Empire and a bunch of minor factions, but never achieved even the first rank of Imperial navy. It wasn't until I started doing missions that my naval ranks moved up.

You can try the trade related missions, such as delivery and go-fetch. But they appear to affect the naval rank slower than combat and donation missions.

EpicRecluse · Dec 13, 2015

happyfunball said:
You may already know this, but I just want to point out that reputation (neutral, friendly, allied) is not the same as naval ranks. Non-mission trading affects reputation, but does not appear to help with naval ranks, at least in the current game. I moved over 100 million credits worth of trade profit in Imperial space bulk trading and became Allied with the Empire and a bunch of minor factions, but never achieved even the first rank of Imperial navy. It wasn't until I started doing missions that my naval ranks moved up.

You can try the trade related missions, such as delivery and go-fetch. But they appear to affect the naval rank slower than combat and donation missions.

This is very helpful, thank you.

Chris Simon · Dec 13, 2015

happyfunball said:
You may already know this, but I just want to point out that reputation (neutral, friendly, allied) is not the same as naval ranks. Non-mission trading affects reputation, but does not appear to help with naval ranks, at least in the current game. I moved over 100 million credits worth of trade profit in Imperial space bulk trading and became Allied with the Empire and a bunch of minor factions, but never achieved even the first rank of Imperial navy. It wasn't until I started doing missions that my naval ranks moved up.

You can try the trade related missions, such as delivery and go-fetch. But they appear to affect the naval rank slower than combat and donation missions.

That is strange, because that's exactly how I got my ranks. It was back in 1.0/1.1, though. Maybe it got changed.

happyfunball · Dec 13, 2015

Chris Simon said:
That is strange, because that's exactly how I got my ranks. It was back in 1.0/1.1, though. Maybe it got changed.

I recall someone said it's bugged in 1.4. Supposedly bounties turned in is also bugged, so right now only missions work. I'm hoping it's truly a bug and they fix it by 1.5.