Adding rewards to Navy progression

[KR4K40]

Right now, Empire and Federal Navy ranks are pretty much meaningless: you get access to unremarkable systems and the opportunity to buy ships every once in a blue moon, but that's it.

I am not about to suggest ways to make leveling more interesting, I have little idea how. No, instead I will propose ways to reward players who grinded the ranks. It's simple really, and take the probably only good page from of the powerplay book:

Rank. Locked. Modules.

The idea:

As you rank up, you get access to various modules such as thrusters, shields, FSDs, power plants... all better than their A-grade counterparts but on sale for the same price because you're a post captain/Baron now, and the Federation/Empire wants what's best for its allies.

It could be things like thrusters that make your ship not more agile, but faster and shields with either increased regen or resistance for Empire because the Empire is all about going fast and having impenetrable shields; and military FSDs and power plants for Federation to remedy to many of their ships' flaws. Hell, maybe even guns, power distributors, shield boosters...

Of course, these modules would be able to be engineered on top of that, meaning that they would be OP as hell compared to standard A-grade, but for a reason. They would also be available to players who haven't bought Horizons.

Ranked up to grade 4? you get access to grade 4 modules. Rank 8? you get grade 8, or something like that.

WHY? because it would reward players who took the time to rank up in those navies, causing the eternal money grind to be a little less important in the goal towards acquiring endgame gear.

Discuss.

 

[Retu81]

I miss medals from Elite 2: Frontier.

 

[Siranui]

Right now, Empire and Federal Navy ranks are pretty much meaningless...

... because it would reward players who took the time to rank up in those navies, causing the eternal money grind to be a little less important in the goal towards acquiring endgame gear.

Firstly, FD are already working on a massive military rank system overhaul. The whole thing is apparently being looked at and changed in order to make it feel like a career choice.

Secondly, people do not consider the ranks meaningless because the ranks unlock ships that people want.
Give the forum a search for 'rank grind' or similar and you will see a lot of people complaining about having to play the game and do missions in order to get a cool ship they want. Many instead elect to rank grind.

You are putting forward the idea that if there was more Rank rewards, people would stop money grinding. But that gains nothing, because instead they will rank grind. It would replace one grind with another for many players.

 

[Bomba Luigi]

I agree, more rewards (or even responsabilitys) would be nice. A good start would be some nice Decals, I really want more decals.

 

[lubegga]

Excellent idea, rep +1 !!!

 

[SheepDip82]

Unremarkable systems!?

My first trip to Sol was fantastic. One of the best experiences in Elite, for me.

Would prefer additional rewards, and for them to be largely superficial, skins, decals etc. If military grade modules existed, I'd imagine they'd be available for the primary navy only, not the auxiliary.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

Firstly, FD are already working on a massive military rank system overhaul. The whole thing is apparently being looked at and changed in order to make it feel like a career choice.

Secondly, people do not consider the ranks meaningless because the ranks unlock ships that people want.
Give the forum a search for 'rank grind' or similar and you will see a lot of people complaining about having to play the game and do missions in order to get a cool ship they want. Many instead elect to rank grind.

You are putting forward the idea that if there was more Rank rewards, people would stop money grinding. But that gains nothing, because instead they will rank grind. It would replace one grind with another for many players.

Yes, I really hope that this overhaul comes before the end of this season .

 

[Siranui]

Also far from convinced that adding extra modules that the author describes as 'OP as hell' is really a good idea.

 

[Terran538]

I'd rather have certain perks associated with being a high ranking member of a navy like less police scans, slightly reduced fines and bounties, maybe cheaper rebuys, or heavier police responses when you're attacked by an outlaw. Naturally, those would only apply to the faction whom you have rank with.