Does Frontier intend players to get Elite exploration within a week?

[Eymerich]

Edit: Sorry the poll question text was cut off. It should read...

"Should players be able to rank up to Elite in exploration within a week using the new passenger missions?"

...

I'm not worried about how people choose to play this game for themselves nor how they choose to interpret the worth of various ranks. That isn't what this thread is about, so please refrain from discussing that here. There are plenty of other threads taking on these issues if you want to discuss them, such as this one. → https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...go-Soon-everyone-will-be-Elite-in-exploration

Given that players can now seem to effectively rank all the way up in exploration in a week to Elite with the new exploration related passenger missions, is this intentional and/or do you think it should remain this way?

I'd love to hear from Frontier in this thread as well. If they say this is intentional, then so be it. It wouldn't seem to me like it is though, considering how long it takes to rank up traditionally just going along and honking and detail surface scanning bodies in interesting stellar systems.

While getting the Elite exploration rank hasn't been a primary goal of mine and I haven't been neutron star field farming nor cherry picking ELW, I have been actively exploring in the game for over a year now and have had the Pioneer rank for the better part of a year.

I think it's fine that people are doing Passenger Missions to rank up in exploration and I actually think it's a good game mechanic in general, however the rate at which it can be accomplished seems pretty well off to me.

I don t care how other people plays but this way of increasing rank - not being compatible with my vision of the game - should be fixed

This is how i summarize your post after a very fast reading of it

Anyway yes : it should be like this considering that i was at 50÷ pioneer after endless sequence of Scan scoop jump scansione scoop jump... got it

 

[kofeyh]

"How very dare people gain exploration rank in a manner I refuse to consider relevant; nerf making rank in ways I refuse to consider relevant."

Honestly this attitude has destroyed so much of the game I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this point. And the amount of "la la la I can't hear you" in this thread is frankly horrifying.

Good luck with that.

 

[Julio Montega]

I don't think they intend the current quickness
of attaining explorer rank, but they also didn't give too
much a hoot about the slow progress by traditional exploration.

After all, having the ranks represent a levelling system feeded
by repetitive tasks is the worst system anyone could come up with.
Combat rank for example is in no way a reflection of skill.

Explorer rank, prior to passenger missions,
however did reflect the dedication to exploration quite well.

 

[hunvagy]

I don't think they intend the current quickness
of attaining explorer rank, but they also didn't give too
much a hoot about the slow progress by traditional exploration.

After all, having the ranks represent a levelling system feeded
by repetitive tasks is the worst system anyone could come up with.
Combat rank for example is in no way a reflection of skill.

I don't mind the current system giving exploration increase for the sightseeing missions, as indeed you go and explore the interesting places of our galaxy. But the rate probably should be curbed a little bit. I did a 15 million mission yesterday, and it counted for 20% of the ranger rank. That is quite excessive for only 3 stops. Though I guess it operates on the same scale as trade rank, where towards my Tycoon I got 1% per million credits of trade give or take.

 

[kofeyh]

I don't think they intend the current quickness
of attaining explorer rank, but they also didn't give too
much a hoot about the slow progress by traditional exploration.

After all, having the ranks represent a levelling system feeded
by repetitive tasks is the worst system anyone could come up with.
Combat rank for example is in no way a reflection of skill.

Explorer rank, prior to passenger missions,
however did reflect the dedication to exploration quite well.

Not really. It just counted how many times, effectively, you scanned a thing.

Just like how much you shot at a thing. Or how much you bought and sold a thing. Everything is basically a variation of a theme.

As much as there is a lot to see and do; it's all just a basic variation on a theme. And as much as it might seem like making something more of an effort to gain, if that's still just how much you shoot at a thing, or but and sell a thing, or scan a thing, it's almost irrelevant how fast or slow that that stat counts.

I think there's far more to be gained by adding variety to the game, than a religious fight over how quickly a counter should increment. But that's just me. And I think that's what Frontier, in there own special way, were trying to achieve.

More variety around how elite ranks are gained, to appeal to a broader audience. But clearly this is triggering a few commanders.

Frontier can't win. And I've probably replied far too often so I'm done. Fly safe, commanders.

 

[Julio Montega]

I don't mind the current system giving exploration increase for the sightseeing missions, as indeed you go and explore the interesting places of our galaxy. But the rate probably should be curbed a little bit. I did a 15 million mission yesterday, and it counted for 20% of the ranger rank. That is quite excessive for only 3 stops. Though I guess it operates on the same scale as trade rank, where towards my Tycoon I got 1% per million credits of trade give or take.

True, and alternatives are a good thing,
i agree on curbing down the rank gain.

Not really. It just counted how many times, effectively, you scanned a thing.

Just like how much you shot at a thing. Or how much you bought and sold a thing. Everything is basically a variation of a theme.

As much as there is a lot to see and do; it's all just a basic variation on a theme. And as much as it might seem like making something more of an effort to gain, if that's still just how much you shoot at a thing, or but and sell a thing, or scan a thing, it's almost irrelevant how that trap sites.

I think there's far more to be gained by adding variety to the game, than a religious fight over how quickly a counter should increment. But that's just me.

And I've probably replied far too often so I'm done. Fly safe, commanders.

A fitting summary,
yet that is all that there is to the mechanics of the core jobs.
The ranking system is a built in des-illusioning device.

I just voted: NO,
since i don't think that being able to rush everything in the game
is an advantage and a good representation of the game.

 

[CMDR Goro]

YES, gimme my elite now!

 

[Morbad]

i do cringe when i see 4000 hour player and wonder how they could possibly manage it.

Took this a few minutes ago:

Spoiler

Account last reset on November 22nd, 2014 and includes some degree of idle time after passive rep decay was introduced, but doesn't include any of the significant time I've spent in the Betas since, so is a fairly accurate representation of the time I've played in the last 26 months.

I can sink six to eight hours a day into a game I like and still not have it be the majority of my free time...which is all of my time, baring those unfortunate biological imperatives.

Work was always something I saw as an annoyance and once I had enough money, I stopped. Likewise, I've never been particularly keen on the idea of children. My wife, though she's more amicable to the idea, isn't willing to sacrifice her own career for it and will likely be too old to be comfortable having them (for medical reasons) by the time she gains tenure and has the time. Maybe we'll adopt at some point.

So anyway, I manage my ~2000 hours of Elite: Dangerous per year because I have ~9.3 times as much free time as yourself.

 

[kpmop]

I agree with kofeyh in a big picture kind of a way, BUT even though the ranks are cumulative, they do/did imply that you had spent a significant amount of time getting them and may have learned a few things about that aspect of the gameplay, although with exploration, there isn't much to learn, mostly just not being unintentionally stupid/careless. Making it possible to rank up in a week just devalues them further.

edit * Or huh, yeah what Julio Montega said.

 

[to_boldy_go]

Took me 2 years just like Elite combat. Elite trade was way easier.

how can passenger missions be counted as exploration? My local bus driver is atrue explorer!

The whole ganme is massively unbalanced and way too easy. I guess it is a generational thing I am 46 and want it to be a hard slow slog and enjoy each step - enjoy learning how to reach the core in a Hauler and BH in a Vper3. Too many youngsters want a FDL or Annoconda after 10 hours game play and Frontier have to allow this for commercial reasons. 300 million cr in 24 hr videos says it all. We need two versions of the game. A realistic versions and a "get rich quick" version. BH especially poaching is silly. I can get 2 million in an hour in a Sidewinder? You should only get % of kill based on hull damage you did.

Rankings should be a case of Elite means haave to kill a lot of Elite pilots not just x number of kills. Should be more skilled based. And I think ship licences should be linked to skill.FDL only for Elite combat pilots for example. This would mean the smaller ships become more useful as you would have tos use them until gaining a higher rank.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

After 2 year of combat Ai mess ups there were times when getting kills were extreamy easy that made combat rank of very little value then there was sothis/ceos there goes any validity to trade rank, so as far as i can see after the latest stuff up the only rank that slill had integrity exploration is now contaminated.

You could always go for CQC Elite - only one way to get that, no shortcuts or exploits, can't practically be done in fewer than three months even if you're the best player ever and spend all your time there. Always amuses me that the one most people don't consider a "proper" rank is the one that's (by far) the hardest to get.

 

[Dbrn47]

You could always go for CQC Elite - only one way to get that, no shortcuts or exploits, can't practically be done in fewer than three months even if you're the best player ever and spend all your time there. Always amuses me that the one most people don't consider a "proper" rank is the one that's (by far) the hardest to get.

You have a great point there. Never even considered that one. Then again, I have no interest in Elite PvP so it's twice as irrelevant to me. [redface]

 

[Morbad]

You could always go for CQC Elite - only one way to get that, no shortcuts or exploits, can't practically be done in fewer than three months even if you're the best player ever and spend all your time there. Always amuses me that the one most people don't consider a "proper" rank is the one that's (by far) the hardest to get.

It's the hardest to get because you'll spend most of your time sitting in a lobby that may never fill.

I was quite eager to prestige to get the permit to the CQC system, as it's the only unlockable permit I'm missing and has been since CQC was released, but I essentially gave up when it became apparent that I'd be spending 70% of my time sitting there waiting for a game.

There are also a few shortcuts and exploits. I've seen groups of CMDRs working from both sides deliberately lose matches, via means as blatant as every CMDR in the match turning on the one or two guys that weren't in their group (in TEAM deathmatch no less), to cycle matches (and rewards) more rapidly.

 

[babelfisch]

Ranks should be defined from the average of all active players. Meaning: Most people will never reach Elite, but stay at Master. Also, Elite commanders should have command over lesser commanders.

What is this, fifty shades of elite? I don't want to be your content fetish.

 

[Shar]

Took this a few minutes ago:

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/nWza8qO.jpg

Account last reset on November 22nd, 2014 and includes some degree of idle time after passive rep decay was introduced, but doesn't include any of the significant time I've spent in the Betas since, so is a fairly accurate representation of the time I've played in the last 26 months.

I can sink six to eight hours a day into a game I like and still not have it be the majority of my free time...which is all of my time, baring those unfortunate biological imperatives.

Work was always something I saw as an annoyance and once I had enough money, I stopped. Likewise, I've never been particularly keen on the idea of children. My wife, though she's more amicable to the idea, isn't willing to sacrifice her own career for it and will likely be too old to be comfortable having them (for medical reasons) by the time she gains tenure and has the time. Maybe we'll adopt at some point.

So anyway, I manage my ~2000 hours of Elite: Dangerous per year because I have ~9.3 times as much free time as yourself.

+1 virtual rep, Nicely put.

 

[babelfisch]

how can passenger missions be counted as exploration? My local bus driver is atrue explorer!

Most passenger missions don't contribute to exploration rank, just those that require you to explore certain parts of the galaxy.

 

[Shar]

Ranks should be defined from the average of all active players. Meaning: Most people will never reach Elite, but stay at Master. Also, Elite commanders should have command over lesser commanders.

lol, "Elite commanders should have command over lesser commanders" That i'll be the day sunshine, --RPG ON-- Imperial pilots bow to no one except The Emperor/Emprees now on your way upstart --RPG OFF--

 

[Dbrn47]

lol, "Elite commanders should have command over lesser commanders" That i'll be the day sunshine, --RPG ON-- Imperial pilots bow to no one except The Emperor/Emprees now on your way upstart --RPG OFF--

Don't forget to bask on the way out!

 

[Riverside]

There seems to be some confusion over what the Explorer rank is actually based on right now:

To get Explorer Elite you need to earn approx. 160mCr through cartographic data (or some missions now, of course). Since each ranks requirements are double the last, that means that 80mCr is half way, or the change from Ranger to Pioneer.

--------------

Leaving missions aside & focussing only on cartographic data the target based on system value makes sense. You can make loads of honk & scoops collecting a lot of low value data, or visit fewer systems butcollect more detailed and/or data on more valuable targets. This also ties in with the first discovery tag, which gives a 50% bonus to each body.

If the rank were based on number of systems it would favour low value honking & scooping. If it were based on new discoveries or other high value info it would be difficult to progress as more & more stuff has already been discovered or worked out.

The original concept worked well, it's biggest flaw was neutron farming & even they you have to travel 10kLy there, be bored for a week or so then travel 10kLy back so even doing that was a fairly committed task.

So just remove any benefit to the exploration rank from mission value & problem solved, surely?

 

[GaryII]

Ranks are overrated, I personally do not care about Elite rank in anything...
Getting Elite in something (except CQC) should be minor goal since now its easy to get it..

Set you own goals in the game, since provided ranks are dumbed down (I am sorry FD but this true) for casuals...