Rewards for crew

[Cmdr Nemo]

Supposing I have enough space and hire a crew to man my on board fighters. And because I suck, dispatched them to live or die and in the process make money. I understand I get the lions share for their endevors.

My question is: Does their destruction of ships count towards my pilots status or what? And if so, does that mean I could get Elite status though it may be unlikely, with out actually firing a single shot.

 

[stormyuk]

My question is: Does their destruction of ships count towards my pilots status or what? And if so, does that mean I could get Elite status though it may be unlikely, with out actually firing a single shot.

Nope.

 

[KW001]

Actually, I believe they steal a portion of your rank experience for themselves for any kills they contribute towards. So it will actually take you longer to reach elite for combat using an SLF pilot. Though I'm not entirely certain of that. Perhaps someone else can clarify.

 

[Ethaidan]

Hire me instead! I'll fly around in your slf and protect you while you mine.

 

[stormyuk]

Actually, I believe they steal a portion of your rank experience for themselves for any kills they contribute towards. So it will actually take you longer to reach elite for combat using an SLF pilot. Though I'm not entirely certain of that. Perhaps someone else can clarify.

Yup, if they get the kill, you don't get any rank reward, so if you want the ultra fastest progression, don't use SLF (with an NPC).

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

Thanks, I though as much, but as this combat thing is new to me, I wasn't sure.

 

[Stinja]

Yup, if they get the kill, you don't get any rank reward, so if you want the ultra fastest progression, don't use SLF (with an NPC).

That's not quite true Stormy.

You get a split of Federation Combat Rank progression as long as you tag the NPC, and then your SLF crew kills the enemy.
This is slower than killing everything yourself, but it is a lazier / easier way to rank up.

Developer confirmation of xp split: clicky

Nemo: if you want fairly effortless combat ranking, yes even to Elite (but it'll take a while), use an all-turret conda, set turrets to "fire at will". Set the SLF to "engage at will". Then buy 10T of something expensive (like Superconductors), pirates will rock up, scan you, open fire, and then your turrets and slf will engage them.
AFK build: https://eddp.co/u/PryGwF41

I experimented with this while doing combat rank myself, but it's not optimal from a time perspective. Best thing I found was actually to use a Python and go to an Anarchy Compromised Nav Beacon to farm enemies (yes faster than semi-AFK conda; faster than HazRES; faster than HighCZ).
You don't need anything specialised, just good recharging biweaves (the point is quick kills on small Elite ranked NPCs), with an SCB which you in theory never need, good thrusters (speed cuts down time between kills), decent weapons (dps).
Python build: https://eddp.co/u/MzXA5tDS


Note: this AFKconda not fast, it's better to have say a gimbal on the Huge and engage pirates as normal (or use the "engage target to slf"), but let the turrets/slf do most of the work.
Double note: do not AFK. While it's fairly safe with engineering, you need to keep an eye on things in case the slf/turrets tag a friendly, get you wanted, and the cops come for you.

tl;dr Yes. You could in theory get to Elite without firing a shot, practically it'd take a while...

 

[Old Duck]

Yup, if they get the kill, you don't get any rank reward, so if you want the ultra fastest progression, don't use SLF (with an NPC).

Really? I did not know this. That explains why I've been stuck at Master for the last 4 months, LOL. Then again, I don't mind, as I'm not trying to rank up my combat status. As long as I reach Elite in Exploration and unlock associated privileges, I'm happy.

Speaking of, crew takes a cut from all cash earnings, correct? Which means my crew is also slowing me down from reaching Elite in Exploration and Trade! Time for mass layoffs, LOL

 

[stormyuk]

Thanks for the links Stinja, good info. I stand corrected.

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

That's not quite true Stormy.

You get a split of Federation Combat Rank progression as long as you tag the NPC, and then your SLF crew kills the enemy.
This is slower than killing everything yourself, but it is a lazier / easier way to rank up.

Developer confirmation of xp split: clicky

Nemo: if you want fairly effortless combat ranking, yes even to Elite (but it'll take a while), use an all-turret conda, set turrets to "fire at will". Set the SLF to "engage at will". Then buy 10T of something expensive (like Superconductors), pirates will rock up, scan you, open fire, and then your turrets and slf will engage them.
AFK build: https://eddp.co/u/PryGwF41

I experimented with this while doing combat rank myself, but it's not optimal from a time perspective. Best thing I found was actually to use a Python and go to an Anarchy Compromised Nav Beacon to farm enemies (yes faster than semi-AFK conda; faster than HazRES; faster than HighCZ).
You don't need anything specialised, just good recharging biweaves (the point is quick kills on small Elite ranked NPCs), with an SCB which you in theory never need, good thrusters (speed cuts down time between kills), decent weapons (dps).
Python build: https://eddp.co/u/MzXA5tDS


Note: this AFKconda not fast, it's better to have say a gimbal on the Huge and engage pirates as normal (or use the "engage target to slf"), but let the turrets/slf do most of the work.
Double note: do not AFK. While it's fairly safe with engineering, you need to keep an eye on things in case the slf/turrets tag a friendly, get you wanted, and the cops come for you.

tl;dr Yes. You could in theory get to Elite without firing a shot, practically it'd take a while...

OK, got it, I was just courious, I don't plan to actual do that, just thinking out loud. Doesn't really help if one gets to Elite in combat and then not actuly know how to fight. But thanks for the answer.

 

[krylite]

I would concur you get some rank progression if your turrets tag the ships and the SLF's finish them off. Unless I'm mistaken you can get bounty if the SLF tags a ship which is later destroyed by the SLF or other npc's if your ship never touched it. Well it seemed that way to me as I did a fair amount of RES & CZ's with cutter /w SLFs. CZ's also helped progressing when at higher combat ranks, more of the enemy ships are rank dangerous to elite which helps gain rank more than lower ranked ship kills.

A downside of reaching deadly or elite etc. is from then on, almost all the generated npc ships and pirates after you when doing missions are more often deadly to elite ranked anacondas, corvettes or instead elite ranked smaller ships if you're flying a smaller ship where they often have engineered weapons too, and some annoyingly use seemingly infinite chaff. Then occasionally there are those idjit griefers (maybe using an extra account with a lower ranked combat ship, but no less engineered) in open trying to ambush my cutter firing reverb torpedoes as I leave busy stations or ground bases/engineers maybe partly because they see combat elite on my ship when I'm actually almost entirely pve minding my own business, pp, bgs, or otherwise.

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

I would concur you get some rank progression if your turrets tag the ships and the SLF's finish them off. Unless I'm mistaken you can get bounty if the SLF tags a ship which is later destroyed by the SLF or other npc's if your ship never touched it. Well it seemed that way to me as I did a fair amount of RES & CZ's with cutter /w SLFs. CZ's also helped progressing when at higher combat ranks, more of the enemy ships are rank dangerous to elite which helps gain rank more than lower ranked ship kills.

A downside of reaching deadly or elite etc. is from then on, almost all the generated npc ships and pirates after you when doing missions are more often deadly to elite ranked anacondas, corvettes or instead elite ranked smaller ships if you're flying a smaller ship where they often have engineered weapons too, and some annoyingly use seemingly infinite chaff. Then occasionally there are those idjit griefers (maybe using an extra account with a lower ranked combat ship, but no less engineered) in open trying to ambush my cutter firing reverb torpedoes as I leave busy stations or ground bases/engineers maybe partly because they see combat elite on my ship when I'm actually almost entirely pve minding my own business, pp, bgs, or otherwise.

I noticed there was an increase to the NPC's various piloted ships pilots, when I made Elite int Explorer and again as I made it to Elite in trade. So I assumed that making it to Elite in combat was going to make it more so.

Thus, I'm not going to take short cuts on my way to Elite in combat. I had read somewhere that it's possible to get to Elite by simply destroying about 6,000 harmless. The process is expedited if one destroys better rated pilots than themselves. And as you've stated, as one progression upwards, the lessor rated pilots are replaced by better and better. Thus one doesn't have to actually earn the rating by being a good combater, but in the long run, it's gonna be a bummer to deal with not having real skill.

Playing on a console means having to have two servers one off which is FDev and the other is for me SONY. If one a thursday Sony wants to upgrade something while FDev is, my console will crash. Thus I can only play off line games. Hitman allows me to do either, off or online, ED does not.

 

[Stinja]

iirc it used to be that NPCs spawned at a maximum of your combat rank, or your trade/exploration (rank -2). So yes, increasing the soft-Elite ranks still make the NPCs harder.
Caveats around what activity you're doing: as missions spawn by mission rank, and things like CNBs and CZs are sort of fixed.

This may all change come 3.1, with the mission reworking.

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

iirc it used to be that NPCs spawned at a maximum of your combat rank, or your trade/exploration (rank -2). So yes, increasing the soft-Elite ranks still make the NPCs harder.
Caveats around what activity you're doing: as missions spawn by mission rank, and things like CNBs and CZs are sort of fixed.

This may all change come 3.1, with the mission reworking.

Hearing that the new update is going to change things, Though I'm all set with a FAS built for only combat, I'm holding back actually jumping in a 100%. And working on learning some of the other points or aspects of it. Thus I won't have to relearn again when it's changed. By the next time, if and when there's an change, I'll have experience which will be considerably easier to deal with any changes. Then it would be now, that I seem to be on the cusp of a change.

I mean, just learning how to target and scan anything is new to me and I've been playing since ps4 launched. Having possibly the slowest internet speed need to play this game. Causes my comm panel to be lagging way behind. I generaly don't get any messages until after the fact. For instance, I'll be in the process of docking at my passenger destination, when I get a comm requesting me to source them something or a change to their destination. I've had to learn to check the contact menu evertime I see where as someone has joined or entered the system I'm in. Becasue, there intent of interdiction isn't generaly received until midway through a mini game and on occasion, afterwards. I can't imagine, trying to communitcate in a wing, even if my internet speed would allow me to wing up. My comms are sooooo slow, that unless I have a sightseeing mission, I know longer bother to them. Which after a couple of days, casues me to enter the comm area and delete scores and score of them. I've checked with my local provider and due to wear I live, they have no plan of upgrading the availablity of service and infact, if cell phone service continues it growth here, dial up will eventuall go down and not be replaced. Cell phones and their availabiltiy to the internet make them a better investment for the local company that maintain or updating old antiquatied technology.

Tis ironic, but I have a fiber optic cable running down my side of the street, but becasue of the number of possible subscriber's being a total of only 10. The other side of the street which is actually an Avenue. Currently has broadband and. I cannot get cable (broad band) even though the dam thing runs down my side of the street. I've invested to much into my home here, and not about to sell it at a loss just to move accross the street. I inquired as to how much it would cost to make the connection for me and any one else that may in the future want to give up our dishes, which are the only thing available and the land line phone connection, which in a couple of years is going to be suspended, becasue of cell phones usage pays more. And was told, it would cost almost 500,000 peso's (25,000 in U.S. currency). And becasue of the possible customer base being so low, they are not going to do it. The cost vs profit isn't there.