is really turning me off from bothering with Combat. Your only choice is to take on harder and harder ships and then, even if you win, you get a percentage point or two. I get that the point is to make it a timely challenge last everyone become Elite, but still... it could take a casual like me a decade to get there.
The Grind for Combat Rank...
- Thread starter HazelrahFiver
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- thegrindisinyourmind
Could be. I've been playing since release and I'm still only Deadly. Not that I care mind you 
The secret is: you don't need to get there.
I'm playing for three years, and over this time my trade and exploration rank crept up to Elite, I'm still competent in combat, simply for the reason that I don't do much combat. Ranks in Elite are not like levels in RPGs or something. It's not the idea to get there fast and it also won't come with any benefits. So if you grind for it, that's absolutely on you, because the only reason I can think of is getting there fast because of completionist's pride.
Yes, I think that's the idea, it is a test of endurance.
When I started playing my number one goal was to get combat Elite within a year of starting, to 're-earn' the Acornsoft badge (my avatar here) I got as a kid on the original BBC version.
I did it before the progress bars were added to the game, and the final push from Deadly to Elite burned me out, I was no longer interested in Combat (it's still only a means to an end for me).
My profile says as much:
I reached Combat Elite & lost the urge to kill.
I reached Trade Elite & lost the urge to push those profit margins.
I reached Explorer Elite & my behaviour barely changed.
I've been defending systems by fighting Thargoid scouts and I'm about to hit Elite as a result. I'm slightly embarrassed about this as I'm not really a good combat pilot, just an efficient one. Set target for the four AX turrets, press fire, reverse a bit until the target blows up, repeat! But really, all the Elite ranks are for playing efficiently, not gitting gud. I don't think there's a serious grind for any.
Grind? Why have you made combat rank a grind? You don't get anything for it other than access to Shinratra Dezhra.
If you are concerned about access to Founders World do some trading and focus on big missions, you'll rank way quicker in Trade than combat and make a bunch of ca$h at the same time.
OP, all the grinds for Elite are much much easier than they ever were now. I know because I've grinded to Elite 7 times now if I count all of them individually (so far). It hasn't my main goal in the game, but I kept my eye on it and made it fun while I did it.
If you want to do the get you Elite in combat the fastest there ever has been to do it (as Brrokk said) is by killing Thargoid Scouts. Each Thargoid Scouts is worth three Elite NPCs if I understand correctly. Don't do it it way Brrokk said though because that would be way to boring!
If you want to do the get you Elite in combat the fastest there ever has been to do it (as Brrokk said) is by killing Thargoid Scouts. Each Thargoid Scouts is worth three Elite NPCs if I understand correctly. Don't do it it way Brrokk said though because that would be way to boring!
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OP, all the grinds for Elite are much much easier than they ever were now. I know because I've grinded to Elite 7 times now if I count all of them individually (so far). It hasn't my main goal in the game, but I kept my eye on it and made it fun while I did it.
If you want to do the get you Elite in combat the fastest there ever has been to do it (as Brrokk said) is by killing Thargoid Scouts. Each Thargoid Scouts is worth three Elite NPCs if I understand correctly. Don't do it it way Brrokk said though because that would be way to boring!
Combat rank gain has not changed since gold disc afaik
Scouts count as Elite opposition, come in known, reliable locations, are numerous and are easy kills - when was that available before ? (Other than reloging to kill a sidewinder, which makes scouts seem a fun way to Elite
)
I've heard they watered down the "You only get progress for ships of equal or higher rank" thing so you get some progress if it's a few grades below.
Scouts count as Elite opposition, come in known, reliable locations, are numerous and are easy kills - when was that available before ? (Other than reloging to kill a sidewinder, which makes scouts seem a fun way to Elite
Alright, I'll give you that, but you know what I mean. How much rank you get for each rank/kill has been tweaked maybe once. It is now wildly out of step with the other professions. Funny thing though, my solution would be to nerf the other two, I'm not in favor of faster combat rank. It does currently mean something. I don't care how fast you did, it, you can't make 8000 kills without learning SOMETHING about combat in this game.
SLF pilots should earn their own rank independent of ours though, earning half rank cos you have a fighter is idiotic.I think youre right actually, minor tweak.
OP, all the grinds for Elite are much much easier than they ever were now. I know because I've grinded to Elite 7 times now if I count all of them individually (so far). It hasn't my main goal in the game, but I kept my eye on it and made it fun while I did it.
If you want to do the get you Elite in combat the fastest there ever has been to do it (as Brrokk said) is by killing Thargoid Scouts. Each Thargoid Scouts is worth three Elite NPCs if I understand correctly. Don't do it it way Brrokk said though because that would be way to boring!
1 Scout = 1 Elite NPC. I tried fight against Scouts, as I felt CNB is still faster than hunting threat 3-4 NHSS for scouts.
Honestly, i dont even know why people care about their rank...My next rank on both combat trade and exploration is Elite, ive leveled them all together not by choice just gameplay preference, didnt even realise how close they were to elite until recently.
I could quickly get them all up but, again dont see the point.
(In my opinion) there is no grind for Elite ranks. You get there by playing the game. Any grind is purely created by yourself by wanting to be there right now. That is a choice.
I really want to be triple Elite. But I am crawling through trade (91% Tycoon). But I am not going to grind it as it will stop being about playing for fun and become grinding for rank.
I really want to be triple Elite. But I am crawling through trade (91% Tycoon). But I am not going to grind it as it will stop being about playing for fun and become grinding for rank.
I reached Elite Combat as a side effect of training up my first NPC crew.
I reached Elite in Trade as a side effect of running smuggling missions to help my chosen BGS factions.
I will reach Elite in Exploration when 3.3 drops as a side effect of actually exploring.
Different people are motivated by different aspects of play, quite a common motivator is achievement and ED generally breaks this down into exponential chunks to give a good sense of progression and therefore encouragement early in the game.
The various achievement ladders also provide some direction for players who don't go into the game with a specific goal in mind.
There is a reason to grind combat ranking. I hardly ever do combat, but I managed to grind to deadly in a few days killing scouts. The reason was to unlock Lori Jameson so I could lightweight my life support module.
Not sure how hard it will be now that the new scouts have been added the buff and heal scouts.
I even manage to unlock the engineer that required 1,000,000 credits in Fed combat bonds, by cashing in combat bonds from the scouts that I killed.
Two birds, one stone.
Not sure how hard it will be now that the new scouts have been added the buff and heal scouts.
I even manage to unlock the engineer that required 1,000,000 credits in Fed combat bonds, by cashing in combat bonds from the scouts that I killed.
Two birds, one stone.
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If you're only looking at time killing scouts are still the fastest way.
But when you factor in decontamination time, USS trawling and the occasional repairs it is slower than farming a compromised nav beacon.