It shouldn't be either. It should be location and situation based. Ditto for missions and payouts.
Basically high-paying missions or the most profitable trading-runs should take you into more dangerous systems, low-paying missions take you to safer systems. It'd be up to you do decide whether to take on the high-risk missions in your current ship, or whether you first need to upgrade a bit.
Mission-specific NPCs should be ranked and outfitted according to the mission, all other NPCs according to the system (and perhaps surrounding systems) you're currently in, taking into account factions, economy, political state, etc etc. Pirates would then decide to attack you not only on whether or not you have any cargo, but also on how desperate they are and what chances they have against you.
Anyway, we can dream..
Good points. I like those ideas.
Just yesterday, I was almost interdicted again, with an empty cargo ship and no missions active. That stresses me out. If we at least could get that if you have no missions and no cargo, look, there's nothing here to get. I can't drop the cargo for them to pick up if I got none. Urgh.
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why all combat missions are illegal?
I am working for empire, but all "combat missions" which they offer to me are ILLEGAL! why omfg?!
It's probably because of which station you're getting the missions from. I do a lot Imperial missions too, and I've had legal combat missions (just did one yesterday for the Navy rank up).
why all combat missons has higher rank?
That's because they will increase your combat rank by beating them.
which kind of ship can transporst 132 items to outpost?!!!!!
Python can be outfitted to do 132. I have 128 in mine, and still have SRV and other things in the slots. Python for the WIN!!! It's the best ship, in my opinion in the game. A superb multipurpose.
IS THIS GAME ONLY ABOUT GRINDING?!
And combat. Unfortunately. But yeah, it's some serious grinding in this game. It took me a month to finally get to Duke, so I just got an Imperial Cutter. Woot! During that time, I neglected work and had no life. No. Not quite, but I did spend a lot of time.