Confession of a shameless Mode Switcher...
- Thread starter DukeIronHand
- Start date
I popped Duke just before I took these few months out, (not got the cutter tho I have the cash for it and to outfit to get it going but have held off from doing so) this was after about 2years of owning the game and over a 1000 hours of playing time. My Fed rank is somwhere around CPO I think, the only time I did some "grind" for the Imp one was going Earl to Marquis as it was stuck on 90% for an age and I was in the area of a well known spot for such a thing.
But mode switch, damn right, not for the sake of getting rank more for the fact that I dont like leaving the dock half full, so it will be either to fill up cargo, data, or what ever missions Im doing at that time. The way I see it is we have a 20 mission max and a huge cargo bay, (somtimes there just isnt the trade route) why not use that and if that means logging in and out from time to time why not.
But then I also dont give a flying rats backside how others play or what they think about the way I play. I either get there in the end or take a few shortcuts along the way. (and no I dont do or havnt done the more well known expolits, when I say short cuts I was refering to shortcuts not I want it now so I'm going to serach the forums and reddit and youtube to see the best way to make a bill in a week sort of thing)
But mode switch, damn right, not for the sake of getting rank more for the fact that I dont like leaving the dock half full, so it will be either to fill up cargo, data, or what ever missions Im doing at that time. The way I see it is we have a 20 mission max and a huge cargo bay, (somtimes there just isnt the trade route) why not use that and if that means logging in and out from time to time why not.
But then I also dont give a flying rats backside how others play or what they think about the way I play. I either get there in the end or take a few shortcuts along the way. (and no I dont do or havnt done the more well known expolits, when I say short cuts I was refering to shortcuts not I want it now so I'm going to serach the forums and reddit and youtube to see the best way to make a bill in a week sort of thing)
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Now that the galaxy has console players as well, imagine them going into the station menu and seeing the missions list, and knowing these are all they are getting. They'd just log off. I don't think FDev wants that. There are so many suggestions about changing the game to make it more boring, more grindy, in ways that shouldn't matter to people who don't use the mechanic in the 1st place.
Yes (thankyou), for what it's worth.
Let's leave aside for the moment the BGS doesn't have enough "None" state going on, even in a civil war, people want food. Even in a famine, someone needs to haul away the biowaste so they can afford to buy (some of) the food. War needs supply, and cash, of all kinds.
The mission sim lacks persistence. Change that. Let it look back a little, use caches to decrease load, generate loads and loads of missions deterministically. Then select from those candidate missions (deterministically) and offer missions which this player could plausibly do, or almost do - ones near the beginning of their timed run which match any rank-locking, biased towards (but not exclusively selecting) ones which are suited to the ship loadout - is this a combateer, a cargo hauler? Heavy or light? Does it have passenger cabins? Do I have another ship here, or nearby, with a different loadout? Maybe let me pin a mission, particularly one which I can almost do with a bit of reoutfitting, so I know it'll still be there for another hour so I can go and get/outfit my ship to be more suited to it. Specially mark progression, ranking and permit missions. Specially mark missions which go somewhere very far away, or a long way from the star (hello Alpha Centauri!). Don't lock me into linked missions.
The above system also allows merging the missions and the passengers. They're only separate because they were done at different times. Cool. More menu space.
Call ahead to the mission sim to get ready when you log in when docked or request docking permission, so you never have to wait for the mission board to generate, and previous look-behind states where players are in this shard are cached anyway.
If you ever don't have enough missions to fill a good-sized board with the above strategy, you weren't generating enough missions - go back and add a nought.
It's easy to make plans to fix it, of course, but note that the plans constitute a complete mission system refactoring. This is a post-2.4 "life quality" thing, but it does need doing. And don't become disheartened, Dom, I think you've done a great job patching up the mess you probably have, but know that you're putting off the inevitable. And it totally can be done.
I don't want to read 5 pages of responses invariably agreeing or disagreeing, so my apologies if this has been said...
@OP When you were not using the exploit, you were taking the wrong missions. It;s as simple as that. If you'd focused on passenger 'transport rich tourist' missions and boom missions, doing all the donations that you find on every board you stop on, you would have made a rank a week given the time you have to play.
I'm actually going to say you are handicapping yourself, because when I'm grinding rank, I take all the boom missions, one to every system, I don't look for ones to the same system, but if I get them, that's a bonus, that means two things...it means I'm seeing way more missions than you, on way more boards, which gives me a higher chance of finding the easiest 3* rep missoins which will give you a significant boost. The main trick is absolutely wherever you go, check the boards for those all important donation missions (I don't do goods, only credits), which I swear is why I ranked up so fast. It took me 2 weeks of a couple of hours a day to get from Ensign to chief whatever it is that you need to get the FAS, then I stopped.
The most important thing of all, is to have staying power. Pick an 'area' or bubble of systems loyal to the one you want to rank up with, and work on the sub faction reputations, once you are friendly with a few, the missions get much better and more varied. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you wander the galaxy looking for 'the perfect place to rank up' you'll never find it. You need to MAKE that place for yourself by sticking in the area for a while to build rep with the subfactions.
I don't mind that you board switch at all, its fine, I'm just saying that I don't think it helps that much if you play the game optimally anyway and plan ahead. I never felt like I was grinding.
@OP When you were not using the exploit, you were taking the wrong missions. It;s as simple as that. If you'd focused on passenger 'transport rich tourist' missions and boom missions, doing all the donations that you find on every board you stop on, you would have made a rank a week given the time you have to play.
I'm actually going to say you are handicapping yourself, because when I'm grinding rank, I take all the boom missions, one to every system, I don't look for ones to the same system, but if I get them, that's a bonus, that means two things...it means I'm seeing way more missions than you, on way more boards, which gives me a higher chance of finding the easiest 3* rep missoins which will give you a significant boost. The main trick is absolutely wherever you go, check the boards for those all important donation missions (I don't do goods, only credits), which I swear is why I ranked up so fast. It took me 2 weeks of a couple of hours a day to get from Ensign to chief whatever it is that you need to get the FAS, then I stopped.
The most important thing of all, is to have staying power. Pick an 'area' or bubble of systems loyal to the one you want to rank up with, and work on the sub faction reputations, once you are friendly with a few, the missions get much better and more varied. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you wander the galaxy looking for 'the perfect place to rank up' you'll never find it. You need to MAKE that place for yourself by sticking in the area for a while to build rep with the subfactions.
I don't mind that you board switch at all, its fine, I'm just saying that I don't think it helps that much if you play the game optimally anyway and plan ahead. I never felt like I was grinding.
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I think the other thing, is that the experience from even as little as 6 months ago, is fundimentally different to now (and the further back you go, the more dramatic the difference) as far as naval progression is concerned. Primarily because you have to go hunting for suitable systems to gain suitable missions. In the past, I remember pretty much every fed station had fed missions that accrued fed rank. Sure, it's never been trivial. But the time-scale has changed. Dramatically. Which only reinforces that to progress in a timely fashion (a few months or so?) one has to grind.
Around the the same time Frontier started "fixing" missions, which was not long after removing the rank (exploration, trade, combat) mission locks; the frequency and availability started to tank. The irony of removing rank locking from missions to make it more available to players, which then had several ratchets applied to shrink and gate supply. As time has gone on, commanders have increasingly started to decamp to specific systems in specific cycles to perform specific missions.
And it's only getting worse; systems are now flipping rapidly due to that consolidation in places, mission types and availability. We're now seeing major failures around mission rewards as well.
I think the point of missions, and the mission boards, was lost somewhere along the way. Frontier have no small body of work ahead, but I really would encourage this is just overhauled, with a clear goal in mind. The patchwork quilt has a lot of holes and issues now. Continually trying to patch it, is only introducing more problems. I don't blame the developer though. It's slowly gotten out of control, one update at a time.
I don't think anyone could really have predicted it'd fall over this quickly.
Around the the same time Frontier started "fixing" missions, which was not long after removing the rank (exploration, trade, combat) mission locks; the frequency and availability started to tank. The irony of removing rank locking from missions to make it more available to players, which then had several ratchets applied to shrink and gate supply. As time has gone on, commanders have increasingly started to decamp to specific systems in specific cycles to perform specific missions.
And it's only getting worse; systems are now flipping rapidly due to that consolidation in places, mission types and availability. We're now seeing major failures around mission rewards as well.
I think the point of missions, and the mission boards, was lost somewhere along the way. Frontier have no small body of work ahead, but I really would encourage this is just overhauled, with a clear goal in mind. The patchwork quilt has a lot of holes and issues now. Continually trying to patch it, is only introducing more problems. I don't blame the developer though. It's slowly gotten out of control, one update at a time.
I don't think anyone could really have predicted it'd fall over this quickly.
That's not true... I play about as much as he does on a weekly average and I will sometimes focus down (though I always give preference and check for available missions) and it has taken much, much longer and I've been at it a while now.
Understand that as you gain ranks, the investment increases; the final rank is 600+ missions alone (assuming medium), the one prior is a good 400+. This is part of the problem; at lower levels, it doesn't look like there's a problem. Each rank requires more than the last; it's not linear and as you gain naval progression, the curve climbs rapidly.
This was always going to be an issue, console players aren't traditionaly known for their patience with steep learning curves, and in a way, for Elite, that's a good thing, because I don't want those kinds of players dictating the direction of the game, I'd rather it was folks like us who will be playing the game 5 yearas from now. Most console kids won't be doing that.
Anyway, as I said above, the thing is, that it's not supposed to be easy. Why should you be able to start the game with no reputation and have someone trust you with 16 units of non lethal weapons? These players need to understand that this game rewards patience and planning ahead. They need to pick an area and work on subfaction rep FIRST. Once they have afew friendly sub factions, the missions get more and more varied, and higher paying, and satisfaction increases. If there's one thing console players need to learn about Elite, it's that there is no free lunch.
Like all MMOs. But there's only one reason to do that...a Corvette. I, who do not hanker after a space whale, will be happy to wait. Again, it's as grindy as the goals you set for yourself.
Troy_McClure
Banned
If you don't get what OP is talking about, exactly which game have you been playing, 'cos it ain't ED!? I don't generally grind for anything (altho my occasional goal-oriented play requires it to some extent) or habitually mode swap for ranking, although I did to stack massacre missions just very recently - purely to get enough credits to buy & outfit a Python & FGS.
I have been playing for 2+ yrs & have pretty much taken all charity missions for either power since I found out about the ranking system, along with other regular missions as my core gameplay - I am still only 3/4 of the way in both. I'd say 2 years of regular, if relatively time-limited play, has "earned" the right to access any ship in a vid game, but I'm still way off - 'not complaining, it is the way it is!...but I absolutely sympathise with anyone who uses an 'officially sanctioned' mechanic to speed up rank progress - whatever you think about the process is moot!
I see in your avatar pic you've face-palmed your own comment! Better late than never...welcome to the real world!
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Er...do you people think I'm new? lol
EDIT: Anyway, I'm not saying the problem doesn't exist, I'm saying set your expectations appropriately, and if you play optimally board switching will only gain you about an extra 30%. If your time taken to gain that rank is so important to you, do it. I'm 700 hours in and I've board switched once, just to see how effective it was. It made quite a difference to money (because I was able to take more delivery missions to the same station, but they are low rep, so it wasn't optimal for rep grinding, but I can see how it would be more effecitive in stations in a bust state). If I was feeling like I needed the advantage, I'd just wait til I came across a bunch of charity missions on the same board and board switch to do it as many times as poss.
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I'm fairly sure i could have been top rank by now if I was a Fed/Imperial guy (ignoring the short period after 1.3 where it became ridiculously easy to rank up). But being Independent/Alliance, i have nothing to rank up.
Still, i did get the ranks for the Cutter and Gunship easy enough. Gunship ranks i got simply by running missions around Sol for a week or so. 5 more ranks after that for the Corvette, i'm sure if i became a Fed boy i'd have that within a year just by doing Fed missions regularly.... i could be wrong of course.
Or i could just wait for the next time FD introduce a bug that makes ranking up easy again
That's probably a slur against PS4 players, even if there is a demographic difference. I'm fairly sure there will be PS4 players that will become ED addicts, just like PC players. There are plenty of PC players that can't focus on games for more than a few weeks as well.
Also, if they don't want to put in the time, that's their business. By equal comparison you could say "Good luck in getting a PS4 player to get to level 100 in World of Warcraft" (ok, no idea even if you can play WoW on PS4, but just roll with it).
No? Not sure what that has to do with naval ranks not having a linear gain?
That's a very specific figure; it's almost like, it was plucked from thin air? So who's setting which expectations, again?
Look, I am not invalidating your comments, or saying there is a right/ wrong methodology. I am simply trying to communicate, that the ipso facto logic as presented fundamentally flawed; rank progression is not linear. Each rank requires more investment than the last; the final rank required for either one, of the two ship unlocks is circa 650 medium reputation missions. So assuming your current progress means a linear jog to the finish and it's not really that more efficient to focus on it, than not - completely ignores the copious evidence to the contrary.
The last two ranks, across both navies, is in excess of 2000 missions. Even if you ploughed 20 a week, which in of itself is effectively admitting some sort of focus, thats 100 weeks. Essentially 2 years when considering the rest of the ranks below. I'm not making this up; the last few ranks are brutal.
I don't really care if people have a problem with mode switching or not; it's rampant because to gain naval reputation at upper levels, in a time frame that isn't "multiple years" pretty much requires it.
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It's missions again now? Last time I tried missions din't earn me progress at all. I made like 3% in a month playing about every evening and looking for missions to do for the feds. Some said it was better to hand in combat bonds or bounties or somthing other combat related I can't remember. It's ridiculous how the progress methods get changed every few patches. I pretty much gave up on making progress for those ranks - it was a g month of wasted time for nothing.
And don't get me started about the rep decay.
I don't do it often, but I certainly do if I feel like it & make no apology for it! lol
I get it. ... SIM.. immersion. . Blah blah blah
Sometimes I got stuff to do
I get it. ... SIM.. immersion. . Blah blah blah
Sometimes I got stuff to do
![BigBANGtheory [VR]](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/71/71385.jpg?1644873788){kind=avatar}
I don't mode switch any more mainly because I do not feel the need to. There was a time as I was learning the ropes that I felt ED was by design artificially holding back my progression, the pacing wasn't right for me.
I do not believe I have gained any particular advantage over other players it has simply allowed me to earn enough credits to engage with the game as I choose. In my view we simply need to double the amount of missions on offer given the right faction state and conditions. I'm not a fan of a refresh button concept personally I think there are better ways to address the root cause and motivation of mode switching. As for ED having a slow rate of progression by design, that makes sense if ED had more of a survival element to it but it does not so to me it can feel artificially imposed and pointless.
I do not believe I have gained any particular advantage over other players it has simply allowed me to earn enough credits to engage with the game as I choose. In my view we simply need to double the amount of missions on offer given the right faction state and conditions. I'm not a fan of a refresh button concept personally I think there are better ways to address the root cause and motivation of mode switching. As for ED having a slow rate of progression by design, that makes sense if ED had more of a survival element to it but it does not so to me it can feel artificially imposed and pointless.
I'm very sure, since I am a PS4 player as well.
Early ranks are not so bad and come at a reasonable pace. The higher ones? Not so much.I'm fairly sure i could have been top rank by now if I was a Fed/Imperial guy (ignoring the short period after 1.3 where it became ridiculously easy to rank up). But being Independent/Alliance, i have nothing to rank up.
Still, i did get the ranks for the Cutter and Gunship easy enough. Gunship ranks i got simply by running missions around Sol for a week or so. 5 more ranks after that for the Corvette, i'm sure if i became a Fed boy i'd have that within a year just by doing Fed missions regularly.... i could be wrong of course.
Or i could just wait for the next time FD introduce a bug that makes ranking up easy again
I don't think you're new. Do you think I'm new?
I remember reading on the website (I think it's still there) "Play the game your way"...
I started my CMDR years ago, got to Elite Combat and up to FAS in rank, doing things 'the normal way'.. Then I rerolled.. Back to zero everything..
I went straight to HighRes and stole millions from the Federales. Got myself into a FDL. Then Python. Then looked at Empire ranking and thought 'nah.. not happening..'
Then Quince happened... Went from zero to hero in a few weeks doing the original scan missions. Bought a Cutter, hated it and then looked at Fed ranking.
Went to Ceos/Sothis and did that for ~80 hours and got my Corvette.
You can do things the easy way or the hard way or your way. It effects no-one else.
I know that I now enjoy E.D. much more. I can do whatever I want. I have every ship I want, I have them tricked out the way I want and when I log in, after work, I just a pick a ship based and mood and what I want to do for the evening.
I play E.D. my way, just as advertised on the box.
I started my CMDR years ago, got to Elite Combat and up to FAS in rank, doing things 'the normal way'.. Then I rerolled.. Back to zero everything..
I went straight to HighRes and stole millions from the Federales. Got myself into a FDL. Then Python. Then looked at Empire ranking and thought 'nah.. not happening..'
Then Quince happened... Went from zero to hero in a few weeks doing the original scan missions. Bought a Cutter, hated it and then looked at Fed ranking.
Went to Ceos/Sothis and did that for ~80 hours and got my Corvette.
You can do things the easy way or the hard way or your way. It effects no-one else.
I know that I now enjoy E.D. much more. I can do whatever I want. I have every ship I want, I have them tricked out the way I want and when I log in, after work, I just a pick a ship based and mood and what I want to do for the evening.
I play E.D. my way, just as advertised on the box.