Hiring and Firing NPC Crew Members

Torqulence

Torqulence
Hi Commanders!

Got a question here.... I'm almost ready to get involved in Ship Launched Fighters (SLF) and NPC Crew to Fly them. I however am NOT ready to have them leaching off my income for the rest of my life, LOL.... So....

I saw a video where it suggested that you can hire an NPC (say... expert level) and use him for a mission, like SLF protection while mining in a High Res Extraction Site to fight off pirates, then fire him before you sell your mined load, therefore not having to pay him.

1. Is this correct?

2. Will this have any long term effect, like reputation for example, when it comes to doing this over and over again? Will the NPC crew for hire start to hate me for using them and not paying; therefore not allowing me to hire them later on?

Thanks in advance!
 

Stealthie

Stealthie
You'd be missing out on the best performance of an SLF jockey by doing that, though.

If you're going to hire an Expert NPC, you might as well just launch a bunch of Collector limpets, as a diversion, for all the good they are in combat.
They are, basically, pretty hopeless until they hit Dangerous rank and then, after that, you'll start to see them doing things that are actually quite impressive.

I'd suggest waiting until you attain Elite combat rank before hiring an SLF jockey you get attached to.
They leech a LOT of combat XP from you so keeping one is going to dramatically extend the time it takes to reach Elite.

Once you are Elite, though, and you've got enough credits that you don't care about losing 10% of your income, it's well worth hiring a Harmless NPC and then training them up to Elite rank.

There's been times where, for example, I've done something stupid and ended-up staring a rebuy in the face and my SLF jockey has saved my ship, either by keeping attackers busy long enough that I can reboot my shield or, on one memorable occasion, delivering the death-blow that took out an attacker and saved my ship after my thrusters were disabled.

Stuff like that is like Unicorn poop in ED and, honestly, I reckon it's easily worth the 10% of your income that they take.

Just take the time to find an NPC who doesn't look like they hit every branch of the ugly-tree as they fell out of it.
 

Torqulence

Torqulence
SlickPBW said:
No after effects, you evil boss. 😆
Click to expand...

Thanks CMDR! This sounds like the way to go for now.

Stealthie said:
They are, basically, pretty hopeless until they hit Dangerous rank and then, after that, you'll start to see them doing things that are actually quite impressive.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stealthie, I didn't realize they got to be that good. Once I'm ready to start giving up 10% I think this may be the way to go. Just not quite there yet!

Thanks all!!!
 

Codger

Codger
Note that while you won’t pay in credits, you’ll still pay half your combat experience, so be aware.
 

St0rmFury

St0rmFury
Torqulence said:
Interesting... OK, thanks CMDR Codger, I didn't realize that. Thanks for the heads up!
Click to expand...
Only if you bring them along to combat. If you don't want them leeching your exp, keep them inactive but they'll still leech your credits.

My crew is already halfway towards getting their own FC 🤪
 
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