Newcomer / Intro How can The Federation consider me 'Neutral', but...

Oblivious · May 11, 2015

According to my stats, the Federation considers me as Neutral, and yet I have a rank of Cadet with them.

How can that be? I mean, if I have a rank, I'm not exactly neutral... or so I would think. :S

And that brings up another question... I've been doing missions exclusively for and selling cartographic data and goods (at a profit) exclusively to The Federation for quite a while now, and I've been 'neutral' and 'cadet' for quite a while now too. Still no pass to Sol though, and I still get told they don't trust me enough for certain missions.

I have to say, out of all the difficulty and mystery in ED, the reputation system seems to be the most mysterious...

Here's a link to a screenshot on my Steam page, in case this shows anything I'm not considering.

Stanchion Ra · May 11, 2015

I'm similar. Neutral to the Federation with a rank, Friendly to the Empire with no rank and Allied to the Alliance.

On a side note, your blue display is much friendlier on the eyes.

Glenn Ross · May 11, 2015

I'd like to know this as well. My trading rank is the same as yours, my exploration is not as high but Im working on it, and nice to meet another "Harmless" out here.

The only thing I can add is that I did notice whilst trading that every time I sold goods, I got a little change in that area. Positive changes were marked by little blue triangles point upwards, negative changes with orange triangles point downwards. But still I have not made a single change to the wording, I appear to be neutral to all.

Stanchion Ra · May 11, 2015

Glenn, If you're in a smaller ship, the trading is probably only help in tiny increments.

Find a faction that you like <cough> Alliance <cough> and keep up the beneficial trade routes.

Glenn Ross · May 11, 2015

Thanks. Had worked up to a T6, which I know isn't massive, but was looking at around 200K profit in about 10 mins. Did that until I could afford an Asp, outfitted for exporation, and am now gone. Out into the black, hours from my old systems, no-one to bother me, just jump, scan, cruise to all the objects, jump again.

There are some truly amazing sights out here. Systems with 51 objects in, 6 of them suns. Amazing solar flares, and the nebula backdrops are astounding! I even found a planet, 428kM in radius, composed of 100% metal. Yup, pure metal, 428kM in radius. Sold the information to Universal Cartographics in an Empire system back on Star Wars Day. Made 100K off that one planet scan alone - more than I normally make from an entire system.
Also found 2 Earth-like worlds so far.
Good days.

[Additional]
Yes, having looked at the options, I do favour the Alliance. Any idea where I find them?

andyraptor · May 11, 2015

Faction "Reputation"

&

Faction (Federal/Imperial) Navy rank

are not sync'd ..... achieving reputation gains in turn triggers naval progression missions. Completion of the naval progression mission moves you forward in rank only

You can be Allied with the Feds and still be Cadet (in Navy rank)

Joe Benotts · May 11, 2015

Not sure if it helps

Oblivious said:
According to my stats, the Federation considers me as Neutral, and yet I have a rank of Cadet with them.

How can that be? I mean, if I have a rank, I'm not exactly neutral... or so I would think. :S

And that brings up another question... I've been doing missions exclusively for and selling cartographic data and goods (at a profit) exclusively to The Federation for quite a while now, and I've been 'neutral' and 'cadet' for quite a while now too. Still no pass to Sol though, and I still get told they don't trust me enough for certain missions.

I have to say, out of all the difficulty and mystery in ED, the reputation system seems to be the most mysterious...

Here's a link to a screenshot on my Steam page, in case this shows anything I'm not considering.

Not sure if this will help you but I was able to get access to sol system by going into a combat zone and picking the faction that was aligned with the Federation. It was pure luck that I ended up in the CZ as I was only trying to jump close to Sol at the time. This seemed to increase my standing and get me the pass to Sol (it showed up as a mission in the BB system, it was weird because it really is not a mission per se as there is no goal other than jumping to Sol system and no pay out either).

Crazy Jedi · May 11, 2015

I don't think status is closely linked to rank.. I'm up to petty officer and I was at one point friendly with the Feds but after bailing on a couple of troublesome missions and making a general hash of things recently I am back to neutral.. Ho hum.
if you do keep on beavering away at fed advancement you will most likely gain friendly status just because u are working for fed and fed allied factions.

Oblivious · May 12, 2015

Thanks for all the replies, guys... I think I'm understanding it now.

Or rather, somewhat closer to understanding how it all works.

Ism · May 12, 2015

If you take missions for an an enemy of the federation, you will lose your friendly status but maintain your rank.
Not sure if that's your situation, but I have done it to myself.