Engineers Insights on Getting CIF from Missions

Ethan Drake

Ethan Drake
Hello

Dear Knowledgeable People,

For those like me who don't like/want to grind CIFs from unwieldy SRV trips through planetary bases, are there any practical insights to farm more CIF through the game ?


There are some precious information in those two threads :
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...mware-rewards-since-latest-server-patch/page5
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...dustrial-Firmware-now-falling-like-rain/page5

From reading these, it seems that ranking, particularly trade ranking helps to get CIFs proposed ad missions rewards, and that it still can happen when over the targeted rank level.
Thoug I'm trade Tycoon (Rank 8) and did not farm more than a dozen for long-tedious-boring hours of play (and sometimes exasperated login switching to refresh the missions board) this week.

I have tried to be in a home/many allies system, and in new ones/being unknown, it does not seem to work differently.

Do some types of economy or states seem to affect the rate of CIF-rewarding missions ? Or any other insight actually.

Thank you in advance

o7

Ethan
 

ExoForce

ExoForce
Maybe trading rank helps (I am Elite trading and CIFs are raining on me), but here are my observations.

To me, it looks like CIFs are related to the mission "difficulty" or specific "task" in the game. In the past I was getting them for missions to outposts very far away (long flight). Now, it looks to me that CIFs are (mostly) related to specific non-casual tasks.

Ive got tons of recently them at Fujin while unlocking Bro Tarquin (rare good stations???).
Currently, I receive tons of them at Anotchadiae, trying to unlock Isinor permit.
I would not exclude ship size also, I use Asp and Python (no large landing pads, so I can go to outposts).
I do not even accept single CIF missions any more (only 2x or 4x CIFs) .
Passenger missions have double rate for CIF (twice more then delivery). So install 1 economy cabin also.

Actually, all(?) stations with Chapter of Isinor faction are giving me many CIFs, at the moment of this writting...
This is all I know about CIFs.

a476eu.jpg
 
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Gorr

Gorr
I think Dominik mentioned that there are no reward specific missions (like missions for CIF), all missions just check mission rank and pull possible results from the base.

But it is true that you need higher rank to get CIF in the first place, or at least I haven't noticed it as a reward in lower ranked missions.
 

UnhappyDev

UnhappyDev
I see missions for CIF in my home system, Iota Hydri. It's in boom most of the time and I'm allied with many of the factions there. I'm tycoon rated at trading.

Note: I know base scanning is a pain, but I still think it is the best way to get CIF - every bit you get from a data point is magically multiplied by 3. I combine base scanning with mission board searching to get the stuff.
 

Ethan Drake

Ethan Drake
Thank to all three of your valuable insights.

First I'm working to get Elite in Trading, to maximize the return on further efforts.

Actually it also feels more worthy of my efforts : I ramped up 14% of this last rank in 2 days, feels much better about progressing than 14 mats in a week (though being able to use a Cutter helps a lot).

After this I'll check your insights : Fujin, Anotchadiae, Chapter of Isinor faction's stations, Iota Hydri (the two latter sound like paradise).

For the allied status, I can already tell it's better to be allied with every faction in the station, because when a mission proposing CIF (or something else one wants) pops, at least we can accept it (ok, this one was easy :D).

I'll try to see on the way if Boom states work better.
I also seen like 2 missions bringing 4 CIFs in a High Tech system on my way to my current A-B trade loop, so it might be another thing to check.

@UnnhapyDev : I guess the bases runs are more worth per time spent, but they ruin my enjoyment to the point I'd rather spend 5x the time running missions. And also, last run I checked like 7 or 9 settlements from the list (the one in the threads I mention above) in a row, took me evenings, and I got like 1x3 CIF grand total. 2 per evening from missions seemed better than 3 per week (yes I'm that bad with a SRV).
Given that since the beginning of the year I stopped playing three times because of this stupidly unwieldy SRV runs and the whole pointless grind (from a game _design_ perspective) for the weekend mr-fixits RNGeers, I guess I'll stick to missions, I live it better ^_^

Once again, thank to you all three of you.

Best regards,

Ethan
 
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Ethan Drake

Ethan Drake
Update / Results :

After a number of boring evenings of A-B Trading Loops, I've reached Elite in Trading last night (Happy I had a Cutter).

Tonight in like half a dozen Mission Board consultation in 3 different systems, I have seen 3 CIF in the board (2 Bring Me XX Trade, 1 Assassination).

I don't know if it is because Dominic's modifications have been re instantiated for CIF too (thanks to you Dominic) in the new update, or if there is a huge difference in spawning because I'm now Trading Elite...
But the difference is sensible, and time spent becomes worthy again. It's like 3 CIF per hour doing different kind of missions. Not that comfortable, but at least it is not senseles, it has some feel of progression at last, and the assination mission was surprisingly refreshing after all these months anchoring dullness to this game (and I had a FDL too ^_^).

I hope this helps, though I don't know the drop/hour of base runs, compare and see what you feel like !)

Best regards,

Ethan
 
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metascrawl

metascrawl
The things I do for crack....

..ed industrial firmwear.

I'm not having much luck with it as a mission reward at all. Recently I've been checking for it on every mission board and passenger lounge everywhere I go. The only one I got today was from a sightseeing trip - over thirty jumps in my Python. Plus the passenger was illegal so I spent the whole time fretting about getting back into the station without being blown up. I see other types of data that are supposed to be rarer much more frequently. I'm Entrepreneur by the way.

Good tips in this thread though, I'll come back to it.
 
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Dominic Corner

Mostly Harmless Programmer
Frontier
Hi there,

As you enter the bar, a strange man in a black t-shirt with I WANT TO SELL ILLEGAL GOODS emblazoned in luminous orange beckons you over to his table

"Hi there," he says, "Are you here for the cracked industrial firmware, too?"

He notices the glint in your eye and continues...

"They're quite rare, mind you... As far as missions go, they've only been seen on missions recommended for commanders at or above Expert level"

He sees the slight furrow of your brow as he says this, and also spies the trade decal on your ship

"Yes, yes... It also applies for the other professions. After all, different missions require different skills..."

As you start to ask a question, he cuts you off...

"The chances of getting a micro resource at all, you ask? Why, they're pretty much the same for all mission types. I've even heard rumours that they're a bit higher now than they were, say... two days ago?..."


Thanks,
Dom
 

Kvochur

K
CIF are level 3 data. Why are they so rare? Why do we have to suffer for necessary, mandatory changes to our ships? As Truesilver and Kyokushin did before, I will compile a bug report. This situation is absolutely unfair and disrespectful of our time and our passion for this game.
 

Gunnet

G
Dominic Corner said:
Hi there,

As you enter the bar, a strange man in a black t-shirt with I WANT TO SELL ILLEGAL GOODS emblazoned in luminous orange beckons you over to his table

"Hi there," he says, "Are you here for the cracked industrial firmware, too?"

He notices the glint in your eye and continues...

"They're quite rare, mind you... As far as missions go, they've only been seen on missions recommended for commanders at or above Expert level"

He sees the slight furrow of your brow as he says this, and also spies the trade decal on your ship

"Yes, yes... It also applies for the other professions. After all, different missions require different skills..."

As you start to ask a question, he cuts you off...

"The chances of getting a micro resource at all, you ask? Why, they're pretty much the same for all mission types. I've even heard rumours that they're a bit higher now than they were, say... two days ago?..."


Thanks,
Dom
Click to expand...

All information from devs should come in the form of short stories.
 

HeavyGroovez

HeavyGroovez
Dominic Corner said:
Hi there,

As you enter the bar, a strange man in a black t-shirt with I WANT TO SELL ILLEGAL GOODS emblazoned in luminous orange beckons you over to his table

"Hi there," he says, "Are you here for the cracked industrial firmware, too?"

He notices the glint in your eye and continues...

"They're quite rare, mind you... As far as missions go, they've only been seen on missions recommended for commanders at or above Expert level"

He sees the slight furrow of your brow as he says this, and also spies the trade decal on your ship

"Yes, yes... It also applies for the other professions. After all, different missions require different skills..."

As you start to ask a question, he cuts you off...

"The chances of getting a micro resource at all, you ask? Why, they're pretty much the same for all mission types. I've even heard rumours that they're a bit higher now than they were, say... two days ago?..."


Thanks,
Dom
Click to expand...

You sir win the internet today.
 

metascrawl

metascrawl
Dominic Corner said:
Hi there,

As you enter the bar, a strange man in a black t-shirt with I WANT TO SELL ILLEGAL GOODS emblazoned in luminous orange beckons you over to his table

"Hi there," he says, "Are you here for the cracked industrial firmware, too?"

He notices the glint in your eye and continues...

"They're quite rare, mind you... As far as missions go, they've only been seen on missions recommended for commanders at or above Expert level"

He sees the slight furrow of your brow as he says this, and also spies the trade decal on your ship

"Yes, yes... It also applies for the other professions. After all, different missions require different skills..."

As you start to ask a question, he cuts you off...

"The chances of getting a micro resource at all, you ask? Why, they're pretty much the same for all mission types. I've even heard rumours that they're a bit higher now than they were, say... two days ago?..."


Thanks,
Dom
Click to expand...

Thanks Dom. I'm mean, er, strange man.
 

Heater

Heater
Problem is they are offered for the mission reward, but once you take the mission it changes to something else...
this has happened me 3 @ 4 times in the last few days, I know they said it should be fixed, but still is happening :(
 

Ethan Drake

Ethan Drake
Hi Dominic,

Even without formatting it'd be welcome, and another depth in the game for a little effort (just have a look at what the guys try to guess from non-immersive content...). It's real fun and doubly enjoyable.

Anyway thank for the caring, we appreciate a lot that you take the time to check and keep us informed. We may all not say thanks, but it's priceless for us.

Independantly, my average CIF per hour from missions plummeted, I got only 2 in something like 6 hours. That makes average under 1 per hour, and naturally less as (I confess) I tried switched solo/open a few times.

If the number of possible rewards blocks their drop rate increasing, could it be possible to enhance some of the rarest drop rates in systems High Tech systems for software or near some unlawful factions for Cracked software ? Getting a little more control around the engineering grind is something that would be most welcome, and would promote you from Hero to Half-God in this community.
Or easier even, could we possibly get more than 1 (like 3 or 4) more often ?

To add to the thread, I was already Combat Elite before all this, so if any Elite works, the whole drop rate upgrade is to thank to your modifications.
Thank all the more so for this !

Ethan
 
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Grisnir

G
Ok, Cracked industrial Firmware is still far to rare. I don't see any mission which it as them as reward and the Base scanning also drop non
 

fus roh potato

fus roh potato
I scanned about 12 bases yesterday while looking for MCF. Ended up getting around 8 seeds of CIF, which is a ridiculous amount. About a month ago, I had spent an entire 3 days hunting for CIF and hadn't found anything until I tried some high security bases. I kid you not, I had probably scanned over 30 free to scan bases until I gave up to try something harder. I can't recall exactly which type, but they were either M2H or M4H bases. They require killing generators and police ships to complete the scan, but the chances are so high that they practically guarantee a seed each scan due to the base type. They both provide it, but one of them is much more likely to show up in systems with low security, which means a very poor response time for additional police. I just can't remember which one of the two it was.

It would be nice if each base were more strictly configured to guarantee particular seed drops based on their type, especially for bases that are more difficult to deal with like they have done with the M2H and M4H (120% chance). They are currently only configured to do so loosely when it comes to all types that have no greater drop chance above 33%. The RNG of it really isn't a fun thing.
 
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Ethan Drake

Ethan Drake
Took a mission : Bring 16 Bromelite to get 2 CIFs.
Bought an ASP as mining ship. Outfitted it. Learned to mine. Mined for 18 hours.
Saved 11 out of my 13 precious refined Bromelite after pirate attack by miraculously bringing 38% left of my ship to nearest station without running out of air.
Mined back to 15 Bromelite. Went back to station. Looked at missions board.
Saw a 4 CIF missions for a 120t delivery. Could not take it without changing ship and selling cargo.
Decided to forgo current mining stride to get higher reward.
Sold 15 bromelite because I could not stock nor partial delivery for mission.
Took other ship.
Back to mission board, 4 CIF mission was no more here.
Result 0 CIF.
Sometimes I HATE this game.

Dear FD, with all due respect, and I supplicate this before I stop playing for the 4th time this year, please HIRE A TRUE GAME DESIGNER, one who understands QOL and Reward & Enjoyment per time Time, and who won't go on enforcing stupid design shortcuts who make this game unnecessarily frustrating and at times unplayable.
I and I guess a lot of people are ready to pay more for his/her salary.
Thank you in advance.
 
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