Is the Elite rank in combat really that special?

[OHMSS]

I don’t post threads often but I thought i would throw this one out there.

A pilot can make Elite in combat doing PVE only. It’s a grind and involves keeping NPC ships roughly on screen firing gimballed weapons over and over again until they do it enough to get the rank. An exercise in monumental patience and dedication which is commendable.

Here’s a thought. How would that Elite ranked PVE pilot fare in combat with someone who is ranked master or dangerous for example but who only does PVP or Heavy AX, both of which require a step up in tactics, knowledge, situational awareness and the ship they built specifically honed for combat.

Depending on your conclusion, this might cast some doubt over the prestige associated with that combat rank. Trade Elite means nothing these days either as money is easy to get in game. It makes me wonder if a new measure of in game competence is required. Even saying that makes me sad because the Elite rank in game has been iconic since the 80’s.

 

[GroG79]

No, The triple Elite decal is tho


btw: You could easily cheese Elite in Elite II

 

[OHMSS]

yeah it’s very nice and hard earned

 

[Riverside]

Killing NPCs doesn't give much preparation for PvP, but it helps both to be familiar with how to control the ship, key assignments & stuff.

I think if someone wants to set themselves a challenge over & above any the game provides that's up to them. I have over 80,000 bonds & bounties claimed according to my codex, I've visited over 40,000 systems & have several billion in exploration data, and around 20bCr total assets. You don't have to stop when you reach Triple Elite You don't need to do them at all

 

[Marklar_]

Elite rank has nothing to do with combat ability and never has.

It's basically just a badge showing that you've been playing for a long time.

 

[Krash]

I've learned that Elite rank means a commander completed the required combat grind.

 

[Brrokk]

I don’t post threads often but I thought i would throw this one out there.

A pilot can make Elite in combat doing PVE only. It’s a grind and involves keeping NPC ships roughly on screen firing gimballed weapons over and over again until they do it enough to get the rank. An exercise in monumental patience and dedication which is commendable.

Here’s a thought. How would that Elite ranked PVE pilot fare in combat with someone who is ranked master or dangerous for example but who only does PVP or Heavy AX, both of which require a step up in tactics, knowledge, situational awareness and the ship they built specifically honed for combat.

Depending on your conclusion, this might cast some doubt over the prestige associated with that combat rank. Trade Elite means nothing these days either as money is easy to get in game. It makes me wonder if a new measure of in game competence is required. Even saying that makes me sad because the Elite rank in game has been iconic since the 80’s.

All the Elite ranks just mean you play a lot. This was so in the 1980s as well.

(Ninja'd)

 

[here_it_comes]

At least it means you are well experienced in combat, regardless of whether you floated by on a Gimballed Medium/Large ship or truly gained some skill.

It's better than one can say with Trading or Exploration, where you sell a hot chip or discover a sandwich in the back of your fridge and become Elite!

All the Elite ranks just mean you play a lot.

That would be a nice change!

 

[Marklar_]

At least it means you are well experienced in combat, regardless of whether you floated by on a Gimballed Medium/Large ship or truly gained some skill.

It's better than one can say with Trading or Exploration, where you sell a hot chip or discover a sandwich in the back of your fridge and become Elite!



That would be a nice change!

I got trade Elite back in the old days, it was quite a grind back then.

 

[here_it_comes]

I got trade Elite back in the old days, it was quite a grind back then.

And it means nothing now, as it will only be seen through the lens of what the rank currently means. You remember those hundreds of hours of trading when you see your Elite Trader decal, others see it and believe you sold a hot chip. Trading/Exploration ranks will never recover. I can't see FD increasing the requirements to redeem their prestige, and that is really is the only option at this point.

I really hope Combat rank doesn't get degraded too.

 

[OHMSS]

I got trade Elite back in the old days, it was quite a grind back then.

It certainly was and no gold rush fever so had to be done using the limited mechanics available. i only made Deadly in combat back in the 80’s and it was hard work. Took me the full 6 weeks of my summer hols from school but i was obsessed with the game back then (and now )

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Yes, you get all the bullet sponges converge on you and have no more say what's gonna spawn on you. The scripts determine so.

 

[wenkman]

I don’t post threads often but I thought i would throw this one out there.

A pilot can make Elite in combat doing PVE only. It’s a grind and involves keeping NPC ships roughly on screen firing gimballed weapons over and over again until they do it enough to get the rank. An exercise in monumental patience and dedication which is commendable.

Here’s a thought. How would that Elite ranked PVE pilot fare in combat with someone who is ranked master or dangerous for example but who only does PVP or Heavy AX, both of which require a step up in tactics, knowledge, situational awareness and the ship they built specifically honed for combat.

Depending on your conclusion, this might cast some doubt over the prestige associated with that combat rank. Trade Elite means nothing these days either as money is easy to get in game. It makes me wonder if a new measure of in game competence is required. Even saying that makes me sad because the Elite rank in game has been iconic since the 80’s.

"a new measure of in game competence"? why would we need to measure that? you got your pilot fed ranks and Navi ranks to measure the grind you invested.

you ask for a rank to show your in-game competence to others, that's the wrong path to follow. show others how competent you are piloting and character wise with you actions and interactions.

for extraordinary deeds that advance the game and the community fd sometimes gives extra reward like decals and paint jobs. may be hunt those.

 

[OHMSS]

I can't see FD increasing the requirements to redeem their prestige, and that is really is the only option at this point.

I was thinking of something related to types of combat kills. Perhaps the decal changes based on whether a pilots kills are PVE, PVP or AX. Perhaps colour or some subtle difference.

 

[here_it_comes]

you ask for a rank to show your in-game competence to others, that's the wrong path to follow.

Signifying experience and authority in the relevant field is literally the point of displaying rank.

...that's the wrong path to follow. show others how competent you are piloting and character wise with you actions and interactions.

You are talking about earning respect, which has nothing to do with respecting rank. Not even in RL military life.

for extraordinary deeds that advance the game and the community fd sometimes gives extra reward like decals and paint jobs. may be hunt those.

I need to work to benefit you and others in order to display that I am well-versed in the art of destroying others?

You aren't even talking about rank, you are talking about rapport.

I was thinking of something related to types of combat kills. Perhaps the decal changes based on whether a pilots kills are PVE, PVP or AX. Perhaps colour or some subtle difference.

Combat rank is fine. No matter how cheaply you game your combat rank, it will still signify that you have spent a significant amount of time in combat.

 

[Speedcuffs]

Even if it was 'PvP Elite' people would still find ways to grind it out.

 

[TheChosen]

Of course it is special.. it takes 10s if not 100s of hours of killing ships in a fully engineered ship. I never got Elite in neither of the three prior games and am not planning on getting one here neither.

 

[Vedmo]

The only elite that ever mattered died with these new forums.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

No, The triple Elite decal is tho


btw: You could easily cheese Elite in Elite II

Panther Clipper with 500 shields and an auto repair unit parked above a military installation during a photo or nuke mission. Ships will randomly crash into you, crediting you with the kill.

Set it up before going to work. Return home 8 hours later. Assuming that impacts from ships don't force you down to the ground and you survive you have a boatload of kills and perhaps a new rank.

I got bored of that before reaching Elite though.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Even if it was 'PvP Elite' people would still find ways to grind it out.

Alt account vs main account. Done and done.