There have been numerous threads on Empire ranks and how to get them. I have even read the 45+ page thread on the subject. However, I just wanted to relay my personal experiences in seeking to attain the rank of 'Lord' (hence the title). I've been playing since Beta and greatly anticipated joining the Empire. I wrestled with the rank system from launch and followed the 'established' method for the first three ranks (go to Dictatorship, Patronage and Corporate systems). I run some missions for a couple of hours in a system a few days ago and reached Knight. From there, I moved locations and started running the full scope of missions for the dominant Imperial faction. I even run missions for the minor Imperial faction after a full day as it seemed to be tough slog.
A little frustrated, I moved to another system and this is where I think it is either very complex or convoluted. There is only one faction in that system. I am Allied with the Empire as a whole. Every system I fly into immediately reacts as an ally. So, on the system map, in the right hand systems panel and even upon being greeted by stations...I am an ally. I start running missions for them. At the completion, I am listed as 'neutral' (in the influence summary). This alone is highly confusing. I am an ally...but not really. I plugged at it for a full day hoping for the naval ascension mission. I brought them untold commodities, ran untold numbers of courier missions, killed their enemies and even gave them 40000 credits when they asked for it. After all of my efforts, I eventually saw they were now 'friendly' with me in a mission summary (whilst still being an ally of course). I ran another courier mission and the mission summary had me back at 'neutral'. No downward arrows anywhere and no conceivable negative consequences from delivering that little message.
Two days slugging away in two systems has yielded nothing. I have read the posts from people claiming to have reached Baron in 8 hours (no evidence provided of course) and multiple theories on where to go, what to do etc. I am not claiming that the rank system is broken...just that it is self contradictory as stated above and perhaps lacking a framework which can be understood by the average player. I don't wish to be spoon-fed but I feel that if I run 30 missions or more for the Empire...surely that must count for something in a larger sense which contributes to rank.
Love the game...love the challenges. However, I find that this element of the game is a bit like French Foreign Legion 'beasting' in Djibouti. You never quite know if the road that you have been slaving to construct across the desert is going anywhere and at any time, could be subject to an order to deconstruct.
A little frustrated, I moved to another system and this is where I think it is either very complex or convoluted. There is only one faction in that system. I am Allied with the Empire as a whole. Every system I fly into immediately reacts as an ally. So, on the system map, in the right hand systems panel and even upon being greeted by stations...I am an ally. I start running missions for them. At the completion, I am listed as 'neutral' (in the influence summary). This alone is highly confusing. I am an ally...but not really. I plugged at it for a full day hoping for the naval ascension mission. I brought them untold commodities, ran untold numbers of courier missions, killed their enemies and even gave them 40000 credits when they asked for it. After all of my efforts, I eventually saw they were now 'friendly' with me in a mission summary (whilst still being an ally of course). I ran another courier mission and the mission summary had me back at 'neutral'. No downward arrows anywhere and no conceivable negative consequences from delivering that little message.
Two days slugging away in two systems has yielded nothing. I have read the posts from people claiming to have reached Baron in 8 hours (no evidence provided of course) and multiple theories on where to go, what to do etc. I am not claiming that the rank system is broken...just that it is self contradictory as stated above and perhaps lacking a framework which can be understood by the average player. I don't wish to be spoon-fed but I feel that if I run 30 missions or more for the Empire...surely that must count for something in a larger sense which contributes to rank.
Love the game...love the challenges. However, I find that this element of the game is a bit like French Foreign Legion 'beasting' in Djibouti. You never quite know if the road that you have been slaving to construct across the desert is going anywhere and at any time, could be subject to an order to deconstruct.
