Mercenary rank during exploration

[Vranov]

Hi folks. I've been doing some exploration quite close to the Bubble (some 2k ly or so) and found that my mercenary rank is going up from planet to planet, but I am unsure what it depends on.
1. Like driving SRV in the black for Explorer rank, it depends just on running around far from Bubble.
2. First Footfalls. Had about two dozens of them.
3. Most unlikely: using jetpack. I lack sprint upgrade so I use jetpack as sprint extender veeery frequently.

Do you have any information on this?

 

[Codger]

I've never seen it increase for anything other than on-foot combat.

 

[Elpapo]

Its first time I ever heard of such thing, nor seen yet any similar reports anywhere else.
I also done very quick & short exploration trip, just to see "new" exo payouts a few days ago, and my merc rank still in same level as before.
(I am about at 85% of elite merc, about to reach elite I)

From what I can tell and I know, I can confirm what Codger said... it seems that merc rank progress is only depend on number of kills done, nothing else increases it.
Preety sure that sellin combat bonds earned on "foot", at frontline solutions itself, while it should give some exp, it not does, even if it does, its not quite same as if its done while on ship.

So yep, if just walkin around does give some merc rank, it should be not be a significant amount of exp, cuz otherwise I would notice my own rank bar movin'up.

 

[Vranov]

Its first time I ever heard of such thing, nor seen yet any similar reports anywhere else.

I am pretty sure that I made about 15% up to the Warrior rank. It was just above the middle line when I set off from Bubble, and I was doing nothing but explo in far end of Guardian space.

Trying to monitor if it increases further, although I am almost through with the trip. At the moment I think that these are First Footfalls that are responsible, but maybe I've made it up (but the damned bar moved considerably).
. There's probably a number of non-visited planets ahead. If the line does move, I'll update this post.

 

[Vranov]

Either this, or wishful looking on my side. I'm eager to understand, but I would hate spending another week in the black to do it properly. Hopefully the remaining dozen jumps either approve or disprove the observation.

 

[LifesAJourney]

I do a ton of exploration and every exploration-related activity and I don't do any on-foot combat at all and my mercenary rank stays at 0% harmless all the time.

I'd say it's a bug if it works differently for you.

 

[Astaran]

Either this, or wishful looking on my side. I'm eager to understand, but I would hate spending another week in the black to do it properly. Hopefully the remaining dozen jumps either approve or disprove the observation.

Have you completed any planetery points of interest like "Distress Signal", "Crash Site" and/or shot any Skimmers at those PoIs?

 

[varonica]

Have you completed any planetery points of interest like "Distress Signal", "Crash Site" and/or shot any Skimmers at those PoIs?

That increases your combat experience I think, but not sure about mercenary, unless you actually have a mission there it shouldn't change mercenary rank. Having said that, just checking and I do have some mercenary rank, not sure what from but I did have a fight with some settlement scavs once by accident and killed a couple, so don't know, it's not up by much and if there was something purely exploration that was causing it, well people will tell you do a looot of exploration, so if there was my rank would be a lot higher.

 

[Vranov]

Well, 26 jumps and 6 First Footfalls later I can confirm that that was just a wishful looking and, probably, some unnoticed progress before the expedition. Probably.
The mercenary rank hasn't changed. The question is over and done with.

 

[Vranov]

Have you completed any planetery points of interest like "Distress Signal", "Crash Site" and/or shot any Skimmers at those PoIs?

No. Scores of Guardian Sentinels, yes; however, the question is already solved in the negative. At least, for me, after I did some low-scale monitoring.

 

[Kaput]

I am pretty sure that I made about 15% up to the Warrior rank. It was just above the middle line when I set off from Bubble, and I was doing nothing but explo in far end of Guardian space.
View attachment 338091

Jeebus cribus! What's with the wobbly lines, and unreadable letters?

 

[Vranov]

Jeebus cribus! What's with the wobbly lines, and unreadable letters?

They are alright, I guess, unreadable as they are. Me, too).

 

[Codger]

Jeebus cribus! What's with the wobbly lines, and unreadable letters?

FSR is probably enabled.