Rank

[ZaCLoNe]

Can we get a focused/definitive answer into the purpose of grinding out rank besides for ships/system permits? Specifically, the point of grinding to King/Admiral? Is there a team/focus group looking into addressing this, currently, arbitrary feature?

Proposed ideas upon gaining/maxing rank;
-Cosmetic holo-me rewards?
-higher default state with unencountered minor factions in fed/emp space/stations?
-unique missions for unique/rare items that are only available through lots of grinding/low-rng chance?
-ability to command/persuade pirates away with rank (on a cooldown) to help with interdictions/fights?
-change syntax/addresses in missions and voice comms from CMDR/Commander to respective rank at stations (welcome to _ station your highness/admiral/etc | Your highness/admiral/etc, we need help/transport...etc.)

Most of these would maybe make a few people cringe over missing the experience being called Prince or Captain (heck, invent a system for CMDRs to select what rank they want to be called) but in the end, the purpose of this rank thing is to gain and maximize it. Currently, maximizing it to a ship and stopping a few tiers below the max is, sadly, pointless and very silly in design.
These are just a few examples of minor changes to otherwise show what a dump of effort and time that went into something that is achievable, through normal/focused gameplay, but could have been completely left off or ended at last rank that offered permit/ship. Generally getting 100% rank in something does more than just pop up on right side of your window to remind you of its existence....

Will there ever be some closure into this otherwise open-ended feature?

Thanks and hope for constructive/informative responses with sources into this feature that is very under-developed, unfinished, unpolished, and very dissatisfying as it is only treated as one more "mile marker" in this game of your time spent.

CMDR ZaCLoNe
o7

 

[Justinian Octavius]

Well, maybe the numbers don't warrant them developing the rank system but to me it would seem like an easy win if they did if for no other reason that they could sell a load of Empire or Federation cosmetics in the store. I wonder if the empire nameplates are a test to judge demand?

Can we get a focused/definitive answer into the purpose of grinding out rank besides for ships/system permits? Specifically, the point of grinding to King/Admiral? Is there a team/focus group looking into addressing this, currently, arbitrary feature?

I will ask Sandro if there will a focused feedback session on quality of life improvements etc in Beyond & if no else does, I'll ask if FDev has plans to improve the rank system.

Proposed ideas upon gaining/maxing rank;
-Cosmetic holo-me rewards?

Medals, uniforms, decals… would love it.

-higher default state with unencountered minor factions in fed/emp space/stations?

Interesting. I like it! It can't be too high but say default at Cordial? Yeah, that could work.

-unique missions for unique/rare items that are only available through lots of grinding/low-rng chance?

For rare goods? Not too sure tbh - I'd prefer for rare goods to get a face lift - maybe add an auctioneer/broker for them. For unique missions, I'd prefer getting medals for them or perhaps a free Special Effect with an Engineer aligned with the Superpower - something like that ties things together.

-ability to command/persuade pirates away with rank (on a cooldown) to help with interdictions/fights?

I have to disagree. Pirates are really something completely different of ones personal rank. Their difficulty imho should depend upon the type of system it is.

-change syntax/addresses in missions and voice comms from CMDR/Commander to respective rank at stations (welcome to _ station your highness/admiral/etc | Your highness/admiral/etc, we need help/transport...etc.)

Absolutely, and it would tie nicely into the faction reputation boost suggested earlier.

Most of these would maybe make a few people cringe over missing the experience being called Prince or Captain (heck, invent a system for CMDRs to select what rank they want to be called) but in the end, the purpose of this rank thing is to gain and maximize it. Currently, maximizing it to a ship and stopping a few tiers below the max is, sadly, pointless and very silly in design.

Elite has two superpowers who really don't like each other which could allow players to choose a side & that it matters. But it doesn't as you can do missions for both with no punishment. It could be so much more & certainly something that could make some types of players stick with the game. Taking the assets as are in the game, I would make it that you can do missions for Fed/Imperial factions but you only go up in Rank if you are pledged to a Power which is part of that Superpower. At least that way there is a direct link between the two systems & you do get some punishment if you defect.

Thanks and hope for constructive/informative responses with sources into this feature that is very under-developed, unfinished, unpolished, and very dissatisfying as it is only treated as one more "mile marker" in this game of your time spent.

Yep, it is a shame imho & they'd probably make back the cost of the dev time just from me buying Empire branded cosmetics from the store I've said it elsewhere, but for me, I'd have preferred a proper rank system with rewards & punishments for 'treason' than the content of 2.4, even if it looks amazing.

 

[ZaCLoNe]

Hey that is some good feedback and food for thought. I thank you for your time to comment and appreciate how you align your views on the ranks. Seems like a lot of room for improvement/innovation with this design so I am definitely interested in other people's take on how it could be used.

Can we get a focused/definitive answer into the purpose of grinding out rank besides for ships/system permits? Specifically, the point of grinding to King/Admiral? Is there a team/focus group looking into addressing this, currently, arbitrary feature?
I will ask Sandro if there will a focused feedback session on quality of life improvements etc in Beyond & if no else does, I'll ask if FDev has plans to improve the rank system.

--Hey that would be super neat if there is some kind of an official update or plan to expand this feature!

Originally Posted by ZaCLoNe View Post (Source)
-unique missions for unique/rare items that are only available through lots of grinding/low-rng chance?
For rare goods? Not too sure tbh - I'd prefer for rare goods to get a face lift - maybe add an auctioneer/broker for them. For unique missions, I'd prefer getting medals for them or perhaps a free Special Effect with an Engineer aligned with the Superpower - something like that ties things together.

--I was leaning more towards a reward for those harder to attain minerals or data sources for engineering through missions as oppossed to the grind/low rng. Might cause issue if people board flip alot but could limit it server side of 1-3 missions/hour or a cool down (30 min/hr) in between mission opportunities? It wouldn't supplement the grind but might be nice to help passively gather it through this manner when you are doing other missions.

 

[Lupus Exmachina]

I think that the Rank-system is no where near where it could be and have read lots of good suggestions in this forum.

I really like your suggestions, I also had once an Idea, that the highest rank in the respective navy would give you the ability to spawn a capital ship to your destination that would support you in battle for a few minutes (not near asteroids or stations, only in free space, very useful for cz) with a cooldown of a few days or a week. Summoning one of these would really give me a feeling of authority, which should come with the rank of Admiral and King.

Another idea would be to have different carrier ships from the Federation/Empire and also Alliance (beside an independent one) that you will be able to purchase for your squadron in the Q4 2018 Update.

 

[CommanderDarjeeling]

I like these after having done some of the ranking in Elite for these two superpowers (to Unlock Sol and an Engineer) and I can say that the way it is now...it feels meaningless to grind as a New Player (I'm on Xbox). The Elite Ranking for the three career types seems to carry more meaning as you have to earn it through actual game play and not stacking missions through various (borderline exploitive) means. I mean I got an FGS through the Global Reward so the only thing possibly worth going for in either Navy is either Corvette or Cutter...I just hope the Alliance Ships aren't locked behind this system as well.

Seriously FDev...can we get some QoL improvements to the ranking system? Maybe a non-stacking Ship/Outfitting Discount at aligned stations? Tying it to Powerplay also seems good as well as maybe the Combat Zones?

 

[ZaCLoNe]

I think that the Rank-system is no where near where it could be and have read lots of good suggestions in this forum.

I really like your suggestions, I also had once an Idea, that the highest rank in the respective navy would give you the ability to spawn a capital ship to your destination that would support you in battle for a few minutes (not near asteroids or stations, only in free space, very useful for cz) with a cooldown of a few days or a week. Summoning one of these would really give me a feeling of authority, which should come with the rank of Admiral and King.

Another idea would be to have different carrier ships from the Federation/Empire and also Alliance (beside an independent one) that you will be able to purchase for your squadron in the Q4 2018 Update.

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Wow I really like that idea of having that dramatic encounter for cz since that system is already super iffy even catching one if you aren't up on local politics (or forum/reddit sniping). I can't see a complaint to it besides being allied/high rank in fed/imp in the instance ->but it could spawn as the side you were fighting on. Maybe they could implement a "hanger" of sorts on the megaships and let you run in/repair and while it's in the instance for (10 min?). Then yeah, a cooldown or something to prevent the spamming of that neat feature. Only other issue to consider is 2+ players and opposing to each other -> they would both have to have the megaship cooldown at 0 and it would have to trigger together. Or instead of trigger/cooldown they could put a option/link to "fed/imp command" and purchase/start timer/cooldown for the request (maybe limit it to only single instance with 1 person or everyone in wing on same side?) Be nice to hear ship voice say "CMDR, we are detecting a large [whatever usual line is for megaship entrance]" and then "The fed/imp ship has offered support and docking permissions to continue the struggle." At the closing of the instance "CMDR, we are needed in the next system. Good luck and thank you for your service." Much more interactive mood.

The carrier ships, it would make sense that they could be behind a rank status, but it probably won't be feasible at the individual level to purchase 1 let alone get to own all 3 (factions) carriers; there will be people who will want the "bigger 3". I'm sure there will be stipulations into the implementation of purchase/owning carriers but some might be hurt if FD locks it to open and no private/solo option. Besides purchasing of the carriers (based on rank or collective rank of group) maybe that will be the only extent for carriers and rank?

 

[MadDogMurdock]

The rewards aren't the issue with ranks - it's that the whole process makes very little sense.

This is one area where FD do need to get more involved with a personal storyline rather than leaving it to the generic grind.

"Hey there King Mad Dog, what are you king of?"
"Poop my friend, hauling poop."

 

[ZaCLoNe]

I like these after having done some of the ranking in Elite for these two superpowers (to Unlock Sol and an Engineer) and I can say that the way it is now...it feels meaningless to grind as a New Player (I'm on Xbox). The Elite Ranking for the three career types seems to carry more meaning as you have to earn it through actual game play and not stacking missions through various (borderline exploitive) means. I mean I got an FGS through the Global Reward so the only thing possibly worth going for in either Navy is either Corvette or Cutter...I just hope the Alliance Ships aren't locked behind this system as well.

Seriously FDev...can we get some QoL improvements to the ranking system? Maybe a non-stacking Ship/Outfitting Discount at aligned stations? Tying it to Powerplay also seems good as well as maybe the Combat Zones?

Yes, the elite ranks feel much more meaningful and have more impact to the game albeit not on the immersive side (which is why rank would be fun being king/admiral and being acknowledged on some level of this vs "you are robbing this poor station blind you elite trader you"....lol) The Elite ranks generally benefit mission availability/rewards when it comes to those ranks AND access to Founders World after 1st Elite [gee another locked system but with benefits (-10% everything in stock and no searching) but NOT tied to faction rank but more meaningful than the other locked systems with ranked.....].

You created the perfect TLDR: Can we get some QoL improvements to the ranking system?