Reputation Should Not Determine Mission Quality and Payout

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Yes, let's nerf it even more.
\sarcasm

Let's bring back the rank locked missions, make it so you have to earn your money properly.

Money is so darn easy to get already...

Z...

Yep rank means nothing now. I much preferred rank locked missions and they make sense. Of course more missions are needed, in a system with population in billions we should not be scrabbling around choosing from a handful of missions.
I know the number limit is technical (does seem better in 2.4) but it still sucks and I think is why FD felt compelled to remove rank lock

 

[GODofDUTY83]

Problem:

Want a good paying mission? Stick to the same few systems, building rep. Never venture beyond your "home turf" area, as you risk days or weeks of low paying missions.

Solution:

Either your station has a variety of cargo that needs moved, pirates that need slain and other assorted jobs. Or it doesnt. Either i agree to do the job, or i dont. But how well you know me, shouldnt affect whether the job needs done.

So...just let me peruse the jobs. ALL of them.

Now, maybe as i gain a good rep, increase mission payouts. Offer me exclusive jobs. But stop shoveling crap at me to begin, because i wont work for you to begin with if you do.

Bravben himself said that the idea was peopl moving all over the galaxy, discovering things. And he further said Fdev failed to deliver that. Failed to motivate that.

Well...youre still failing at it. So, lets fix it.

Statements like this have killed the missions for myself.
If I wanted a specific mission type I would go to the system that offered that type. Developing factions as contacts to increase my mission availability.
Now due to constant whinging and the want to have everything on a platter, why would I need to move all over the place if every mission type can be attained from one station.
A fine example of how players destroy games.
Thanks.

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

I'm in! Where do I collect?

(I've found another soft target, lads, let's get to it!)

Oh goody another sucker... I mean transporter. Right, what I need you to do is collect Mr Maynard from the pub, take him back to Mr Phillips house and then take Tj to the vets, it's time for his shots again.

(I knew there would be at least one of you who'd fall into my trap!)

 

[Crank Larson]

Oh goody another sucker... I mean transporter. Right, what I need you to do is collect Mr Maynard from the pub, take him back to Mr Phillips house and then take Tj to the vets, it's time for his shots again.

(I knew there would be at least one of you who'd fall into my trap!)

Hang on, hang on... Where is this expensive cargo that you were advertising? I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to sell transport these goods for anywhere near the price you were offering. Obviously, I can give a discount for truly expensive items - you know, just so that you know you can trust me.

(Wait up, lads, don't leave port yet... Something funny's happening here)

 

[Ian Phillips]

T.j, contrary to all the rumours, is not cheap!

 

[Crank Larson]

T.j, contrary to all the rumours, is not cheap!

Where can I sell it?

(Looks like I can get some insider information, we may be able to recover this job yet)

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

Hang on, hang on... Where is this expensive cargo that you were advertising? I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to sell transport these goods for anywhere near the price you were offering. Obviously, I can give a discount for truly expensive items - you know, just so that you know you can trust me.

(Wait up, lads, don't leave port yet... Something funny's happening here)

Mr Maynard has great value at his local, they consider him to be their golden goose hence expensive cargo

T.j, contrary to all the rumours, is not cheap!

Curiosity begs I ask how you know the prices for his 'services' but common sense and decency insist I don't ask


OP, consider the forums for a moment. A long time poster on the forums makes a thread about something. Due to him being well know people will consider their words with more gravitas than the words of a new member. Reputation is a precursor to respect in many ways. For instance, if I made a thread it would not be taken seriously but if Shadragon wrote about the same topic it would contain the more meaningful replies.

Same happens with the factions in this game and is replicated n many other titles too.

 

[Viking84]

Feel a bit sorry for the OP here, he got jumped on a bit I tend to agree with the core of his statement though (or at least what I think is the core): Elite rewards, quite heavily, staying in one small area of the inhabited bubble.

As many in this thread have stated, the rep system makes sense from a real life perspective. However, it would be good if there were some other mechanics that would even out this, to tempt players to move around a bit.

Currently there is no difference between any areas of the bubble (apart from the odd CG, and engineers if you like that sort of thing), and no reason to travel to any other area if you have a decent reputation where you are. Surely we can all agree that this is a bit unfortunate?

 

[Crank Larson]

However, it would be good if there were some other mechanics that would even out this, to tempt players to move around a bit.

Doesn't boredom of the same surroundings do the job? No additional temptation should be required. I have several "home" systems - where I am allied with most factions. I'll usually head to one of those systems if I am going to do mission running, but then sometimes I won't - I'll choose somewhere different and increase my reputation with the local factions there. If I find a system in famine, war, or outbreak then even if I've never been there before, it's going to be profitable. It's also not going to take long to gain reputation, as there will be lots of missions.

If people want to stay in the same system because that is where they are allied, then let them. I very much doubt that many people do actually do that.

I agree that more variety would be appreciated. But that is a different issue entirely.

 

[Viking84]

Doesn't boredom of the same surroundings do the job? No additional temptation should be required.

I agree that more variety would be appreciated. But that is a different issue entirely.

I can't agree, I think it is two sides of the same issue. Everywhere in the bubble is the same, hence there is no temptation to move, as there is no change of surroundings achieved by moving. If you add to that the monetary incentive to stay, then you get what Braben was complaining about - players just moving around within their little sphere of systems.

If the human inhabited bubble was more like the planet we live on, we different areas have different cultures, flavours, different trading possibilities, mission types, and different levels of danger, then we would be more tempted to explore. As it stands you could pick any little cluster of stars and they would all have much the same to offer the player.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Except it seems to me, that some of the players with the most distance accrued, have spent very little time with the factions and various bubble goings ons.
They are the black swans to that premise.

 

[Crank Larson]

I can't agree, I think it is two sides of the same issue. Everywhere in the bubble is the same, hence there is no temptation to move, as there is no change of surroundings achieved by moving. If you add to that the monetary incentive to stay, then you get what Braben was complaining about - players just moving around within their little sphere of systems.

If the human inhabited bubble was more like the planet we live on, we different areas have different cultures, flavours, different trading possibilities, mission types, and different levels of danger, then we would be more tempted to explore. As it stands you could pick any little cluster of stars and they would all have much the same to offer the player.

Empire space is very different to Federal and Alliance. Have you not noticed the multitude of different cultures represented by station announcers? The different stations?

More to the point, do you stay in one area only? If so, why? I'd be interested in the reasons for anyone doing this, as I simply don't believe that it is happening. Why, when given a galaxy consisting of 400 billion star systems, would you only visit a handful? The only time that is likely to happen is for new players.

I've done a lot of exploring. It isn't money and missions that tempt you for this - it is simply the desire to see what else is around. Some people have that compulsion, some people don't.

 

[MickyG1982]

Yes, let's nerf it even more.
\sarcasm

Let's bring back the rank locked missions, make it so you have to earn your money properly.

Money is so darn easy to get already...

Z...

I hate to say it, I agree with you on this one - kinda, there were a lot less people claiming that NPC's were too hard when you couldn't get to the hard missions until you were ready for them...

 

[CMDR-AD]

I can't agree, I think it is two sides of the same issue. Everywhere in the bubble is the same, hence there is no temptation to move, as there is no change of surroundings achieved by moving. If you add to that the monetary incentive to stay, then you get what Braben was complaining about - players just moving around within their little sphere of systems.

I actually never did strongly agree with what Mr. Braben seemed to express regarding CMDRs not moving around. The idea of everyone being drifters is an interesting concept against the backdrop of the cut-throat galaxy, but in practice, perhaps seems to require that every CMDR be painted with the same brush?

First things first, I suppose that I must mention that I tend to play my CMDR within a sort of roleplay, and not everyone will do this. He's an independent. One who's been up to his ears in combat (and I have, in other games), and has turned is back on the violent lifestyle, and on the political scene. He'll make his way doing some trade (though not a preferred career), passenger runs, salvage, and mining. If getting ahead means violating his principles, he'll as often choose to stay behind.

So for this CMDR, not all systems are the same. There are systems out there which stink for mining and salvage. I'll never settle there. There are little gems though... pristine rings neighboring mining outposts, landable planets and moons, in non-superpower controlled space. I'll work from these systems for months or even years, supporting certain minor factions as I can. I learn every neighboring system and faction by name, their stations, outposts, and surface ports by name. It's great knowing the area like the back of my hand.

And thus I do fall into just moving around in my own little sphere of systems, for periods of time. But for me, this is a very enriched experience that enhances my CMDR's roleplay. Yet, when I've rarely shared my little "gem" locations with a friend or two, and they didn't really see anything special there. They have other interests, which are better served in other places. To each their own.

Still, it's not like I don't get around, even being a very "immobile" CMDR, I've traveled around 300,000LY total, now.

 

[Viking84]

Empire space is very different to Federal and Alliance. Have you not noticed the multitude of different cultures represented by station announcers? The different stations?

More to the point, do you stay in one area only? If so, why? I'd be interested in the reasons for anyone doing this, as I simply don't believe that it is happening. Why, when given a galaxy consisting of 400 billion star systems, would you only visit a handful? The only time that is likely to happen is for new players.

I've done a lot of exploring. It isn't money and missions that tempt you for this - it is simply the desire to see what else is around. Some people have that compulsion, some people don't.

I do travel around a bit, but only for shorter periods, and just because I like to play "space trucker" and find the longer journeys relaxing That said, there is no denying that everything is very much the same regardless of where you are. There is almost always one of everything within 50 light years from where you are.

I like the station interior variation, and the different accents on the traffic controllers, but it doesn't really equate to one area of space, you could, again, find one of everything within 50 light years of pretty much anywhere.

I'd like to feel the need to travel around to see what else is around. Unfortunately there just isn't anything else to be seen...

(note I'm not talking about exploration outside of the bubble to nebulas and black holes and what have you, but stuff to see within human inhabited space)

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Feel a bit sorry for the OP here, he got jumped on a bit I tend to agree with the core of his statement though (or at least what I think is the core): Elite rewards, quite heavily, staying in one small area of the inhabited bubble.

As many in this thread have stated, the rep system makes sense from a real life perspective. However, it would be good if there were some other mechanics that would even out this, to tempt players to move around a bit.

Currently there is no difference between any areas of the bubble (apart from the odd CG, and engineers if you like that sort of thing), and no reason to travel to any other area if you have a decent reputation where you are. Surely we can all agree that this is a bit unfortunate?

I move around all the time. The "low payments" aren't that bad. I still make a lot of credits from them. Sounds like the OP is complaining for no real reason. There is no punishment. You get rewarded, it's just that your reward isn't as good if they don't know you well.

 

[Wulfram Carbide]

I think the problem is that minor powers are so local. There should be more corporations with branch offices all over, broad political parties and factions and so forth. That way you could get the benefit of boosted reputation without being stuck in one place all the time

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

I think the problem is that minor powers are so local. There should be more corporations with branch offices all over, broad political parties and factions and so forth. That way you could get the benefit of boosted reputation without being stuck in one place all the time

The minor factions are generally local although some NPC and Player factions have amassed a fair few systems, some in upwards of 30 systems, regarding the latter. If you were to run every available mission that is offered, a player faction of 30 systems could take you about 100lys from the central core of that faction, if not more by way of long distance delivery missions.
That's a lot of systems you will likely see as states change and such.

Generally:
Cash donation missions are a good way to raise your reputation for those wishing to do so.

 

[Captain Willard]

Reputation should definitely determine mission quality and payout. To brag " a very little one" I have three home bases, federal, empire and alliance. One industrial, hi tech and tourism. Allied with all factions in all three. They are spread all over the bubble. LOTTSA content provided and big credits to do a large variety of missions. I'm sure the real players of the bgs can give even better examples. Ye don't wanna work for it? Then don't. It's your galaxy.

 

[GJ51]

I just don't care.

You guys sort it out for FD and I'll just play it whatever way you all decide.