The other two progressions are fairly linear: Trade ranks you up based on profit, exploration based on either things discovered or credits made discovering (I don't do enough to know, but if you're an explorer it's probably obvious)
Combat, I'm not sure. Clearly it's ship destruction, but what exactly influences it? Is it purely number of ships destroyed? Bounties claimed? How much does ship class and pilot skill factor in? Is killing a single Anaconda worth killing 20 sidewinders?
I reached Competent on my second or third day playing, and now I've been there for two or three days (and these last few days have been when I've been actively fighting and bounty hunting almost 100% of the time) and haven't advanced since then. Is there just a massive cliff there? I'd kind of like to vie for the first to Elite prize but I don't seem to be getting anywhere and there's no indication of progress until you hit the next rank.
Combat, I'm not sure. Clearly it's ship destruction, but what exactly influences it? Is it purely number of ships destroyed? Bounties claimed? How much does ship class and pilot skill factor in? Is killing a single Anaconda worth killing 20 sidewinders?
I reached Competent on my second or third day playing, and now I've been there for two or three days (and these last few days have been when I've been actively fighting and bounty hunting almost 100% of the time) and haven't advanced since then. Is there just a massive cliff there? I'd kind of like to vie for the first to Elite prize but I don't seem to be getting anywhere and there's no indication of progress until you hit the next rank.