What was being ingested when the rank system was designed?

Aesthetech

Aesthetech
And where do I get some?

I've been playing Elite for a couple weeks now, and on the whole I really love it. My life has needed a game like this for a long time. I've been trying to play and piece things together as much as possible on my own (no tutorial for me, throw me out into the wild black yonder!). However, the rank system has been my biggest hiccup and my motivation for joining the forum.

First, after seeing my rank for Federation was at 100% and not going anywhere, I had to Google for that. Okay, I have to find a Federal Navy mission. Straightforward. I'd actually passed up a couple--it'd have been nice in the mission description if it said completing the mission would result in a rank up, but ok, whatever.

So then comes the problem of actually gaining rank % again. This is probably one of the most counter-intuitive things I've ever encountered.

First thought: Hey, I'm gaining military ranks in a Navy. So I should probably go park in a CZ, right? Popped a few things, no rank increase. Turn in bonds? No rank increase. Okay... maybe I need one of the massacre missions for these to count. Grab massacre mission, still no rank up from kills or bonds. Turn in the mission... 3%. Well, that's a little disappointing for 10 kills in CZ when my rank is "Recruit."

Okay, let's try an assassination. Run through the usual hoops, blow up a deserter, turn it in... another whopping 3%. Yikes, this is gonna take a while.

At this point I'm feeling experimental, so I grab a handful of different missions just to see what happens. Donate 25k credits to the cause... okay, peanuts. 3% rank. Wait, what? 10 CZ kills = 25k spacebucks? Holy cow, here's a donate for 125k, let's try that....and 4%. So much for scaling.

So then I grab a bunch of the crappy little 'deliver 4 cargo this' and super low tier 'deliver data' rewards -- lo and behold, 3-4% each. Except my ship isn't at risk, it's a hell of a lot faster, I can do a ridiculous amount at one time--and wait a minute, isn't this supposed to be military rank?


TL;DR edition:

Killing things in a combat zone for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Turning in combat bonds for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Performing combat missions results in a minimal rank increase with that faction.
Playing space UPS/mailman increases military rank the same per mission as combat missions (and yet is both far more time efficient and safer).
Alternatively, I can just buy/bribe my ways up the ranks and focus on more money/time efficient missions to easily offset the costs. (When did I join the Lyran Alliance?)

ddeeeaf8cdf5cd837bf014bcf5d23a675ce7a7690a20c1dda57b6d5f8ec870ae.jpg
 

MDHansen

M
Welcome to Elite Cmdr, where not everything makes sense, most of the knowledge is gathered from google and features and content are, well, barely that :D

Sorry, I have not much constructive to say, need to deliver these 7 biowaste next door for 250k. I don't wan't to know what kind of biowaste it is[where is it]
 

Factabulous

Factabulous
Apple Sauce said:
First, after seeing my rank for Federation was at 100% and not going anywhere, I had to Google for that. Okay, I have to find a Federal Navy mission. Straightforward. I'd actually passed up a couple--it'd have been nice in the mission description if it said completing the mission would result in a rank up, but ok, whatever.
Click to expand...

Hmmm - the missions actually do state that they give rank progression, and what that rank is, and they have navy in the title. Sounds like you need to read things in the game a little closer. If you think that's obscure... your going to LOVE the rest of the game :D
 

rrobes

R
This game isn't for those that aren't in it for the long run. Information is purposely nebulous, you have to invest time before you get the reward.

Endurance, not sprint. You'll get he hang of it when you have put in a few 100's hours. By the time you get to 2k hours, the game smooths out real nice if you've done your due diligence, elite ranks, Corvettes and Cutters.

Or do none of that and fly in a small forever, many players find that just as satisfying. Choice is great.

Best investment is patience/perseverance.
 
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yodajedifishmaster

yodajedifishmaster
Apple Sauce said:
And where do I get some?

I've been playing Elite for a couple weeks now, and on the whole I really love it. My life has needed a game like this for a long time. I've been trying to play and piece things together as much as possible on my own (no tutorial for me, throw me out into the wild black yonder!). However, the rank system has been my biggest hiccup and my motivation for joining the forum.

First, after seeing my rank for Federation was at 100% and not going anywhere, I had to Google for that. Okay, I have to find a Federal Navy mission. Straightforward. I'd actually passed up a couple--it'd have been nice in the mission description if it said completing the mission would result in a rank up, but ok, whatever.

So then comes the problem of actually gaining rank % again. This is probably one of the most counter-intuitive things I've ever encountered.

First thought: Hey, I'm gaining military ranks in a Navy. So I should probably go park in a CZ, right? Popped a few things, no rank increase. Turn in bonds? No rank increase. Okay... maybe I need one of the massacre missions for these to count. Grab massacre mission, still no rank up from kills or bonds. Turn in the mission... 3%. Well, that's a little disappointing for 10 kills in CZ when my rank is "Recruit."

Okay, let's try an assassination. Run through the usual hoops, blow up a deserter, turn it in... another whopping 3%. Yikes, this is gonna take a while.

At this point I'm feeling experimental, so I grab a handful of different missions just to see what happens. Donate 25k credits to the cause... okay, peanuts. 3% rank. Wait, what? 10 CZ kills = 25k spacebucks? Holy cow, here's a donate for 125k, let's try that....and 4%. So much for scaling.

So then I grab a bunch of the crappy little 'deliver 4 cargo this' and super low tier 'deliver data' rewards -- lo and behold, 3-4% each. Except my ship isn't at risk, it's a hell of a lot faster, I can do a ridiculous amount at one time--and wait a minute, isn't this supposed to be military rank?


TL;DR edition:

Killing things in a combat zone for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Turning in combat bonds for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Performing combat missions results in a minimal rank increase with that faction.
Playing space UPS/mailman increases military rank the same per mission as combat missions (and yet is both far more time efficient and safer).
Alternatively, I can just buy/bribe my ways up the ranks and focus on more money/time efficient missions to easily offset the costs. (When did I join the Lyran Alliance?)

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/dd/ddeeeaf8cdf5cd837bf014bcf5d23a675ce7a7690a20c1dda57b6d5f8ec870ae.jpg
Click to expand...
its the federated commonwealth actually.
 

Villainous Ruffian

V
Apple Sauce said:
Killing things in a combat zone for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Turning in combat bonds for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Performing combat missions results in a minimal rank increase with that faction.
Playing space UPS/mailman increases military rank the same per mission as combat missions (and yet is both far more time efficient and safer).
Alternatively, I can just buy/bribe my ways up the ranks and focus on more money/time efficient missions to easily offset the costs. (When did I join the Lyran Alliance?)
Click to expand...

Killing things gets soldiers into trouble in any military. Soldiers have to go on missions or follow orders to get promoted in real life, just like in Elite.
Collecting your pay is no reason to get rank for anything.
It's a set number of missions for each rank, type makes little if any difference, because;
The military aren't a squad of murderhobos, they need support staff and logistics, without which soldiers are useless.
Bribing one's way up ranks is also a time-honoured and real life method of advancement. You didn't join the Lyran Alliance, you joined the Pilot's Federation. Maybe Lyran like you, but you're not one of them.
 

CMDR Harada

CMDR Harada
Apple Sauce said:
Killing things in a combat zone for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Turning in combat bonds for a faction does not increase military rank with that faction.
Performing combat missions results in a minimal rank increase with that faction.
Playing space UPS/mailman increases military rank the same per mission as combat missions (and yet is both far more time efficient and safer).
Alternatively, I can just buy/bribe my ways up the ranks and focus on more money/time efficient missions to easily offset the costs. (When did I join the Lyran Alliance?)
Click to expand...


Nice summary. Spot on. I think you figured it out..
 

Crank Larson

Crank Larson
Apple Sauce said:
What was being ingested when the rank system was designed?
And where do I get some?
Click to expand...

To the first question, I think the most likely culprit is Onionhead.

I believe it's a rare drug available somewhere within the bubble, but can't remember where off the top of my head.

And yes, there are lots of little peculiarities about ranking. Maybe you'll grow to love them... Most likely, just before they fix them. :D
 

Marklar_

Marklar_
Yeah, this is the biggest problem with the rank grind. It locks you in to playing a certain way, instead of allowing you to gain rank by assisting a faction in any way that you like. I'm fine with it being a long grind, it should be, but one of the best things about this game is being able to go and do whatever you want, and the rank mission grind just kills this. Donate and do some boom deliveries, move to another system, rinse and repeat.
 

Xenith

Xenith
My main gripe with it, is that by the time you get the ranks required for certain ships, you're already at the point where you no longer need them. It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, and combined with the utter uselessness of the non ship bearing ranks, makes me wonder if it was a last minute addition just for the sake of it.
 

Crank Larson

Crank Larson
Xenith said:
makes me wonder if it was a last minute addition just for the sake of it.
Click to expand...

I don't think it was last minute, as it's been a feature of the previous games. I just don't think enough time was spent on it. When FD return to core gameplay improvements, as they've said they will, I'm hoping they'll fix these and many other issues (like the missions).
 

yolomcbobbinz

Y
Best way to increase navy ranks is donation missions but they're expensive I can't name a federation system off the top of my head but for the empire quince is the best choice, you'll need a few million credits to start though do donations missions until you rank up with minor factions to unlock the scan missions

Then stack up scan missions complete and turn in for possibly millions of credits then do more donation missions then rinse repeat
 
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Xenith

Xenith
CMDR Crank Larson said:
I don't think it was last minute, as it's been a feature of the previous games. I just don't think enough time was spent on it. When FD return to core gameplay improvements, as they've said they will, I'm hoping they'll fix these and many other issues (like the missions).
Click to expand...

That's actually what I mean, it may have been there from the outset, but because it is poorly implemented, it feels last minute. Rushed, if you will.
 
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