Naval progression missions - the missing manual

SourceNaval progressionShips

Introduction

There is a hidden parameter called “faction experience” which determines when a naval progression mission will pop up.

The amount of work needed for Marquis is the same as the first 6 ranks combined so don’t expect it to be fast.

Why to rank up?

There are ships that require you to be at specific rank with Federation or Empire. So if you are after those ships you will have to spend some time ranking up.

Currently following ships will require you to rank up:

Empire: Imperial Clipper (rank: Baron) and Courier (Master)

Federation: Federal Dropship (Ensign)

But it's safe to say that to get best Federation and Empire corvettes - Imperial Cutter and Federal Corvette - you will have to be most likely at maximum rank with each major faction (currently max ranks are King and Admiral).

Why there is no official information?

The information is not visible to the player by design, but would not put it in a FAQ unless the developers change their mind and decide to make it more transparent. Exploring and discovering things on your own is a big part of the game after all.

How to increase faction experience

Skill points are not visible to the player, but they do work like a combat rank. You gain them from the same actions that give you reputation, but unlike reputation will never decrease. If the ruling minor faction of a station is affiliated with a major faction, you do get points from everything you do for them: missions, trading, selling exploration data and even cashing in bounty vouchers.”

However there are some bugs regarding bounty hunting and trading so stay away from those.

Which action is the most effective

Different missions can vary in how much skill you acquire in the Empire or Federation. It does not matter which missions you do or what type of activity they are all added up together towards your total progress, however, the altruistic/donation missions are aimed for reputation gains, so they are very effective for increasing your rank so missions that cost you money help you to rank up faster.

One type of activity is fine

There are no diminishing returns for missions, in fact the higher rank you are the more better paid missions you can do which will accelerate your progress – more credits moved means more reputation points, means more skill points.

Naval progression and major faction reputation

The more credits you make at an Empire/Federation affiliated station, the more reputation you gain and the more "skill points" you get. Your reputation with the major faction is somewhat connected with the rank promotion, as you need a positive reputation to get issued a promotion. But it is not a multiplier of the skill points gained and it doesn't matter if your Empire reputation is allied, friendly or just indifferent but not unfriendly.

Places good to rank up

Federation: Tun or Exbeur

Empire: Tamar or Clota

Some will require you to have permit. Those systems generate only charity missions (if you switch between Solo and Open mode, you'll often get a refresh of the mission board).

But you can rank in any system – best being any High Population and with several stations close to star (one of those being Agricultural).

Recap

Naval progression is not proportional to your reputation, as long as you stay higher than Neutral.

To gain higher ranks you need to do work for the minor factions affiliated with Federation or Empire to accumulate faction experience/skill points. Theoretically any activity that makes money will also increase your experience, but currently there might be bugs affecting Bounty Hunting and Trading, so missions are still the way to go, charity missions being the best.

Naval Ranking table

Faction experience (skill points)	Empire	Federation	Exp needed to rank up	Charity mission count (predicted)
0.5	Outsider	Recruit	0.5	16
1.5	Serf	Cadet	1.0	32
3.0	Master	Midshipman	1.5	49
5.0	Squire	Petty Officer	2.0	65
8.0	Knight	Chief Petty Officer	3.0	97
12.0	Lord	Warrant Officer	4.0	129
17.0	Baron	Ensign	5.0	162
23.5	Viscount	Lieutenant	6.5	210
31.5	Count	Lieutenant Commander	8.0	259
41	Earl	Post Commander	9.5	307
52.5	Marquis	Post Captain	11.5	372
66	Duke	Rear Admiral	13.5	437
81.5	Prince	Vice Admiral	15.5	501
100.0	King	Admiral	18.5	598

Note: as you see roughly 30 charity missions are needed for 1 Experience point.

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