Need help with Rapid Rank II and III

[wrektem]

I just cant seem to get beyond the odd rank IV on demanding. Usually Im just rank 3. Exploring takes a ton of time and I easily the date. Ive tried running missions with and without promotion to vary difficulty and those get me to about rank 3 before time is up. i usually try to chain 5au missions or less in the same direction.

I also tired a few blokades on solar wars and those got me highest...about 50 rep before time expired. I know RR III can be hard but Im getting pwned on RR
II.

searching for rapid rank II didnt work. does everyone have this much difficulty? I play on crazy sometimes. didnt think demanding and challenging awards would be so tough.

[slayernz]

Check out this thread for advice:
startradersrpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tips&thread=1777&page=1

[wrektem]

I did. followed the advice. Cant get more than 50 rep before time runs out...and thats chaining missions

[antixeele]

Whats your cash lookin like at the end? If you cant afford the next promotion, it wont show up. My main problem with rapid rank 3 is making enough profit to afford promotions. Think I may switch from pirate to military. Just still ACT likk a pirate

Been workin on rapid rank II and III for weeks. Its not like thats ALL im doing! !! But if im workin on an accomplishment, those are it lately. They're next on the death list. Last week I got #2! Forums helped point out some good ideas. In the end though, every game is unique, so you still have to build a stratregy thats effective for yourself by trying various ideas in various circumstances and its possible to get unlucky or lucky.

I had the same idea for the backbone of my playstyle, of stringing contracts together. Man, ya used to be able to go for as many as ya want and if you stacked em up on a planet you could crank em out! Now you get...5. Im going to petition the shalun supreme court for a repeal of recent legislation...

Anyway, I think this award is designed to teach you to be a grubby little bastard, and take advantage of EVERYTHING you can to accomplish your goal.

Take as many contracts as you can, and try to get your travel arc to end near your own factions planets. Buy up every record you can and sell it back you can even buy and sell in the same exchange and get the rep increase. Keep an eye on rumors, cash from a surplus helps a LOT. Keep an eye on conflicts, especially conflicts invlolving your faction. You want to do any and everything you can to raise reputation and make money. If theres a trade war, shoot down all the merchants of that faction you can. spy war, go surveil. Solar war, blockade and deal death. Sell artifacts to your faction. Electronics you might want to keep cause they'll help you get records. But sell em in the end if you need to during the final push for rank. Im sure theres more I cant remember can sum that up by saying again do anything and EVERYTHING you can to gain rep and make money.
Good luck!

[Cory Trese]

The Rank discount is a huge advantage for this one. Military Officer all the way.

[slayernz]

Also ... be prepared to have this captain be disposable after winning the award. You end up sacrificing everything in order to achieve the award meaning your reputation is in tatters, your ship is usually quite banged up, and you have no money/resources left by the time you win the award.

You can decide to continue on, but if you're playing at Crazy or higher, it's gonna be a short, bumpy ride.

[blackgauntlet]

Once again, please adhere to the Templar Code: Death before Dishonor!

Live fast, die gloriously!

[Cory Trese]

I would agree, to a point. Any game where you play with an absolute focus on one aspect will leave your Captain vulnerable in other regards.

However, some of my most wildly successful military officers are Rank winners, simply because to hit the Award and be continued something was going very well for them.