What urban zone ratings really mean

[readyready15728]

This is what I could find from scouring the forum and manual. I thought it would help to put it all in one place. Apparently there is an outstanding support ticket for the issue that the manual gives us only partial information about what ratings mean so I don't think it needs to be added to the wish list. Each claim will be sourced by mention on the forum or in the manual, though it may have appeared in both places. Here I am taking the conservative approach of going only on what the developers say and not using anyone else's personal experience, to say nothing of my own (I have just gotten back into the game after a very long time). Anyhow...

Higher Palace Rating means...:

• Improved contracts ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/118909/thread )
  
• Wider range for rumors acquired at the system palace, presumably meaning that salient events happening further away can become news rather than the default rumors that aren't really of much use ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/91374/thread )

Higher Econ (Economy) Rating means...:

• Presumably eases (?) creation of records for merchants and smugglers ( www.tresebrothers.com/help/StarTraders/classes_special.htm )
• Uncertain effect on ship prices ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/100949/thread )
  

Higher Hall (Spice Hall) Rating means...:

• Wider range for rumors acquired in the spice hall ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/91374/thread )
  

Higher Security Rating means...:

• Better military contracts in particular ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/63425/thread )
• Presumably fewer (?) faction members recruited at faction systems ( www.tresebrothers.com/help/StarTraders/mechanics_fac.htm )
• More time required for transactions in the Trade Exchange ( www.tresebrothers.com/help/StarTraders/mechanics_quad.htm )
• Presumably complicates (?) creation of records for merchants and smugglers ( www.tresebrothers.com/help/StarTraders/classes_special.htm )
• Uncertain effect on rumor generation ( www.tresebrothers.com/help/StarTraders/mechanics_rumors.htm )
• Uncertain effect on ship prices ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/100949/thread )
  

Higher Exchange Rating means...:

• Less time required for transactions in the Trade Exchange ( www.tresebrothers.com/help/StarTraders/mechanics_quad.htm )
  

If the developers have anything to add, subtract or modify, I'd certainly like to hear it.

[elwoodps]

Dec 9, 2015 6:31:49 GMT -5 readyready15728 said:

This is what I could find from scouring the forum and manual. I thought it would help to put it all in one place. .....

+1 for this great resource!

[resistor]

Dec 9, 2015 6:31:49 GMT -5 readyready15728 said:

This is what I could find from scouring the forum and manual. I thought it would help to put it all in one place. Apparently there is an outstanding support ticket for the issue that the manual gives us only partial information about what ratings mean so I don't think it needs to be added to the wish list. Each claim will be sourced by mention on the forum or in the manual, though it may have appeared in both places. Here I am taking the conservative approach of going only on what the developers say and not using anyone else's personal experience, to say nothing of my own (I have just gotten back into the game after a very long time). Anyhow...

Higher Hall (Spice Hall) Rating means...:

• Wider range for rumors acquired in the spice hall ( startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/91374/thread )
  

...

I know you said you weren't going on people's personal experience, and only relying on the words of the devs, but I know something about spice hall ratings that can be easily checked in game: higher rating halls have more expensive spice.
(I suspect higher rated halls are also more likely to improve morale per spice round, but this would not be easy to check and be sure about.)

[Cory Trese]

Nice! This might help players who want to get deep into the nitty gritty of the game's rules.

[johndramey]

Very cool, good work readyready15728. What with ST2 coming down the pipes, it's always a good idea to reignite passions for ST. Time for me to go strap on my freighter again!

[readyready15728]

If any of you have your own "non-canon" observations, go ahead and post them here.

[slayernz]

I've gotten back into ST again - although it was primarily to get to that "do 350 contracts" reward. I still am hunting for aliens as a side hobby, and considering trying again for Rapid Rank III.

There are some good notes on planetary ratings within the help files, complete with every rating from 1 through to 25!

[readyready15728]

Dec 9, 2015 11:26:54 GMT -5 Cory Trese said:

Nice! This might help players who want to get deep into the nitty gritty of the game's rules.

I'd greatly appreciate clarification of the points marked with (?) when you have time

[resistor]

What stat increases torp quality? I'm not sure if it is Economy or Exchange.