How to unlock spy/zealot?

[matternous]

Hi,

I've been playing Star Traders Elite for a while. I really want to try out the spy and zealot classes, but I have no idea how to get those achievements.

First off, how are you supposed to advance that fast in level to unlock zealot? Does anyone have any hints or stories about what they did?

Also for spy, do you have to complete those 24 contracts in a specific amount of time? Or are they just the first 24 you are assigned?

Even more important, what do the classes even do? I'd take a wild shot and say the spy probably has high tactics to perform surveillence, and maybe some stealth too, but I have no idea what the zealot does. I've read somewhere that both classes are effective in late game, but how so?

TLDNR: What are some tips for unlocking spy/zealot, and what do they do?

Thanks in advance

[Slide87]

I unlocked the zealot,pratically it's a...rank-eater class^^ it has rank discounts,only with the initial faction(if I well remember) and it starts with some weapons and rank 1,and with blockade bonus^^ but i've not well tried the Zealot to tell you how it works in ages...^^i'm trying to unlock the Spy but when i have 19-20 taken contracts things are harder...my purpose in these days is a valid strategy to complete quickly this award^^trying to not die(and I yet lost 3 captains)XD so any advice is well wanted ^^
In my opinion u may raise up Stealth and Pilot to battle and win encounters,and upgrade the ship with +crew,+engines,+sails and if u can with a Smuggler's Hold(very useful in delivery contracts) ;i also have noticed(but its a my idea) that if u focalize taking only initial faction contracts u can get a 11-12 perfect contracts row,but then i should change contracts owners,and at least do not raise up rank with initial faction(and here i have a question: +rank +challenging contracts??)...i hope i dont confuse u with my poor english^^ tell me if u want mmm...more details?? ^^

--Slide--

EDIT
-No you can complete the 24 contracts takin all the time u need,there isnt a time period ^^
-for rank,there's a few tips:
1)u MUST follow the conflicts(solar/trade wars,if related to your faction<;
2)in Trade embargo,u always ignore it and make shopping in your faction Exchange(u'll gain rep)
3) this is a tip ^^ if u buy records and immediately resell to the same exchange u'll gain rep ^^

[Cory Trese]

Rapid Rank up can be accomplish by any play that generates reputation quickly.

The fastest route to reputation is selling restricted trade goods to the Faction.

The second fastest route is via killing enemy ships during Conflict or on Contract. This route is more risky.

You can purchase Trade Goods at ANY Independent world without a Trade Permit.

So, a high level idea is:

1. Get Money
2. Buy Records from Indy Words
3. Sell At Faction Worlds
4. Buy Rank
(quickly)

Where that money comes from? Exploration, Contract, Rumors, Trade.

Exploration can be a really fast way to do it if you hit a few rich loads you can sell the results for both the Reputation and Money needed to Rank up.

[slayernz]

Yeah, regarding the exploration route, one excellent way to start is begin as a Javat Explorer, and buy a trade permit from your start planet as soon as possible. In Crazy and below, I think you should have enough RP with Javat to do this.

Next, haul your ass over to Javat Mining (-2,-5), and create a cache to stash all but about 5 - 10 units of W-F.

Do an Explore action using around 21 crew members, and take what you find. Go back to your cache, dump your loot, check your W-F levels, then go back to Explore again.

Stop exploring when (a) you lose a ton of crew or (b), discover nothing. Load up your ship, make the jump from Wild to Urban, and sell.

Fingers crossed you make enough within a couple of years to buy 6 military ranks.

Luck aspect Tweaks on the above strategy ...
Keep an ear out for rumors of shortages of restricted items. Selling restricted items in a shortage situation makes for mega RP

<edit>
Another planet to explore relatively safely is the Outer Reach (11,-9).

This planet is great because although it is hazard 6, Exploration also = 6. Very few planets have Explore = Hazard level, even in Elite.

[matternous]

Thanks for your replies everyone! I tried your exploration strategy for the zealot and unlocked it on my first try. But may I ask, what does it mean when it says "highest elite honors" on the spy achievement?

[slayernz]

Highest Elite Honors = fail less than 9, Expire less than 9, reject less than 9. Really it should be failing or letting expire a total of 9 contracts, but I'm guessing Cory is being generous and you can fail 8 contracts AND let an additional 8 contracts expire, and still be eligible for the award so long as you don't reject more than 8 contracts.

[Slide87]

I finally got the Spy class with Lobo,lv7 promising bounty hunter,Blade Class ship,master of avoiding encounters(3/72) =) unluckly the game doesnt allow to make nicknames or funny titles to the captain...Lobo "Da Shadowkiller" would be a great title xD now...I will try to begin a Glorious Pirate class...i don't know which difficulty to choose...~_~

[Cory Trese]

Good work!

[Slide87]

Thank u,and the fine thing is that my strategy works...;-) But i'm not feeling right to get the Spy class,i dont like much...probably I will take a new difficulty,with a pirate class...

[rabidbite]

I don't know how others did it but I tried two ways.

1st was the Exploration thing. I made a Javat faction explorer, went over to ... i can't remember the name .. that Javat mining planet on the upper left hand side of the map that has a wilderness 4. Then I Explored, sold the restricted stuff on the market, BOUGHT some rank, THEN bought some restricted stuff from the market, and RESOLD it back for some more points, rince, repeat.

Guess what ... I didn't make it. I got, every single time, to rank 5 and was shy maybe 2-3 rep points.

SOOOO.

I changed to military officer. Why? Because M officer gets discounts on Ranks. Got myself a Cadar faction captain for positioning. To build up rep I started with a few simple contracts. Now remember. Your goal is to get Zealot, not to make the captain last beyond that. A solar war broke out with Cadar, and lo and behold I had all the necessary rep to get my rank 6 by year 59. Was a little low on cash so went pirate for a few weeks and wham, bouht rank 6 with a year to spare.

[Notadumbasslikehim]

Nov 4, 2011 20:05:09 GMT -5 Slide87 said:

I finally got the Spy class with Lobo,lv7 promising bounty hunter,Blade Class ship,master of avoiding encounters(3/72) =) unluckly the game doesnt allow to make nicknames or funny titles to the captain...Lobo "Da Shadowkiller" would be a great title xD now...I will try to begin a Glorious Pirate class...i don't know which difficulty to choose...~_~

This guy needs to shut the fuck up. Either a dumbass foreigner, or some twat kid who spends to much time texting. Enough with the unreadable faggot shit.

[Slide87]

First thing, be polish, second thing, i'm italian so my english is very bad and i know, u try in italian then we'll see
Good holidays

[Lt. Hathaway]

Dec 22, 2013 11:50:42 GMT -5 Slide87 said:

First thing, be polish, second thing, i'm italian so my english is very bad and i know, u try in italian then we'll see
Good holidays

Scherzi a parte, che fa un account solo per deridere qualcuno con oltre un migliaio di messaggi? Che tristezza.

Happy holidays!

[Slide87]

@lt. Hathaway ahahahahah veramente ma di gente strana ce n'è tanta...poi il senso non era che, essendo italiano, io non conosca l'inglese, bensì che tener testa ad un inglese che scrive in inglese, per il mio livello, è veramente difficile... io ci provo ed ogni volta (o quasi), mi scuso per mil mio pessimo inglese, lo so io per primo che è pessimo poi nn ho ben capito se mi ha dato del ragazzino...magari xD 26 e me li sento tutti

To other ones...sorry for the not English post

[Lt. Hathaway]

Beh, io sono un Americano che parla Inglese, ma Google Translate è mio amico, e quel ragazzo, così triste.

Basically I just said how sad it is that someone would sign in just to give crap to one of our "over a thousand post" friends. Won't apologize for my Google Translate Italian.