Explanation request on stealth and ignore

[jadraki]

Sorry if this is old territory.

I get that stealth decreases the chances of encounters (presumably hostile or negative encounters).

But I assume that since you might be a pirate or the like, that you still will 'see' and can engage ships that cross your path. Is that correct? I.e., a super stealthy captain doesn't screw himself out of prey, right?

If the above is correct, then I have a follow-up question: when a super-stealthy captain has an encounter with another ship, is it possible that that other ship didn't really detect the super-stealthy captain's ship but the usual encounter screen comes up to give the super-stealthy captain the option of engaging? So then, if the super-stealthy captain chooses to ignore that other ship, is getting away (a successful ignore) a trivial dice roll(i.e., since that enemy ship never would have detected you, choosing to ignore is trivially easy)?

Thanks!!

[slayernz]

Stealth affects the chance of an encounter (good or bad). It doesn't give you the ability to get the jump on a potential victim. This means that if you are a pirate, it's important to get some stealth, but you want to avoid going over the top. Fenikso used to promote a strategy whereby you leave stealth at 1 and focus on Pilot and Tactics (helping you manage range and weaponsfire).

For me - most of my captains defocus on Stealth at around 20. After that, every few levels I throw in a token stealth point. Eg for one of my captains at level 60, my stealth is still sitting around 25. I have a pilot skill of 82 so very quickly get to close range where sails and stealth don't add so much to your survival rate.

[jadraki]

Thanks for the quick reply. To clarify then, I really could jack Stealth up so high that I wouldn't get the same number of encounters (good or bad)? A naive Pirate who focused on Stealth could find himself sailing around the Quad blissfully missing prey?

I think I never really have gotten Stealth so high that I saw the impact. Cool.

[Cory Trese]

No, Stealth would enable that pirate to avoid RANDOM encounters and encourage successful DIRECTED encounters.

So Stealth is a bonus when sailing the map AND when mashing Patrol/Blockade/Spy.

[shallowthought]

I find that high stealth doesn't have a massive effect on the number of encounters. If you're looking for people to rob, fill your hold with weapons. This increases encounter rate and gives you boarding advantage (electronics also work well, having hold full of anything will raise your ship's signature but not as much).

[Cory Trese]

If by massive you mean 30%+ then you are correct -- the upper bound effect of Stealth would be -30% or so

[shallowthought]

Yes, what I mean is if I push stealth to 100, I'm still going to encounter ships. Personally, given that some xp is earned for each encounter, I tend not to care about how high my ship's signature is, and will quite happily buy upgrades which increase encounters.

[mobydick]

Talking about xp...

I was actually wondering when do you get xp?
I notice just wandering around flying in deep space, or taking entertainment in spice hall gives you one.

how much xp does doing contract / explore / battling ship and winning gives you?

[shallowthought]

Not sure of exact figures but it's something like you'll get xp for:
-complete a contract
-blockade during solar war (with military rank)
-surveillance during spy war (with death warrant)
-encounter another ship (more xp for success in combat)
-you don't get xp for explore/harvest
-you may or may not get xp for sell/buy during shortage/surplus, haven't checked that out though.

Wasn't aware you get xp for entertainment, you sure about that one?

The best (fastest) way in my experience to get xp fast is solar/spy wars.

[mobydick]

I'm assuming the round of spice could be based on the time, since I think there's an xp counter for every tick, and spending time in spice hall actually moves the ticker as well.

I notice that since the enemies lvl are based on the number of turn as well. So I'm guessing that the player gets xp based on the turn.

[slayernz]

Entertainment is shooting Steel Song ships to hell? ...

You don't get XP for going to Spice Halls and having your crew entertained. BTW thanks Cory for the clarification about Stealth ... Old Dogs ... New Tricks thing comes to mind.