|
|
Post by CAB on May 29, 2014 12:05:21 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure I saw at least one person mention keeping rank above some high number (I forget, I think it was 16?) in all factions to keep yourself immune to embargoes. I tried that and yeah it's pretty sweet sure. But if you sneeze in ST you lose rank in 3 different factions that got sprayed. Considering that at those ranks each promotion costs like $80k how do the people that do this maintain it? You can't be doing it by being selective in contracts because you are maintaining high rank in ALL of them. I guess I'm feeling like I'm missing something here.
|
|
|
|
Post by hlo on May 29, 2014 12:40:01 GMT -5
You can probably keep all 6 factions happy enough in lower difficulties. In Hard I managed to keep 3 clans and 1 syndicates happy enough to maintain ranks. Forget about that in my current Insane game. My own survival first hence I have to pick either the clan or syndicates, picked the syndicates in my case. I have to be extra careful to avoid all contracts to the bottom left of the map where Steel Song Clan dominates.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChocoCrowbar on May 29, 2014 15:34:45 GMT -5
Spy wars are your friend with this. And knowing trade routs to survive between the wars.
|
|
|
|
Post by CAB on May 31, 2014 15:54:50 GMT -5
Spy wars are your friend with this. And knowing trade routs to survive between the wars. So what I hear you saying is that you are making your money in other ways than contacts at that point. Yes? I am still working on making a spy work for me and have not tried pure merchanting yet. |
|
|
|
Post by ChocoCrowbar on Jun 1, 2014 19:39:42 GMT -5
Yes. When I try to go positive on all factions, I avoid contracts all together, since most of the times it ends up affecting another faction. I usually trade spice around a few planets at the beginning, trying to build my bank up and waiting for that perfect spy war. Most of the time, you can buy a Trade Permit with your starting faction, which allows you to trade Electronics you might find or buy cheap from other planets. I know Javat Prime has cheap electronics and spice, and the Del Vatos has one planet that sells them cheap and another that buys them at a higher price (electronics and spice). Both Thulun planets buys electronics and spice at a good price, and Steel Strong buys electronics and spice at a high price.
You trade around, and once you have enough in the bank, buy Records from one planet and sell to another faction, this will raise rep high enough to buy a Trade Permit and allow you to trade Electronics.
And when a spy war starts and neith faction is in a solar war, start spying on one faction and sell the records generated right back. Slowly at first, since you don't want to go below -10 rep.
|
|
|
|
Post by CAB on Jun 2, 2014 9:34:35 GMT -5
Yes. When I try to go positive on all factions, I avoid contracts all together, since most of the times it ends up affecting another faction. I usually trade spice around a few planets at the beginning, trying to build my bank up and waiting for that perfect spy war. Most of the time, you can buy a Trade Permit with your starting faction, which allows you to trade Electronics you might find or buy cheap from other planets. I know Javat Prime has cheap electronics and spice, and the Del Vatos has one planet that sells them cheap and another that buys them at a higher price (electronics and spice). Both Thulun planets buys electronics and spice at a good price, and Steel Strong buys electronics and spice at a high price. You trade around, and once you have enough in the bank, buy Records from one planet and sell to another faction, this will raise rep high enough to buy a Trade Permit and allow you to trade Electronics. And when a spy war starts and neith faction is in a solar war, start spying on one faction and sell the records generated right back. Slowly at first, since you don't want to go below -10 rep. Interesting. I've only had a couple aborted attempts at what I would call the "pure merchant" approach because I quickly got bored out of my mind and didn't feel like I was making much money. Interestingly, I don't really feel like I make much money at spying either even with a spy officer. But it's great for pumping reputation up. But perhaps I gave up on mechantile activity too quickly. I find this game does that pretty often to a person i.e. makes you go back and try it again and in more depth to realize you just didn't give it enough of a chance the first time. I'm currently playing a pure explorer for just that reason. Trying to see if one can do it and stay entertained and make money reputation etc. I know Cory has pointed out that one shouldn't neglect harvesting when trying to do this so I'm keeping that in mind. I am probably not going to ever play a spy again though. Just don't really see it being worthwhile. And if there are 2 spy wars going on I can always spy with my pirate or whatever I am playing just not as well. Anyways, I rambled a bit. Thanks for the clarification. I guess I am too addicted to the "easy money" of contracts  |
|
