X3-TC Clarification re: Defend Station Mission

[Celthon]

Can I send my AI-controlled ships to defend a station in another sector, and still get credit for completing a "Defend Station" mission, or am I required to be in the sector where the station is located and take part in the battles?

I'm want to work my way up through the corporation ranks/missions for the 'Plutarch Mining Corporation' (this will be the second mission/task I've done for them), but do not want to increase my Combat Rank any higher, if possible. By sending AI-controlled ship(s) to defend the station my Combat Rank would not increase, correct?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

[jlehtone]

sending AI-controlled ship(s) to defend the station my Combat Rank would not increase, correct?

That is correct. Combat rank counts only kills by the playership.


Not sure about the OOS, but probably.
Easy to test: save, accept mission, send fleet, check result.

[Celthon]

Thank you.


Update/Edit: Per suggestion above I accepted Mission -- sent ship to protect the location, while I remained out of that sector -- mission was completed after small battle.
Thank you for your time and assistance.

[Cycrow]

for station defence missions, you dont actually need to kill any ships at all. As long as the ships get taken out, it doesn't matter who does it.
if the sector defence gets them instead, then you will still get credit for the mission.

This is different to assassination missions where you have to make the kill

[Celthon]

Thank you...that is good to know.

[Honved]

The funky side of that is that you can take a Defend Station mission at the start of a campaign, even if you have an unarmed freighter. The single M5 that will spawn CANNOT hurt the station, because the shields will regenerate a lot faster than the pirate can damage them, and the sector defense force will eventually take out the pirate, giving you a win without firing a shot or even being in the sector when the mission is completed.

The "kill" missions are a bit rougher, because many of the targets are pirates, and are likely to be taken out by major faction forces long before you get there. You don't get credit unless you make the kill yourself, so the mission is terminated with neither a win nor loss, just a rude rebuff from the mission giver.

[jlehtone]

IIRC,

• Assassination
  You or your assets must kill the mark or you fail
• Destroy Convoy
  These are TS ships. I just ram them with my M6 to minimize bad karma
• Escort Convoy
  Quite hectic IS. X3AP has "Dual Convoy" and that definitely can be completed OOS
• Defend Station
  As said, objective is to keep the customer's Station alive. By any means
• Defend against Xenon
  Basically a defend station next to Xenon sector and certainty of who you will face
• Xenon Hold Position
  You can't leave the sector. Desertion is a failure
• Patrol
  You might have to patrol multiple sectors, so not being in sector is not a crime
• Xenon Patrol
  These are one sector patrols