Fight rank - does it matter for missions?

[Sehnsucht1985]

I tried both googling and searching specifically on this forum, but found no info other than a tidbit from 2018 where someone said that it doesn't make a difference other than to net achievements. 6 years later, is that still the case? I'm doing my second non-industrialist playthrough where I mainly board ships to make money, but it would be nice if I could get better paying / more difficult combat missions along with my fight rank increase. And do fight / trade ranks still diminish after idling the game? I can't remember ever noticing in X4 becaause I barely ever look at the ranks.

I seem to remember that higher fight ranks in X3 generated (or had a chance to) higher paying and harder combat missions (but not adjust the overall universe difficulty).

Bonus question: Assuming fight rank is still meaningless; other than get lucky with boarding missions (got one last night that gave me 10 million, which finally broke the rut and enabled me to progress with the game after 20+ hours, are there other nice ways to make good money involving combat, but not specifically related to boarding? I had to sell virtually everything I had to afford a Shuyaku for boarding, but that was one of those dynamic thrilling moments that only the X games can deliver.

[BitByte]

There's no separate reputation for trading and war / fight.
So simple answer is no as general reputation doesn't affect missions complexity..

Only way how you can get harder missions are Argon vs Xenon, HOP vs PAR and Split vs Argon war related missions. Also SCA and HAT can offer boarding missions.

[jlehtone]

it doesn't make a difference other than to net achievements. 6 years later, is that still the case?

Yes. Fight and Trade ranks do not seem to affect anything in the game.

I seem to remember that higher fight ranks in X3 generated (or had a chance to) higher paying and harder combat missions (but not adjust the overall universe difficulty).

True, although X2 and X3R had one system and X3TC and X3AP had an another. In both systems combat (and trade) missions got "better" with rank. The latter system had also attempts to match the foes to your assets.

are there other nice ways to make good money involving combat

Depends on "nice" and "good". I do like "Escort Miner" missions: some waves of small Kha'ak groups. Money might not be huge, but if one has found a "Kill N Khaak ships" mission, the kills count to both.

On the bigger money, there are "Destroy Station" missions. (From War Guilds and generic, with latter being Kha'ak Installations.) These do really depend on what is "nice".

[Sehnsucht1985]

There's no separate reputation for trading and war / fight.
So simple answer is no as general reputation doesn't affect missions complexity..

Only way how you can get harder missions are Argon vs Xenon, HOP vs PAR and Split vs Argon war related missions. Also SCA and HAT can offer boarding missions.

it doesn't make a difference other than to net achievements. 6 years later, is that still the case?

Yes. Fight and Trade ranks do not seem to affect anything in the game.

I seem to remember that higher fight ranks in X3 generated (or had a chance to) higher paying and harder combat missions (but not adjust the overall universe difficulty).

True, although X2 and X3R had one system and X3TC and X3AP had an another. In both systems combat (and trade) missions got "better" with rank. The latter system had also attempts to match the foes to your assets.

are there other nice ways to make good money involving combat

Depends on "nice" and "good". I do like "Escort Miner" missions: some waves of small Kha'ak groups. Money might not be huge, but if one has found a "Kill N Khaak ships" mission, the kills count to both.

On the bigger money, there are "Destroy Station" missions. (From War Guilds and generic, with latter being Kha'ak Installations.) These do really depend on what is "nice".

Alright, that's a bummer. Back to boarding and collecting drops I guess. I'm just burned out on the whole mega factory thing, done it in two playthroughs now. And once I get to that level, nothing and nobody can touch me, so it gets boring fast. And I've done pretty much all the plots, so I know which ones are worth doing - and it ain't the ones requiring mega factories (thankfully).

Destroy station missions are a bit beyond me at the moment; just got my first destroyer (Ray, first time really trying out the Boron ships). I doubt that thing could realistically take on a station, though the lazer seems alright for destroyers and below (took on an H head to head with just MK1 main shields, went alright). Hoping it can do the VIG station though so I can get the Astrid (number one fav ship).

Done a bunch of Escort quests, they're alright for grinding rep. Anyway, thanks for replying, now I know I don't need to even think about the ranks.