Question about Shuttle Missions

Legolas

I have a number of crew who all need various items that are listed as only available via shuttle/faction missions. I have 4 shuttles and they always run at 99% and yet no matter how many times I run them, the items never drop. I've even tried the double rewards boost. Am I doing something wrong or is there a specific strategy that seems to be working for people?

Skizzy • VIP0 • §ë

I just don't rely on the shuttles. I think of faction items from shuttles as a bonus & look to mostly cadet missions and the replicator for obtaining these items.

Seven of One

Skizzy wrote: »

I just don't rely on the shuttles. I think of faction items from shuttles as a bonus & look to mostly cadet missions and the replicator for obtaining these items.

I do the same. I also tend to run all four shuttle's of the same faction. So, for example atm I need a 4* clothing pattern, so all my shuttle's are augment. Actually all my shuttle's for the last 3 weeks have been augment, (outside of events) thinking about it. Was very happy with Sec31 being in the faction event as it meant I could stock up,on holoprograms, another item I constantly needed.
If I've ran shuttle's all day and still need the item then I'll replicate, if I really want that item equipped. And sometimes I'll replicate the one above if it needs a ridiculous amount

When I first started playing I didn't use the replicator for a week because I wasn't sure what it was or where the stuff went or if I'd regret using it as fuel.....now it's a life saver. I'd be far more frustrated with this game if it wasn't for the replicator.

Matt_Decker

Legolas wrote: »

I have a number of crew who all need various items that are listed as only available via shuttle/faction missions. I have 4 shuttles and they always run at 99% and yet no matter how many times I run them, the items never drop. I've even tried the double rewards boost. Am I doing something wrong or is there a specific strategy that seems to be working for people?

We all have this problem -- you're not doing anything wrong. I've found 0* ancient films (Federation) and 0* holoprograms to be the most annoying. As Skizzy said, cadet missions and the replicator are your only other options.

Cpt Caotic

wake up, faction shuttles working the same way like dabo, gauntlet ect...
best and only way to get some items, look into your inventory and make a list of
missing items (all, not only the 4*) and let your replicator burn like hell

Legolas

Thanks all! I guess I've been focusing in the wrong area. All the more reason I need to just pick 3 crew and focus on them exclusively before moving on to others.

DavideBooks

Also, some items drop more or less depending on your level with that particular faction.

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Banjo1012

Um. You can also buy items in the faction store. Kinda weird no one said that by now

al103

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

Banjo1012

al103 wrote: »

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

Your ritual is identical to mine. Dabo, then augment store looking for 2* science experiment then Section 31 looking for 0* holoprogram

[ISA] Raven

al103 wrote: »

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

so... just for perspective.. at the end of the last event 6/7-6/11, where section 31 won, and all missions were -30min completion time.. Because i had the facton "crashed" the missions were INSTANT complete.. limited only by the time to repetitiously push buttons..

in 4 days I went from 8x0*holoprograms to 352x0*holoprograms, and about 3000 chrons
all for hte low cost of about 2500 merits...

would you pay 2500 merits for 3000 chrons? and have the bonus stuff besides?

al103

[ISA] Raven wrote: »

would you pay 2500 merits for 3000 chrons?

No. I currently value Dil and Honor. And Chrons are NOT convertible in Honor (I don't count Galaxies as exchange rate is pathetic). Merits convert to honor well enough though. Not well enough to stop buying ritual, but enough.

[ISA] Raven

the point is if you have "crashed" a faction... prior to the event which results in that faction having a 30 min shuttle reduction... then for 4 days, you can instantly complete missions for 5 chrons each.. and for about 2500 merits.. you will get about 3000 chrons, as well as many 0* and 1* faction items..

[QH] Captain Ziggy

Banjo1012 wrote: »

al103 wrote: »

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

Your ritual is identical to mine. Dabo, then augment store looking for 2* science experiment then Section 31 looking for 0* holoprogram

...Then Maquis for those damned 2* Encoded Communiques everyone needs multiples of. Nearly always need Dilithium for those though and I'm not doing that!

Wildstar19

al103 wrote: »

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

8 shuttles? I thought the max owned was 4. What am I missing?

Data1001

Darth Skippy wrote: »

al103 wrote: »

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

8 shuttles? I thought the max owned was 4. What am I missing?

8 shuttle transmissions. That's how many you can purchase for 75 merits in the Faction Centers once you have reached "Honored" reputation.

Wildstar19

Data1001 wrote: »

Darth Skippy wrote: »

al103 wrote: »

[ISA] Big McLargeHuge wrote: »

If you have the merits, "crashing" factions (intentionally failing shuttle missions to the point that the missions reduce in difficulty and length back to 30 seconds each) works wonders for basic faction items. It takes some effort but it is worth it. Because the missions are easier, the percentage of the basic items (holoprograms, films, medical experiments) is quite a bit higher. That comes at the cost of not getting the higher rarity faction items, but you can get those elsewhere and you don't need them as often.

Just plain looking faction store each day for 25 merit pick is cheaper IMHO. And will get you quite many items in the long run. You spend 75 merits on 8 shuttles, half of which you need to fail. And of other 4 if you get 3 items you need you are lucky, they are annoying like that even at low level. Yes, 30 seconds is fast... but it's a waiting game, you just have to reserve some things for crew you need to level yesterday. I pretty much go through 31 - Augment - Fed stores each time after spending 5k on Dabo.

8 shuttles? I thought the max owned was 4. What am I missing?

8 shuttle transmissions. That's how many you can purchase for 75 merits in the Faction Centers once you have reached "Honored" reputation.

Ah, thx for clarifying!

Captain Jax

What happens if you open shuttle missions and let the time expire? Would it be calculated as a failure?

Data1001

Captain Jax wrote: »

What happens if you open shuttle missions and let the time expire? Would it be calculated as a failure?

Just opening the transmission but not running it, and then letting it expire? No, it doesn't count for anything (except that you'd be down one transmission ).

Captain Jax

Lol, ok thanks. There's a lot of fine
points in this game, it takes awhile to figure it all out. Thanks for the info !

Data1001

Captain Jax wrote: »

Lol, ok thanks. There's a lot of fine
points in this game, it takes awhile to figure it all out.

There are indeed. It can be a bit overwhelming at first. But you'll be an STT guru before you know it.

[VIP0]USS Dart

I'm a new player and I'm not really running shuttle missions. Any general advice on what to do? Apologies for hijacking the thread but I can't start my own threads yet.

Ironagedave

USS Dart wrote: »

I'm a new player and I'm not really running shuttle missions. Any general advice on what to do? Apologies for hijacking the thread but I can't start my own threads yet.

Save any dilithium you get to purchase the 3rd and 4th shuttle.

For now run as many shuttles back to back as you can to increase your standing with factions and get better/constant turnaround of crew experience trainers to help level up your crew.

Odo Marmarosa

Ironagedave wrote: »

USS Dart wrote: »

I'm a new player and I'm not really running shuttle missions. Any general advice on what to do? Apologies for hijacking the thread but I can't start my own threads yet.

Save any dilithium you get to purchase the 3rd and 4th shuttle.

For now run as many shuttles back to back as you can to increase your standing with factions and get better/constant turnaround of crew experience trainers to help level up your crew.

Seconded on the 3rd and 4th shuttle. It's the best value for your dil.

Augments, Maquis, Federation, Section 31 and KCA should be prioritized as they have the most widely-used faction only items.

Non-event shuttles shouldn't use time or skill boosts; eventualy successes and failures (sorry, it's "completions" now) balance out regardless of skill and you'll want those boosts for events anyway. Using treasure boosts for regular shuttle overnights is fine.

Also, when choosing your crew, keep in mind that the shuttles use the character base skill only, not the proficiency roll that's added on.