Missions & Complexes

So I've spent a lot of time researching how missions work and I did look through this forum as well, but I'm still confused.

I really want to get into running level 4 missions. Someone told me in order to do that I need to do story line missions. So I decided to try and do Sisters of Eve story line. But I guess I need to complete 16 level one missions within the Eve Corp in order to access the level one story line missions. I really think I've done 16 missions, but I can't find a way to see how many I've done.

But here's the thing... I think I did a story line mission yesterday because when accepting the mission I was prompted with a message how the outcome of the mission could drastically effect my standing with the corporation. But I don't remember exactly because I was just clicking through the options to accept the mission.

I also received an email from a story line agent from SOE requesting me for a mission. But when I try to talk to her about the mission she says I need a referral. Maybe the one story line mission I did do was from her and I found the email after? I have no idea.

I'm getting frustrated even as I write this. :-)

I just keeping running crappy low level missions and I have no idea if it's making any difference. I would really appreciate some direction.

Storyline mission per 16 regular missions of same faction and level

No. You need to have the required standing with the agent, corporatio or faction gicing the missions.For Lvl 4 missions you need a minimum standing of 5 with the respective agent, corporation or faction.
https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Standings_mechanics

Storyline missions are the easiest way to improve your faction standings. Regular missions only improve your agent and corporation standing. On the other hand storyline missions also decrease your standings with the opposing factions. I will not get into the details of the famous standing repair plan. But it's rather complicated. That is why IO used to skip storyline missions and only run regular missions. For more information see here:
https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Missions_guide

So in essence you will have to pick the corporation you want to run lvl 4 missions for. Them start with lvl 1 or 2 missions fopr this corporation untiol your standing is good enough to move up. Its a grind. But then again Lvl 4 missioning is a grind as well. Don't expect to earn what some people claim with missions from the get go.

I believe that's wrong


Any 16 missions, and the last mission determines the level of the storyline mission.

Really? Oh well, I defer to others' knowledge of storyline mechanics

Yes

OK. Last question.

My standing with Sisters of Eve was 1.59. I just completed a level 2 mission and it's not 1.60.

So to get level 3 missions my standing needs to be a 3.0.

If my math is correct I need to complete 140 missions to get to level 3? I assume each mission only adds .1 to my standing.

So 40 more missions will get my standings to 2.0 and then another 100 missions to get to level 3.

Yes? No? Maybe so?

SoE offers the usual lv 1,2,3,4 missions and storyline missions in addition to the epic arc.

the only mechanic for mission progression is standings. There are agent, corp, and faction standings. With lv4s for example any one of these can be over 5 and you can accept missions from that agent. There is an additional requirement that none of your standings can be below -2 to work with an agent. Agents give out the most standings, corps give out a middle amount, and factions give the lowest amount. So if you can find someone to help out and fleet up to run missions you will likely get to 5.0+ agent standings pretty quickly. not too much longer you will get 5+ corp standings and be able to run for any agent in that corp, and eventually 5.0+ faction standings so you can run for any agent in that faction.

additionally storyline missions typically give a large boost to corp standings, there are a few ways to game that but imo usually that is more effort than it is worth.

for way more to read on standings: https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=10212

Allow me to suggest the three ways to go about quickly and easily raising your standings so you can mission

1) do the sisters of eve epic arc. here's a guide I recomend http://eve-survival.org/wikka.php?wakka=BloodStainedStars1multi
This will give you a ton of standing with Soe and with a faction, plus its pretty good fun and a good source of isk for a new player. I really do reccomend you do this.

2) don't run level 2 combat missions. Run level 2 distribution missions. If you use an explorer frigate (caldari version is the heron) it has a 450 cargo hold (which is all you need for 2s) and its pretty quick. Its honestly all you need for those early missions and its given to you in the tutorials. The advantage of the dist missions is while they suck reward wise you can spam 150 of those in an evening while watching netflicks on a 2nd monitor. (less if you auto pilot. Don't auto pilot it takes 3 times as long)

3) if your loaded IRL you can pay someone to do missions with/for you while you sit in a station afk. they share the mission rewards with you which includes standing gains. There are corps that specalise in this service and they advertise on these forums. For the price of 2 plexs you can get a corp of your choice at level 4 mission standings. So £30 to skip the grind and go straight to the fun.

Your more then welcome. Please keep asking if you have any further questions.