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Why do distribution agents give me combat missions?
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Kale deCoste
Doomheim
#1 - 2012-03-11 07:35:08 UTC
This is annoying. My character hasn't been trained for combat and yet I seem to get an encounter mission 15% of the time (usually as part of a series of missions). I thought this was fixed and distribution agents only give distributions missions. Why do these agents think you'll be okay blowing up rats in your fragile indy? As it is, I have to train TWO skill paths (industrial and combat) just to be able to complete everything a "distribution" agent throws at me. I'm Malcolm Reynolds, not freaken Luke Skywalker.
Substantia Nigra
Polaris Rising
Goonswarm Federation
#2 - 2012-03-11 07:48:40 UTC
interesting. which agent has been doing that to ya?

I guess I am almost a 'vet' by now. Hopefully not too bitter and managing to help more than I hinder. I build and sell many things, including large collections of bookmarks.
Kale deCoste
Doomheim
#3 - 2012-03-11 07:57:19 UTC
Pretty much all of em. I'm only doing lvl 1 dist missions ATM, but eventually you'll be given a mission to blow some ships up and retrieve their cargo. Which makes me wonder what lvl 4 missions will be like. Will this mean I have to train for lvl 4 combat missions as well? I may as well stick to security agents.
Substantia Nigra
Polaris Rising
Goonswarm Federation
#4 - 2012-03-11 08:36:55 UTC
What you're describing sound a bit like how agents used to work ... giving you scattered types according to some sort of weighted random formula. Don't think that's how it's meant to go now for basic line agents.

it's very slow going if all ya gonna do is courier missions. the skills for combat missions aren't too demanding and the return on those missions is pretty huge compared to couriers. In my experience (and I haven't run normal agent missions for a long time) it's also quicker to complete most combat missions than couriers of similar level ... so quicker to get storylines if that's what you're after.

Anyways, it sounds like you dealing with some sort of bug ... especially if, as you say, it's all agents. If it's a bug it will get fixed in due course.

Good luck.

I guess I am almost a 'vet' by now. Hopefully not too bitter and managing to help more than I hinder. I build and sell many things, including large collections of bookmarks.
Exploited Engineer
Creatively Applied Violence Inc.
#5 - 2012-03-11 09:00:46 UTC
Kale deCoste wrote:
Pretty much all of em. I'm only doing lvl 1 dist missions ATM, but eventually you'll be given a mission to blow some ships up and retrieve their cargo.


Is that agent, by any chance, a storyline agent giving you a storyline mission? Storyline agents don't follow the normal mission distribution scheme.
Kale deCoste
Doomheim
#6 - 2012-03-11 09:05:02 UTC
These are normal lvl 1 distribution agents. Sometimes you'll be given a series of missions (1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc). The actual series itself is probably considered "distribution" but sometimes there'll be an encounter mission in the midst of the series. I think CCP's simply been lazy and failed to update or remove these missions.
Patri Andari
Thukker Tribe Antiquities Importer
#7 - 2012-03-11 09:56:56 UTC
You will experience this only in level 1 and (less) level 2 missions. There are several missions strings that are essentially distribution missions with a few light combat missions thrown in

My guess is that they were overlooked or ignored when the system was changed. You will have nothing like this in level 3 or 4 Distribution missions

I suggest you consult Eve Survival before accepting any mission strings you are unfamiliar with to avoid them


HTH

Be careful what you think, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful what you say, for your words become your actions. Be careful what you do, for your actions become your character. And character is everything. - author unknown
Spy 21
Doomheim
#8 - 2012-03-11 15:14:48 UTC
This happens frequently on the story line chain missions you are likely to get running with distribution or mining agents. As someone said earlier, it's likely that these missions were overlooked when they made all the single missions for each agent type match that type.

Only option is to refuse the mission (no penalty if you stick with the 4 hour guideline) or keep a combat alt ready to clean these up for you.

Obfuscation for the WIN on page 3...
Oad en Cedoulain
Unique Names Are Srs Business
#9 - 2012-03-11 18:58:02 UTC
lv 1 distribution gives you a fair ammount of both mining and combat missions, wich is not true for lv 2/3/4 distribution missions, so keep going untill you can do lv2 distribution, from there it'll be a breeze for your indy.
Argaral
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#10 - 2012-03-11 23:34:08 UTC
They may want you to distribute SOME PAIN!