Missions & Complexes

So I'm running various distribution agents to build up some NPC corp standings and I'm confused by the pattern of their missions. While the level of the agent is a good indication of the size of the cargo you need to transport and the ISK/LP payout, what is inconsistent is the distance you have to travel.

I've got crazy things like a Level 4 agent that never sends me further than 4 jumps from them to a Level 2 agent (of a different corp) who throws some crazy 7 and 8 jump missions into their mix. Then I run into a level 1 who sends me no further than 1 jump.

What determines how far any given distribution agent will send you on missions (on average)? Agent level doesn't seem to factor in, and since they removed agent quality, I have nothing else to go on.

I don't think it is pure luck. While it may be pure luck as to what mission you get at any given time, it seems to draw from a limited pool of possible destinations. If you grind the same agent enough times, you'll start to notice certain station/systems repeat themselves...even if what you are delivering to that station is different each time.


My theory is that distribution agents are 'seeded' with a library of possible destinations that they can send you to, with some agents sending you all over creation, and others who are content to only send you a few jumps.

I wonder if this ties into the old agent quality...if some aspects of that still linger in the distribution agents (with low quality ones sending you 6+ jumps and high quality sending you only 1-4 jumps).

Does anyone have a resource that lists the agents in the game and what their quality used to be, back when there still was quality?