MISSIONS: Basics – Understanding Mission Texts - #00006

'Not understanding a mission description is the source of all evil' – Newbie CMDR

After hopefully having read about understanding mission listings and having read about mission types, you should now dive deep into mission descriptions.

In there, you will find all neccessary information to avoid frustration.

Places to go?
If you need to fly to a certain place or a station, check distances. Not only in light years to system, but in terms of in-system-distance, too. If you skip this information, you might end with a lucrative 'short time' delivery mission... that goes to Hutton Orbital and takes nearly an additional hour in SuperCruise mode until you arrive there. Distances make a difference!

Which factions are involved?
Not only if you're into politics, but also if you're just making some place your home, it's quite important to check what kind of action you force onto what kind of minor faction. In general: Don't do evil things to factions you want to be appreciated by later on. Politics make a difference!

Which rank is recommended?
Depending on non-combat or combat variants of missions, you should take a short look at the recommended rank. Doing Assassination missions recommended for Elite rank while being a newbie in a Viper Mk3 with a 'mostly harmless' combat rank is.. suicidal. Ranks make a difference.

When will the mission expire?
An expiration date is a deadline. If your mission expires you might not only lose the potential revenue, you might also be fined for not having delivered in time and you might lose some reputation with the giving faction. Time makes a difference.

Are there advisories shown?
Often there will be an exclamation mark and a line saying 'Bring an interdictor'. Do so. Advisories make a difference.

Are there warnings shown?
If there are red colored warnings present, do not ignore them. From 'this might be illegal' (it most probably is) to 'hostile ships may be sent after you' (they most probably will), you should not ignore these. Warnings make a difference.