S+ versus S++

[Ballistic Gel Torso]

Been wondering something, how much better is an S++ soldier compared to an S+ one. I'm asking this in terms of how much an s++ contributes to the level of a staff unit

[No_Quarter]

staff level system uses exponentional function meaning that S++ is soooo much better than S+, it's somewhat like comparing E to A

[J A F F A]

1 of the best S++ mercs seems worth about 2 of the worst S+ mercs but there is variation between grades, not even considering medals.

[Jokotau]

from my observation it looks like not much, only reason to collect them is because you have very limited space for them and can direct contract only 10%. and it seems they're using RPG type system for leveling up, because it took 50 S+ and 3 S++ to level up just from level 98 to 100.

[Bugjuice]

Someone posted this as the number indicates their ability points..

E: 1-15
D: 16-31
C: 32-47
B: 48-63
A: 64-79
A+: 80-109
A++: 110-184
S: 185-289
S+: 290-447
S++: 448+

It's like how much a staff of that rank contributes to your unit level. But I could be wrong..

[J A F F A]

I roughly assigned values of A++ =3, S =4, S+ =6, S++ =12 just from experience farming the FOB events so that seems close enough. Judging by the bar graphs in the staff roster there also seems to be a max S++ ability as several at the top all have identical skill and medals don't add to the bar.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701556706

[Jokotau]

Originally posted by Antaeus:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701556706

you have 3500 staff members and your max unit level tops at level 129??? that doesn't seem right. do you have like a lot of rank A++ and less or all your staff is at least rank S? if so, it's even more fu*ked up than i thought it is.

[J A F F A]

I have about 320 S++ staff with vast majority S+ staff, and about 100 S staff in combat platform. The platforms require more and more S++ per level the higher you go. I just tried dismissing everyone on R&D platform except the top 10 S++ staff and it was level 30. Just 1 S++ was it was level 7.

[Jokotau]

yeah, i said that earlier that seems it uses RPG type system for leveling up. but i was able to hit level 104 with just only 2 FOB's, so it seemed a bit strange, but yeah, i guess after lvl 99 leveling up gets a lot tougher.

[TheTeamKillingBastard]

And the preview for the May update (1.10) showed base levels of 140 and higher. Damn...

[Dfactor]

Originally posted by Jokotau:

you have 3500 staff members and your max unit level tops at level 129??? that doesn't seem right. do you have like a lot of rank A++ and less or all your staff is at least rank S? if so, it's even more fu*ked up than i thought it is.

Not true. Security Team made out of 500 entry level S+ soldiers gives you lvl123. Not more or less.
409 (decent pack with medals) S++ soldiers and 89 S+ soldiers give you lvl160.
When you move soldiers around and change display you can see how many ability points you need to level up.
Bottom line, if you want to develop every single item then you'll have to hoard more than 350 S++ soldiers.
Here's something I caught a couple of days ago.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701147228

[Jokotau]

yeah, you can level them up. i don't know exactly how tho. it has to be via medals or for successful FOB defenses. doing actual FOB's doesn't level up them, but defenses or medals do. i noticed after few of mine defenses which i did with security team member that my staff rank bonus decreased from 0.87 to 0.85 and later to 0.84 and then i noticed that he's no longer S in intel department but his rank increased to S+.

also been curious what makes some FOB to go on instant alerts once you land? i mean you just land on FOB and the radio CP message goes "all units special alert - defend your positions"? i checked i maxed out all my FOB functions, but when i go to train on my own FOB there isn't that alert.

[Dfactor]

I already explained the medals part to you in the previous thread.
After you do a successful FOB invasion you're greeted with "Proficiency increased significantly". Do that three times and you get a medal. You get a medal which increase staff ability points.
Kill an invader on yours or your friends' FOB. You get a medal which increase staff ability points.
Send your staff on a combat deplyment (can die). If same staff happens to be deployed 3(?) times then you get a medal which increase staff ability points.
Screenshot above shows all of 3 above.
You can also go to your Motherbase and increase morale, but realistically it would take ages for you to increase morale of the same soldier. Having high morale would increase staff ability points by itself.

Special Alerts should be related to FOB's Intel Team levels. If the host's Intel Team is high then SAs will be triggered, what they do is that they alter usual patrol routes.

[Jokotau]

you're mistaking me with someone else, it's the first time i read about the medals, but thanks for sharing. but that would mean that these 3 medals is as far as staff member can be leveled up? and i figured it most likely has to do something with intel team, but my intel is lvl 99 which is enough for any department to max out its functions, but i still don't get that "special alert" radio message. idk, maybe i missed something, will check it tomorrow because it took quite some time moving soldiers around to hit 101 lvl on base development unit, so i can give tomorrow development order of improved cameras.

thats the one i was talking about earlier
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=701774921
and it shows that my intel team actually is at lvl 99, so what gives?

[Dfactor]

I see, I guess I forgot to mention it in your initial thread.
I'm not 100% sure if SA is related to Intel Team, but I do know that invader detection is indeed tied to it (how fast you see the invader circle on the map).
If it's not the Intel Team then it could be Support Unit. You'll max out every single one eventually.
But if you want to develop every single item then you'll have to reach lvl140 on most at least.

[Jokotau]

yeah i saw that already, i think lvl 138 is the max you need for development if i'm not missed anything. but considering how much time items development and FOB's expansions takes i feel like there is no need for the rush. i'll get my third FOB for free soon enough just by collecting daily login bonuses.