Discreet Work

Description

Hidden in the shadows comes a request. Not everyone wants their identify linked to their dealings. This is the place for shady deeds. Work like this requires that your level is at least that of the station that the work is found on.

Introduction

Introductory Text

Psst! Fancy a little, less than legitimate but lucrative employment, friend?

My client, who will remain unnamed, is offering X credits for this discreet task…

Quit Text

Are you getting cold feet? You can always drop the job. No hard feelings, friend. Plenty of folks around who aren't as squeamish…

In Discreet Work

A stranger approaches from the shadows and whispers…

Stranger: Travel to <area> and talk to <NPC>. They will give you further details.

OR

You hear a noise behind you and turn around quickly.

Stranger: Ser <name>, my apologies for startling you. You need to talk to my associate <NPC> for details of the job we have for you. You should find them in <area>.

OR

You wait for a signal for a moment and then… inbound message on your CORETECHS…

Unknown voice: Thank you for accepting our offer. Report to <NPC> in <area> for instructions.

OR

Your CORETECHS bleeps…

Scrambled voice: We appreciate your support Ser <name>, and you will be rewarded. Contact <NPC> in <area> for further details.

In <area>

  • Speak to <NPC>.

Me: <NPC>?

<NPC>: Ah, <name>. I was told to expect you.

<NPC>: Let us go to a quiet corner where we can talk.

You follow <NPC> to an empty spot.

OR

<NPC> looks agitated, as if having waited for some time.

Me: Excuse me, I think you might be waiting for me?

<NPC>: Ser <name>, I need to give you the details quickly before anyone approaches.

NPCs

Tasks

Eavesdrop

  • "Check on someone"

<NPC>: We are concerned about <NPC>, <name>. Make sure they are alive. Listen to what they have to say and then report back to <NPC>.

OR

  • "Interview someone"

<NPC>: My employer needs some information from <NPC>. They should be willing to give it to you without much force. Please pass on this information to my associate <NPC>.

OR

  • "Spy"

<NPC>: Ser <name>, I'd like you to spy one someone for me. The subject's name is <NPC>. Listen to them carefully and report your findings to my associate <NPC>.

  • "Visit someone and report"

Listen to what <NPC> is saying

Success

You listened to <NPC> and try to remember exactly what was said

Spy on <NPC>. Watch them carefully

Social check

Success

You notice <NPC> acting suspicously. Time to report back.

Failure

You didn't see them do anything. Keep a careful eye open

Report to <NPC>

Intelligence check

Success

You tell <NPC> everything you know
<NPC> says: "Hmmm. Most intriguing. Thank you for your help"

Failure

You try to recount exactly what you discovered
<NPC> says: "That doesn't sound quite right. Please try again."

Repair something

  • "Repair something for somebody"

<NPC>: I believe you have the skills needed to help a friend in need. Find <NPC> and help them to repair their <item>.

OR

  • "Repair something for someone"

<NPC>: Time to test your repair skills. Fix the <item> for my associate <NPC>. We want to see how you fare.

OR

  • "Repair something for resale"

<NPC>: A small challenge which could result in a small bonus for you, Ser <name>: help my associate <NPC> fix a <item> and you might just get to keep it.

  • "Assemble fortification"

<NPC> says: "This stupid <item> is broken. Can you help repair it?"

Intelligence check

Success

<NPC>: "Will you look at that! I've been trying to repair that damn thing for ages. Many thanks for your trouble."

Failure

<NPC>: You didn't manage to fix it. Try again

You should ask <NPC> for the <item>.

  • Ask <NPC> for the <item>.

Me: May I ask you for the <item>, <NPC>?

they say: Of course! Here you are Ser <name>.

You have received 1 '<item>'.

Obtain something

  • "Deliver an item to somebody"

<NPC>: My employer wants to see if you have a safe pair of hands and could do some delivery work for us. You need to get <item> and deliver the item safely to <NPC>. Good luck!

OR

  • "Deliver item"

<NPC>: I need you to deliver an item for me. You must deliver it to my associate <NPC>. My employers are most grateful for your assistance.

OR

  • "Get something from someone"

<NPC>: We wish to see if you can handle a simple job for us. Go to <NPC> and get <item> from them. You are welcome to do as you wish with with it, we just want to see if you succeed.

OR

  • "Obtain luxuries"

<NPC>: Our employer has fine tastes and wishes you to obtain a certain item: <item>. Please deliver it to my associate <NPC>. Your utmost discretion is appreciated.

OR

  • "Obtain rare items"

<NPC>: Our employer is a collector or rare items and wishes you to find a <item>. Please deliver the item to my associate <NPC>.

OR

  • "Recover lost item"

<NPC>: We wish you to find an item for us. A <item> became lost somehow and it must be recovered. Please deliver it to my associate <NPC>.

OR

  • "Steal something from somebody"

<NPC>: Do you consider yourself capable of stealing? Someone who would be unwelcome in our circle needs to be taught a lesson. You are welcome to keep what you steal. Steal the <item> from <NPC>.

OR

  • "Steal something from someone for resale"

<NPC>: More of a challenge than a job: we want to see if you are able to steal a certain item from one of our enemies. Go to <NPC> and steal their <item>. You are free to do as you wish with your spoils.

OR

  • "Steal something for somebody"

<NPC>: My employer would like you to steal something that is valuable to one of our adversaries. It is of little value to us but this <item> seems to be of great interest to <NPC>. Get it from them and deliver it to my comrade <NPC>.

OR

<NPC>: Our employer requires you to take an item from <NPC> and deliver it to <NPC>. Take care of this <item> as it is precious to us.

Intermediate Tasks

  • "Discover <NPC>'s location, spy on them then report to <NPC>"
  • "Find out where <NPC> is, sneak up on them and take <item>"
  • "You must steal <item> from <NPC>"
  • "You need to find <item> but first you need to know where to look"

You need to find out where <NPC> is located and go there.

  • A hunch tells you to go to the <area> to find <NPC>.
  • From your CORETECHS you see that <area> is the place to find <NPC>.
  • You ask a passerby if they know where to find <NPC>. They direct you to <area>.
  • You're pretty sure you can find <NPC> in <area>.
  • Go and find <NPC>, get Plastic Scroll and read what is written on it.
    • You must read what it says on the Plastic Scroll
    • You have read what it says on the Plastic Scroll and drop it in a nearby trash can.
    • And on the Plastic Scroll it said:
    • Go to <NPC> who is in <area>.

You must search for <item>.

Stamina check

Success

You found the <item>

Failure

You didn't find the <item>. Keep looking.

Sneak up on <NPC>. You need to get close without being noticed.

Social check

Success

You manage to get right next to <NPC> without being noticed

Failure

<NPC> spots your approach so you hold back

Take the <item> from <NPC> without them noticing

Agility check

Success

You took the <item> from <NPC>

Failure

You didn't manage to get the <item>

You must give the <item> to <NPC>

<NPC>: You did well. Thank you for finding the <item>

Conclusion

Return to <NPC> in <area> to collect your reward.

  • Ask <NPC> about your reward.

Me: And my reward for completing this job?

<NPC>: Your payment, of course.

You have received <#.##> credits.

You have completed the "Anonymous" mission.

Additional rewards

Your <statistic> stat has increased by <#.###>.

OR

You have received <#.##> bonus credits

OR

You have received '<item>'.

OR

You have received <#> bonds.

Notes

  • Before May 30, 2018, discreet missions could bestow VIP packs. That was apparently a bug, which was fixed.
  • Discreet work was revamped on August 22, 2018, to include a starting/ending NPC, add mission text, and change the item pools.
  • You must have reached at least the same level as the station to do Discreet Work; otherwise you see only the message:

Our anonymous benefactor doesn't have confidence that you can complete the work.

Technicalities

Payment

Prior to accepting each discreet mission the reward for a successful completion is shown. This seems to cycle from a lower to an upper bound, usually by a fixed amount, sometimes staying the same and sometimes increasing by multiples of said fixed amount. Here is some data from Tau Station for a continuous run of discreet missions:

  • 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, 8.3, 8.5, 8.6, 8.8
  • 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 7.4, 7.5, 7.5, 7.6, 8.8, 8.9, 9.1
  • 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 9.1, 9.3, 9.4
  • 6.7, 6.8, 6.8, 6.8, 7.8, 7.9, 8.1, 9.4, 9.6, 9.8, 10.0
  • 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 9.8, 10.0
  • 6.2, 6.3

The observed bounds are 6.2 and 10.0, respectively. The lower bound is probably 6.0.

Rewards

The observed stat increases on Tau Station range from 0.008 to 0.010.
The observed bond rewards

  • before the revamp on August 22, 2018, on Tau Station range from 10 to 40 bonds
  • after the revamp on August 22, 2018, on Nouveau Limoges range from ??? to 8 to ??? bonds
  • after the revamp on August 22, 2018, on Yards of Gadani range from 2 to 10 bonds
Average rewards per discreet mission

Each mission consumes about 20 focus on average (See this spreadsheet). Errors shown below designate a 95% confidence interval, not an indication of range of payouts.

Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(sell for)
Rations Stims Stats affected
Sol
Tau Station
(of 108 missions)
7.85
±0.11
0.007
±0.000
0.67
±0.21
8.25
±1.60
0.009
±???
(tier 1)
SOC: 57%,
INT: 43%
København
(of 60 missions)
23.54
±0.70
0.005
±0.001
0.13
±0.10
60.42
±23.75
0.083
±0.036
(tier 1)
SOC: 86%,
INT: 14%
Daedalus
(of 82 missions)
28.55
±0.62
0.016
±0.001
0.24
±0.14
10.34
±8.20
SOC: 47%,
STA: 29%,
STR: 24%
Taungoo Station
(of 99 missions)
37.93
±0.92
0.015
±0.001
0.61
±0.22
38.16
±14.83
0.020
±0.014
(tier 1)
SOC: 62%,
STA: 22%,
STR: 15%
Nouveau Limoges
(of 44 missions)
39.80
±0.87
0.024
±0.000
0.05
±???
STR: 45%,
INT: 32%,
STA: 23%
Sol Jump Gate
(of 99 missions)
39.95
±0.57
0.018
±0.001
0.36
±0.15
13.95
±3.93
0.081
±0.027
(tier 2)
0.101
±0.030
(v1, v2)
INT: 61%,
SOC: 39%
Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(sell for)
Rations Stims Stats affected
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri Jump Gate
(of 61 missions)
45.95
±0.86
0.017
±0.002
0.30
±0.20
40.27
±11.01
0.033
±0.023
(tier 2)
0.246
±0.069
(v2)
SOC: 100%
Moissan Station
(of 94 missions)
53.66
±1.38
0.018
±0.001
0.43
±0.17
21.66
±13.04
0.011
±???
(tier 2)
0.234
±0.044
(v2)
INT: 65%,
SOC: 35%
Paris Spatiale
(of 100 missions)
51.85
±0.74
0.030
±0.000
0.26
±0.14
SOC: 65%,
STA: 26%,
INT: 9%
The Ghost of Mali
(of 146 missions)
51.27
±0.59
0.023
±0.001
0.21
±0.11
78.36
±12.63
0.021
±0.012
(tier 2)
SOC: 36%,
STA: 32%,
STR: 32%
Cirque Centauri
(of 99 missions)
67.81
±1.54
0.020
±0.002
0.31
±0.13
76.24
±12.18
0.010
±???
(tier 2)
SOC: 82%,
STR: 18%
Spirit of Botswana
(of 165 missions)
58.04
±0.68
0.032
±0.000
0.21
±0.09
7.45
±3.55
0.006
±???
(tier 2)
SOC: 49%,
INT: 26%,
STA: 26%
Bordeaux Station
(of 91 missions)
73.78
±1.89
0.023
±0.002
0.22
±0.13
108.37
±17.34
STR: 44%,
SOC: 39%,
STA: 17%
Yards of Gadani
(of 116 missions)
65.46
±1.13
0.023
±0.002
0.38
±0.14
225.26
±31.35
0.017
±0.012
(tier 2)
SOC: 43%,
STR: 34%,
STA: 23%
Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(sell for)
Rations Stims Stats affected
Barnard's Star
Barnard's Star Jump Gate
(of 72 missions)
62.10
±1.04
0.028
±0.002
0.19
±0.12
96.48
±23.97
0.028
±0.019
(tier 2)
INT: 55%,
SOC: 45%
Caen Stronghold
(of 117 missions)
83.00
±1.89
0.023
±0.002
0.31
±0.13
56.41
±17.01
0.009
±???
(tier 3)
0.248
±0.040
(v3)
SOC: 54%,
STA: 46%
Hopkins' Legacy
(of 92 missions)
68.71
±1.01
0.021
±0.002
0.15
±0.09
40.61
±16.03
0.022
±0.015
(tier 3)
0.543
±0.070
(v3)
STR: 100%
Estación de Amazon
(of 161 missions)
74.45
±0.83
0.042
±0.000
0.24
±0.10
SOC: 76%,
INT: 24%
The Maid of Orléans
(of 133 missions)
85.23
±1.72
0.029
±0.002
0.47
±0.15
54.37
±14.53
0.165
±0.032
(v3)
STR: 52%,
SOC: 48%
Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(value)
Rations Stims Stats affected
Sirius
Sirius Jump Gate
(of 103 missions)
50.23
±1.02
0.039
±0.002
0.29
±0.14
94.45
±35.43
0.068
±0.025
(T3, T4)
SOC: 43%,
STA: 36%,
STR: 21%
Heinlein Stronghold
(of 120 missions)
48.04
±0.75
0.045
±0.000
0.30
±0.12
INT: 37%,
SOC: 36%,
STA: 27%
The House of Congo
(of 109 missions)
48.85
±0.67
0.040
±0.002
0.34
±0.13
196.98
±52.44
0.092
±0.033
(T4)
INT: 42%,
STA: 39%,
SOC: 19%
Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(sell for)
Rations Stims Stats affected
L 726-8 A
L 726-8 Jump Gate
(of 102 missions)
86.56
±1.77
0.038
±0.002
0.37
±0.16
77.49
±20.79
SOC: 59%,
STR: 41%
Orwell Stronghold
(of 143 missions)
87.65
±1.63
0.025
±0.002
0.38
±0.13
207.68
±25.66
0.098
±0.025
(tier 3)
INT: 57%,
STR: 43%
Spirit of Tianjin
(of 95 missions)
102.57
±2.62
0.028
±0.002
0.23
±0.10
27.54
±12.81
0.011
±???
(tier 3)
0.253
±0.045
(v4)
SOC: 100%
Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(value)
Rations Stims Stats affected
Ross 154
Ross 154 Jump Gate
(of 104 missions)
56.19
±1.22
0.044
±0.002
0.12
±0.06
279.94
±60.99
STR: 37%,
STA: 33%,
SOC: 30%
LeGuin Stronghold
(of 101 missions)
50.46
±0.71
0.033
±0.003
0.31
±0.15
788.91
±124.93
0.020
±0.014
(tier 4)
0.129
±0.033
(T4)
SOC: 100%
The House of Syria
(of 117 missions)
60.05
±1.29
0.039
±0.002
0.29
±0.12
472.90
±69.87
INT: 75%,
SOC: 25%
Madame de Pompadour
(of 137 missions)
51.85
±0.63
0.051
±0.001
0.16
±0.09
224.23
±70.15
0.036
±0.016
(T4)
STR: 53%,
SOC: 47%
Station Credits Stat Bonds Weapons
(sell for)
Rations Stims Stats affected
YZ Ceti
YZ Ceti Jump Gate
(of 140 missions)
131.28
±2.70
0.040
±0.003
0.66
±0.17
27.13
±8.89
0.229
±0.035
(tier 4)
SOC: 52%,
STA: 48%
Asimov Freehold
(of 131 missions)
110.60
±1.37
0.044
±0.002
0.53
±0.17
191.57
±34.58
0.176
±0.037
(tier 4)
INT: 39%,
STA: 33%,
STR: 28%
Cape Verde Stronghold
(of 97 missions)
111.43
±1.61
0.062
±0.000
0.32
±0.14
INT: 42%,
STR: 34%,
SOC: 24%
Spirit of New York City
(of 105 missions)
130.29
±2.89
0.051
±0.003
0.07
±???
31.51
±13.44
0.162
±0.036
(v5)
INT: 52%,
STA: 48%
Rewards per discreet mission

See also a google doc for more payout info

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