Star Traders: Frontiers combines a number of difficulty systems to build the game's difficulty ladder. Difficulty ratings are broken out by their effect into systems related to combat, legality, enemy level, and economic profits.
Difficulties Settings
Invincibility
This determines which characters are protected from death and cannot die during your game. Characters that are not protected will have to roll a Death Save.
Death Save
When any character suffers a lethal wound they have a chance of dying outright. Difficulty is one of the major factors in a Character's Death Save, which determines the chance that a character will survive a lethal hit.
Bonus Experience
When your crew earns experience, it is boosted by this percent before being allocated to crew members. The higher this number, the faster your crew will level.
Bonus Profits
When you make a profitable trade in the Exchange, your profits will be boosted by this amount before being paid. This will increase the value you receive from trading and piracy.
Enemy Difficulty
This rate adjusts how the game determines a fair opponent for your captain and ship. The lower this number, the easier the opponent AI will be.
World Difficulty
This rate adjusts how hostile the game world will be to your ship and crew. This will reduce the damage, mutinies and encounters you have. The lower this number, the easier the game will be.
Combat Boost
When you make an attack, your rolls are boosted by this percentage. This gives you an advantage over your enemies. The higher this number, the easier combat will be.
Starting Funds
The funds your captain starts with. 20% of any funds left over from your ship selection will be added to your starting funds. Some Kickstarter backers will receive a bonus amount of $5k credits.
Game Difficulties Levels
| Basic | Normal | Challenging | Demanding | Hard | Brutal | Impossible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invincibility | Captain Officers |
Captain Officers |
Captain | Captain | - | - | - |
| Death Save | 80% + Resilience | 70% + Resilience | 60% + Resilience | 50% + Resilience | 40% + Resilience | 30% + Resilience | 20% + Resilience |
| Bonus Profits | 25% | 20% | 15% | 10% | 5% | - | - |
| Bonus Experience | 25% | 20% | 15% | 10% | 5% | - | - |
| Enemy Difficulty | 60% | 80% | 80% | 100% | 110% | 120% | 140% |
| World Difficulty | 80% | 90% | 100% | 110% | 115% | 120% | 130% |
| Combat Bonus | 25% | 20% | 15% | 10% | 10% | - | - |
| Starting Funds | $17,500 | $15,000 | $12,500 | $10,000 | $7500 | $5000 | $2500 |
Custom Difficulty
Exactly as you please. Some achievements will not be unlocked while playing under a custom difficulty setting.