Newcomer / Intro Quick question about the reputation system with factions

[Malom Bock]

Greetings Commanders,

Sorry if I "multiple" post but I've been searching for a straight answer before I hit the sack and there's just so much stuff to read out there, I just don't seem to be able to find a simple answer. Or I'm too tired.

Either way, as someone who is much more familiar with how reputation works in Eve Online, I have some quick question about the reputation system with the three main factions in ED. I'd greatly appreciated if someone could help me out.

1. If I become friendly with a faction, will I automatically lose reputation with the other two? If not, can I increase my reputation with all three factions simultaneously, and befriend all three of them? (I'm not taking in account the activities / actions done to increase reputation with a faction. I'm asking if the scales are tipped against the other two faction by default, as soon as I gain influence with a third).
2. Do navy missions negatively impact my reputation with the opposite factions?
3. If an NPC who is on good relations with a faction has a bounty on his head placed by an opposite party, will I lose reputation if I claim that bounty? (regardless if I become wanted and pay my fine)
4. Should I worry about losing reputation with the other two factions when handing over / completing trade missions with a third?
5. If I eventually have to choose one faction over the other two, which one of the factions is more welcoming to a jack-of-all-trades kind of pilot?

Cheers!

 

[willowfan]

1. Not really, it's perfectly possible to be allied with all three major factions.

2. No

3. Yes, you will loose rep with whatever faction the npc belonged to.

4. Not really.

5. There's not really much to choose between the factions to be honest.

 

[Dommarraa]

As long as you stick to legal activities, you will never get any major Rep Hits. Even shooting a faction allied ship will not be much of hit if they are Wanted. Sometimes a mission will show a Rep Hit with someone, but it is never very big.
The only activity for which this may not be true is Conflict Zones. I have never got around to trying it, because I assume it would.

 

[Malom Bock]

Much appreciated, this helps a lot!

So in a manner of speaking, you can do pretty much whatever you want, associate yourself with whoever you want and your reputation will not take a hit. As long as your actions are not a direct aggressive act towards a certain faction. Yes?

I kinda' like it. It does seem like a rather shallow reputation system but on the other hand it gives you freedom and makes you more of a mercenary rather than an asset for a certain faction. I guess itt also lends more weight to the idea of the "Pilots Federation" faction, at least in my mind.

Cheers!
Fly safe

 

[Pyrion]

There was a comment some time ago by a dev saying that the very highest ranks in empire and federation might be exclusive so that you have to decide which side to support. Not true for lower to medium ranks definately as i have them already.

 

[nazartp]

There was a comment some time ago by a dev saying that the very highest ranks in empire and federation might be exclusive so that you have to decide which side to support. Not true for lower to medium ranks definately as i have them already.

Not at this point. There are CMDRs with both highest ranks.

 

[nazartp]

OP - just to clarify on your question 2. Some people responded "no" to that. That NO is qualified. Your major faction reputation is a function of minor faction reputation. In your Navy progression you will run across two assassination missions. Those require to kill a general of your major faction who is a "sympathiser" of some other faction, minor or major. You will take a rep hit with other faction during those missions. For my first Federal assassination mission I killed a Federal general, but took a hit with minor Imperial faction. Nothing unrecoverable, though.

 

[Malom Bock]

OP - just to clarify on your question 2.

Thanks for the heads up!

Would it be wiser / worth my time to try and increase rep with all factions to a certain point, and then complete these assassination missions? Was the rep hit large enough to have made you hostile towards the Federation, assuming that your standing was "Neutral" when you killed the respective general? Or, again, should I not be bother too much about these details?

Obviously I am "Neutral" with all 3 factions at this point and my intentions are not to restrict myself to certain systems by becoming hostile with either faction. I'm not rich enough to afford too many enemies XD

 

[Dommarraa]

None of the minor rep hits are worth altering your behaviour, just get out there and do missions and ranking as you see fit. Just don't do illegal things, it will destroy your rep.

I made it a priority to get friendly with all the major factions asap (ranking is a good way to do it). If only to give me a little elbow room if I accidentally did something bad, I could redeem myself a lot easier. Getting from neutral to friendly is a LOT easier than to get from hostile to unfriendly.

 

[Malom Bock]

@Dommarraa

I guess getting friendly with all three factions wouldn't be that much work and the elbow room could pay off Good tip, thanks man!

 

[nazartp]

Thanks for the heads up!

Would it be wiser / worth my time to try and increase rep with all factions to a certain point, and then complete these assassination missions? Was the rep hit large enough to have made you hostile towards the Federation, assuming that your standing was "Neutral" when you killed the respective general? Or, again, should I not be bother too much about these details?

Obviously I am "Neutral" with all 3 factions at this point and my intentions are not to restrict myself to certain systems by becoming hostile with either faction. I'm not rich enough to afford too many enemies XD

You are not likely remain "NEUTRAL" by the time you reach those assassination missions. The rep hit is not big enough to drive you even into unfriendly territory not even speaking about hostile.