Newcomer / Intro 3 Factions - Am I hurting myself by helping any of them?

[Naz Nara]

As I try to make a few credits I see that I'm gaining faction from delivering messages.

A few questions I don't see in stickies on top of this forum:
Does it hurt me to deliver messages and gain rep with the Federation if I later plan to join a different faction?
Can someone give me the simplest explanation of each faction? Maybe relate them to Star Wars terms? Federation = Empire?

Thanks and sorry if this has been answered, I didn't find it.

 

[The Chef]

Federation:
http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Federation

Empire:
http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Empire

Alliance:
http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Alliance

There are currently no real perks in joining/helping factions. Getting certain ranks in both Federation & Empire will unlock the purchase of the Federal Dropship and the Imperial Clipper, but apart from that you can join all 3, fight all 3, and still make money with all 3.

Just note that Alliance has no ranks atm, so its only reputation with them. SOL system (where you currently reside IRL ) is Federation territory, so you can consider that the 'core-faction', but atm no perks whatsoever.

So you might lose reputation with other factions for doing jobs for Fed, but if you later want to join the Empire, then its no problem. Might take a bit longer cause your rep is down, but definitely doable.

 

[Dommarraa]

No work for any of the factions will harm your standing with any of the others. Lots of people have high rank in both military factions, and are Allied with all 3. I am, just keeping my options open for when they eventually develop the mission system and make the factions actually do something.

 

[Naz Nara]

Thanks! Looks like when I get bored of trying to make money, I'll have to start working on these. The Empire ships look so cool, but I read they have crazy repair bills. I still crash into the landing pad half the time XD.

 

[Dommarraa]

I started out by doing missions and trading as a secondary task I went between the required systems, got me a decent Fed Rank and a pile of dosh at the same time. Still do it now occasionaly to get Independent Permits.

 

[Colombe]

Well... Some Deliver missions (the ones not including commodities) may hurt your reputation with a faction... Not from a huge amount, though, but they will.

Typically, the missions like "Go into that Federation station and tell them how much we want them to join us instead" will affect negatively your Federation reputation.

 

[Anarky]

Thanks! Looks like when I get bored of trying to make money, I'll have to start working on these. The Empire ships look so cool, but I read they have crazy repair bills. I still crash into the landing pad half the time XD.

You can do both. You can gain popularity while earning credits. Just run missions, do bounty hunting or trade to and from systems and stations that are aligned with one of the three factions. This will increase your popularity with the local faction aligned with one of the big factions. Then when you feel like it you can pick up the ranking missions.