With our next game update, we are reworking the reputation system and adding a new layer of progression to the game. Your relationship with each faction will continue to determine which benefits are available to you.
In this blog, we will provide you with an overview of the general changes, explain the new reputation levels, and introduce the Favor currency, Shop NPCs and Faction Gear.
Reputation and Factions at a Glance
There are many different factions in the world of Persist Online. And you have the choice to join or fight them during your adventures. Some factions are engaged in direct conflicts with one another. In these so called “Faction wars”, every reputation change affects both sides. Means, gaining reputation with one faction causes you to lose the same amount with its opposing faction, and vice versa. Choosing to support one side will have meaningful consequences for your relationship with the other.
So when you finally decided to join a faction, you can level up your reputation through multiple activities, such as completing quests, defeating certain enemies, gathering or donating required resources, and completing other faction-specific objectives. Be aware that every character of a family has an individual reputation value with each faction, which means that reputation in the game is fully character-based (and not family-based). If you play multiple characters, each of them will build their own relationships with the different factions.
Faction reputation ranges from −10,000 points to +10,000 points and is divided into several trust levels:
- Condemned (-10,000)
- Hostile (-9,999 to -5,000)
- Suspicious (-4,999 to -1,000)
- Neutral (-999 to 999)
- Welcoming (1,000 to 4,999)
- Trusted (5,000 to 9,999)
- Honored (10,000)
Starting from the neutral trust level, you unlock new benefits with each trust level. For example, you will not be attacked on sight by faction NPCs, unlock a Faction Intro Questline and different NPC types (trade, repair, sick bay, auction house) or gain access to the Guild registry, where you can create or manage your guild.
At higher trust levels, you will unlock even more benefits, such as an additional entry to your Safehouse, the Faction Quest Board for daily missions, and a new NPC vendor for specific faction-based gear.
Introducing Favor
Favor is our new currency that you can earn once you reach the highest reputation level within a faction. From that point onward, every further reputation point you earn is automatically converted into Favor. You can view your current Favor balance for each faction in the reputation overview.
It is also tied to each individual character. This means that every character of a family earns and holds Favor separately for every faction. Please note that any Favor earned with one faction cannot be spent with another faction or transferred between characters.
The Favor Shop NPC
Every faction gets its own Favor Shop NPC. These vendors allow you to invest your well-earned Favor in faction-specific armor.
The shop selection refreshes every day at midnight. Each refresh presents two new items from the available equipment pool. This pool contains the seven armor categories (wrists, chest, pants, head, boots, shoulders and gloves) from the faction’s unique outfit as well as all additional bonus armor pieces.
If a category contains multiple faction-specific variants, such as two different helmets, the shop first rolls the armor category and then selects a specific item from that group. All values of an item are fully visible before you make a purchase. You will know exactly what you are buying, including its quality, attributes, and mods.
The minimum/maximum level requirement of an offered item is based on your character level. The item’s primary attributes are determined by its character level requirement and its secondary attributes by its quality – just as they would be for a regular loot drop.
Purchases require both Favor and raw materials. The Favor cost depends on the armor category and quality, while the material cost is split across three raw material types. Once you confirm a purchase, your new item is delivered by mail.
Favor Shop items can be modified further at your Safehouse workshop, like increasing the durability or changing the mods. However, there are some limitations:
- They will not come with a chance for an upgrade (arrow) to increase the character level in the Safehouse workshop.
- Recycling does not provide any knowledge to craft that item in the Faction’s design.
If you are interested in an offer but do not yet have enough Favor or materials, you can reserve (lock) it. A reserved item remains available through the daily shop refreshes until you purchase it or remove the reservation. Once unlocked, it may be replaced during a future shop refresh.
What Happens If You Lose Honored Status?
If you lose Reputation and fall below 10,000 points, your reputation level returns to Trusted. Any Favor you have already earned remains untouched, but you cannot spend it temporarily. As soon as you reach Honored again, your entire saved Favor balance becomes available once more. For example, you have 10,000 Reputation and 30 Favor, but then lose 40 Reputation. You now sit at 9,960 Reputation and still retain all 30 Favor. You will be able to spend it again at the faction’s Favor Shop NPC after returning to the Honored level.
Earn Their Trust & Gain Their Favor
With this rework, supporting a faction will continue to feel rewarding even after you reached the maximum Reputation level. Honored is no longer the end of your progression; instead it marks the beginning of a new goal: earn Favor, keep an eye on the changing offers, and secure the faction-specific gear that best suits your character!
The Reputation Rework and Favor Shop NPCs will become available with the next Pre-Alpha update. If you haven’t had a chance to join one of our Playtests, make sure to sign up here – already invited testers will get automatic access to all new tests. Also don’t forget to provide us with your feedback about the new changes on Discord.
Thanks a lot for your continued support!
-The Persist Online Team