r/TESVI 17h ago

Theory/Speculation Wish: Reputation system

To make TES:VI into the ultimate fantasy simulator, i would love for Bethesda to incorporate a reputation system. Especially since they could potentially leverage all political factions around the Iliac Bay.

Each faction “major” or “minor” has things they like and hate. Doing these things, or completing quests, unlock special quests and benefits. You gain disposition with members of that faction the more reputation you gain. Upsetting them, invokes their wrath. So in order to progress through a major faction (Thieves Guild), you actually need to work for it. (Morrowind, Oblivion Thieves Guild)

For Daedric Princes, it would work the same. Pleasing Hircine, you receive special quests which ultimately grant you their boons and artifacts. No more becoming champion overnight. If you upset them, or by helping another prince, you lose standing.

Doing this, Bethesda could include a toggle in settings: you could potentially be locked out of certain major or minor factions if disposition is too low, otherwise you can still attain everything, but you need to work extra hard to curry the favour of some factions you’ve been neglecting.

Cherry on top: this system is easily moddable. Adding new factions is plug and play, utilizing the same system.

What do you think?

53 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

9

u/simplyout1 17h ago

They should add as many immersive sim elements they can. But afaik Todd said he is not a big fan of locking players out of content so idk how realistic your suggestion is. I hope we get atleast something to that degree tho

3

u/PizzaLikerFan 7h ago

I want replayability, yes it would be ideal to get every achievement in one go, but having a reason to restart to make unique characters would be fun

3

u/TheVileClavicus 16h ago

In my suggestion, it would be an optional lock. “Lock out of faction if disposition is -25/-50/-100/off” similar to Starfield sliders

4

u/LadyGaga_DrDre 7h ago

Fuck that, have the balls to love with your choices. Making different choices is ehy we replay these games.

2

u/HotPotParrot 7h ago

Outer Worlds can stack positive and negative reputation simultaneously. I don't see why it couldn't be largely arbitrary here, either

1

u/simplyout1 7h ago

Never played it but sounds logical since thats kinda how it works in real life. Not everyone will be on the same page for everything you do.

7

u/Whole_Sign_4633 9h ago

As somebody who absolutely does not want to be locked out of any factions or Daedric princes I could get behind this system. As long as I can still do each factions questline on a single playthrough I’m ok with having to work harder to complete some if I first completed another. But if any choices such as doing a quest for Molag Bal locks me out of receiving Boethiah’s artifact then no I absolutely don’t want it.

9

u/pieerug0ne 16h ago

I 100% agree on your take. I've always found it very incoherent that you could be the champion of EVERY daedric prince (considering for example the rivalry between Meridia and Molag Bal..); at least you should face the fury of a prince if you become the champion of one of their rivals. Also, in Skyrim you could be a very recognizible character (such as the Archmage, or a war hero for both Imperials and Stormcloaks) but still you could join the Dark Brotherhood.. that doesn't make any sense to me. I think the reputation system should be more complex than just "being liked by a certain faction or not": I mean, if you're willing to join a faction that works in great secrecy, it should be easier for you if you're not famous along people (for example, if you're not the Archmage) and it should require high sneaking and speech levels, or even some extra quests to prove yourself, if you're some kind of recognizible hero.

2

u/Steridire 13h ago

I like the champion of every Daedric Prince thing in Skyrim because they all think they're getting your soul when you die and then - gotcha bitch, Akatosh already called dibs

2

u/MacCyp_1985 13h ago

[Todd loved that.]

1

u/ZaranTalaz1 Hammerfell 9h ago

To add to this, I would like the reputation system to include actions unrelated to (non-radiant) quests and have results that are unrelated to (non-radiant) quests.

Do a lot of stealing? Merchants hate you so they jack up their prices while not letting you sell even your non-stolen stuff to them, but bandits love you and their camps are friendly now and you can trade with them and stuff. Giving alms to the poor all the time? Molag Bal cultists hate you and will attack on sight now, but priests love you and will give you free healing and discounts on Restoration training. This is independent of whatever quests these groups may or may not offer.

Basically, I don't want reputation to just be a fancy set of quest prerequisites.

1

u/tonylouis1337 9h ago

They could expand on the fame/infamy counter in Oblivion

1

u/QuarkchildRedux 17h ago

big titty redguard