Looking for Reputation Systems

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

I'm in the market for a reputation system to use in my homebrew campaign world (as adventuring groups are hired based on their reputations; the better it is, a higher price they can charge). What systems do other people use, recommend, or at least have seen in passing? Were there any in Dragon magazine? Are there some in third-party material? Thank you very much for your time.

 

[Azure Trance]

The (free, online) Septentropolis campaign setting, I believe, has an intricate one.

 

[Fenes 2]

IIRC then there are reputation systems in Stwar Wars d20 and in the Wheel of Time d20 RPG. I am not sure about WoT though.

 

[Derulbaskul]

Here's my "quick and dirty" version for a campaign set in the village of Deadsnows in the Silver Marches of Faerun:

REPUTATION POINTS

The party start with a base reputation of 10. Certain encounters will result in gaining or losing reputation points. Scores of 12 or higher allow a bonus on Cha based checks within Deadsnows; scores of 9 or lower result in a similar penalty (treat the Reputation score as an ability score). However, certain circumstances may allow the penalty to be a bonus to Intimidate checks.

The party’s base reputation in the Silver Marches region is 10, however, achieving an 18 in Deadsnows results in a +1 bonus to the party’s Silver Marches reputation; 26 provides a +2 bonus etc….

Reputation scores of 14+ provide a 5% discount on expenses; 18, 10%; 22, 15% and finally, 26, 20%.

The bonus to Intimidate checks applies against the enemies of Deadsnows. As the party's reputation increases, the "bad guys" start to think that they might be a but scary.

Anyway, I kept it fairly simple but I think it's going to work.

Cheers
D

 

[Frostmarrow]

In Swashbuckling Adventures (AEG) it works like this:

At character creation you make a check vs DC 15 with your highest ability score bonus, if successful you gain one point (rank) of reputation. Later you make a check every time you gain a level always with you highest ability score bonus. This is so that you will be known as a strong guy if you check with strength. Your reputation is then used as a skill to see whether people recognise you or not. Simple yet effective.

 

[bloodymage]

HACKMASTER! It's all about honor, baby!

 

[Bloodstone Mage]

The Ultimate Game Designer's Companion has a pretty good reputation system, as does the Star Wars d20 RPG.

Cheers!

 

[GMVictory]

I use character level + 4 to determine Reputation, treating it like an attribute to determine modifiers. Good-aligned Clerics, Paladins, and Druids get a +2 status modifier to reputation. Membership in well-regarded institutions would elicit a similar modifier.

A successful or failed adventure/mission, as well as character conduct, would add a local modifier to reputation (+1 to +2 or more). A local modifier applies to area that is affected (village, city, kingdom, etc.) Outside that area the local modifier does not apply.

The DC to recognize/identify others is 25 - character Reputation (include local modifier if character is within confines of that area).
Failure 6+ character is unrecognized (character is treated based on appearance, behavior, and npc personal attitude)
Failure 1-5 character seems familiar, not sure (may re-roll and is treated as previously listed)
Success 0+5 character is recognized, but general info is known (Reputation affects npc interactions)
Success 5-10 character is recognized and tales/reports of character success/failure known (ie character's local modifiers and Reputaton +2 affects npc interactions)
Success 10+ character is recognized and tales/reports of character success/failure is known in detail (based on local mods again and Reputation + local modifiers affects npc interactions)

*edited for clarity

 

[diaglo]

HACKMASTER! It's all about honor, baby!

ditto that.


or if you like you could try the old Bushido boxed set game or 1ed Oriental Adventures

 

[Gregor]

The reputation system in the Baldur's Gate series of computer games worked pretty well and it was very simple. It was on a scale of 0 - 20, whereas 20 is legendary and 0 is villain. Players start out around 10 and pick their own path. You as the DM can give out a point here and there to the party, or take one away based on their actions.

Cheers,