Reputation

[LessthanReal]

I play it loosely in my own campaign. At the moment, my characters are about 7th level, but they have some reputation in one particular area, and with a couple of organizations.

I only give slight bonuses for it. People who know who they are from organizations who like them will tend to react better to them, starting out at a better attitude. People from organizations who dislike them will probably start out on unfriendly, if not outright hostile.

Other than that, aside from the occasional + or -2 bonus, not much comes from fame until they're truely well known.

And in that case, I'll probably just borrow the reputation system from d20 Modern, which is nicely done and gives a advantages and disadvantages to being well known.

 

[Coredump]

I would treat fame and infamy separately. There are lots of people that are thought as 'great' and as 'scum'.

(Like force points in star wars) I would track fame and infamy points separately, granting them depending on what types of activities they were performing. I may combine them to see if someone has heard of Ragnar, but then use the separate fame/infamy scores to determine just what they have heard.

It also allows separating 'personas'. Like a rogue that is part of a 'good' party, but secretly goes out and steals as the 'Night Shadow Thief'. Only his 'fame' will come into play, unless he tells someone that he is also the NST (then add in the infamy)

Etc.

 

[Atridis]

I think there's a Reputation score in d20 Modern, which I thought ought to have been labeled Fame instead. I can't remember the details; maybe there's a Modern player lurking about.

 

[Ed Cha]

This is the Reputation Points system I developed for "World of Whitethorn 1A: The Hamlet of Thumble":

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Reputation Points
Heroic deeds and honorable actions garner greater reputation for characters. Likewise, ruthless behavior and despicable acts cast a shadow of disgrace and notoriety on them.

In some ways, reputation is not a marker of good or evil, but it helps establish a name for oneself. Characters achieve recognition by committing any noteworthy acts that garner the attention of others. These acts could be saving a village from a terrible monster, defeating a large army, or building a mighty fortress. It could also be something mundane, like donating some money to a temple, contributing a few valuable books to a library, or supporting the artistic endeavors of a wandering bard.

Those with remarkable reputation have a presence about them, even when they leave the lands in which they are well-known for less familiar locales. This is because they exude confidence and carry an aura of importance wherever they go. Likewise, if you meet a shady individual, you may get a gut feeling this is someone who is very dangerous and to be careful around. Indeed people with an exceedingly high (or exceedingly low) Reputation Points score have an awe-inspiring (or terribly disturbing) quality about them. They are usually those of authority and influence and others recognize this, even if they do not personally know them.

Hiding one’s reputation aura requires a Bluff check opposed by the observer’s Sense Motive check. Remember, anyone with five or more ranks in Disguise receives a +2 synergy bonus to their Bluff checks. You may receive a circumstance bonus, if you appear different from your usual self, like wearing rags when you are a well-known noble or vice versa.

Reputation Points are a good way to reward characters, who are not motivated by money or power. They lessen the “mercenary” quality of adventuring and add a “heroic” incentive factor to the game.

Reputation/Score/Benefit
Legendary +1000 +1 permanent bonus to Charisma
Renowned +750 +1 bonus to all Charisma checks
Majestic +500 +1 permanent bonus to Charisma
Magnificent+250 +1 bonus to all Charisma checks
Heroic +200 +1 permanent bonus to Charisma
Valiant +150 +2 bonus to Gather Information checks
Splendid +100 “Great prestige”: +2 bonus to Leadership feat
Outstanding+75 +1 bonus to Diplomacy checks
Prominent +50 “Fairness and generosity”: +1 bonus to Leadership feat
Recognized +25 +1 bonus to Diplomacy checks
Honorable +15
Admirable +10
Praiseworthy+5
Decent +1
Unknown 0
Dubious -1
Disgraceful -5
Deplorable -10
Despicable -15
Scandalous -25 +1 bonus to Intimidate check
Notorious -50 “Ruthlessness and cruelty”: +1 bonus to Leadership feat
Foul -75 +1 bonus to Intimidate checks
Vile -100 “Great Prestige”: +2 bonus to Leadership feat
Revolting -150 +2 bonus to Gather Information checks
Wicked -200 +1 permanent bonus to Charisma
Monstrous -250 +1 bonus to all Charisma checks
Sinister -500 +1 permanent bonus to Charisma
Fiendish -750 +1 bonus to all Charisma checks
Diabolical -1000 +1 permanent bonus to Charisma

Act and Reputation Gain/Loss
Donating a small sum of money to a temple or bard +1
Donating a large sum of money to a temple or bard +2
Donating a huge sum of money to a temple or bard +5
Helping a woman find her lost child +1
Risking great danger to help a woman find her child +2
Overcoming incredible odds to help a woman find her child +5
Destroying a kobold burrow +5
Defeating a small army of goblins +10
Vanquishing a terrible dragon +25

Stealing from a priest -1
Desecrating a temple -5
Standing by and watching as a murderous act is committed -10
Razing an entire village and killing all inhabitants -25
Murdering a peasant -10
Killing a nobleman -25
Assassinating the king -50

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One reviewer asked if a character whose Reputation Points score goes from very high to very low can gain the effects twice. My answer would be no because that character would just lose the previous benefits as soon as he or she goes down in Reputation Points. So the "permanent" bonus to Charisma is not really permanent.

 

[LessthanReal]

That's not a bad idea... my only real problem with it being that you get actual stat-type bonuses for how well known you are. Now maybe a significant modifier with someone who idolizes you, or even to someone who just knows who you are(and believes you are who you say you are), but aside from that, I feel reputation should be an intangible thing.

So, you might get a discount from a merchant who heard you did a good turn for a guild his brother, who moved from the city so long ago, works for. But you wouldn't be getting much more than RPing benefits.

The idea of an aura of reputation just seems... odd.

 

[Atilary]

No offense Cha, but I think your system is poor game mechanic. It doesn't fit well into the style of the d20 system. I dont think reputation should be able to influence a character's abilities, but should be influenced by them. A charismatic character should have high reputation because of their charisma, and not high charisma because of their reputation. Just because a character is a reknown warrior and a king (with very high reputation) doesn't mean they should recieve bonuses to their charisma and skills. If reputation, or fame/infamy, or whatever term is used to refer to a character's recognizablilty is treated as a static score with little increase, such as an ability or a skill (available for increase only through dm awards) then it can grant a bonus applicable to only a select set of conditions, such as when a character's reputation directly influences the outcome of an encounter.
I think in any case when reputation is being implemented in the game it should be done in a way that coincides with current d20 game mechanics. I think a point system that allows a character to effectively buy increases to their abilities breaks game mechanics and does not mesh well with the d20 system. In any case, if it works for your and your gaming group then use it.

 

[Ed Cha]

Geez and I thought this forum was called "House Rules".

I disagree with most of your points, but arguing about this would just be a matter of difference in opinion. One thing I do want to point out is that the Experience Points system is not dissimilar to the Reputation Points system. Both use the accumulation of "points" translating into benefits such as ability score increases, etc. So there is no roll of a d20 to test a challenge.

D&D is a game, d20 is a twenty-sided die. Just have fun! Regardless, I don't know if any single person can claim to be the arbiter of d20 "mechanics". That would certainly be foolish and arrogant.

Anyhow, if you don't like, don't use it. It seems to work just fine with playtesters and readers, however, who picked up the book.