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Author Topic: A new, invisible reputation system  (Read 1404 times)

adseaghtrnjty

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A new, invisible reputation system
« on: April 24, 2021, 04:26:54 am »

Hello, this is a suggestion I decided to write up of January 5th, 2021. It's unedited but has been edited multiple times when I wrote it. Hopefully it won't be too confusing. I made this suggestion knowing that it might not even be in the scope of Dwarf Fortress. I mean, really, personality traits dictating behavior? What is this, the future? Still, maybe I'll get a surprise and this could be implemented in 2035. The point of the suggestion is to add motivations to characters and allow the world to move without you. I like the concept of being so good at a skill that others look for you instead of having to advertise yourself. It could be a step up from a conventional reputation system where word gets out via word of mouth but with the added bonus of meeting the people who saw potential in you and doing something with them. You could be recruited for an army or a guild. You could be visited by people who are interested in your services, etc.

Anyways the difference between this text and the bottom text is that this was made without editing it.
_

I would love extra flavor to the reputation system via a hidden "reputation" from individuals who define you as a person of interest. While you may be unknown to a civilization, but someone realizes the good deeds are of your doing via similar footprints, similar wounds (via weapons or depth of wounds), or other methods. With that information, they track you down and confront your based on their personality. These same people can report or spread deeds/legends about you (or a character who represents you) who exterminates monsters out of benevolence for civilizations. The reputation system wouldn't be  dependent on the player reporting their deeds, making it more realistic. Despite not reporting your actions, word gets around and you will be found out. These people can be apart of factions who carry out investigations to gain new recruits or by independent people who are curious.

For example, you're a traveling monster slayer and a native adventurer discovers nearby monsters dead with humanoid tracks nearby. They use their tracking skill to determine where you're headed, ask people about a monster slayer, and finally track you after traveling the world. They confront you and their personality, race, and other factors determine their actions. They could join you, attack you, spread your victories to their peers, etc.

This goes for any other action as well. Thieves can be apprehended, murderers could be brought to justice, and soldiers could be ambushed by rival civs, etc.

I had not seen this on the development page or the other link, so I apologize if this was planned. I doubt tracking will get sophisticated enough for wounds to be used, but vanilla tracking works alright in this sense.
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Azerty

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Re: A new, invisible reputation system
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2021, 02:38:06 pm »

It might finally give more utility for adventurers being able to make works depicting their exploits: such works could influence their reputation and the better it is, the greater influence it will hold.

For exemple, a famous dragon-slayer might create a poem telling his exploits, and if he's really a good poet then this poem will spread and promote his reputation, especially if this poem became the source of inspiration for other works (for exemple an author might create a play from this poem). We could even deviate from the strict limits of the OP and extend it to rulers (there's a reason why Louis XIV sponsored artists) and priests among others.

This is a reason why cultural training was important among ancient warriors: it was to sing their own praises.
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Timeless Bob

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Re: A new, invisible reputation system
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2021, 04:20:19 pm »

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FantasticDorf

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Re: A new, invisible reputation system
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2021, 07:02:20 pm »

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brewer bob

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Re: A new, invisible reputation system
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2021, 06:15:02 am »

it was to sing their own praises.

It'd be great if you could not only praise yourself with songs/stories, but compose songs to dis or insult your opponents. We could have bard/performance troupe feuds develop this way.

DwarfStar

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Re: A new, invisible reputation system
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2021, 04:38:43 pm »

Please someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the topic of written material does not currently make a distinction between praise and criticism. The adjectives attached seem pretty random, to me. They just seem to be “about” something. However, it still might be worth writing about your enemies because if you defeat them, it’s probably worth more if they’re more famous.
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