Factions and reputation: choose the next relationship
Choose a concrete perk or permit, then assess how a transaction or report moves the relationships needed to reach it.
Quick answer
Choose a concrete perk or permit, then assess how a transaction or report moves the relationships needed to reach it.
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Choose a target
A release community reference describes six tracks: Lower Levels, Upper Levels, Security, Black Market, Revolution and Sector 13 Cartel. It reports a ±200 range, Diplomatic at 200, and a 15% Joe Wild/Dr. Jackson discount at Lower Levels 100. The discount is a player-reported observation, not our game test.
Do not spend reputation unknowingly
Reporting wanted visitors can help Security while hurting Lower Levels. Fake-goods confrontations and contraband can undermine the trade route you rely on. Read the change before confirming. Our recommendation is to preserve a working income route while shifting strategy; a future permit does not pay tonight’s costs.
Attract a buyer you can serve
The cited 1.0 guide reports a high-tier display threshold of 350 base credits and an older selection account based on the first main tag; the newer Display Case guide documents type totals instead. Treat this as an observed rule and check actual visitors. Group a clear category rather than unrelated valuable goods. Interest and budget still matter after the visitor arrives.
Keep systems separate
Use Gunsmith for permit thresholds, Exchange for trades and Security for investigations. Insurance, evidence, permits and reputation are different checks. Paying one service does not settle all four. Avoid the old display-and-hide Security reputation exploit removed by the official Rat Wrangler patch.
Keep a useful contact before taking a bounty
IGN describes Odin Haraldsson as a wanted visitor who can become a useful buyer for supplies, weapons, ammunition and crates. Read his current request and contact option before pressing the arrest alarm. Compare the bounty and Security gain with future sales and the faction penalty. This is a criminal-contact decision, not the policy for a positively identified Aug.
Sources & version scope
Sources reviewed November 01, 2026. Release community references and code reviews are attributed below. These instructions have not been gameplay tested by GameHelpBase; conflicts and missing upstream recipes are identified in the article.
- Player-reported factions ↗
- Official Rat Wrangler patch ↗
- IGN beginner operations and faction decisions; browser read ↗