Does it really matter which faction you do missions for in a system?

[Someasianguy]

Like the main one I go to in certain systems dont always have really worthwhile missions, so I'll sometimes go to a different faction. But does this really matter? If so, is there a way to know who not to accept from?

[morph113]

It doesn't matter at all. Increasing your reputation with a minor faction allows you to get more and better missions from them. Only when you want to increase your standing with a major power like the federation, then you need to do missions for minor factions which are aligned with this major power.

[Dread Lord]

? why would you care for who you do missions? I just take the mission that interests me regardless of faction... I only go by rewards... if they have something I want I do it...

[Grimoirian]

If you're working with a wing you'll usually find they've adopted a minor faction, or even inserted one into the game. That being said, even if this isn't the case, it can be fun to adopt a faction of your own. I flipped a system in favour of a faction I liked the sound of and held it on my own for months until a few CMDRs decided to spoil my fun. By that time I'd joined a wing and it didn't matter so much.

[FalterXV TTV]

in terms of working only for a certain minor faction, the short answer is, it doesnt matter who u take missions from, however, actions like bounty hunting or doin missions which are in conflict of a certain faction, WILL hurt ur reputation with the other faction. But mostly it boils down to if u want to run the BGS in ur system itself-player minor factions usually are so powerful in mutliple systems, u wont be able to do anything to affect them urself, except for raise/ lower ur rep. its a good idea when starting out to find an isolated system u enjoy flying in and just get the rep up with the factions there, preferably if they have a superpower they are affiliated with, as any missions that are completed for that faction will increase ur rank, and superpower rep as well. It isnt necessary to grind missions for rank, if u are getting really high pay days, that increase the rank u get, as rank increase is based on total payout of said mission, not which mission u are doing

[ZombieHunter]

Actually for the BGS it does matter. You could theoretically put another faction in a position to become the major faction in the system. Or you could open the door for another completely different faction to come into the system. Over the course of a hundred or so hours doing missions for random factions in the same system most certainly will alter the balance of power.

I try to only to missions for the factions that are aligned to the major factions if I want to boost my major faction rank and I almost never do missions for pirate factions or factions with very little influence in the system.

My advice is to find a 'home' of sorts and do missions for the major faction, turn in bounties for them, etc. Any bounties you claim will boost the major faction's influence since you are helping to maintain order within the system. This is why if you are trying to make a minor faction the main faction in a system you do not want to do bounty hunting. Over the course of 1100+ hours I have boosted the primary faction's influence to the point that they give me very lucrative missions and the lesser minor factions in the system don't have a chance of taking over.

[Turlorn]

It matters if you care for the background simulation (BGS).

Read more about it in my guide: link

[Joki the Disco Bandit]

It also matters if you want to unlock specific places and people, for example. You can only get the invites for some people from specific factions, and you have to be on good terms with those factions. Sirius Corp., Party of Yoru, etc. Many of these factions are not aligned w/a major power, but you'll still have to spend time cultivating a relationship if you want to get into the sytems they offer permits for.