How does reputation work?

[G0DS F3AR]

I beat up a thief and returned the items, lost rep for not killing the thief. lost rep for not fornicating a noblewoman. gained rep for stealing a dead guys ring. lost rep for giving game to skalitz refugees. I am very confused how this is supposed to work.

[katareenah]

As in life, your reputation is not a static thing. Something that makes one person or group think better of you might be the exact thing that lowers the opinion of another person or group. Things you do, quests you complete (main, side, or activities), and interactions that you have with people will all impact how you are viewed--sometimes positively and other times negatively. (The "giving game to skalitz refugees" is a great example. The skalitz people will like you cause you are feeding them, but since you probably had to poach to get the food, the rattay guards, townspeople, etc will not like you for stealing.) Also, if you have a bad interaction with one "type" of character (say a guard, or a trader) it will impact how all the other NPCs in that same group view you. Your overall reputation in a town is tallied up from all the subgroups of that town.

If you want to raise your reputation with a particular group, figure out what they like and do that, a lot, around them or with them. Taking on a quest for someone or the town, and finishing it, is a good way to make a bigger change, as is buying/selling to merchants if you give them more of an advantage on price. Talking to people when you can also helps. Look for side quests/activities and complete them. Help guards with bandit attacks when out on the roads, or as a side activity quest. The reputation changes (+ or -) are often small and subtle but add up over time.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Your presence as a stranger starts the suspicions right there. All the villages are suffering from the ravages of war and everyone is suspect .
Your appearance wear and tear of your clothes what quality, your weapons if they have blood on the blades , your cleanliness if unshaven havent taken a bath in a while you smell adds to over all impressions you give.
Then your actions.
Clean yourself up have a bath often stay in the Inns and as above suggestions help the town/s. Ask for work.

[G0DS F3AR]

It just doesnt make sense because there isn't a general rule to follow. Maybe the notification for reputation is inadequate. Sure it says reputation gained or lost, but it doesnt say to which party you gain/lose rep. For the thief one I was in uzhitz and my rep there is like 94.