How much should I be worried about faction rep?

[StretchyStretch]

Is it a big deal if I just do most missions without worrying about what factions are involved, or is it better to try to increase my rep with a couple factions and not do missions that decrease them?

[HidesHisFace]

No need to worry much, as you can always grind it back to good levels.

But some optimisation does not hurt, if you want to get good enough cash or salvage.
Even if you do missions with poor reputation, you will still get all the scripted rewards, so you will not miss on premium equipment (outside of random salvage) or hero mechs.

A thing to note is that main campaign missions are all technically given by "independents" - so it is not a bad idea to keep good terms with them, at least for the duration of main quest.

Outside of the bigger wiggle room in reward negotiations - reputation also affects quantity of stuff you find in industrial zones belonging to said faction, and some price markup with them.
So, if you can help it - it is generally a good idea to be on good terms with major factions.

Now, that being said - Houses Steiner and Davion are good potential early targets to fight against, actually, because of certain historical events that will happen in the background as you play.

[Wrayday]

It does help win bigger salvage claims but honestly just getting cash and going to look for Hero or Rare Mechs you like in industrial zones is just as effective.

[Cyzxxikz]

i tend to just take missions for independents, fairly quickly you'll have full rep with them allowing you to get max pay/salvage for missions with them. and you can find missions for them anywhere

i still do the missions for whoever from the transmissions, but wherever i go for them i can pop a few generic missions for the independents along the way and make bank

[Sentient_Toaster]

Having a faction that wants to hurl you into the nearest star can help make things interesting, at least when modded -- e.g. with Coyote's Mission Pack, it's possible for a faction that hates your guts to drop in uninvited with a lance trying to hunt you down.

The same mod also has factions that like you occasionally send help, but having more enemies on the field is more likely to keep things at least somewhat spicy.

[Tenebris]

Originally posted by StretchyStretch:

Is it a big deal if I just do most missions without worrying about what factions are involved, or is it better to try to increase my rep with a couple factions and not do missions that decrease them?

https://www.nexusmods.com/mechwarrior5mercenaries/mods/777 There is a nexus mod (there were some workshop mods that also did this, but they're all broken) that equalises the reputation loss to gain when you do a lower difficulty mission when you're at higher level, so instead of gaining only 2 with who you're working for and losing 8 rep with who you're fighting, you'll only lose 2, so it's not just a snowball effect later on because you dared to do anything other then constantly max difficulty missions.

Originally posted by Cyzxxikz:

i tend to just take missions for independents, fairly quickly you'll have full rep with them allowing you to get max pay/salvage for missions with them. and you can find missions for them anywhere

i still do the missions for whoever from the transmissions, but wherever i go for them i can pop a few generic missions for the independents along the way and make bank

The thing that sucks with that is that Independents don't have f all for industrial zones, so you'll be stuck paying a premium for mechs and parts in Great House controlled areas, and if they hate you enough, they won't sell you any mechs at all, aside from hero and other rare map marked mechs

[Argonisgema]

Originally posted by Tenebris:

Originally posted by StretchyStretch:

Is it a big deal if I just do most missions without worrying about what factions are involved, or is it better to try to increase my rep with a couple factions and not do missions that decrease them?

https://www.nexusmods.com/mechwarrior5mercenaries/mods/777 There is a nexus mod (there were some workshop mods that also did this, but they're all broken) that equalises the reputation loss to gain when you do a lower difficulty mission when you're at higher level, so instead of gaining only 2 with who you're working for and losing 8 rep with who you're fighting, you'll only lose 2, so it's not just a snowball effect later on because you dared to do anything other then constantly max difficulty missions.

Originally posted by Cyzxxikz:

i tend to just take missions for independents, fairly quickly you'll have full rep with them allowing you to get max pay/salvage for missions with them. and you can find missions for them anywhere

i still do the missions for whoever from the transmissions, but wherever i go for them i can pop a few generic missions for the independents along the way and make bank

The thing that sucks with that is that Independents don't have f all for industrial zones, so you'll be stuck paying a premium for mechs and parts in Great House controlled areas, and if they hate you enough, they won't sell you any mechs at all, aside from hero and other rare map marked mechs

the mod you posted was updated. though because i have trouble understanding the faction rep to begin with i don't know if its actually working or not lol.

[MrLuckless]

There are 3 factions you can safely tank in terms of reputation and not suffer too heavily, or at all, for doing so. The Independents, the Pirates, and the Periphery Nations. While they may some quests attached to them, none of them have markets exclusively owned by them that I've ever found so it doesn't matter if the literal who factions don't like you. The big kids on the block pay your C-bills, and they have the nicest toys, so you better get cushy with at least one of them.

[Wayz]

First understand that for all the pretty colours on the map dividing territory into factions know that it is about that skin deep with nothing to distinguish them than a faction badge, a discount if they like you and the reverse if they don't.
Now armed with this disillusionment of depth or any meaningful interaction with factions know that all the high paying work and the best stores & industrial zones are around Terra.

My advice is work for FedCom, and Free Worlds League as you stand to gain the most from the industrial zones for doing so. Everyone else are just a pay check to give them a good kicking. Unless playing with Coyotes mod then stay on the good side of the Independents too as you get better rewards from exploration missions.

[Cyzxxikz]

Originally posted by Tenebris:

Originally posted by StretchyStretch:

Is it a big deal if I just do most missions without worrying about what factions are involved, or is it better to try to increase my rep with a couple factions and not do missions that decrease them?

https://www.nexusmods.com/mechwarrior5mercenaries/mods/777 There is a nexus mod (there were some workshop mods that also did this, but they're all broken) that equalises the reputation loss to gain when you do a lower difficulty mission when you're at higher level, so instead of gaining only 2 with who you're working for and losing 8 rep with who you're fighting, you'll only lose 2, so it's not just a snowball effect later on because you dared to do anything other then constantly max difficulty missions.

Originally posted by Cyzxxikz:

i tend to just take missions for independents, fairly quickly you'll have full rep with them allowing you to get max pay/salvage for missions with them. and you can find missions for them anywhere

i still do the missions for whoever from the transmissions, but wherever i go for them i can pop a few generic missions for the independents along the way and make bank

The thing that sucks with that is that Independents don't have f all for industrial zones, so you'll be stuck paying a premium for mechs and parts in Great House controlled areas, and if they hate you enough, they won't sell you any mechs at all, aside from hero and other rare map marked mechs

oh wow, i never knew that. just thought i had to pay more if i bought mechs (because im typically at full negative with the houses). so how many mechs are normally in markets? because theres usually a few each system, say 2-6

[Tenebris]

Originally posted by Argonisgema:

the mod you posted was updated. though because i have trouble understanding the faction rep to begin with i don't know if its actually working or not lol.

Yeah, that's what I said, that the mod I posted was working, but various steam workshop mod that did the same thing were not updated or working. Basically, it prevents you from losing a ton of relations and barely gaining any if you do easier mission at a higher level, like gaining +2, but losing -8

Originally posted by Cyzxxikz:

oh wow, i never knew that. just thought i had to pay more if i bought mechs (because im typically at full negative with the houses). so how many mechs are normally in markets? because theres usually a few each system, say 2-6

2-6 is normal, but if you reach "sworn enemy" status with a faction, I think that's like, -100 relations, they'll completely stop selling any mechs to you whatsoever, unless it's a hero or rare mech, as marked on the map

[Cyzxxikz]

Originally posted by Tenebris:

Originally posted by Argonisgema:

the mod you posted was updated. though because i have trouble understanding the faction rep to begin with i don't know if its actually working or not lol.

Yeah, that's what I said, that the mod I posted was working, but various steam workshop mod that did the same thing were not updated or working. Basically, it prevents you from losing a ton of relations and barely gaining any if you do easier mission at a higher level, like gaining +2, but losing -8

Originally posted by Cyzxxikz:

oh wow, i never knew that. just thought i had to pay more if i bought mechs (because im typically at full negative with the houses). so how many mechs are normally in markets? because theres usually a few each system, say 2-6

2-6 is normal, but if you reach "sworn enemy" status with a faction, I think that's like, -100 relations, they'll completely stop selling any mechs to you whatsoever, unless it's a hero or rare mech, as marked on the map

i can't believe i never noticed that, guess i just typically have what i want by then lol

[unskilled-]

Only panic about faction rep if your angling for max salvage in unique missions for them.

Eg: you want good relations with davion for kestral lancers DLC missions so you can max salvage in each mission.

If there was a way to guarantee what unique missions have +3/+4 weapons then it'd be easier to figure out who you want to keep good rep with.