The main purpose of the Reputation system is to regulate combat between PCs, so that a player will think twice before attempting to kill or rob an inexperienced or law-abiding character.
As involved as the Reputation system is, it all comes down to the statement above.
Characters (including NPCs, monsters and creatures) are all color-coded according to their moral standing. This color can be seen in the characters’ names, and when you’re in War mode the characters themselves will appear as this color when you pass your cursor over them.
Attacking blue characters will have a negative effect on your Karma.
Attacking gray characters will have no effect on your Karma.
Murderers and aggressive monsters are red characters. Attacking them can do nothing but improve your Karma.
Guildmates are green. Members of enemy guilds are orange.
Murderers
Anyone who attacks a Blue character is guilty of attempted murder. If the victim dies before the damage from a murderous attack is healed, his attacker is guilty of murder, regardless of whether he actually administered the killing blow. This includes damage inflicted by pets, magic, or as a direct result of bardic abilities.
A murdered character can elect to report his murderer(s), and can also apply personal funds to a bounty on their heads (literally).
If you are reported in five or more successive murders, you are considered to be a murderer, and you will highlight red to other players. Also, those viewing your name will see it as, “The Murderer John Doe.” The Murderer title replaces any other title you may have earned.
If a murderer is caught and killed, his head can be taken by Using a knife or bladed weapon on the corpse. The head can then be delivered to any town guard for any reward that may be due (just drag the head onto the guard).
Murderers will be killed instantly by town guards if they try to enter town. Also, any character who dies a murderer is assessed a substantial loss to stats and skills.
For every eight hours of in-game time that pass without attacking an innocent, the murderer’s “murder count” is decreased by one. When the “murder count” drops below five, the murderer no longer suffers loss of attributes on death. You will remain red for 40 hours after first becoming red.
Becoming a murderer too many times can result in it becoming permanent.
Criminals
Citizens of Britannia can defend themselves from criminals. Criminal actions include thievery and assault against a blue PC or NPC (including hirelings and pets of blue PCs). Looting a dead body is also considered a criminal action, unless the body belonged to a criminal, murderer or member of an enemy guild.
If you are flagged as a criminal, you highlight gray. Any town guard will kill you on sight, and blue characters can attack you without penalty to Karma. For some criminal actions the criminal flag lasts only a short while. If you loot a body, or launch a non-lethal attack on an innocent, your criminal flag will last only a few minutes. However, if you steal from another PC, you will remain a criminal to that PC until the next time you die.
Aggressors
Although it is not illegal to attack criminals and murderers, it is also not illegal for unsavory types to defend themselves against unprovoked attacks. The first person to land a blow in combat is considered the aggressor in that combat, and any attacked party can defend themselves against any aggressor without fear of Karma repercussions. Thus, if you are attacked by Sheila the Murderer and she kills you, her Karma falls, and you can report your murder. However, if you attack the her hoping for a bounty and she kills you, you cannot report the murder, because you were the aggressor.
A combat is considered to last until one of the opponents dies, or until about two minutes after the last blow. If you break of combat for more than two minutes, neither party will be considered the aggressor until one or the other launches a new attack.
