The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Reputation & Faction Standing

Manage your reputation and faction standing in Oblivion. Influence Cyrodiil's perception of you to unlock quests and gain access to services.

Reputation & Faction Standing

In the vast world of Cyrodiil, your actions resonate, shaping how the denizens perceive you. This isn't just about your overall fame or infamy; it delves into the intricate web of faction relationships. Understanding and manipulating these standings is crucial for unlocking quests, gaining access to exclusive services, and even influencing dialogue options.

Understanding Fame and Infamy

  • Fame: Gained by completing quests for "good" factions (e.g., Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, Nine Divines chapels), closing Oblivion Gates, and performing heroic deeds. High fame can lead to NPCs being more friendly towards you, offering better prices, and sometimes even recognizing your accomplishments in dialogue.
  • Infamy: Acquired through criminal acts (theft, assault, murder), joining "evil" factions (e.g., Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild), and completing their associated quests. High infamy will make many NPCs hostile or distrustful, leading to higher prices and negative reactions.
  • Tracking Your Stats: You can view your current Fame and Infamy scores by opening your menu, navigating to the "Stats" tab, and then selecting "General."

Faction Standing: The Inner Circle

Beyond general reputation, each major faction maintains its own internal ranking system. Your standing within a faction dictates your progress through its questlines, the benefits you receive, and the respect you command from its members.

Increasing Faction Standing

The primary method for improving your standing within a faction is by completing quests assigned by its members. Each completed quest typically grants a certain number of "advancement points" or directly increases your rank.

  • Fighters Guild:
    • Quests: Seek out Guild Stewards like Vilena Donton in Chorrol or Modryn Oreyn in Cheydinhal for assignments. Early quests include clearing out rats from the Cheydinhal Mages Guild or retrieving a valuable ring for Azzan in Anvil.
    • Promotion: Promotions occur automatically upon completing a sufficient number of quests and meeting any skill requirements. For example, to become a Journeyman, you'll need a certain skill level in at least one combat skill (Blade, Blunt, Hand to Hand, Block, Armorer, Heavy Armor).
  • Mages Guild:
    • Recommendation Quests: To gain entry to the Arcane University, you must first obtain a recommendation from each of the seven local Mages Guild halls. These quests often involve retrieving specific items or solving minor magical problems. For instance, in Anvil, you'll need to find Carandial's Journal for Kud-Ei.
    • University Access: Once all seven recommendations are acquired, speak with Raminus Polus at the Arcane University in the Imperial City to gain full membership and access to advanced spell crafting and enchanting services.
  • Thieves Guild:
    • Heists: Progress through the Thieves Guild by completing "jobs" for Armand Christophe in the Imperial City Waterfront, then S'krivva in Bravil, and finally the legendary Gray Fox. These involve stealing specific items like the Arrow of Extrication or the Elder Scroll.
    • Fencing: Your ability to fence stolen goods increases with your rank. Initially, you can only fence small amounts to Ongar the World-Weary in Bruma.
  • Dark Brotherhood:
    • Contracts: After committing a murder (any NPC will do, even a random bandit), sleep in a bed to be visited by Lucien Lachance. Accept his "invitation" and complete the initial contract, "A Knife in the Dark," to join. Subsequent contracts are given by Lachance or the Black Hand.
    • Rewards: Advancement often brings unique rewards, such as the powerful Shadowmere mount or the Blade of Woe.

Decreasing Faction Standing (and how to recover)

Committing crimes against faction members or within faction-controlled areas will negatively impact your standing. For example, stealing from the Anvil Mages Guild will reduce your Mages Guild standing.

  • Fighters Guild/Mages Guild:
    • Penance: If you've been expelled for minor infractions, you can often be reinstated by performing a "penance" quest. For the Fighters Guild, this might involve retrieving a specific item or clearing a dungeon. For the Mages Guild, Raminus Polus will typically assign a task, such as collecting 20 samples of Dragon's Tongue or Redwort Flower.
    • Major Crimes: Repeated or severe crimes (e.g., murdering a high-ranking member) can lead to permanent expulsion. Always save before committing questionable acts!
  • Thieves Guild:
    • Blood Price: If you kill a fellow Thieves Guild member, you will be expelled. To rejoin, you must pay a "Blood Price" to Armand Christophe, which involves returning a large sum of gold and a certain number of Lockpicks.
  • Dark Brotherhood:
    • Sacrosanct: The Dark Brotherhood has a strict code. Killing another member of the Brotherhood will result in immediate and permanent expulsion. There is no way to rejoin once expelled from the Dark Brotherhood.

The Impact of Reputation

Your reputation, both general and faction-specific, has tangible effects on your gameplay experience:

  • Dialogue: NPCs will react differently. High fame might elicit respectful greetings, while high infamy can lead to fearful or hostile responses. Faction members will treat you with more respect as your rank increases.
  • Prices: Merchants will offer better prices for goods (buying and selling) if your fame is high or if you are a high-ranking member of a relevant faction (e.g., Mages Guild members get better prices on spells and ingredients from Mages Guild vendors).
  • Quests: Many quests are locked behind specific faction ranks. You cannot progress in the Mages Guild questline without first gaining all seven recommendations, for instance.
  • Services: Access to advanced trainers, spell vendors, and enchanting/spellmaking altars at the Arcane University are all tied to your Mages Guild rank.
  • Allies & Enemies: Certain factions are inherently opposed. Joining the Fighters Guild might make some members of the Blackwood Company less friendly, and vice-versa.

Pay attention to your standing, make choices wisely, and remember that every action in Cyrodiil has consequences, shaping your legend throughout the province.