Board Thread:General Mod Discussion/@comment-31507215-20171005041945

Hello, again!

Earlier, I had started a discussion about an idea for a suggestion that I had. Here is the newest and improved-est version of it, but it is very different from the original, so I posted it in a new thread.

Right now, all NPCs know exactly who you are at all times. While this set-up does work well currently, it seems a little odd, considering that you can walk into a place, possibly even somewhere you haven't been to before, and everyone instantly treats you as a friend, or foe, depending on your alignment. This makes it impossible to go anywhere anonymously. So, to fix this, (or at least improve it) I am suggesting that a new game mechanic be implemented. Here is how it works:

Summary
Each faction would, depending on the circumstances, either "recognise" or not recognise the player. The players can do certain things to have factions "remember" or "forget about" them, such as wearing certain armor, or talking to certain NPCs, etc. Depending on whether or not a player is recognised by a certain faction, NPCs of that faction will treat them differently.

Recognition
A new player stat, called "Recognition" would be added. This stat would keep track of whether or not the player is recognised by each faction. (This could be extended to each sub-faction, if desired, but I will just stick with each faction for the purposes of this suggestion.) This stat would keep track of each player individually. For example, it would be possible for "Player 1" to be recognised by Gondor, but not by Rohan, and, in the same way, it would be possible for "Player 1" to be recognised by Gondor, while "Player 2" is not.

Effects of Recognition
While the player is recognised by a faction, NPCs of that faction would treat them exactly as they do currently.

When the player is not recognised, however, things change. All NPCs will treat the player as if the player had 0 alignment with their faction, including things such as Wood-elves and Mordor attacking, certain traders not being willing to trade, etc. In addition to this, all NPCs will refer to the player as "Stranger", when they would normally call the player by name. For example, if an NPC were to say "Are you a friend of Gondor, Fandom User ?", but you aren't recognised by that faction, then he would instead say "Are you a friend of Gondor, Stranger?". While you are not recognised, you will not gain or lose any alignment from any faction, as they don't know who you are.

If you were to attack an NPC while unrecognised, all NPCs in the area would become hostile towards you.

Optional
This is optional, but only because I do not know how possible it would be. Basically, this whole idea would be improved if something kept track of all the alignment that you would have gotten, had you been recognised. If it is possible, the game should keep track of alignment gotten while unrecognised, and then add it to your actual alignment, as long as you are recognised in some way before you leave the biome(s) you are in. If you leave before you are recognised, all the alignment that you would have gained/lost is forgotten.

Ways to be Recognised/Forgotten
If you have not "visited" a faction before, they, by default, do not recognise you. In order to be recognised by a faction (and then be able to get bonuses from alignment) you must do one of the following things:
 * 1) Talk to one of the faction's hiring units. (The leaders would recognise you, and then spread the word.)
 * 2) Wear a particular piece of armour. This particular piece of armour would be the piece of armour you have worn for the longest period of time (compared to all your other armor pieces).  (Similar to how the Hobbits remembered Gandalf by his trademark hat.)
 * 3) Talk to 40+ NPCs from the faction without leaving the biome. (Word gets around.)

Once you have been recognised, that recognition lasts until you leave the faction's biome(s). Once you leave the biome, it lasts for 45 more in-game days (Shire Reckoning), after which that faction forgets about you again. If you return to that biome before the 45 days are up, it resets the counter.

Optional - Hoods
The Hood would be a new helmet item. It would be crafted on a Vanilla crafting table with wool in the shape of a helmet, with string in the bottom corners. It would be dyeable like Harad Robes and Rhunic Kaftans.

When worn, the hood would temporarily make you unrecognised, with a few additions:
 * All traders except for Orcish traders and traders from factions of Evil Men will refuse to trade with you.
 * Children will not crowd around you, but, instead, stay 10 or more blocks away from you.

If you attack an NPC while wearing a hood, all NPCs in the nearby area will become hostile to you, and if any NPC that is hostile to you comes within 2 blocks of you, they will remove the hood (it gets removed from your inventory, and put in the NPC's drops, like Bandits) and you will be instantly recognised.

That is all I have for now. I would really appreciate (almost) any kind of feedback in regards to this suggestion-to-be, so if you have any thoughts, please post them!

I will probably not be able to respond to any feedback for a while, (after tomorrow) so, if you do not get responded to quickly, I am not ignoring you on purpose (probably).

 