SWG Basic Combat Training: TKO Hunting Group Methods and Tactics

§ IX. Introduction: Playing the Faction Card

Objectives:
- Consider the effect of faction standing.

1. Faction vs. Faction
   There are many more factions than the Rebellion and the Empire in SWG, and killing members or destroying structures of a faction will decrease your faction standing with that group and their allies, but increase your standing with that faction's enemies. If you have no positive or negative faction points with a factional group, you are neutral, and factional groups will leave you to go about your business - most of the time. Check your faction scores on you Character Sheet (ctrl+c) to see how you stand with different factions.
   1. Having No or Near-zero Faction Scores
      Most factions have an opposing faction on the same planet, such as Jawa and Tusken. If you have no or very little faction either way, you can use factional enemies to your advantage by having MOBs of one faction chase you into a group of their enemies, who will normally attack their factional enemies on sight.
   2. Positive Faction Scores
      NPCs of a faction with which you have high positive scores (+5000 being the highest) will assist you if you are being attacked by players or MOBs.
   3. Highly Negative Faction Scores
      You are KOS (kill on sight) to faction NPCs with whom you have severe negative faction (-5000 being the worst), even if they are non-aggro.
2. Empire vs. Rebellion
   Of course, the two most important factions in the Galaxy are the Empire and Rebellion, for they shape the future through their accomplishments in the Galactic Civil War (GCW). You are not considered a faction-aligned Rebel or Imperial until you gain at least 200 points of positive faction with one side or the other AND visit a faction recruiter and join the GCW.
   1. Neutral GCW Standing
      You have not declared alignment with either the Rebellion or the Empire. You can neither attack nor be attacked by Rebels or Imperials except by taking factional missions, or choosing a side in a Battlefield.
   2. Covert Operative
      You have visited a recruiter with the required minimum of 200 positive faction points and joined either the Empire or Rebellion, but have chosen not to openly declare your faction standing. Only players and NPCs of the same faction will recognize your alignment. Same faction NPCs will assist you, but opposite-aligned players and NPCs will not recognize you as an enemy unless you have drawn a temporary enemy flag (TEF), such as by attacking a faction enemy or healing an overt ally. If you are TEFd, you are temporarily overt.
   3. Overt Operative
      You have openly declared your alliance for all the galaxy to see and are KOS to opposing faction players and NPCs. Opposing faction members and MObs will show as red on radar and OM. Same-faction MOBs will assist you if you are in combat.