For this suggestion forum, and since there is still time while the game is in alpha, I would like to suggest an (optional) in-game reputation system. By optional, I mean turned off by default, and a player would need to explicitly turn it on to acquire public reputation.
Also, I'm envisioning a system that would give positive reputation only. In no way I want people getting trolled with negative reputation, on the contrary. I'd like it made such that the worst someone can do about your reputation, is nothing at all.
Of course, if a majority of people opt-in to acquire reputation, then it can become socially unacceptable to not opt-in, so the 'optional' part could quickly become mandatory. I believe that would happen only if the system is successful, and if it does, then that's exactly what I'm looking for.
In fact, this post was prompted by recent incident in my guild, that convinced me that some level of assistance from the game would be beneficial when you have to judge players. For example when you can invite them in guild, or when you're confronted with the decision of booting them out. Guild dynamic would probably be the area of the game where reputation would have the biggest effect.
How would that work? I don't have something really solid to suggest, so I will just list some ideas. If you opt-in:
- All alts on your account would be connected, so that if you play Joe, people could tell you're Bill's alt (or vice-versa). Could extend to multiple accounts.
- If you group with strangers, after you disband, their name could remain for a little while with some 'Like' button. Adding to someone's reputation ought to be as seamless as possible.
- Grouping consistently with high-reputation players would increase yours.
- Reputation should probably be something that grows slowly. If you just helped someone, there should be no way to really tell if they increased your reputation, so that you can't blame them if they don't.
A know issue with this system is the 'circle of friends' problem, when a clique of people mutually congratulate each other, trying to artificially raise their reputation as high as possible. I haven't studied this case, but I believe it's both detectable and correctable (scientists have it, they certainly can tell more).