[Spank-A-Thon]

Originally Posted by Bogart

I can't afford to play this game right now, but I wanted to know if someone can explain a bit more how "factions" work in the game. For example, how do I become a rebel? When I enter a town, will troopers attack me if I'm a rebel? And do Bounty Hunters hunt just rebels or also imperials?

At the moment there are three factions: Neutral, Imperial and Alliance. If you do nothing, you will be alway neutral and therefore not open to attack from other players unless you're either a) a Jedi, or b) duelling someone.

Once you sign up to the Empire or Alliance you choose whether you wish to be Covert or Overt. When Overt you are basically saying "I'm with the Empire/Alliance" and thus you are open to attack at anytime from anything (players or NPCs). If you decide to be Covert then you cannot be attacked by other players unless you obtain a TEF. Once you have declared and become Oovert, it takes death or 1 hour to switch back to Covert.

A TEF (Temporary Enemy Flag) is something that makes a Covert Player attackable by enemy Overt players for a short period of time (5 minute timer). You gain a TEF by performing certain actions such as killing NPC solidiers, healing or trading with Overt players and so on. You can also get scanned and be given a TEF.

If you're a Jedi and you do things to make yourself known, eventually you will find yourself on the BH Mission terminals, in which case other players can come hunt you down. So if you run through a packed Spaceport swinging your saber about, you can bet you will have some BH's on your ass pretty quick. Stick to the quiet life like Ben Kenobi or Yoda, and you shouldn't have many problems.

As a Rebel, I tend to avoid Imperially controlled cities (like Bestine) so I don't get scanned - but at the end of the day, I choose to be Rebel and 9 times out of 10 the actions I choose will lead to a TEF so I can't moan if I get ganked by a squad of Overt Imps.

Umm, can't think of any more at the moment.

- S