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[Aramazon]

Hey, so I'm playing Darklands again, and being wanted in a town has got to be totally bugged...cause I had low rep in one town for a bit...-17...suspected....and then I killed a bunch of muggers at night and took it down to -4....well anyways now when I try to get into like half the towns in Germany the guards freak out and attack me "Hey, he's wanted around here!" Is there a fix for this? If I could I would totally just get rid of guards at this point, they're not making the game fun at all, just HELLA annoying.

[Japo]

Simply staying out at night gives you bad reputation, because it's apparently illegal. You won't manage to be in good terms with the law if you like to roam the streets at night, even if it's to kill muggers, unless you pay the fine every time the guards catch you, which can be several times each night. Try going to a different city where you haven't been, and where your local reputation will be 0.

[Borodin]

Originally Posted by Japo

Simply staying out at night gives you bad reputation, because it's apparently illegal. You won't manage to be in good terms with the law if you like to roam the streets at night, even if it's to kill muggers, unless you pay the fine every time the guards catch you, which can be several times each night.

Staying out at night in the city does not lower your reputation. I know: I've run numerous groups that actually built a positive reputation (as well as their fighting skills) up in a town by staying out at night.

Staying in unsavory areas of the city, even to wait a bit, will. Being caught by the law and fighting them will. Engaging in nefarious activities at night (such as burglarizing an office to get something for someone in another city) and being caught will. But staying out? No effect on your rep. Not only that, but it's almost essential at the start of the game, when your party has next to no skills. The fights you'll find outside a city are much harder.

I've generally found waiting a bit until after sunset by hanging around the city grove is best. Then move back and forth to the docks. You'll usually encounter some bandits. Note that if you do run into the law, you can also choose the option of running away when confronted by the law. It's good to have somebody in your party who's Streetwise. They'll lead your party in an effort to lose the law. If they're reasonably decent, you'll succeed. If you fail, though, your fine will be higher than it would have otherwise been. Not a great deal, but the choice of what to do is up to you.

One note: if you stay in any city longer than 30 days, your reputation there will start to decline. You're not a resident, you haven't got a local invitation from someone who is, and people become more nervous at your presence. So be sure to move on before that point.

[Japo]

Originally Posted by Borodin

Being caught by the law and fighting them will.

That's what I meant, my wording was poor. At any rate trying to get away from the guards is risky (in terms of reputation), only paying the fine every time is safe, but expensive. At the start of the game when I'm not rich, I run away every time, that way I also build up those skills. But later when I'm rich I pay those bastards every time they catch me.

I meant that what Aramazon saw as a probable bug, was probably due to his being caught at night by the guards, and he was probably unaware of its effect on reputation. Both killing muggers and being caught patrolling at night for them have effects on local reputation, mutually opposite.

Not only that, but it's almost essential at the start of the game, when your party has next to no skills. The fights you'll find outside a city are much harder.

True of course. The first hours of every game are vigilante work.

[Borodin]

Originally Posted by Japo

That's what I meant, my wording was poor. At any rate trying to get away from the guards is risky (in terms of reputation), only paying the fine every time is safe, but expensive.

One point which still seems to need a bit of clarification: if you run from the guards, whether you escape or are caught, you don't lose any reputation. The only thing that happens if you're caught again is that the fine rises.

The only time you lose reputation through an interaction with the guards while being caught out innocently at night is if you try to fight them. Otherwise, your reputation's safe.

One additional note--no matter how much weaponry and armor you pick up from killing bandits, the guards will never take that. So if you start the night with no money and lose what little you find to the guards, you can still make a profit turning the armor and weapons around at a local shop.

I also find it useful to move between towns with no money in my party's pockets for that reason. Covetous bishops and false preachers can't get to you, that way. Later on, paper notes serve the same purpose--only more so. My parties never carry large sums of money around between cities, since people like the bishops will ask for gold based on a percentage of your current funds. Paper escapes their notice.