To start off, my take on what Street Cred should be is a type of respect. Respect from Fixers, from NCPD, from Vendors etc. Hence, how I would approach this by reducing progression across the board and then locking progression for the Total Street Cred behind District Street Cred.
Each district would have a District Street Cred of 10 levels, which together combine into form the Total Street Cred.
Further, I would maintain the mostly cosmetic approach to Street Cred and let your actual level be the main gate of power, as was established in the 2.0 patch.
Benefits would be both on a District level, as well as on a Total level.
Within the district, going from level 1 to 10, you would earn benefits and rewards, with most of the benefits being based within the district:
- Discounts from vendors within the district as your level increases.
- Each vendor would start off with less items for sale, and increase as the street cred increases within the district.
- There could be specific rewards for reaching level 10 in any given district, say a special car is locked behind getting level 10 in Watson for example. The possibilities are endless.
The total level would also be used to provide benefits and gate rewards:
- Locking certain cars at the Autofixer behind your total street cred level, as is done at the moment.
- With increasing Street Cred, the NCPD is more forgiving and will not trigger a manhunt for smaller infractions etc, since they trust you more as a helpful individual fighting gangs and crimes on the street.
Progressing towards Street Cred would be similar to how it is done now, but at reduced in order to ensure that one doesn’t max out street cred way too early. HOWEVER, a new mechanic and purpose would be introduced in order to gain even more Street Cred XP. Performing gigs, scanners, bounties without KILLING your opponent, but only Non-Lethally taking them down, would provide you more Street Cred XP.
This is to tie it back into the respect aspect of Street Cred, as well as, provide a unique aspect to Non-Lethal Takedowns. To local vendors you are the vigilante that takes down gangs without adding to the vast numbers murders in the area, and to NCPD they can trust that you are just not running around killing and murdering but rather incapacitating gang members to aid them in catching these guys, and fixers like that you get the job done by being calculative, planning ahead, and effective with as little necessary bloodshed as possible.
It also provides a unique aspect to choices regarding to weapons, weapon mods, non-lethal takedowns which often puts you at a disadvantage, since you can’t hide bodies as effectively, have to be more careful with what weapons and quickhacks you’re using, as well as having to consider that you can’t irresponsibly enter with guns blazing, or if you prefer that gamestyle, you might have to utilize one of your mods for a pax which means you made a choice over something providing more damage.
Whether you prefer to just gun down foes, you would still gain Street Cred just less of it, as well as considering it’s mostly cosmetic or less important benefits, it wouldn’t feel like you’re being too punished for your more ”reckless” decisions.
In conclusion, Street Cred would be something you would have to earn by making your presence known in all parts of the city. Finishing side quests during a lockdown in Watson doesn’t make you a well-known legend in the overall city, if you want the district of Pacifica to know your name, that’s where you would have to go and gain Street Cred.
It means that players are given a game decision such as dividing your time in different districts and exploring what they have to offer to unlock the full potential of that district and its vendors (and what ever other benefits one can imagine), while at the same time working on an overall total Street Cred which shows your growth as the well-known legend you are starting to become, and the overall benefits that entails as well.
I didn’t focus a lot of benefits or rewards in this suggestion post, but rather how the system would work and the reasons behind those decisions.
Each district would have a District Street Cred of 10 levels, which together combine into form the Total Street Cred.
Further, I would maintain the mostly cosmetic approach to Street Cred and let your actual level be the main gate of power, as was established in the 2.0 patch.
Benefits would be both on a District level, as well as on a Total level.
Within the district, going from level 1 to 10, you would earn benefits and rewards, with most of the benefits being based within the district:
- Discounts from vendors within the district as your level increases.
- Each vendor would start off with less items for sale, and increase as the street cred increases within the district.
- There could be specific rewards for reaching level 10 in any given district, say a special car is locked behind getting level 10 in Watson for example. The possibilities are endless.
The total level would also be used to provide benefits and gate rewards:
- Locking certain cars at the Autofixer behind your total street cred level, as is done at the moment.
- With increasing Street Cred, the NCPD is more forgiving and will not trigger a manhunt for smaller infractions etc, since they trust you more as a helpful individual fighting gangs and crimes on the street.
Progressing towards Street Cred would be similar to how it is done now, but at reduced in order to ensure that one doesn’t max out street cred way too early. HOWEVER, a new mechanic and purpose would be introduced in order to gain even more Street Cred XP. Performing gigs, scanners, bounties without KILLING your opponent, but only Non-Lethally taking them down, would provide you more Street Cred XP.
This is to tie it back into the respect aspect of Street Cred, as well as, provide a unique aspect to Non-Lethal Takedowns. To local vendors you are the vigilante that takes down gangs without adding to the vast numbers murders in the area, and to NCPD they can trust that you are just not running around killing and murdering but rather incapacitating gang members to aid them in catching these guys, and fixers like that you get the job done by being calculative, planning ahead, and effective with as little necessary bloodshed as possible.
It also provides a unique aspect to choices regarding to weapons, weapon mods, non-lethal takedowns which often puts you at a disadvantage, since you can’t hide bodies as effectively, have to be more careful with what weapons and quickhacks you’re using, as well as having to consider that you can’t irresponsibly enter with guns blazing, or if you prefer that gamestyle, you might have to utilize one of your mods for a pax which means you made a choice over something providing more damage.
Whether you prefer to just gun down foes, you would still gain Street Cred just less of it, as well as considering it’s mostly cosmetic or less important benefits, it wouldn’t feel like you’re being too punished for your more ”reckless” decisions.
In conclusion, Street Cred would be something you would have to earn by making your presence known in all parts of the city. Finishing side quests during a lockdown in Watson doesn’t make you a well-known legend in the overall city, if you want the district of Pacifica to know your name, that’s where you would have to go and gain Street Cred.
It means that players are given a game decision such as dividing your time in different districts and exploring what they have to offer to unlock the full potential of that district and its vendors (and what ever other benefits one can imagine), while at the same time working on an overall total Street Cred which shows your growth as the well-known legend you are starting to become, and the overall benefits that entails as well.
I didn’t focus a lot of benefits or rewards in this suggestion post, but rather how the system would work and the reasons behind those decisions.