~Initial Encounters~
First impressions are everything! Well... Not EVERYTHING! Still, when a player meets a Non-Player Character (NPC) for the first time there is much to consider. Who is this person? What quests can they offer me? What loot do they have! Yet many forget that NPCs react to you, the Player Character (PC), too.
They way an NPC reacts when they first meet you is based on a few factors.
1. Reputation (If you have a reputation that proceeds you, it will be the primary factor for an initial encounter.)
2. Karma (We generally assume that good guys like good guys and bad guys like bad guys- and they can usually tell the difference.)
3. S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats (NPCs can "size you up" in this way. The more stat requisites you meet, the more you will impress!)
4. Tag! Skills (If you share a Tag! skill with an NPC, this may be a good way to break the ice! Sharing 1 or more Tag! skills matters!)
5. Perks (Certain perks are either easily noticed or well thought of. The opposite can also be true so watch out!*)
*There is always a chance that an NPC will simply not like a player, but don't take it too badly! There is always a chance to impress later on down the line!
~Acquiring Allies~
Throughout your journeys in the Wasteland, you will no doubt require the aid of your fellow man, mutant, or ghoul! You can acquire followers in a variety of ways (much like any commodity in the wastes!) and each will no doubt have their own requirements based on personal life goals and experiences. Likewise they will have their own capabilities, equipment, and resources that they may (or may not) be willing to share with you.
In order to acquire a follower, you must first be in good standing with them and possibly their faction. (You cannot usually be hated by someone you want to have following you!) Next you will need to tell the Game Master your intention of trying to persuade them to become your follower.
You will then be given a short list of things you can do to catch the attention of the NPC you are trying to recruit. Once you perform a number of these actions, the character will take notice and open up to you. The player will then be given a quest relating to the character's dialogue in order to gain their trust. Trust is a kind of personal reputation you can gain from characters.
There are 3 levels of trust for a follower, each one with a kind of requirement to unlock. It is possible to jump more than one level of trust at a time.
1. Follower (When you recruit.)
2. Friend (When you first increase trust you gain a new companion bonus.)
3. Hero (The final level of trust gained with a follower. All bonuses unlocked!)