16.1. The Warring Factions

Before you can join the Alliance (or Empire) you must first prove yourself worthy of serving the Rebels by increasing your Rebel Alliance faction standing. Your faction standing with both the Rebels and Empire is listed on your Character Sheet ( CTRL+ C keys) . To increase faction standing:

• Complete Rebel or Imperial Missions: Throughout the game, you' ll discover special mission terminals that provide faction-specific missions. By completing a mission acquired from one of these terminals, you can increase your faction standing with the specified faction. Some NPCs in the game might also be able to provide faction-specific missions.

JOINING A FACTION
Once you' ve earned enough faction points (200), you can visit a recruiter to actually join your desired faction. Rebel and Imperial recruiters are stationed (or hidden) in various cities throughout the galaxy.

Conversing with the recruiter will provide you with an opportunity to declare your allegiance. However, you have two options when joining up:

• Covert: Declaring as a covert member of a faction allows you to participate in limited PvP. As a covert member of your faction, you' ll be allowed to attack enemy NPCs (such as stormtroopers, if you join the Alliance).
• Overt: Overt status is true, constant PvP. As an overt member of a faction, you can attack any enemy NPCs, as well as overt members of the opposing faction.

SPENDING FACTION POINTS
Even after you join the Empire or Rebel Alliance, faction points remain extremely important. You can "spend" faction points for specific perks. These include access to special weapons, uniforms, schematics, deeds, followers and ranks.

TEMPORARY ENEMY FLAGS
As a covert member of a faction, you will often incur Temporary Enemy Flags (or TEFs). You can gain a TEF by attacking an NPC or by aiding an overt member of your faction (through healing, for example). While the TEF is active, an overt member of the opposing faction can freely attack you.

QUITTING A FACTION
If you decide you no longer want to be a Rebel or Imperial, you merely need to find a recruiter and converse with that NPC. You will be offered the choice to leave the faction. However, you can't join the opposing faction until you earn enough faction points.

DUELING
You can fight another player by challenging him or her to a duel. Duels allow you to experience short-term PvP without interference by other players, and regardless of your faction.

To challenge a player to a duel, press and hold your MOUSE 1 button on the player, and then select Duel from the radial menu.