A faction in EverQuest is any group of mobs/NPCs that are aligned. There are literally hundreds of faction groups, but "Good" and "Evil" is the most conventional separation. Each player has their own faction standing with every faction.
A player's standing is stored as a number, but players cannot see that number: they can only see one of several different faction messages which correspond to certain faction numbers. The numerical values for changing between different con levels has always been debated (e.g. scowling is -1000 or below).
The following numbers are originally based on a 2011 Uthgaard GM post, but have since been adjusted. They may be incorrect, but should be close to accurate (if not accurate):
| Standing | Amount | Net | Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ally | 1051 to 2000 | 950 | Required by Kael and Claw of Veeshan Armor Quests. |
| Warmly | 701 to 1050 | 350 | Required for Di`Zok Signet of Service. |
| Kindly | 451 to 700 | 250 | Required by Thurgadin armor quests |
| Amiable | 51 to 450 | 400 | Your pet is set to this faction level. Required for some quests. |
| Indifferent | -49 to 50 | 100 | Sneak/Invisibility sets your faction to this level. Required for many quests with rewards. Favorable vendor prices. |
| Apprehensive | -50 to -449 | 400 | Vendors will deal with you at this level, at unfavorable prices. |
| Dubious | -450 to -699 | 250 | Not kill-on-sight. Required for low-reward repeatable quests. |
| Threatening | -700 to -1049 | 350 | Kill-on-sight. |
| Scowls | -1050 to -2000 | 950 | Kill-on-sight. |
Important Note About Wiki Faction Numbers For Mobs and Quests
Keep in mind that while the wiki is usually accurate about which factions a monster or quest will impact, and whether it will have a positive or negative impact ... the specific numbers provided were taken from a non-classic source. They are very often incorrect, and usually suggest much larger positive gains, or lower negative gains.
Since there is no objective way to measure faction numbers without repeating the same quest, or killing the same mob ... many, many times, it will likely be impossible to ever make all of the wiki's numbers accurate. However, if a player does research a particular mob's/quest's faction hits, they are encouraged to leave a note about it on the mob/quest page.
Faction Messages
Faction 'could not possibly get any better/worse' messages do not exist until Jun2001. [1]
Changing Faction
Almost every non-animal monster/NPC (save for Beta Neutral) give both negative and positive faction adjustments when killed. For instance, attacking (and killing) Orc Pawn will yield these adjustments:
- Your faction standing with Death Fist Orcs has gotten worse. -1
- Your faction standing with Knights of Truth has gotten better. +1
- Your faction standing with Guardians of the Vale has gotten better. +1
- Your faction standing with Ashen Order has gotten better. +1
- Your faction standing with Commons Residents has gotten better. +1
Killing isn't the only method for faction adjustment. Most quests give faction adjustment. For instance, completing Orc Picks yields:
- Your faction standing with Freeport Militia has gotten better. +3
- Your faction standing with Coalition of Tradefolk Underground has gotten better. +1
- Your faction standing with Knights of Truth has gotten worse. -1
- Your faction standing with Priests of Marr has gotten worse. -1
Other mechanics
- Undead will almost always aggro, no matter what the level difference is.
- Most NPCs who are low enough level below yours will often not aggro.
- Threateningly NPCs will eventually aggro, but may delay for several server ticks depending on your distance.
- Sneaking in front of an NPC will improve your chance for avoiding aggro on a server tick.
- Scowls will immediately aggro on server ticks.
- Sitting negates faction and level advantages to avoid aggro.
Glumf's Spectacular Faction Guide
For those of you who have taken up the factionquest sword, here is an in-depth guide that you may find useful in untangling the spiderweb of factions that this game has to offer. Glumf's Spectacular Faction Guide. The most comprehensive guide out there!
Iksar Faction Guide
As an Enchanter, I've always worried about faction. I'm sure Iksar are in the same boat, so I decided to look up every quest I could find that gave only positive faction hits, and no negative ones. The now defunct Iksar Faction Guide goes into great detail for Iksars, but it involves a lot of back-and-forth with raising one faction, lowering another, and then going back to raise the faction you lowered.
Some of these quests require a minimum faction to be able to complete. Some you will not be able to do without killing various groups of mobs (namely, Gnolls, Deathfist Orcs, Kobolds and Aqua Goblins) or without an illusion, a wolf form, a faction-raising spell, a sneak, an invis, or a feign death (verify this last one?). Before going to do any of these quests, make sure to con the applicable quest NPC and all other NPCs within aggro range using your chosen faction-raising method to make sure you are safe.
A note of advice from the defunct Iksar Faction Guide: When doing quests, I have found out that one can turn in up to 16 items at a time. This was only verified with quest that only have one item to turn in, though. You can hand in 4 stacks of 4 of that item, and you will get 16 faction hits. I have tried with more, but it does not work. I also suggest switching to windowed mode while trading. That way, you will not have to reopen your inventory after each turn in.
The above information does not seem to apply to Green, as no Quest NPC would allow me to attempt to give even 2 of a stackable item and instead said you may only give 1 item per slot. - May the 4th be with you, 2022
Faction Data
- See also: Historical faction tables for a reference of faction values on other servers.
Although there are numerous player derived faction tables floating around the Internet, the actual faction table information is buried in the game executable itself. Other than the introduction of the new Ally faction during the release of Velious, the faction ranges never changed during Classic EQ. The game executable never defines an upper or lower bound for the top and bottom most factions; that is handled server side.
See also
- Game Mechanics#Faction System and Levels for a breakdown of the different faction levels
- All Positive Faction Quests
- Faction Guide
- Glumf's Spectacular Faction Guide
- An Iksar's Guide To Love and Friendship Through Murder
- Faction Quests for a list of quests commonly used to fix faction
- Faction Tricks for a list of techniques for correcting faction even when your current faction is so low it prevents quest completion
- Faction Guide for Playable Races
- Significant Factions for a list of factions which have some in-game benefit
