ghosterl: The answer would be: It depends. There are NPCs you can kill without any consequences (backer NPCs for instance, the ones with the yellowish name plates) just as long as nobody sees you, and there are NPCs where killing them makes you lose reputation with one faction and gain it with another (a very obvious example occurs in Twin Elms).
As a general rule of thumb you can assume that killing NPCs belonging to a faction will make you lose reputation with that faction, but even then there are exceptions, like a certain patrol near Lle a Rhemen that you can and have to kill while on a certain quest that nets no reputation loss for you.
When in doubt quicksave and kill them, then check the result. If you don't like it, reload.
kmh12177: Funny you say that, I was thinking of making a thread regarding the killing of backer npc's.
Have you killed many? I had a thought that maybe the devs slipped some powerful unique weapons in certain backer npc inventories .... if they did, we likely wouldn't find out for a long time - I mean, who goes around killing inconsequential townsfolk?
LOL I do depending on how 'my soul' is moved by reading theirs. So far I've noticed it's fine to kill some in areas unseen, but others in plain sight of other citizens will attack...which is weird considering no one comes to my aid when assassins jump me right next to them while they continue their conversation.
Artack: So my question is in regards to reputation and killing peaceful pirates, bandits and other types that you would otherwise be attacked by...I've found some places where I just outright killed them in the city without consequence or is there a reputation consequence?
I do, however, understand that attacking people in general causes a mixed rep.
ghosterl: The answer would be: It depends. There are NPCs you can kill without any consequences (backer NPCs for instance, the ones with the yellowish name plates) just as long as nobody sees you, and there are NPCs where killing them makes you lose reputation with one faction and gain it with another (a very obvious example occurs in Twin Elms).
As a general rule of thumb you can assume that killing NPCs belonging to a faction will make you lose reputation with that faction, but even then there are exceptions, like a certain patrol near Lle a Rhemen that you can and have to kill while on a certain quest that nets no reputation loss for you.
When in doubt quicksave and kill them, then check the result. If you don't like it, reload.
Too late to reload...I screwed up and kill a certain pirate in the Charred Barrel related to a quest down the line. LOL I gotta live with the consequences...
