Ryzom

If you had to state your fame number with a faction, race, or tribe in-character, how would you explain it? How might the numerical fame system make sense within roleplay?

Hmm, thought its not entirely my forte, I'd imagine it would be similar to the way "levels" are described (not that I know how that is).

Maybe just ignoring the numerical values and approximating when in character - ie using words like recognised, liked, respected, etc for different 'grades' of fame (eg 0-25, etc). (has the problem of standardising the grades among everyone who uses them)

On the other hand you could possibly imagine some kind of recognition system so that the tribes/whoever could see how much reward they have given you... the number of pips on your collar or beads on a necklace/bracelet etc... (kind of impractical to imagine for all the different tribes and factions and races; some people might not be able to move for all the fame they have. Negative fame is kind of tricky with this one too O_o)

Like I said, not my forte

I've seen levels described as: seasons, rings, notches, stones, stripes and maybe a couple of more this brain has forgotten.

As for fame...

There are several striations in the fame interface that might be used. Negative might be easier, as it says you receive unfavorable trades down to can't trade. On the positive side, we could, as suggested above, have a standard name for each striation: unknown, well known, famous or some other set of terms.

I like these kinds of questions. =)

Well, as one who is neutral because there is no "The gods are all crooks" option, anyone who is pro-either-faction is "a lunatic", with levels ranging from "mildly ignorant" to "raving fanatic".

What are the breakpoints with it?

Plus or minus less than thirty and plus or minus more than fifty isn't it that's actually game affecting?

since faction/civ fame has become almost irrelevant to neutrals, the only fame I worry about is tribal, and the gradations I use are.. shooting at me; not shooting at me, with the sub classifications of .. they will stop shooting at me if I am nice to them, or they are too stupid to ever stop shooting at me.
I am pleased to say that there are only a couple of tribes in the final class, but the second last does give me something to do in the game