Faction Status is a game play mechanism unique to Thief: Deadly Shadows. In this game Garrett can choose to do favors for the Pagans and/or the Hammerites, or none of them, after which the faction behaves increasingly more favorable to him in The City's Districts depending on his stance with them. There is no penalty to be aligned with both factions, but members of one faction will not get along with members of the other, as both are sworn enemies of each other. Gaining faction status is not required to complete the game and does not affect the outcome of the game.
Take note that faction status only takes effect withing districts of The City. During missions, every faction is hostile to Garrett, regardless of his stance with them; and anything done to a faction during a missions does not affect Garrett's standing with that faction.
Standing:
- Hostile - Garrett is attacked on sight.
- Neutral - Garrett is not attacked unless he enters said faction's headquarters.
- Allied - Garrett is not attacked and allowed to enter and use the facilities of the faction's headquarters. When involved in battles on the street, members of nearby faction might fight alongside Garrett.*
*This happens typically when Garrett is attacked by City Watch guards near Fort Ironwood or one of the Pagan sanctuaries.
Changing Faction Status[]
On day three of Thief: Deadly Shadows, the player may chose to gain (or lose) faction status with the Pagans and/or the Hammers. During or after the mission "Keeper Library" Garrett received letters from prominent members of both factions, informing him that he is their enemy, but can do certain things to improve or decline his standing with them.
Hammerites[]
To increase standing, Garrett must:
- Find Rust Mites wandering the city and fire Broadhead Arrows at them.
- Destroy any Undead, Zombies or Hammer Haunts.
- Perform other special tasks for the Hammers.
To decrease standing:
- Kill, harm, or knockout a Hammerite Guard or Hammerite Priest.
- Pickpocket Hammers or get caught stealing Loot from Fort Ironwood.
Pagans[]
To increase standing, Garrett must:
- Find Pagan Cornerstones and fire Moss Arrows into them.
- Find Elemental Cocoons and fire any elemental arrows into them
once per day. - Perform other special tasks for the Pagans.
To decrease standing:
- Kill, harm, or knockout a Pagan Warrior or Pagan Shaman.
- Pickpocket Pagans or get caught stealing from any Pagan Camps.
