I like the idea and appreciate the thought you put into it. I think it's important to limit absolutes, though, because absolutes cause wonky things to happen. I'm not disagreeing, just expanding the idea a little. I'll explain that a bit using two examples from your last paragraph (because they are handy):
Quote:
Originally Posted by ycleption  Some factions may even be able to be changed by IC action... the druids could declare a particular character an enemy of nature, a character could bribe guards to arrest someone on trumped up charges, or a powerful Sulterite priest could have someone declared a friend of Deep Dwarven kind, who would then be able to walk through their ranks unhindered. |
Having the Druids label someone as an enemy of nature is cool, but nature is not the Druids' plaything and animals are just animals. Without a sentient nearby to point out one person from another, everyone just looks pretty much the same to wildlife (much like one alligator looks pretty much like every other alligator to us), so an enemy of nature wouldn't likely draw any unusual wrath of nature just by walking through the forest. If a Druid were nearby to command the animals to attack (which seems to me to be a
little undruidy, particularly if it's done often) or if there were some sort of special "brand" placed on the enemy of nature, that would be different. Just declaring a person an enemy of nature shouldn't make all of nature automatically know the person and strike, though.
A character that has earned the favor of a powerful priest of Sulterio might get some sort of pass to enter more or less unmolested into their cities below, but it shouldn't be a guarantee of anything. That sort of thing might be similar to the pass granted to Alantha to enter Port Hempstead. Sure she's in, but now what? Not everyone is going to care that the Silverguard let her in; she's still a dark elf. Even in the islands of what was the Rohden Alliance, where they built a statue at least ten times taller than she actually is, Jennara can't be assured of recognition and a favorable outcome, which is as it should be. Reputation and fame are not "I win" buttons.
So, excellent factiony stuff, yes. Automatic instant communication and perfect agreement between all members of a faction, no.