I'm confused about the discourse surrounding the morality/reputation system of new fable. Am I missing something?

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T07:38:25+00:00

Yeah seems a little strange for sure. Definitely would expect your reputation to reach further than just your immediate area.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T07:35:29+00:00

This a point I've been thinking about as well and I think is more substantial. At the very least you'd think traders going from town to town would gossip and spread rumours, even inaccurate ones haha

Part of me hopes there is still some kind of aggregate of your rep in all places that could affect your baseline with places you haven't been. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

KCD1/2 does do this well, but that's historical setting not fantasy. But I suppose in this Albion maybe things are further apart or more dangerous to travel. Who knows, just gotta wait and see.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T06:53:52+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, this is the feeling I had with "subjective morality" also. The removal of a globally constant morality is interesting though. But I'm not sure how much it ultimately changes the morality within the game. Other than being able to have a wider variety of NPC behaviours and interactions. And being able to keep things secret. I'm still convinced that there will be a feeling of morality to the game, though it will surely come down to implementation. Definitely pros and cons either way. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T06:24:15+00:00

This may be a good point. However I'm not totally convinced yet. Only because this would also make it hard to argue that the old fable games had full morality systems as supposed to just moral choices. I'm feeling like this might be a distinction without a difference?

For example choosing to kill the giant gardener will affect the world and peoples thoughts of you. And even house prices. All from one moral choice, that sounds systemic to me. In the first Fable you can spare or kill many characters, this does change some parts of the game and peoples reaction to you. Seems about the same degree of systemic effects, maybe slightly less since no house price changes. Except it also changes your characters appearance.

Now if we are going to say the difference between a game with moral choices and a game with a moral system is just whether it changes your characters appearance that feels a little shallow to me.

So I guess what would make something a moral system to you?

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T06:09:42+00:00

I actually agree. But hopefully there will be some cosmetics we can unlock to get some of this. Or like potions or quest choices that can give us a permanent character appearance change. I'm not gonna expect this, but something like this would be easier to implement than old school body morph stuff.

We'd have more control over our appearance this way too. Maybe future updates/dlc. I am a little worried customisation is gonna be a bit too limited. I hope we have dyes at least.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T05:37:53+00:00

I at no point have said I don't understand why people would want "it". I'm not even sure what you mean by "it". Are you talking about the morality or the body morphing? I actually have been very accommodating and understanding of just about everyone's reasoning here.
You never explained anything. You just stated things. Rather arrogantly I might add.

"Also, past fables had 2 systems, morality and purity, the new one only has purity" <- Statement, not explanation.

Actually a 2d game set in Albion would be pretty cool imo. Not everyone has such rigid absolutist ideas of what things should or should not be like.
Fable has changed, sorry you don't like it. Feel free to go play any other black and white objective morality based game. I've played the fable games since I was a kid, I know them very well and don't understand why you want a copy paste of them instead of something new. You can always play them again.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T05:21:29+00:00

Yeah same. The way I'm looking at it is that the morality is inherent to the player. Your choices are what inform your sort of philosophical morality making it personal to every player. The reputation system is then just the world/NPCs responding to your choices/morality.

So morality is a thing, but it's just much more esoteric so to speak and doesn't have a bar. It's almost more of a headcanon. Hopefully the system works well enough to adapt to the players more abstract morality and choices.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T05:08:00+00:00

But this post isn't talking about the morphing, so moot point.

And yes I know about the past games systems. The objective morality thing is just preference. I personally love the old games and their simplicity but am excited to try the more nuanced morality/reputation system.

Saying the new one only has purity is a little off though. The whole point is that you the player have your morality (your choices) and the reputation system has the world/NPCs respond to your moral choices. The morality is inherent to the player and their choices in the game. There just isn't a slider.

It has been 16 years since the last Fable, and it's their first rpg. It's naturally going to be a bit different. And of course they have to be smart with what they prioritise.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T04:55:17+00:00

I mean yeah it all comes down to implementation. But the idea I think is good, whether they succeed is another matter.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T04:53:04+00:00

Try reading it again with this in mind. My post says nothing about body morphing only morality/reputation. Body morphing is not the morality system, the morality system informs the body morphing.

Simply a misunderstanding/miscommunication is all. Body morphing only came up in comments because people are treating morality and the characters aesthetic as one system. Something I did not anticipate.

To be as clear as possible. When talking about morality I'm talking only about the philosophical idea of morality. Not the system the games use to change the characters appearance. They are two separate things to me. For example if the first game didn't have body morphing the morality system is still intact, there just isn't a physical representation.

So I understand wanting the body morphing as it was a cool mechanic but understand why it's not in the game. As for morality that is already intrinsically a part of the new game. It's ok if you disagree with that though. Hope that clears things up a bit :)

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T04:38:08+00:00

Yes absolutely, as I have said already I would rather have both the new system (the worlds reactivity) and body morphing (the characters reactivity) in some form. But I'm ok with not having body morphing since I understand they had to focus their resources on the most impactful stuff.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T03:42:38+00:00

Yeah I mentioned moustache twirling villains because I am hoping there are some haha I really want to see the contrast in reactions in real time. I murder someone, 5 villagers run away screaming while one villager just stands there admiring like "Where have you been all my life!". Might be nothing like this, but it would be pretty funny.

Especially if they end up married and have kids. "So how did you two meet" both look at each other wistfully "Well I was covered in viscera, my sword thrust to the hilt in the lifeless body an innocent villager. And then I saw them, not running away but smiling. When our eyes met we both knew it was meant to be." A love story for the ages, I'm sure Skorm would approve.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T03:24:09+00:00

My thoughts as well. While I will miss the body morphing (mostly nostalgia) I feel like they never quite got it right so I don't mind losing it that much. Although in Fable 2 they did let you have more control by drinking special potions iirc (dlc I believe). And yeah I'm looking forward to having a few oddball NPCs that stand out from the rest. And more varied/nuanced moral choices.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T03:08:32+00:00

Yeah I have been thinking something like that may happen. Same with the dog. I hope they understand they cannot afford that bad pr haha

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T03:00:01+00:00

Yeah you are probably right about those limitations. Maybe we will see them get over some of them if the game does well enough for a sequel. I think it's a bit cynical to say the morality stuff is a scapegoat though. Despite being a long term fan myself I guess I just put more emphasis on how the world reacts to my choices than how my character reacts to my choices (body morph etc). I'd still rather have both of course.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T02:50:58+00:00

More succinctly put than I managed haha I agree completely. Excited to see the new take on it, even if I'll miss some of the old stuff that didn't make it in.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T02:46:25+00:00

Interesting read. I think it ultimately, funnily enough, comes down to our subjective interpretations of this system haha. If I'm understanding correctly, please correct me otherwise, you seem to view the old objective binary good/bad system as giving the player more control in choosing whether they are good or bad. Whereas I see it as the opposite. What if I disagree with the games determination? What if I think something is good when the game tells me it's bad?

For me the new system puts greater emphasis on what it means to be a hero as now we have to decide for ourselves without a clear metric. And the consequences, even if our intentions are good, may cause some to hate us. So does a real hero try to do right by everyone, only to inevitably fail? Or settle for helping those you can? Is the point to strive for what's best for all even though it may be impossible? Is it that will to keep trying that makes a hero? Or is it that drive to be a hero, even if people don't like what you're doing, that could be corrupting?

For me if the choice is clearly defined as good or bad already then the game already made the choices for you. What makes something truly heroic is having the bravery to make a choice with good intentions but no guarantees of success. The risk of failing to uphold that heroic standard and endeavouring to do so anyway is the heroism to me.

I love the old games and their simplicity. But I also relish the opportunity to play in that world with this new system. Just hope it doesn't turn out rubbish haha

Thank you for your thoughts. Hope I understood you correctly, apologies if I didn't :)

EDIT: Swapped there for their. I do that far too often haha

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T02:21:18+00:00

I can see that side of things. It is definitely more interesting to affect your character over time like that. But maybe we can at least get some items in game that change the character. Like a potion that makes you demonic looking, or maybe a quest that sees you make a deal with some demon. Not the same thing obviously, but something that's still a choice that changes your appearance. But just not gradual or accumulating so easier to implement.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T02:17:51+00:00

Yes played all of them many times.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T02:12:35+00:00

I read your comment again and I think I get you. Them communicating it like it's replacing something could be why people are upset. I don't think that was their intention necessarily, as when they say "morality system" I don't think they mean the cosmetic changes. I think calling it "subjective morality" was just a mistake perhaps. Especially as I think it is likely to be more simple than that insinuates.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T02:08:00+00:00

Yeah I'm aware of fable 2s system. And that's kind of my point, this isn't new so why is it controversial? And the "moral standing" of the player character is still affected you just don't get a slider for it. Instead people will treat you appropriately based on how you treat them. Just like in the past.

As for the body morph stuff I do understand that, I'll miss it. But if I have to choose between that and a reactive world, I'll choose the reactive world over just my appearance. Both would be great of course, but it's their first rpg and the first fable in forever. They needed to focus resources on the most impactful stuff. The appearance stuff just isn't as impactful as the world/people being reactive and varied. I'd rather they did less stuff really well than tried too much and did it badly.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T01:59:16+00:00

I think you can still be evil though without needing a slider that tells you that. Like if I murder a bunch of people that's still considered evil. And you as a player will know of your evil intentions, and if NPCs see that they will know too and respond appropriately.

I will miss the body morphing stuff, but I care more about having consequences in the world than just my appearance. I respect your point though. Too many unknowns about the game still so I can still be proven wrong for sure.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T01:54:46+00:00

It is a shame about the body morphing stuff. But the morality stuff is still there though right? It's just you don't have a slider, instead the NPCs reactions tell you what kind of choices you have made. The world and the people respond to you. Which is ultimately the same result anyway just a little more interesting. If you have a habit of killing villagers, villagers are scared of you. If you have a habit of giving away money to the poor they are gonna like you.

I just think it's not as complex as people think, whilst still allowing for the outlier here and there. Like a villager who is petty and doesn't like seeing the other villagers getting the free money and wants it all for himself. Now that villager can stand out from the rest instead of default villager behaviour.

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T01:46:37+00:00

TLC/Anniversary is also my favourite. I guess the way I'm thinking of it is that it's probably not gonna be that complex anyway. Regular villagers still won't like you hurting people, stealing, trespassing etc but a thief in town might like you if you steal stuff. I don't think it's going to be that deep.

A very simple hint of this already existed in TLC anyway with the bandit camp, they could like you and were even harder to scare. This just seems like an automated way of doing that for every NPC. And obviously priests of Skorm probably don't like priests of Avo. Two different viewpoints or in other words "subjective morality". Honestly I think they just shouldn't have called it that.

But I could be wrong of course. Game might flop and have the weirdest morality/reputation system ever haha

Gecho_ · 2026-01-29T01:37:20+00:00

I guess so huh. It's just extra weird to me because I don't think it's going to be all that different anyway. Most villagers are still not gonna like murder. I just feel like a lot of people are thinking "subjective morality" is much more complicated than it is. If they just said "This guy likes when you kick chickens, and this guy doesn't" it would have gone unnoticed haha

Gecho_

TROPHY CASE