Suggestion: Advertising and PR

[Muldoon Hammurabi]

So as our mercenary crew floats quietly through space going from contract to contract, our reputation is affected by basically word of mouth only. While word of mouth is an established form of marketing, it isn't the only method.

My suggestion, during the Monthly Financial Report we should be allowed a slider similar to that of the pay scale that allows us to devote a certain amount of funds to advertising. What I mean by this basically employing or paying for outsourcing of a small staff that would ensure that news of the company's exploits and deeds reaches the right ears. Higher levels of funding would also allow for 'agents' to intercede directly with certain powers for enhanced reputation bonuses and smoothing over any negative reactions to the company taking contracts that would normally infuriate a faction that we are trying to maintain good relations with.

Another aspect of this is to allow our mechwarriors to get some sort of service tag such as "Celebrity" or "Media Consultant" that would allow a few random events that could increase or decrease our reputation for certain factions. Fights over coffee are great and all, but when your star mechwarrior does an interview with Inner Sphere Network News and wrecks your delicately cultivated relationship with the Federated Suns...now that is a day.

 

[TaurianMerc]

We're already registered with the MRB which is the same thing, sort of.
The employers aren't actually coming direct to us, even though it feels that way. They decide they need some mercs, so they head to a HPG station to hook up with the MRB. They look through the available commands (those not already on a contract to another power) and then pick somebody to approach. They decide they like the look of our company and so they make contact.

 

[Chunt]

I love this idea! I had a thread to allow us to spend money to bribe officials to raise reputation for specific factions and this seems like a natural place to locate it, and the timing of the monthly report also feels right for how often/when to show this option.