Settlements in Undawn: Befriending NPCs for Fun and Profit

In the world of Undawn, the adventurous can venture out and risk the hazards of the wilderness or the peril-filled thrill of a special operation. But one of the more intriguing and popular features you'll find are Undawn's settlements. This is where you can learn NPCs' background stories—but more importantly, these locations are key to obtaining rich rewards. So today, let's pay a visit.

**What is a Settlement?**

The Settlement screen, found via the menu (see below), lets you see where you stand in NPC society. You can find out what reputation your character has in the different regions and their relationships with important NPCs. Don't underestimate the importance of those connections—they can be good earners.

**Reputation**

Your character's reputation will differ across each region. If you want to improve that reputation, carry out the daily Settlement Missions for a boost. An improved reputation means NPCs will offer more help, and you'll be able to learn more about the history of the settlement and its inhabitants. On some maps, you'll find you have more than one reputation score. For example, in the Redwood Forest you can have differing reputations at the Redwood Outpost and the Scavenger Settlement.

**Rewards**

So, big rep means big rewards. And nowhere is that more true than at the Reputation Shop, which you can find on the Marketplace screen (see below). The higher your reputation, the more goods will be available for purchase. Alongside the basic supplies and equipment, you can pick up unique items such as appearance sets. So time spent building reputation isn't wasted. This is even more true later in the game, when you could find yourself able to snap up furniture for a pittance of Silver. Think how much time that'll save a busy homesteader.

**Relationships**

In the current version, relationship stats are only available for a few special NPCs. But the word from our sources is that there are still piles of goodies to be earned this way. For example, get Sherry on your side and you've got a reliable source of silicon carbide particles. Catherine, meanwhile, can help her friends earn skill points. Once your level is high enough, you can gift NPCs food in exchange for a better relationship. Keeping an eye on the info at the bottom of the Relationships screen makes it easier to improve scores—as long as you've been practicing your cooking skills.

**Commissions**

The Settlement Commission screen provides info on missions you can accept. However, here you have the option of choosing which settlement you'd rather help out. You can only do so many Settlement Missions a day, and the location and difficulty of the missions will largely be determined by the settlement you choose. So consider that and the reputation to be earned, as well as rewards available in the Reputation Shop, before deciding.

**Getting Started**

The Relationship feature makes spending time on cooking skills more worthwhile—it's not just about feeding yourself out in the wilderness any more, you can also whip up an NPCs favorite dish to keep them happy. And while XP can be recovered, missing out on reputation will hamper your character's progress. So don't skip Settlement Commissions. Finally, when you're starting out, familiarize yourself with what's available in the Reputation Shop. That'll help you figure out which Settlement Commissions are best for you.

**Conclusion**

Currently, the Settlements aren't exactly flashy, but there are riches to be had there, particularly in the Reputation Shop. Accept commissions that look interesting and you'll gradually build reputation. Later in the game that'll mean much more bang for your Silver buck, not to mention other special rewards along on the way. It's also worthwhile building Relationships with NPCs. Even without the rewards she offers, Sherry's got quite the story to tell, wouldn't you say?