Zone Control

All areas in the game belong into one of the three distinct categories of zone control — fully controlled, partially controlled and uncontrolled zones. The UI shows the zone control indicator in the upper right corner and you can mouse over it to see what sort of action you can get away with and what is too risky in the current area.

Zone control is all about how the game handles player criminal behavior such as murdering people through various means, and more specifically, how NPCs should react to player placing traps everywhere and turning their private quarters into mine fields. Zone control prevents exploits such as carpeting an area with traps and killing off high level non-hostile NPCs in the middle of their home base without triggering hostilities and then promptly looting their kickass gear. But on the other hand, the player can use traps as an assassination mechanism in some areas where it's actually appropriate.

One thing to keep in mind though that regardless of the zone control level, if you try placing traps too close to someone, they will take offense, or at least disarm your traps if they have appropriate skills.

Controlled zones

For a list of these zones, see Category:Controlled zones.

Assassination: Nigh impossible. Everyone will turn hostile towards you.

Traps: If someone from the controlling faction detects your trap, you'll immediately get in trouble with the faction.

Tooltip description:

• Setting traps or planting explosives near other characters might provoke them
• If members of certain factions take damage from your traps or explosives they will track it back to you and will turn hostile
• If members of certain factions discover traps or explosives planted by you they will automatically track it back to you and will turn hostile

Partially controlled zones

For a list of these zones, see Category:Partially controlled zones.

Assassination: Possible as long as you're not seen, but usually not against members of the controlling faction(s).

Traps: You'll only get in trouble if someone from the controlling faction(s) takes damage from your trap.

Tooltip description:

• Setting traps or planting explosives near other characters might provoke them
• If members of certain factions take damage from your traps or explosives, they will automatically track it back to you and will turn hostile.

Uncontrolled zones

For a list of these zones, see Category:Uncontrolled zones.

Assassination: Easily doable and even if you're seen, usually no one cares.

Traps: You can set traps as much as you like and if someone happens to set it off and get killed, no one will be able to trace this to you.

Tooltip description:

• Setting traps or planting explosives near other characters might provoke them
• Setting traps or planting explosives out of sight cannot be traced to you

Additional zone control indicators

These are special additions to normal zone control for certain highly secure areas, added in version 0.1.13.3.

Security Camera Footage

Tooltip description:

If you are spotted by the cameras in this zone, you might later trigger hostilities from certain factions if the footage is not promptly erased.

Locations:

• Foundry Prison

Leave no Witnesses

Tooltip description:

If you trigger hostitilies with characters in this zone and leave the zone before disposing of the witnesses, the hostilities may propagate to the entire faction and even allied factions.

Locations:

• Foundry Prison
• Talloski Manor