Since I just recently noticed that my faction is now "untrustworthy" for one reason or another, I'd like to know all the ways you can improve or ruin your diplomatic reputation in the game.
I know the basics at least. If you want to have a good reputation, you should:
* release captives instead of ransoming or outright executing them
* occupy settlements instead of sacking or exterminating them
* try to fight enemy armies with roughly equal amounts of troops, instead of trying to crush them with an exponentially larger, more powerful army
* generally ally with a couple factions at the least, instead of making tons of enemies and trying to steamroll them all once you are the most powerful faction
* try to be a little generous in diplomatic meetings by offering significant portions of money for map information, alliances, trade rights, peaceful purchase of cities, etc.
Did I miss anything?
I also think things like gifting money or even paying handsomely for map information can damage your reputation if it's a neutral faction that is actively at war with one or more of your allies. However, I have no idea about other stuff. Does simply recruiting agents like spies and assassins lower your reputation? Or do you actually have to use them in missions for that to happen?
Does having too many powerful merchants monopolizing trade affect your reputation? How about your royal purse compared to the fiscal budgets of other factions, being jealous that your economy is larger than theirs?
I noticed in this game that simply taking certain rebel settlements causes a message to appear that some factions are upset and have lowered their opinion of your faction. Does that only matter when you are becoming one of the leading factions?
I'm going to assume that bribing enemy/neutral generals and/or cities to join your faction would naturally lower your reputation.
If anyone knows anything else, please, I'm all ears! I'd like to know more.