This would go on your character info where everyone could see it.

The way it works would be pretty simple: for every player you meet can /vote "player" +karma or /vote "player" -karma. Only one vote for a particular player per account. Each vote either adds a point to their karma or takes a point away, but you can always change your vote later on.

This wouldn't have any practical effects in the game, but the devs would know that someone with a large negative karma probably isn't getting along very well with other players, and you would know that you could probably trust someone with a large positive karma.

Meh... I dunno. I think it's common enough for players to role-play a nasty jerk of a character, and while I think such characters deserve to be disliked by other characters, I don't think the player who plays the character necessarily deserves "bad karma" from it. If the karma is limited to the character, and not the player, I think the purpose is better served by modifications to the faction standing system. See this suggestion for something along those lines: http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/8746

That's an awesome idea, Beolach! Plus it ties in with the faction system that's already in place.

The algorithm would have to be a little more complex though, because if enough players voted for you you could end up with a faction greater than 1,000 or less than -1,000

I think on a personal level this would be a very good suggestion. On a game level, see Beolach's post.

I think it would be PERFECT to be able to set parameters for each character so that say UPN (to pick on someone) would always show up red on my radar...

I would like to be able to pick who I think is hostile or friend.

The problem with a Karma system is that it would inevitably lead to Karma wars. That is to say it wouldn't be used for the intended purpose- if you -karma someone, they'll just do it right back. Maybe get a few of their buddies to do the same. First person gets pissed, pays 50 people to -karma the second. The second decides to cut his losses and pays 100 people to +karma him. See what I'm getting at here?

So make it anonymous. If a player doesn't know who changed their karma, or even if their karma has been changed at all, then how can they retaliate & start a karma war?

if people don't know who did it, they'll assume and speculate and have at it anyway. or at least that's my experience with karma-like wars.

Hehe, I like it, Again, on a character basis.

Measure a person by their enemies, or by their friends, its really up to you how to read into the karma system. As long as there are no real ingame "effects", it sounds like a neat idea.

Probably too chaotic in a per-char basis.

BUT....

/guild vote karma XXX +/-

may be a nice way to introduce "guild factions" in.

Besides, it makes more sense to have guild karma then just plain old "evil/good" karma.

Good and bad is so relative any way. :P