Reveal reputation and victory point systems to players?

[Shawpelganger]

I'm gearing up to run Season of Ghosts (twice actually—two separate groups with alternating weeks), and am wondering how secretive other GMs have been about the AP's subsystems, faction reputation in particular. It feels like I should reveal to them that their interactions with the members of each faction are likely to have repercussions, but I'm not sure how forthright I should be with that information. Have y'all straight up said, "there is a reputation minigame running in the background, which will affect the game later."? I'd hate to push the players into becoming to meta-gamey with their fellow villagers, but at the same time I'm sure we'd all be bummed if we got to winter and I pointed out certain things weren't triggering because nobody made any attempt to bond with either side of the river.

Thanks!

[FlurryofBlunders]

Given that there are two backgrounds with a seasonal boon that players are meant to activate when they gain reputation, I'd figure it's a fair assumption to let players in on the mechanical side of it as well.

[James Jacobs]

I think keeping track of those mechanics visibly for the players is important. Things like that are important to the players in helping them track their progress, work on areas that need work, and see real effects in the game. It's kinda the same to me as letting the PCs see their own hit points and know their own skill modifiers.

Obviously every table is different, but I suggest talking to your players at least to see if they're more interested in seeing those numbers or not... but again, I recommend sharing them. Especially if, as you fear, the players didn't actually realize that what they were doing mattered (or what they weren't bothering to do mattered) until it was too late.

Don't be afraid of players metagaming things during a game, I guess, is my advice.

[itaitai]

I asked my players straight up, do you want the know the gamey details?
They all said yes and i agree with them.

I think of it as a representation of the world the PCs live in that is sometimes difficult or too elaborate to put into words.
For example, if by saving an NPC grants the PCs 1 reputation, you can say "Willowshore's population seems very grateful for your actions, they praise you as you walk down the street..." etc.
By telling them they received a "point" gives a more tangible feeling of progression that you did something right and it was rewarded.