[quote=@Sparkwell]
I do think it's worthwhile noting that there is always more to reputation than just whether or not you followed through on the job. To put it bluntly, even if people saw the orcs as brutally effective (which they are not guaranteed to do - duurrrr racism) they might still refuse to hire them because they find their history distasteful, or they even have a grudge against them. Thus, even if they do get hired their employers are likely to try and kill them off or throw them at the worst parts of the battle so they don't have to deal with them in the future. This is true of many mercenary companies, but doubly so for the Orcs, which is why it's so important they be able to be seen as trustworthy.

Over time, [@Hank] may be right that the only thing that matters is the reputation for following through, if the company successfully completes hundreds of contracts... but this would be the FIRST real battle contract that Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi was given - they have to survive through a long period of vendettas and public hatred to even GET to the point where their word is considered to be reliable.

My point is, despite the fact that they want to be seen as a mercenary company, the vast majority of people are just going to see them as orcs. While sticking literally to the plan might indeed build a fearsome reputation over time, it's also going to end up confirming what people think about them as being brutal and undisciplined, etc. This is because the missions that they will be given will almost always be missions that their employers think [b]Orcs[/b] would be suited to, instead of viewing them as [b]Nor Mat Kordh-Ishi Orcs[/b]. Thus, the Orcs might be influenced into supporting a particular faction, because that faction is actually willing to give them an opportunity to fight in the centre of a pitched battle, or another typical mercenary job, or use them as a key component of their forces, all of which is a better path to the glory and disciplined reputation that they desire.

Savvy?
[/quote]

I can't see how sticking to the plan would further develop a reputation for being brutal and undisciplined. I do agree that, being Orcs, they'd probably be given the short straw for some time - but over time, they'd prove their worth through sheer merit.