*Edit*Title and purpose of OP changed. *Edit* Everything below this paragraph is now irrelevant once HoW drops. Starting at HoW you will NO LONGER earn or be able to redeem Commendations for gear. You can however redeem Commendations for rep at 250 rep per Commendation. 10 Commendations will equal a full rank up. Adding in bold up here because they are the most common questions. [b]Commendations can be Vaulted and traded between your characters You only get a Commendation AFTER you rank 3 and above with Vanguard, Crucible or the three Factions To my knowledge, they (meaning Commendations) are not RNG based and you should get one for rank 3 and each subsequent rank after Pay close attention to your equipped class item to be sure you are raking up the correct faction. Don't wear a Vanguard class item if you're trying to rank up one of the three Crucible Factions. If you want to rank up Crucible, do not wear a Dead Orbit class item for instance. Ask if you need further clarification.[/b] WHAT, WHEN, HOW AND WHY? [b]What are they exactly?[/b] They are like coupons you can use to redeem towards, not for, gear from a vendor. They do NOT allow you to get an item for free. They are simply a VIP pass that allows you access to purchase gear or weapons. One Commendation equals one piece of gear or one weapon. You also will not get them until after you have gotten to level 3 with the Faction you ranked. [b]When can you use them?[/b] Any time you have one and enough marks to purchase whatever you're trying to get. Simple. Commendations can be Vaulted and recovered by another character. [b]Let's talk about how you get them now.[/b] You get them when you level up Vanguard, Crucible or one of the three (Dead Orbit, Future War Cult and New Monarchy) Factions. This has been said to be guaranteed when you level up and is not RNG based. [b]How exactly are they used?[/b] When you rank up Crucible or the three Factions you will receive a Crucible Commendation that can be used for...you guessed it! Crucible or Faction Vendors only. Vanguard is a ditto. Same same, people. You cannot use a Crucible Commendation for Vanguard or Vanguard Commendation for Crucible vendors. After receiving your Commendation you may walk, skip or jump your happy asses to the proper vendor and use it along with the marks that your vendor takes to purchase gear and or weapons. Remember that one Commendation equals one piece of gear or weapon. [b]We are going to hop back into the WHAT realm again ladies and gentlemen. What can you purchase with them?[/b] Weapons. You MUST have a Commendation (and enough Marks) to purchase a weapon from a vendor. Gear...this one is a little tricky. Arms and legs may be purchased for Marks only. This means you need no Commendation for them. Cool right? Except you need a Commendation (and enough Marks) to buy the helms or chests. That sucks...I am not sure about emblems. Class items are Marks only as well (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). [b]Now for the Million Dollar question boys and girls. Why?[/b] *Please note that I have deleted my original opinion and added a quote from a poster* Credit to SilverCyric [quote]In MMO's, you start with tier 1, with whichever currency is used as the means to purchasing that gear. Marks in our case... Introducing a second currency, just allows them to sell better gear for that new currency. I've never played WoW (I think it's always gold with them), but I know in DCUO, you start by gaining marks of triumph. You use those to buy like the first 2-3 tiers of gear, then you start earning marks of valor, then later, on to marks of fury. These new marks became available with new dlc, and separates the market for beginning players to advanced and experienced players. I was very surprised they replaced the new vanguard and crucible items with the second tier. I understand it's going to be different because we are dealing with FPS and MMO in a very fresh and new way, but it's still odd... It should go new players get original vanguard/crucible gear, then VoG raid gear, then tier 2 vanguard/crucible, then onto Crota's End raid gear. I honestly believe they're doing it a little quick at first to generate some more players, possibly. It can be very discouraging starting a new game and everyone is hitting 32, and you can't get above 26-29, for whatever reason. I'm sure there will be more changes as we explore more into this new way of MMO gaming... Destiny is a very unique and interesting approach so far, I enjoy being on the ground floor of it all : )[/quote] [b]Questions, gripes, corrections or concerns?[/b] Post below.