What to know
- Introduced in Version 1.2 patch on January 9, 2026, targeting players with frequent crimes or escapes.
- Affects partners, sworn cohorts, masters/apprentices, and friends at 16,000+ intimacy, pulling them into shared jail time.
- Triggers public events like Joint Parade, similar to prior Pardon Parade, where associates face humiliation.
- Aims to deepen social accountability without sects, encouraging careful alliances.
Joint Punishment is a new feature in Where Winds Meet, available with the latest 1.2 update. According to the game update overview, 'Players who commit repeated offenses or frequently escape capture may be sentenced to "Joint Punishment"'. Essentially, this will transform your solo mischiefs into group accountability. Here's everything you need to know about it (and what the WWM community has to say about the new feature).
How repeated crimes lead to Joint Punishment
If you rack up offenses by actions like NPC kills or evading capture, they escalate to bounties and jail. Frequent escapes amplify risks, notifying authorities of your patterns. Once threshold hits, the game flags your network, applying sentences collectively.
How Joint Punishment is affected by relationships and intimacy
As per the game update overview, "Once sentenced, the player's partners, sworn cohorts, masters/apprentices, and friends with Intimacy ≥16,000 may also be implicated and jailed. Implicated players will receive a confirmation prompt before the process continues."
So, the Joint Punishment only works for ties at 16,000 intimacy, measured via in-game bonds from shared quests or oaths. Partners or sworn cohorts face full liability and master-apprentice links add mentorship fallout. Friends nearby during triggers may join. So make sure you check bonds via social menu before risky plays.
How to trigger joint punishment
Step 1: Build qualifying bonds
Raise intimacy past 16,000 through co-op quests, oaths, or mentorship—view progress in relations tab.
Step 2: Commit escalating crimes
Kill NPCs repeatedly (e.g., Tai Chi throws into water for quick stacks) or escape prison often.
Step 3: Await sentencing
After multiple offenses, officials impose joint terms; notifications alert implicated allies.
Step 4: Experience fallout
You and associates serve time or opt for Joint Parade, parading publicly for reduced sentences.
Joint Parade to reduce Joint Punishment
Joint Parade, another new feature, serves as a public mitigation for Joint Punishment in Where Winds Meet, letting jailed allies endure communal shaming for sentence reductions.
The game update reads: "After being jailed together, both primary and implicated players can activate a Joint Parade—facing public admonishment together. The more participants, the greater the sentence reduction!"
Joint Parade activates from jail UI, parading you and allies in carts through towns while players hurl veggies for laughs and loot. More joiners mean bigger sentence slashes (e.g., 60min+). It echoes solo Pardon Parades but mandates group fallout.
Community response to Joint Punishment
While the new feature in the update 1.2 adds a new dimension to the jail system, not everyone is excited about being implicated in other people's crimes. One Steam user called it "the dumbest idea I've ever heard of. So just because my friend gets in trouble I'll also be jailed." Precisely.
But others are not so worried, since it sharpens Where Winds Meet's social stakes. You may want to rethink PvP chases or NPC grinds with friends online. The new feature rewards vigilance in your web of alliances while punishing impulsivity. So plan your crimes wisely if you want to remain thick as thieves.
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