Factions - ideas wanted.

IanBruntlett

IanBruntlett

Emperor Mongoose
OK, I must admit this is a bit of a "please help me with my homework" kind of post....

...but I'm new to this factions thing where you identify an organisation (or part of an organisation) as a thing with wants/dislikes, with NPCs (Non Player Characters) who work on behalf of said factions. I tend to run games in the Trojan Reach or Spinward Marches so ideas about them are particularly welcome. In fact, all ideas are welcome. I've just started reading "The Third Imperium" and am hoping to get something out of that, also.
 
On the surface, a simple look at factions is Elite Dangerous. Not the power play, but the factions in systems that control various stations. The actual calculations behind them requires a computer. Especially their boom/bust, expansion and corporate war footings. It makes for randomly prosperous and dangerous variations in the status quo.
They tend to have traits similar to Traveller government codes, and a few other characteristics. As you develop a relationship with them, you contact is a progressively higher level operative/supervisor/broker/gang member.
Beyond the mega-corps, Referee's Briefing 1: Companies and Corporations, the sector books and some adventures, you can make up your own factions with impunity. You're probably already aware of the POD campaign reputation tracking for contacts and factions.

You could base the number of factions on the starport type and or the number of inhabited planets, with the caveat that it is possible for none of those factions to be in control. Six or fewer for big systems, with information that would fit an index card, should be enough to provide interest and variety, Some, but few non-Mega Corps will have multi system influence, which the players enhance by performing missions.

Or is that too simple a breakdown?
 
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Do you know the type of character players are likely to choose? Are they traders, scouts, corporate factors, mercenaries, rich kids taking a joyride-by-jump, Aslan settlers, etc?

That might help prompt ideas for the sort of NPC factions they'll have to contend with; things that help generate story ideas.
 
Thank you for your very useful replies. It has given me things to think about...

...I do have one question. I'm not "aware of the POD campaign reputation tracking for contacts and factions." - which Pirates of Drinax book is it in? Page numbers would be helpful :)
 
IanBruntlett said:
OK, I must admit this is a bit of a "please help me with my homework" kind of post....

...but I'm new to this factions thing where you identify an organisation (or part of an organisation) as a thing with wants/dislikes, with NPCs (Non Player Characters) who work on behalf of said factions. I tend to run games in the Trojan Reach or Spinward Marches so ideas about them are particularly welcome. In fact, all ideas are welcome. I've just started reading "The Third Imperium" and am hoping to get something out of that, also.
Click to expand...
You might want to take a look at Paul Elliott's article, Factions as Characters, originally from Cepheus Journal #003 and reprinted in the May/June 2021 Freelance Traveller.
 
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