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General Tabletop Discussion
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Creating Factions: Large or Small?
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<blockquote data-quote="Bawylie" data-source="post: 7535166" data-attributes="member: 6776133"><p>Two real life stories about factions. </p><p></p><p>1.) Back when we lived somewhere else. There was a pretty gnarly pothole right by our place. I called city hall and some other city government folks about it. Repeatedly, they told me to get in touch with (local party official) who was in charge of that. What’s a pothole got to do with (party)? I asked. And I kept getting referred to (local party official). Eventually I blurted out, “but I’m not a (party member)” and they got-dang hung up on me! I wasn’t part of the faction so could not access benefits that ought to have been available for the good of anyone driving that street. </p><p></p><p>2.) I am a member of (faction). They keep us all in touch with other faction-members, particularly catering to our shared interest in a particular type of thing. Because I’m a member and know other members, I also have access to trade with those members. So I’m not restricted to the officially available market for this type of thing I like. From time to time, the faction notifies us of legislation or developments related to that type of thing and asks us to be aware and to sometimes take some action in support of that thing. So there’s some give and take here. </p><p></p><p>In either case, membership in a faction gates access to particular benefits. It either prevents non-faction members from those benefits or facilitates the spread of those benefits among members. </p><p></p><p>So I would not have factions just for the sake of having them. And I would not use factions without first asking “what benefit does this faction confer on members and what thing do they normally take advantage of that would be restricted to them if they aren’t members?” </p><p></p><p>Say I had a Smiths’ Guild. Membership there would grant you access to purchasing martial weapons, and any armors other than the base-level versions of light, medium, and heavy armor. Lack of membership would restrict you to simple weapons and entry-level armor for the weight class it’s in. Membership might also involve the trading of special materials for custom armors like dragon scales, mythril, etc. </p><p></p><p>What I’d strive to avoid is just a group of NPCs whose rear ends need kissing for no apparent benefit. Or who have some overall aim that doesn’t interest or benefit my players. A historical society that wants artifacts but doesn’t pay for them, wouldn’t work. Even for a good cause. There’s not enough give and take there. The players would need special access to adventure sites with shiny bits at the bottom that only members of the historical society know about, etc.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bawylie, post: 7535166, member: 6776133"] Two real life stories about factions. 1.) Back when we lived somewhere else. There was a pretty gnarly pothole right by our place. I called city hall and some other city government folks about it. Repeatedly, they told me to get in touch with (local party official) who was in charge of that. What’s a pothole got to do with (party)? I asked. And I kept getting referred to (local party official). Eventually I blurted out, “but I’m not a (party member)” and they got-dang hung up on me! I wasn’t part of the faction so could not access benefits that ought to have been available for the good of anyone driving that street. 2.) I am a member of (faction). They keep us all in touch with other faction-members, particularly catering to our shared interest in a particular type of thing. Because I’m a member and know other members, I also have access to trade with those members. So I’m not restricted to the officially available market for this type of thing I like. From time to time, the faction notifies us of legislation or developments related to that type of thing and asks us to be aware and to sometimes take some action in support of that thing. So there’s some give and take here. In either case, membership in a faction gates access to particular benefits. It either prevents non-faction members from those benefits or facilitates the spread of those benefits among members. So I would not have factions just for the sake of having them. And I would not use factions without first asking “what benefit does this faction confer on members and what thing do they normally take advantage of that would be restricted to them if they aren’t members?” Say I had a Smiths’ Guild. Membership there would grant you access to purchasing martial weapons, and any armors other than the base-level versions of light, medium, and heavy armor. Lack of membership would restrict you to simple weapons and entry-level armor for the weight class it’s in. Membership might also involve the trading of special materials for custom armors like dragon scales, mythril, etc. What I’d strive to avoid is just a group of NPCs whose rear ends need kissing for no apparent benefit. Or who have some overall aim that doesn’t interest or benefit my players. A historical society that wants artifacts but doesn’t pay for them, wouldn’t work. Even for a good cause. There’s not enough give and take there. The players would need special access to adventure sites with shiny bits at the bottom that only members of the historical society know about, etc. [/QUOTE]
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