Faction Rules - What do we like?

[Fenris-77]

I do the following for my factions now combining Fronts, some Blades in the Dark Turf rules and pushing PC Hooks I came up with this:

NAME: Redbrand Bandits	TYPE: Criminal Street Gang (Level 2)
TERRITORY: Phandalin and Surrounding Area Local Trade Routes	STABILITY: +2/5 Lieutenant jostle for power, Glasstaff has respct but not loyalty.
PURPOSE To extort Phandalin for profit	Long-Term: to gain control the local Trade Routes
Approach: Intimidation, Extortion, Violence	PC Inroads: Impress a Lieutenant or do a "simple job",
Structure: Ruffians: Minor Thugs, loud, disposable Lieutenants: Street Captains, the visible face, each carving out his own little territory Leader: Iarno Glasstaff, he prefers the shadows, stays out of the limelight	NPCs: Iarno Glasstaff (Leader - Wizard) Lieutenants (3) the Bruiser (controls the extortion racket) the Smiler (trying to manipulate the council) the Banker (coin is power - so control the coin purse)
Holdings: Secure Hideout Secure Warehouses Black Market (Weapons, Drugs, Magic Item)	Assets: Minor magic Items Glasstaff (Arcane Boons) Informants Network
Allies - Local Bandits Bugbear Mercenaries Tolerated by Zhentarim (for now!)	Rivals - Town Authorities Harpers Cragmaw Goblins
GRIM PORTENTS Townsfolk openly intimidated Redbrand numbers swell Cragmaw retaliation raids begin Trade routes become unsafe Harpers initiate covert investigation Open conflict in the streets IMPRENDING DOOM: Phandalin becomes a criminal stronghold	PLAYER HOOKS Direct Conflict Oppose the Rebrand and hunt down their leadership Infiltration Work for the Redbrands Climb the ranks from thug to lieutenant, choosing who to betray along the way Cut In Start your own gang and try to get a cut of the action Gang War Tip off the Cragmaws and let chaos bloom

Anyway as you see I love Factions they are a great worldbuilding tools that help signal what's important in the campaign, provide clear NPC motivation and help anchor PC engagement within the ongoing narrative of the world.

This is great. Really well thought out.

 

[aco175]

This is great. Really well thought out.

I agree. A 1-sheet template would help sort out many factions. Some larger ones like the Harpers might need a few with having factions within factions. Depending on how deep you want to go with things.

I was also thinking of the old book Cloak and Dagger for Forgotten Realms. I had a dozen or more pages on several groups operating along the Sword Coast and gave a lot of history and background as well as current motivations and leadership. Some might feel like an old style and likely needs more player facing things if done today, but worth a looing at.

 

[Vaslov]

Most rpgs I play I have a faction play of some sort going on. For the last decade or so I have leaned into Kevin Crawford's systems from his X without Numbers series of rpgs. They have just enough detail I can run them without too much time and keeps me as a GM surprised on the outcomes of what the various groups achieve or fail at. They also suggest interesting ideas I would not of considered on my own when scanning the options. The Stars Without Number books with the basics of faction play are free and a great place to start.

By chance I am running two Hyperboria games that had the exact same start. The results of the faction play, along with player action, has given the main base home town very different feeling.

In "the dark timeline" table the party has failed a few missions due to getting a bit focused on the loot and ignoring some troubles. Locals are getting more desperate and turning to even darker forces to protect them. The town has put up a Shrine to Cthulhu thanks to the cult's help with some recent flooding. A few low level daemons are are the loose in town causing all sorts of mischief behind the scenes and creating some new factions I didn't start with. The local rangers and town militia have changed their tactics and are now recruiting even younger help to deal with all the ongoing issues. The local farms were lost due to some ongoing faction play making the long term sustainability of the town in question. That said, many of the characters have some money stashed away so they are more successful adventures financially by wide margin.

Meanwhile in "the best timeline" the party has been very focused on doing good deeds for the town. The party is as poor as dirt struggling to even put food on the table as they have been passing up opportunities for a fast buck to deal with town issues. The locals very much appreciate their efforts and are slowly starting to help them out when they are in a tight spot. The town is growing and the farms are having an unexpected bumper crop harvest.

It's been a fascinating experiment to run.