D&D 5E Factions in Starter Adventure (Mild Spoilers)

[SilverBulletKY]

At certain points in the adventure, the DM can choose to have characters presented with the option to join various factions. Will these be used in the Tyranny of Dragons storyline, or shoudl I just ignore the factions part? What benefit would we get from using factions?

Also the Zhentarim is one that could be used. Isn't this an evil organization? Would it make sense for a neutral or good player to join this faction?

 

[Remathilis]

At certain points in the adventure, the DM can choose to have characters presented with the option to join various factions. Will these be used in the Tyranny of Dragons storyline, or shoudl I just ignore the factions part? What benefit would we get from using factions?

Also the Zhentarim is one that could be used. Isn't this an evil organization? Would it make sense for a neutral or good player to join this faction?

The factions are used primarily in Adventurer's League. Since LMoP is AL certed, its a good intro into AL (and thus Tyranny of Dragons Encounters). I can't comment on home play though.

And yes, the Zhents are for evil or neutral-but-evil-curious PCs. I could see a neutral character who is obsessed with money and power (but not necessarily evil) joining, but not a good PC.

 

[delericho]

At certain points in the adventure, the DM can choose to have characters presented with the option to join various factions. Will these be used in the Tyranny of Dragons storyline, or shoudl I just ignore the factions part? What benefit would we get from using factions?

I liked the use of factions, because they serve to tie the characters into the larger campaign setting. Of course, for the moment they're unsupported, but it's still a good thing, IMO.

However, you'll get only as much benefit from using the factions as you (or your DM) makes from them - that is, if you make sure to include the Zhents in future adventures, then those factions will be of use; if you instead ignore them then they won't have any meaning. It doesn't appear that WotC are likely to make any 'official' use of them (outside of Organised Play) - they just aren't putting out enough products to do so.

Also the Zhentarim is one that could be used. Isn't this an evil organization? Would it make sense for a neutral or good player to join this faction?

Well, it's possible for a good person to fall in with a bad crowd. More likely, though, is that this is indeed for evil characters (or 'dark' neutrals). I don't really have a problem with that, though - no need to assume that all PCs will be the good guys!

 

[SilverBulletKY]

Are the factions used in the Tyranny of Dragons books?

 

[eryndel]

Are the factions used in the Tyranny of Dragons books?

[sblock] Harpers and the Order of the Gauntlet play some role in the events of HotDQ (with some effort to get the PCs to align with one or both). The Zhents are discussed as well, but it didn't appear that the invitation to join was as obvious. Of course, I think the influence of the factions is as heavy or as light as the DM wants to run it.[/sblock]

 

[halfling rogue]

For groups that won't be investing in Adventurers League or using these factions, I can see it easy to just ignore it in LMoP. But the offering to be in a faction or secret group, etc, does provide an interesting hook for future games/stories. Has anyone run with the idea of using some other machine/plot hook or using different factions (other than Tyranny/FR factions) in place of the ones in LMoP?