Are Factions a Good Thing?

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madazz

Depends on the game. Won't apply everywhere. /thread

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Gdemami

I recently logged into EVE.

With their last expansion, they overhauled NPC stations in high security space and players can now own the stations. When I opened the market window, I could see all those stupid station names with ASCI characters and cyrilic...

cameltosis

Factions are just groups of people with a name. 

Its the implementation that counts. 

Personally, I like factions because I like conflict - its what makes games interesting for me. In an ideal system, everyone would start factionless and then would choose a faction later on. The more factions the better, as long as you aren't locked down and cut off from other factions. 


In a game with PvP, factions are essential (in order to create the different sides fighting) but if there are no population restrictions (such as arenas) then you need some sort of self-balancing mechanism. Could be server-wide buffs to underpopulated faction, could just be 3+ factions so the small ones can gang up on the big one (DAoC). Iirc, FFXIV did something interesting with grand companies? 

Nitth

blueturtle13 said:

So factions in an MMORPG. Is it a good thing to have?
Do you like having, say, a PvE focused game that has factions?
The game stops you from chatting with people of the other faction?
Or grouping with them?
Or even making a character on the other faction if you have one on the other?
In a PvP game it seems well placed. A game like Dark Age of Camelot for example.
What about certain classes that are locked behind a faction? Like the Pally was in WOW for a while. 
Should factions be expanded out further?
Like only the 'evil' 'bad' side have necros or warlocks?

So what are your thoughts on Faction systems in MMOs?

I dont like "split factions". it either has to be many factions (3+) or none (age of conan "ish")

AndiusMeuridiar

Factions can make it easier to break into the PvP side of a game in that they give your character allies out of the box, but they also rob a lot of richness and depth from the politics of a game if they are hard restrictions like Alliance vs. Horde.

If there are factions I prefer it like Archeage where there are benefits from working with your faction and penalties for working against them but there is still room for factional in-fighting. Overall I prefer things like null-sec in EVE where factions are determined 100% by player politics but the Archeage system is a good compromise that can appease hardcore PvPers without being too hard on people who prefer something a bit less hardcore.

Ubradol

Fractions in the way that you cannot chat with opposing team is IMHO absolute garbage shitty f.

I cried myself to sleep the day after WoW was released..

Open Gameworld > Fractions/Not-open gameworld