Deciding Which Faction Is For You

[Trenacker]

You might choose a faction based on ideology, or because you like a particular faction leader's backstory. But you might also wish to play the megagame in a certain way.

Some of our players might be more interested in megagames than they are in SMAC itself, and some might be unfamiliar enough with RtD lore that they won't be very knowledgeable about its factions. That's OK. Here's how to choose.

What kind of victory do you want to pursue?
For a Research victory, the University of Planet is your best choice, since it will have the most bonuses to research. Other reasonable options include the Legacy Initiative, the Data Angels, and the Dreamers. The former has boosted research values while the latter can steal their way to success.

For those who prefer Conquest, the Spartans, Tribe, Ascendancy, and Hive are the way to go: the first three will receive universal bonuses to offensive and/or defensive combat, and each has core attributes that simply making it easier to keep military units in the field. The Morganites and the Dreamers both start the game with stronger military pieces than the average bear (access to corporate mercenaries), but they aren't alone in that, and their faction attributes don't lend themselves especially well to war-making.

Cultural domination is easiest to pursue as the democratic Peacekeepers, or as one of the two explicitly religious factions--the Conclave or the Sons of Centauri-Ra--but you could also hope to do it as UniCorp or the Legacy Initiative.

The Peacekeepers will almost inevitably play a big role on the Planetary Counsel, but there's a lot of horse-trading between wielding outsized influence and actually being holding the seat of Planetary Governor for the requisite time.

The Economic victory is obviously cornered by Morgan Industries, but one can expect competition from UniCorp and the Dreamers. We'll need to look at giving some other factions economic verve, too. Perhaps the New 2,000, as originally planned.

A Planet victory is obviously most likely for the Cult or the Gaians, although the Planet-Hunters have an outside chance.

What's your take on Old Earth?
There are strong differences of opinion among the factions regarding the fate of Old Earth and whether it is desirable to attempt to make contact with any survivors. Because of the different attitudes among different sponsors at different times in the life of the mission, some passengers are present against their will.

Zakharov, Godwinson, Skye, Metrion, Marsh, Anhaldt, Domai, Aki, Svensgaard, Cuzco Sol, Nagao, and Roze were chosen as national exemplars. Pahlavi and Cohen were basically corporate hires.

Santiago and Landers are there by choice. With their followers, they believed that Unity was the only means of survival, and they grasped with both hands. It is the same for Morgan.

Van de Graaf is there because he can't resist the lure of adventure.

The reason for Yang's inclusion is ambiguous. Had he become a liability to the Golden Emperor? Lal had certainly become a problem for the United Nations, although he may not have fully accepted the truth. St. Germaine and Young were sent by their political or board room adversaries. Ironically, the Unity's XO, d'Almeida, also came as unwillingly, although he was Portugal's picked man in case the expedition succeeded.

Officially, Cobb is present as his father's proxy--perhaps a test of fitness, but many of his retainers are convinced he was condemned to exile (and they alongside him).

The Conclave's very worldview is based on the idea that Old Earth was destroyed by a wrathful God. The Gaians are convinced that Earth was terminally ill and its leadership hopelessly compromised by patriarchal values.

Should the factions phone home?
Recontact poses a major threat to both the Spartans and the Tribe, each of which escaped Old Earth before they could be apprehended by the powers-that-be. The Nautilus Pirates, the Oracle, and the Ascendancy are unlikely to welcome interlopers.

For the commercial factions--Morganites, Dreamers, UniCorp--Recontact brings with it the possibility of serving as broker to the bazaar that is Chiron.

The Shapers believe they have a moral imperative to "phone home."

Do you want to play it straight or try subversion?
There are at least two directions in which to take most of the factions. We generally don't prejudge whether any of the faction leaders are good or evil--not even Roshann Cobb and Aleigha Cohen.

Zakharov can be either an absent-minded professor or a mad scientist. Is he simply more clear-eyed about the human cost of progress, or should we call the Genetic Inspectors?

Santiago can be either an unremitting Holnist or a well-meaning fool who missed all the signs that she was playing with fire. There is certainly the implication of socially progressive attitudes in her service history.

Miriam can be a fundamentalist or a universalist.

Deirdre can be either a hippie environmentalist or an eco-terrorist.

Morgan probably presents players with the fewest obvious choices, especially since Young represents the softer tone toward workers.

Are the Tribals really an inbred cult, or just a misunderstood civil defense organization?

Is Yang really a tyrant, or does he walk the walk and practice the extreme asceticism he preaches because there really is no other way?

Can Lal keep a lid on the fundamental paradox of tolerance, or will the U.N. become the world's foremost arena for apologetics?

The New State is either protecting its people, or brainwashing them.

And so on, and so forth.