Factions Represent!

[Adam Daigle]

The factions have been around for a few years and have certainly gathered their share of fanatics, both online here on these boards and at conventions throughout the world.

This is a simple poll to find out what brought you to choose your particular faction.
What was the detail you focus on?
What makes you happy to further your faction’s goals?
What would you say embodies the particular faction you chose?
What do you hope to see your faction achieve?
How does your faction resonate with the character you brought to PFS?

You know, stuff like that. Rep your faction!

[Thea Peters]

Right now I have three characters and three factions

Yasmin -- my sorcereress -- belongs to Team Money (Qadira) because she is intrigued by money and wants more. Plus her family are merchants and so she wanted to help the family organization by working in every town she does to to spread their name and build more business contacts.

Willow -- my fighter -- belongs the the Archeologists (Osirion), she likes to explore and being to be rewarded for what she loves to do is fun and interesting for her.

Verisana -- my oracle -- Belongs to the Demon Hunters (Cheliax) she was kidnapped as a child and brought up in the cheliaxen society, however, her elven heritage is warring with her upbringing so she's very conflicted as to which side to follow.

[TwilightKnight]

I am partial to the Osirion faction. I like the feeling of freedom that they provide since there is little to no political intrigue. Their goals seem to line up the best with the "discovery" and "recovery" aspects of the overall society. The faction missions are usually some bend of "go get me that thingy" or "learn all you can about X." That stokes the curiosity in this old gamer geek :-).

Don't get me wrong, I like the others as well, just not as much. I, currently, have one character from three of the other four factions (not Qadira). Can't seem to put together a concept and back story that I like and gels with them. Haven't had many opportunities to play him yet, but my Taldoran Bard(archivist) is shaping up to be a lot of fun.

[Omega Man]

5 PCs - 5 Factions (though the last one hasn't actually seen play yet)

Qolloran (half-elven paladin/bard): Qadiran. He's Qadiran because I had a hankering to play something of an Arabian themed PC. He ended up becoming a singing barber who rights wrongs & fights tax evaders <go Abadar!>

Sanuba (elven ranger/rogue/pathfinder delver): Osirian. He's started as a tomb robber & has become much more of an archaeologist/scholar. The Osirian faction seemed to best lend itself to this concept.

Chelzy (human infernal sorcerer): Cheliax. She's essentially Paris Hilton out in search of a party. She's pretty, impulsive, & the iconic party girl in search of something to cope with the boredom of Egorian. Being Chellaxian best fit with the Infernal bloodline, letting her become a better enchantress.

Fuego! (halfling alchemist): Andoran. A free spirit who believes that nobody is going to have fun unless they're free to do what they want. Mostly he ended up being Andoran due to my desire to play some faction other than those I'm already playing.

Mal'Havok (half-orc magus): Taldor. The spawn of a dalliance between a minor Taldan noble & a half-orc entertainer. Spends much of his non-stusy time 'worshiping' at Cayden's temple. Snooty, arrogant, & very much 'better than you'. yeah, stereotypical Taldan attitude. Haven't actually played him yet, but I suspect I'll enjoy having the other PCs hate him. He ended up being Taldan since its my remaining unplayed faction.

[teribithia9]

I have 8 registered, but only four have actually played:

1- Jessamine al Asiya, half elf cleric of Sarenrae--Quadiran, mostly because that's the land of her birth than for any other reason. And because Quadira has the coolest shirts.
2- Ellender Buckbramble Boonbunny Wood (aka Elle), halfling summoner. Elle was born a slave in Taldor. Her friend Tylus freed her from slavery and so she's extremely loyal (and enthusiastic about) to the Andoran faction.
3- Inara Narwhal Ianto, half orc druid/fighter-- Osirion. Being smaller and less strong than her full orc tribesman, knowledge is what gave her the edge to survive. This is what gives her the leaning towards the Osirion faction.
4- Nepenthe, human monk/wizard--Cheliax. Nepenthe is an odd duck. She disagrees pretty wholeheartedly with the government of Cheliax but has taken the stance that "You don't correct a child that's gone down the wrong path by abandoning him or her. You stay with the child and show it a better way."

I have a 5th one in the wings who's a human oracle of life from Sargava. She'll also be Quadiran now that replay's changed and you don't have to worry about faction. Because, well, she's a merchant and Quadirans are just cool.

[Eric Clingenpeel]

I personally hate the fact that we have to select a faction. I chose mine because that's where they were from. I do the missions (since if I didn't I'd be screwed in the game), but could care less about the reasons behind them.

[TwilightKnight]

Eric Clingenpeel wrote:

I do the missions (since if I didn't I'd be screwed in the game), but could care less about the reasons behind them.

This distresses me, and I see it more than I'd like. This opinion ignores one of the core items that gives PFS its (somewhat) unique flavor. Granted, not having a "winning" faction, as Josh had originally intended, might have rubbed off some luster, but I like the fluff that the factions add. Plus PA meshes with the "character wealth by level" concept and provides an in-game reason for it rather than just another mundane mechanic. Some "fringe" character concepts might be so extreme as to not really apply to any of the factions, but for the most part, they represent motivation fairly well. Selecting traits that are applicable to both the character's backstory and faction help to work out the "fleshy" parts. At most tables, there is a bit of good-natured "tension" between characters when they discover they are from "opposing" factions, especially when their missions are similar or involve the same target.

[Rogue Eidolon]

Fresh out of Irrisen and pretty much unawares of the way Inner Sea politics work, Lasair, my cleric of Shelyn, was headed to Absalom to join the Pathfinder Society when she was noticed and approached by agents of the Qadiran faction.

They basically put a lot of spin on their goals, representing themselves as likeminded individuals who follow Sarenrae (sharing an alignment with Shelyn) and use wealth responsibly to be patrons of the arts and commission many fine works of art. They invited her to tour wondrous works of art and architecture in Qadira once she finished her training in Absalom. Impressed with the beautiful Qadiran architecture, which reminded her of the 'gingerbreading' from back home in Whitethrone, she was blinded to some of the shadier aspects of the Qadiran faction, and she agreed to join.

As she has performed missions for the faction, she is beginning to grow worried about the motives of some within the ranks, as some of these missions have been rather unsavory.

Still, two of her three constant companions among the Pathfinders are also Qadirans, and she seeks to help them see the light and overcome their greedier natures. The last of her companions is Andoran, and she is more than willing to help him with his missions when they further the cause of good and aren't too extremely out there in Chaos-land (cough--Murder on the Silken Caravan). She finds Osirioni interesting and will generally help them as well, but she is wary of Chelaxians due to their devilish ways and of Taldans due to the propaganda from Qadirans (I'm leaving her open to seeing past said propaganda, but so far all Taldans she's adventured with have been snooty obnoxious a*#~@*#s, so she hasn't had the chance).

So that's how my Neutral Good cleric of Shelyn who doesn't care so much about money wound up in the Qadiran faction.

[Raylyyn]

Raylyyn is a monk whose monastery is in Qadira. It is a new monastery, devoted to Abadar. It trains Monks and fighters as Caravan and Merchant Guards, as well as champions of Laws that benefit merchants. Abadar teaches that through Order Prosperity exists and it is not something shameful as long as it is obtained in an orderly manner. (note trade laws are things of governments and though they should be obeyed, some times they are chaotic or otherwise detrimental to Qadiran Merchants. In such cases Qadiran Law trumps all but celestial law in the orders eyes.

I chose, as Thea put it "Team Money", for the challenge of making a lawful character fit into the alignment and motivations of the Qadira faction. I love challenges. and since Abadar is a god of both law and wealth, I saw a great opportunity. Ray as a Monk still carries little weight wise, but he does not eschew material wealth like some monks do, rather he flaunts his wealth through expensive clothes, and rare or Unique magical items. Well the later he will do when he earns enough PA to purchase said items. he supports Qadira's desire to monopolize trade in Absalom, even if he chooses to work to such ends through lawful means. He abhors out rite theft, however deception used to return stolen items, or to purchase an item for a lower cost is not true theft.

I look forward to playing Ray at PaizoCon 2011, and maybe a few other conventions in driving distance to Boise.

[Doug Miles]

Like many folks, I didn't know a lot about Pathfinder Society when I first sat down to play. My first PC was a Pharasman cleric archtype from Osirion. My second PC I have had the most fun with, because I better understood the factions & the missions they send us on. I had noticed that Taldor seemed to get the least love at GenCon 2008. Everyone was jumping on the Andoran bandwagon (Hunter's Eye was a hot faction feat). Even three years later Andoran is still way out in the lead--and remember the majority of Season 0 scenarios only had a single PA available.

My current session totals:
Total for Andoran 714
Total for Cheliax 246
Total for Osirion 409
Total for Qadira 425
Total for Taldor 280

It wasn't that I didn't like Andoran. I just wanted to be different. As a Taldan I was frequently alone at the table, which is how I wanted it. I like the challenge of having no safety net. I'm not stupid though, I built a character with a lot of skills. Bards and Taldor seem to go hand-in-hand. Dolce Elizabeth Antoinette hails from Galt (because who doesn't enjoy using a bad French accent at the table?) but found even the stages of Oppara could not slake her thirst for attention. Playing a spoiled bard enables me to clown around a lot at the table. The funny thing about Taldor is they are in decline but refuse to admit that they're past their prime. They're like the jackass you're trapped in line with at the DMV who thinks he knows everything and won't shut up about it. Dolce usually gets her come-uppance by the end of the scenario.

So Taldor resonates with me because I get to perform challenging missions on my own, and I get to be silly and petty and blame it on my faction. I hope to see Taldor one day get Qadira off its back by causing discord between it and another powerful nation, then slipping a knife between Qadira's ribs while they're distracted.

[Omega Man]

Minor add-on to my previous post.

The most important draw to the Chelaxian faction are the mission briefs.
Overall, they're the most entertaining.

[Thea Peters]

Omega Man wrote:

Minor add-on to my previous post.

The most important draw to the Chelaxian faction are the mission briefs.
Overall, they're the most entertaining.

Have to agree .. love love love being called a "delicious plaything" I mean seriously....

[Adam Daigle]

I admit being a bit keen on Zarta.

I'm liking these responses. I enjoy hearing about what drew folks to one faction or another and what they've taken away from it. The last convention I went to I experienced my first virgin player. Thankfully I had an extremely experienced table, so they were able to provide some excellent short snippets giving the guy a feel for the assumed experience (despite the fact that the table was 4 Chelaxians, 2 Andorans, and the new guy.)