Goblin Squad Member
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With the addition of faction conflict to PFO's PVP, a natural question is "What factions are there?". The Pathfinder Society Field Guide and the Faction Guide list a total of 34 factions. Several more are implied in various sources, but don't have a detailed faction write-up. I'll be surprised if PFO ever includes all of these factions, but they can give us some hints about the types of factions that we might join or fight in PFO.
Below I've listed the factions from these books. Factions from the Field Guide are listed with their quote from the inside cover of the book. Factions from the Faction Guide are listed with that book's short summary of their goals.
Pathfinder Society Field Guide
The Pathfinder Society Field Guide lists 10 factions within the Pathfinder Society. Some of them are national or regional, while others are based on different philosophical approaches to the Pathfinder Society's goals.
National and Regional Factions within the Pathfinder Society:
Andoran - Freedom and democracy for all.
Cheliax - Establish order, no matter the costs.
Lantern Lodge - Spread the wisdom of Tian Xia within the Inner Sea.
Osirion - In the secrets of the past, we shall find today's triumphs.
Qadira - Dominance through trade.
Taldor - Gain control of Absalom through political manipulation and intrigue.
Philosophical Factions within the Pathfinder Society:
Sczarni - Use Pathfinder missions as a front for personal gain.
Shadow Lodge - Ensure the Decemvirate doesn't take advantage of Pathfinder agents.
Silver Crusade - Use the Pathfinder Society's resources to do good in the world.
Notes on Field Guide factions:
1) Two of these factions (the Lantern Lodge and the Shadow Lodge) have been retired from pen and paper Pathfinder Society play, but that doesn't necessarily affect PFO.
2) The Pathfinder Society seems more likely to appear in PFO as a faction in itself, but some of the non-nationalist factions (particularly the Sczarni) operate on their own, as well as within the Society.
Faction Guide
The Faction Guide lists 24 factions active in the Inner Sea region. These factions don't break into categories as convenient as those in the Field Guide, so I've left them in alphabetical order, as they're presented in the book.
Arcanamirium - Applied Magic Ascendant
Aspis Consortium - Profit Above All
Bellflower Network - Emancipating Halfling Slaves
Bloodstone Swords - Protection at a Price
Church of Razmir - Become the Mask
Eagle Knights - Liberty, Equality, Unity
Green Faith - A World in Balance
Hellknights - Enforce the Law
Kitharodian Academy - Education and Recruitment
Kusari-Gama - Martial Arts Mastery
Lantern Bearers - Eliminate the Drow
Lion Blades - Serving from the Shadows
Mendev Crusaders - Eradicate Invading Demons
Ninth Battalion - Defend Dwarvenkind
Old Cults - Welcome the Great Old Ones
Pathfinder Society - Explore and Report
Prophets of Kalistrade - Gain Personal Wealth
Red Mantis Assassins - Worship through Murder
Religious Factions - Spread the Faith
Risen Guard - Serve the Forthbringers
Shackles Pirates - Plunder and Freedom
Ulfen Guard - Protect the Emperor
Varisian Wanderers - One More Road
Whispering Way - Golarion Must Die
Notes on Faction Guide factions:
1) The Bloodstone Swords are native to the River Kingdoms. Their claim to fame is that after they've fought for a settlement, they'll take their pay and leave, rather than taking over. Even if this faction itself isn't part of PFO, their business model probably will be.
2) The Lion Blades are a non-evil group (they're listed as Neutral) that performs assassinations as a political tool, and the Red Mantis Assassins are an Evil group that performs assassinations in the context of religious ritual, as discussed in Goblinworks Blog: The Man in Black Said "Everyone Attack!".
3) Yes, when it says "Welcome the Great Old Ones" above, it means "Ia! Ia! Cthulhu Fhtagn!". I, for one, would welcome the chance to make an alt who's a cleric of Yog Sothoth or Nyarlathotep. (I'm guessing that would probably be at least a year or two after Open Enrollment, if ever, but it's a fun daydream.)
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Goblin Squad Member
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Same here, thanks Karlbob, I know nothing about these factions and this is very useful. I like these a lot:
Sczarni - Use Pathfinder missions as a front for personal gain.
Hellknights - Enforce the Law
Lantern Bearers - Eliminate the Drow
Ninth Battalion - Defend Dwarvenkind
Red Mantis Assassins - Worship through Murder
Religious Factions - Spread the Faith
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I can see Dwarves making good use of Ninth Battalion. It's a good bonding tool.
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Goblin Squad Member
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AvenaOats - The Sczarni are essentially an organized crime faction, based out of the Varisian community. Some Pathfinders have worked with the Sczarni often enough to basically hold dual membership in the two groups. There's probably also a lot of crossover between the Sczarni and the Varisian Wanderers.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Here is an interesting dilemma. As a LG (or perhaps LN) Monk, I would be intrigued to serve within the faction of the Kusari-Gama - Martial Arts Mastery, however if I rise to the rank of 4+ that will then open me up to participating in faction wars.
As someone who would only participate in PVP as a matter of self defense or the defense of a weaker person beset by stronger opponents, I would find that war is in conflict with my internal beliefs.
The study and mastery of Martial Arts is not a preparation for warfare, it is a preparation of internal and external balance, discipline, defense, and a means to attain physical and mental perfection.
So my question is, shouldn't there be a way to move up in the ranks of CERTAIN factions without them automatically leading to violence and particularly war?
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Goblin Squad Member
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Factional conflict is driven by narrative as much as player action. The relationships between factions are determined by the lore of Golarion and may shift over time, influencing individual PvP opportunities. Faction membership is optional, and reaching a level where PvP is inevitable requires deliberate action on the part of a player. Players looking to minimize their PvP participation need only avoid entanglements in warlike factions, while players looking to maximize their opportunities for sanctioned PvP (i.e., PvP that won't cause alignment or reputation losses) can seek out militant factions and focus on foes who have chosen to side with enemy organizations.
It seems to indicate some factions are not very pvp'ish?
Goblinworks Executive Founder
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Here is an interesting dilemma. As a LG (or perhaps LN) Monk, I would be intrigued to serve within the faction of the Kusari-Gama - Martial Arts Mastery, however if I rise to the rank of 4+ that will then open me up to participating in faction wars.
As someone who would only participate in PVP as a matter of self defense or the defense of a weaker person beset by stronger opponents, I would find that war is in conflict with my internal beliefs.
The study and mastery of Martial Arts is not a preparation for warfare, it is a preparation of internal and external balance, discipline, defense, and a means to attain physical and mental perfection.
So my question is, shouldn't there be a way to move up in the ranks of CERTAIN factions without them automatically leading to violence and particularly war?
You can't be all-the-way in the Jets without behind hostile to the Sharks. I'm not sure which faction, if any, are hostile to the Kusari-Gama, but those factions are hostile towards you if you are a prominent member of the martial arts community.
Sounds a lots like self-defense to me.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Qiang Tian Zsu, this may be mote. According to the Faction Guide, you are only eligible to join the Kusari-Gama faction (or faction clan) if you have either a natural attack or the Improved Unarmed Strike feat. Neither of these may be available to us in EE. Since we may not even have a monk skill/feat tree until after OE we may not see this faction for a long time.
The study and mastery of Martial Arts is not a preparation for warfare, it is a preparation of internal and external balance, discipline, defense, and a means to attain physical and mental perfection.
Agreed. However in my experience being trained in martial techniques is not the same as being able to execute martial techniques in a real life situation, such as defending the weak. I think that others will have a valid point that consistent, regular training and sparing can make the gap between training and executing small. However, my own belief is that training and sparing alone do not prepare one for the unexpected and unpredictable nature of real combat, especially when there are more than two combatants (mob) involved in a conflict.
I think that there will be plenty of opportunities to have actual combat practice in defending the week and upholding order.
This does not mean that a monk must seek out combat (PvP). Combat (PvP) will seek out to the monk.
As someone who would only participate in PVP as a matter of self defense or the defense of a weaker person beset by stronger opponents, I would find that war is in conflict with my internal beliefs.
From the Faction Guide: "In a time long before prophecy was shattered across Golarion, a group of archons called the Sha’u visited the ancient human monastery of Tsu Zau Na. They explained to the monks that the world’s survival would one day turn on their ability to produce an army of perfect warriors. But the Tsu Zau Na would have many generations to prepare their army, and the Sha’u taught the monks the eight Signs of Ending so they would recognize the coming battle as it drew near."
If this is a valid representation of this faction in PFO, you may indeed find your beliefs will prevent you from wanting to join. The clans of the Kusari-Gama faction are secret with their own clan-centric agenda (e.g., alignment). You may not be approached by, or even be able to find, a clan that matches your views. However, as Hobs asked in another thread, you may be able to start your own Kusari-Gama clan.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I found another faction published by Paizo: The Wonderseekers - gnomes devoted to fighting The Bleaching.
Pathfinder gnomes who don't experience novelty and wonder will eventually succumb to The Bleaching. Their skin and hair colors become less vibrant, their minds dull, and without intervention, they usually die. The Wonderseekers seek out victims of The Bleaching, and try to bring some excitement back into their lives before it kills them.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I found another faction published by Paizo: The Wonderseekers - gnomes devoted to fighting The Bleaching.
Pathfinder gnomes who don't experience novelty and wonder will eventually succumb to The Bleaching. Their skin and hair colors become less vibrant, their minds dull, and without intervention, they usually die. The Wonderseekers seek out victims of The Bleaching, and try to bring some excitement back into their lives before it kills them.
Something like in the movie "The Game"? Sounds like a source for good RP opportunities. :D
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Goblin Squad Member
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Bellflower Network - Emancipating Halfling Slaves
Bloodstone Swords - Protection at a Price
Pathfinder Society - Explore and Report
Prophets of Kalistrade - Gain Personal Wealth
Religious Factions - Spread the Faith
Shackles Pirates - Plunder and Freedom
There's some ideals I can get behind.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I haven't seen "The Game", so I don't know how similar it is. Maybe someone else can support or dispute the comparison. The Wonderseekers definitely have fun RP potential.
The Shackles Pirates operate in an archipelago a long, long way from the River Kingdoms. Pirates of the Inner Sea introduced the local pirates, who waylay ships on the Sellen River. They have a different name, but a similar outlook to the Shackles Pirate faction.
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Goblin Squad Member
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If I remember right, pathfinder society field guide is free to download. The faction guide i bought yesterday and i thought it could have included more factions or information. It does give a good general out line for what they are going to probably use for the faction system though, the requirements for joining and basic outline of their beliefs.
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Goblin Squad Member
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The Guide to Pathfinder Society Otganized Play is free to download, and it does contain a list of Pathfinder Society factions.
The Pathfinder Society Field Guide is a different book. It's not free, and it contains some extra details about the Pathfinder Society factions that aren't in the free book (and other stuff, it's not just a faction book).
I think the Faction Guide had to balance number of factions against level of detail. Paizo Chronicles books have a standard number of pages. More factions would have meant fewer pages per faction. More detail would have meant fewer factions. I'd be happy to buy short (maybe download-only) expansions for several of the factions in the book.
There's exactly one mention of the Wonderseekers in the Faction Guide, which looks accidental to me (they're listed as one of the factions that uses and teaches a particular feat). I suspect that this faction was pushed into the Gnome race book when page space in the Faction Guide started to run out.