The main story of Pillars of Eternity 2 and nearly all its side quests revolve around the conflict between four factions. These are:

• Huana

• Vailian Trading Company

• Royal Deadfire Company

• Príncipi

Each has its own unique and interesting history and lore. The relationships you build with these factions directly influence the game's ending.

But something felt missing when it comes to these factions.

As I approached the end of the game, my interest in them gradually dwindled. Not sure why, I decided to dig deeper into what makes factions engaging and explore what might have gone wrong here. Let's go!

Why Are Factions So Common in RPGs?

“We are the only salvation this tortured planet and its people have. Without us, humanity is sure to perish.”
- Vree, the head scribe of the Brotherhood of Steel

The role of factions varies greatly depending on a game's genre and the type of experience it aims to deliver. As highlighted in a thesis on factions by Fredrik Nyrell and Andreas Tobiasson, their most fundamental and essential function is to generate conflict. Players can align themselves with a faction, adopting its enemies as their own and forming alliances with its friends.

Factions also provide a sense of community, creating an “us versus them” dynamic that motivates players. (Remember the teams in Pokémon GO and the debates they sparked online?)

Factions also play a critical role in worldbuilding by adding depth and authenticity to the game world. As noted in Other Atlas, factions are instrumental in crafting major historical events, political intrigue, and compelling narratives.

How to Create a Faction That Matter

Naturally, the approach will vary depending on the type of game you're developing. Since I’m working on a single-player RPG, my focus will be on that genre. I’ll also use an example from my own game as we go along: a faction named the Knights of the Mists.

1. They Make Sense

A faction should feel grounded and believable within the world it inhabits. Its motivations and goals need to be clear and effectively communicated to the player. In his video on factions, Kyle from Map Crow recommends treating factions as if they were characters in the same room. By considering their purpose, relationships, desires, and the obstacles they face, you can give them a strong identity and make them more relatable.

The Knights of the Mists are elite soldiers trained to use the mists to outmaneuver their enemies. Their primary goal is to defend The Mists region from invaders, but they also serve as a form of law enforcement. Their existence is rooted in the game’s world, as the region is perpetually blanketed in dense fog. Their motto reflects their philosophy: “Swords our weapon, mists our shield.”

2. Joining Requires Effort

Joining a faction should feel like an accomplishment. The player has to prove their worth first so joining gives a sense of achievement and investment. In Gothic, for example*,* you need to build your reputation and demonstrate your value to a faction before being allowed to join. Once you’re in, you start at the bottom rank and gradually climb the ladder. Each rank comes with its own unique armor and weapons, giving you the feeling of progression. This is something I feel Pillars of Eternity 2 lacks. You don’t truly join any faction; instead, you act more like a freelancer carrying out tasks for them.

To join the Knights of the Mists, you need to prove yourself, much like in Gothic. This involves completing a few key tasks and making the right choices along the way. You need to show them that your values align with theirs.

3. Joining Has Consequences

Joining a faction should carry meaningful consequences, both narratively and in gameplay. For example, if Faction A forbids the use of magic, joining them might restrict your ability to cast spells. Aligning with Faction A could make you enemies with Faction B, while strengthening your relationship with Faction C.

Although The Mists region is known for its rebellion and defiance against the Queen, the Knights of the Mists remain loyal to her, upholding her rule. Thus joining them makes your interactions with the rest of The Mists more challenging.

4. Intriguing Figures Represent the Faction

One of the most impactful elements that make a faction memorable is compelling figures who represent it. At the end of the day, factions are brought to life through the people who embody their values and interact with the player. These key individuals act as the “face” of the faction and are central to how players perceive and connect with it. As experienced game writers Nick and Max Folman emphasized, everyone wants to see strong character work.

The leader of the Knights of the Mists is a legendary figure known as Kai the Written. Nicknamed "the Written" because his life was foretold by prophecies by the Queen long before his birth. He is not the faction’s founder and, in fact, fought against them several times. Using their own tactics against them, he exploited their strengths as weaknesses, ultimately defeating them and earning their loyalty. The problem? Kai has been missing for years. His absence has caused fractures within the faction and sparked power struggles among those vying for leadership.

5. They Evolve Over Time

Factions that change and develop over time based on the player’s actions or significant events feel alive. As players complete quests and make choices, the factions and their relationships with one another should naturally shift.

Not all of the Knights followed Kai’s leadership. Some continued to defy the Queen’s rule and split from the group, forming their own faction known as the Soldiers of the Mists. As the player, the fate of these two factions will depend on the choices you make.

Final Words

In summary, factions are incredibly effective for adding political intrigue and depth to your game. Make sure that they feel logical within the world you've built. To make joining a faction meaningful, challenge the player and ensure they face the consequences of their choices. Don't forget to add a charismatic leader to each faction and allow them to evolve as the game progresses.

You Might Also Like

• The Game Dev’s Guide to Worldbuilding

• How to Create Intriguing Choices in Games

• NPC Alchemy: Creating Compelling Companions

Me

Reading: The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz. It focuses on how our attitude toward life and projects significantly influences their outcomes. The approaches and advice within it are also applicable to game development. It’s highly inspiring, and I would recommend giving it a read.

Playing: Yes, I finally finished PoE2. Overall, I can say that I liked it. But as I mentioned last time, I don’t think it comes close to the first game. Now, I’m playing Mass Effect 2 Legendary Edition. I’ve really missed this universe.

Listening:

Thanks for reading!

And that’s it from today’s issue of GameDev’s Journey. I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful. If you did, please like and leave a comment. Reach out for suggestions, objections, questions, or just say hi.

But regardless, thank you so much for reading, and have a great game dev journey!