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Faction stereotypes, World of Darkness style

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Libertad Libertad's picture
Faction stereotypes, World of Darkness style
The World of Darkness games had a very good way of explaining common differences and outlooks between monster species and factions. Each group entry had a pentagon-like diagram connected by arrows, showing what they thought of the other groups with one word sentences written from an in-character perspective. I decided to do the same thing for factions in Eclipse Phase, minus the diagram. Given the sheer number, I'm restricting my choices a bit for the entries, about 5 or so. [b]Anarchists[/b] Extropians: “How can you call yourself an anarchist when you support hierarchy in the workplace?” Planetary Consortium: “The worst excesses of capitalist exploitation. The world would be better off without them.” Scum: “Hedonism is all well and good, but surely it’s not the only thing worth living for?” Titanians: “Humane in comparison to the Planetary Consortium, but even a Socialist State is still a State.” Ultimates: “Social Darwinism, eugenics, aggressive militarism, nothing good could come out of this.” [b]Exhumans[/b] Anarchists: “Forcing everybody to be equal makes them as strong as the weakest link.” Bioconservatives: “What do you call the one who rejects the medicine that saves a life?” Mercurials: “They are right to reject human norms, but even then they are as weak as they.” Scum: “Sex, drugs, and other biological pleasures are fleeting compared to the ecstasy that is the Singularity.” Ultimates: “They are so close to realization, and yet so hampered by their ties to humanity!” [b]Extropians[/b] Anarchists: "How can a society be truly free when ambition is sacrificed for the good of the collective?" Barsoomian Movement and Morningstar Constellation: "I might not agree with a lot of their ideals, but I support their right for voluntary autonomy. The Consortium's denial of this shows their true colors." Jovian Republic: "They think that liberty and security is a zero-sum game, but we're doing just fine. If anything their oppressive system hurts their own people far more than it protects them." Planetary Consortium: "Don't let their free market talk fool you. When you combine big business and big government you get fascism." Ultimates: "They talk tough, but they're just as willing to accept our money as anyone else." [b]Jovian Republic[/b] Anarchists: “Winston Churchill said that the best argument against democracy is five minutes with the average voter. Same principle applies for leaderless societies.” Argonauts: “They put the lives of our agents in danger and create societal discord, all in the name of spreading knowledge and education.” Planetary Consortium: “They are powerful, true, but their pursuit of wealth at the expense of the nation-state hemorrhages their efforts.” Reclaimers: “I completely sympathize with the desire to take back humanity’s homeworld. Unfortunately this is not going to happen anytime soon, if ever.” Ultimates: “An Exhuman by any other name.” [b]Mercurials[/b] Anarchists: “A fine idea and leagues better than what we got in the inner system, but it doesn’t really work for us more territorial species.” Argonauts: “They’re invaluable for educating others about our plight, even if they approach things with that creepy ‘detached professor’ sort of vibe.” Planetary Consortium: “You grant us sapience, yet you still cage us as property. Your society will never be free until we all are.” Scum: “Hey fuckface, it’s really creepy when you do that whole ‘exploring non-human sexuality’ shit!” Ultimates: “You realize you can’t be individualists when your rhetoric is used to restrict reproductive and morphological freedoms?” [b]Planetary Consortium[/b] Anarchists and Scum: “Terrorists, criminals, they’d destroy all we worked for if given the opportunity.” Barsoomian Movement and Morningstar Constellation: “They want independence and autonomy, but where would they be without us?” Jovian Republic: “When it comes to fighting the Autonomists, people say that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but our relationship proves the exception to this rule.” Lunar-Lagrange Alliance: “Good allies to have in these troubled times. Now if only they’d stop looking to the past.” Titanian Commonwealth: “They might seem progressive and inoffensive on the surface, but do not underestimate them. Titan’s the true major power of the outer system, and they’re unafraid to expand their hegemony.” [b]Scum[/b] Anarchists: “They got a lot of the right ideas; now if only they’d take that stick out of their collective asses.” Criminals: “A lot of them are victims of circumstance and have no other choice, but many are also just as much victimizers as the governments and corporations. Extropians: “Such silly people. The still think that money can buy happiness.” Jovian Republic: “Fascists.” Planetary Consortium: “Fascists in business suits and ties.” [b]Ultimates[/b] Anarchists: “Resilient and adaptable, but then again so are cockroaches.” Exhumans: “They understand the need to improve upon transhuman weaknesses, but they mistake enslavement to the TITANs as ultimate freedom. They of all people should know better.” Planetary Consortium and Extropians: “You believe that your money gives you power over us?” Jovians: “Their emphasis on discipline and martial spirit is admirable, but rejection of modern technology will lead to their downfall.” Mercurials: “They are on the right track, but infighting hampers their cause.”
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m65pmc5Pvh1r0iehwo6_r1_400.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/Erdrick/anarc_userbar.jpg[/img] "Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." ~George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
hellrazoromega hellrazoromega's picture
Re: Faction stereotypes, World of Darkness style
Not bad, the issue I always had with the WoD stereotypes, much as I loved Old WoD, was that too many players took the stereotypes as some sort of set-in-stone canon for how this or that type should be played. These things are cool but some folks just seem not know what the word stereotype means and get all whiny and start telling people they are playing their character wrong becasue they are not following the stereotype. Not that I am putting these down so long as people realize they can be a double edged sword, IMO the PC's should often be, thought not always, the exemplars that break the stereotypes, at least in some ways otherwise many groups would never work together. Anyway like I said great job on them--I just have some bias I guess based on my experience with the Camarilla, the official WoD fan club, back in the day--a lot of whom were Lore Nazi's who just plain got stuff wrong.
bibliophile20 bibliophile20's picture
Nice. I may have to yoink
Nice. I may have to yoink that. I've been working on some similar approaches for my game, and this might be a good thing to incorporate.

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -Benjamin Franklin

lets adapt lets adapt's picture
I love this! Having something
I love this! Having something like this to hand players would help them keep wrap their mind around politicking if they're not super familiar with the setting.
Libertad Libertad's picture
Reclaimer Movement
[b]Reclaimer Movement[/b] Argonauts: "In addition to support from select hypercorps, the argonauts provide us with up-to-date terraforming information and other valuable scientific knowledge. We are grateful for their assistance to our cause." Bioconservatives: "They have every right to be wary, but Earth can't be reclaimed without nanofabrication. May as well discard bullets to fight wars." Jovian Republic: "There are many among supporters of our cause from Jupiter's moons, but even then they're distant. They want to reclaim Earth, all right, but only for the 'right' kind of people." Lunar-Lagrange Alliance: "We have a solid base of support among the community, but there are many among them who disapprove of our efforts." Planetary Consortium: "They saw that transhumanity's future is to the stars and want us to forget the Fall. How can they be so cold?" [b]Titanian Commonwealth[/b] Anarchists: "On the local level of communes and small towns and cities, it works. On the national level, however, we need a wider support network of social planning." Argonauts: "When it comes to technoprogressivism, we have a lot in common. They're hopelessly idealistic, though, in their want of uniting transhumans of all political persuasions together." Bioconservatives: "Jovians aside, I have no problem with people who choose to live without modern technology. When they deny others access to said resources is where I've got a problem with them. Planetary Consortium: "We try to maintain cordial relations, but they're not fooling anyone. Their media and propaganda demonizes us ever since we sided with the Autonomist Alliance." Ultimates: "Truth be told, these people are like a cracked mirror. They are technoprogressive like us, in a sense, but want others to "prove their worth" instead of lifting them up; to use their talents to destroy through conflict instead of create and innovate."
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m65pmc5Pvh1r0iehwo6_r1_400.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/Erdrick/anarc_userbar.jpg[/img] "Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." ~George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
uwtartarus uwtartarus's picture
Useful!
I have found this useful to explain the myriad factions of the game to some of my new players. Thanks for this!
Exhuman, and Humanitarian.
Paal Paal's picture
I agree with uwtartarus.
I agree with uwtartarus. Really helpful and quick insight to the different factions. I would love to see more of them. Thanks.
bibliophile20 bibliophile20's picture
Definitely going to be adding
Definitely going to be adding these to my gaming group's wiki, and I have my own contributions to add: Argonauts Anarchists: “Humanity’s greatest strength was its ability to work together. While we agree on many things, getting rid of all social organizational structures is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.” Extropian: “An interesting real-world social experiment in how long it will take for them to slide into financial feudalism. They’re certainly dynamic now, but how long will it take before they start to slow down and stratify?” Planetary Consortium: “Science and technology is meant to better everyone, not just the shareholders and management. We never again wish to have to justify essential and important research on the basis of cost-benefit analysis on the stock price.” Jovians: “You poor bastards. We get that you are scared of everything that’s happened, but you’re already using technology to survive. Take another step forward, and you’ll be able to thrive.” Ultimates: “There’s more to science and technological advancement than refining the bullets out of your guns. We shifted from Darwinian to Lamarckian evolution a while ago, so why do you keep insisting that only the strongest be allowed to survive and contribute?”

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -Benjamin Franklin

Steel Accord Steel Accord's picture
Smart and useful!
This is actually a pretty interesting tool and thought experiment. Looking at yourself from across the aisle, from someone elses' eyes. I will say the one I don't think matches is how the Extropians view the Ultimates. "They still take our money" sounds like something the Consortium may say, but not us. To Extropians, money isn't the point, unfettered individual achievement is. Money just being a common means to an individual end. In some ways, we actually have a lot in common with the meritocratic Ultimates. The key difference is that the Ultimates have a militaristic and mandated vision of success rather than a self defined one. Were I too respectfully throw in my two bitcoins, as a libertarian, I would say something more like; "Their commitment to self-perfection is highly admirable, and no one can deny their combat effectiveness. That said, their highly insular and inclusive philosophy make them poor conversation company."
Your passion is power. Focus it. Your body is a tool. Hone it. Transhummanity is a pantheon. Exalt it!
Smokeskin Smokeskin's picture
Steel Accord wrote:
Steel Accord wrote:
I will say the one I don't think matches is how the Extropians view the Ultimates. "They still take our money" sounds like something the Consortium may say, but not us. To Extropians, money isn't the point, unfettered individual achievement is. Money just being a common means to an individual end. In some ways, we actually have a lot in common with the meritocratic Ultimates. The key difference is that the Ultimates have a militaristic and mandated vision of success rather than a self defined one. Were I too respectfully throw in my two bitcoins, as a libertarian, I would say something more like; "Their commitment to self-perfection is highly admirable, and no one can deny their combat effectiveness. That said, their highly insular and inclusive philosophy make them poor conversation company."
That doesn't sound like something an anarcho-capitalist would say at all. Self-perfection and combat effectiveness barely registers as relevant in ancap ideology. Ancaps and Ultimates are as diametrically opposed as you can get.
Steel Accord Steel Accord's picture
Just threw it out there
Smokeskin wrote:
Steel Accord wrote:
I will say the one I don't think matches is how the Extropians view the Ultimates. "They still take our money" sounds like something the Consortium may say, but not us. To Extropians, money isn't the point, unfettered individual achievement is. Money just being a common means to an individual end. In some ways, we actually have a lot in common with the meritocratic Ultimates. The key difference is that the Ultimates have a militaristic and mandated vision of success rather than a self defined one. Were I too respectfully throw in my two bitcoins, as a libertarian, I would say something more like; "Their commitment to self-perfection is highly admirable, and no one can deny their combat effectiveness. That said, their highly insular and inclusive philosophy make them poor conversation company."
That doesn't sound like something an anarcho-capitalist would say at all. Self-perfection and combat effectiveness barely registers as relevant in ancap ideology. Ancaps and Ultimates are as diametrically opposed as you can get.
I'm fairly certain an Extropian would say something different, I was just throwing a substitute for one I thought failed to capture the ideology out. My remark to their fighting ability was meant to reflect their usefullness as mercenaries. And speaking as an Anarcho-Capitalist, I don't disagree with many Ultimate principals of self improvement. Personally, I feel more diametrically opposed to the Titan Commonwealth and Collective Anarchists, than I do the Ultimates.
Your passion is power. Focus it. Your body is a tool. Hone it. Transhummanity is a pantheon. Exalt it!
Smokeskin Smokeskin's picture
Steel Accord wrote:
Steel Accord wrote:
And speaking as an Anarcho-Capitalist, I don't disagree with many Ultimate principals of self improvement. Personally, I feel more diametrically opposed to the Titan Commonwealth and Collective Anarchists, than I do the Ultimates.
It's fine that you're personally into self-improvement, but that doesn't make it central to ancap. The Ultimates are fascists, have no problem with oppression, don't place value on individual wants and desires, don't have free markets. They even have something like a government. Of course ancaps have issues with the Titans, but how can you think it is even close to what they have with Ultimates?
Steel Accord Steel Accord's picture
Well when you put it like that.
Smokeskin wrote:
Steel Accord wrote:
And speaking as an Anarcho-Capitalist, I don't disagree with many Ultimate principals of self improvement. Personally, I feel more diametrically opposed to the Titan Commonwealth and Collective Anarchists, than I do the Ultimates.
I guess I was caught up in what the Ultimates believe versus there actual methods. I still think "they take our money" is a poor representation of ancap sentiment toward them though. It's fine that you're personally into self-improvement, but that doesn't make it central to ancap. The Ultimates are fascists, have no problem with oppression, don't place value on individual wants and desires, don't have free markets. They even have something like a government. Of course ancaps have issues with the Titans, but how can you think it is even close to what they have with Ultimates?
Your passion is power. Focus it. Your body is a tool. Hone it. Transhummanity is a pantheon. Exalt it!
jackgraham jackgraham's picture
Where is the post covering
Where is the post covering what the Malkavians think of Ecowave? Come on, guys. Quit slacking off.
J A C K   G R A H A M :: Hooray for Earth!   http://eclipsephase.com :: twitter @jackgraham @faketsr :: Google+Jack Graham
Steel Accord Steel Accord's picture
Well
Well, there's my lack of knowledge in regards to the Ultimates showing. XD
Your passion is power. Focus it. Your body is a tool. Hone it. Transhummanity is a pantheon. Exalt it!