Your own faction?

[Aedan]

Have you ever considered what you would do, if you were chosen leader of a colony pod, soon to make Planetfall? What would shape your faction? What would your goals be?

Or do you have a faction you would like to see in-game? A faction who might construct cities in the sky? A faction encouraging people to make as many children as possible? The oportunities are almost endless.. here is an examples

The Empath Guild (A faction with me as leader)

Leader: Aedan Elrathor
Rank: Lt. Commander
Position: Unity Psych Chaplain
Country of origin: Denmark
DOB: 28-02-1984 (old one huh)
Height: 175.2 cm
Weight: 61.3 kg

Service record:
Born in 1984 into poor family. Quickly shoved strong skills in communication and languages, and were able to speak several languages already at the age of 20. Lack of male parent caused strong pacifistic tendecies, and continual bullying in schools lead to unusual strong inner focus.

Attended several schools of psychology and became leader of the scandinavian Psi Corps in 2020, after having made several conclusions of the telepathic possibilities of the human brain.

For his valuable knowledge of the human mind, Aedan Elrathor was appointed Psych Chaplain for the U.N Alpha Centauri Mission.


Psych Profile: Empath

Compassion, knowledge and empathy makes subject an excellent leader. Subject are able to instantly discern any humans mind, and is able to bring comfort and calm in stressed situations.

Lack of male rolemodel makes subject very pacifistic. Believes in peace and prosperity, and is somewhat difficult to upset. Subject enjoys bringing hope and comfort to those he cares for. Military decisions are left to those interested in such brutality, though subject is an excellent commander because of his ability to read other leaders mind and discern their agendas.

Future Works:

"The voice within"
"People and poems"
"The empaths guide"
"The human mask"

Founding base: Lorania

Quote:

"The human mind is a mixture of chaos and law. Information is all around us: in the air, the things we smell, the things we feel and all the things we do. The brain is not simply a mixture of genes; it is our gate to this world, and the worlds beyond. One mind can guide the many, but only a strong mind can bring hope and peace, in these troubled times of humankind."

Social Engineering:

+2 Efficiency: Excellent empathic society
+1 Growth: Peaceful society leads to increased population
-2 Morale: War is the last solution
-1 Industry: Focus on inner energies leads to inefficient industry
One less drone for every 5 citizens
May not use Thought Control Future Society

Focuses:

Build, Discover
Starts with Secrets of the human mind
Preferred Social Engineering Setting: Wealth, might later turn toward Eudaimonic society.


What do you think? ^^ Yours wont have to be as detailed.. im a little bored. What would your faction look like?

[Dis]

Industrious academics. modelled after myself. Smart folks who don't mind working hard to get the job done. And who care about the environment. War isn't a big factor, and to be avoided. But they do develop science in order to maintain an advanced military when possible.

+1 research: focus on academic studies
+1 industry
+1 planet: pro environment
-2 morale: Against war whenever possible except for defense
-1 Police: against forcible supression of human rights

pursuits: discover
prohibited goverment: police state

preferred SE setting: green/knowledge

[logic_error]

Interesting thread.

My faction's SE choices:

+2 efficiency: emphasis on useful activities
+2 research: interested in pure knowledge
+2 planet: fanatical environmentalism
-1 industry: see above
-1 growth: see above

Focuses:
Discover, build

Preferred SE setting: knowledge and/or green

Aversion for Free Market (actually my faction uses planet busters or gas weapons against anyone who dares to choose FM )

[jtsisyoda]

The Paranoid Delusionals

+3 Probe (tin foil helmets)
-1 Police (The Man is out to get them)
-1 Industry (too worried to work)
-1 Economy (don't trust banks)
+2 Research (delusions and creativity go hand in hand?)
+2 Morale (honed survival instinct)

Oh, wait, you asked what my faction would be like. Probably a little like logic_error's faction, but with -1 Morale.

[EternalSpark]

Scumbag's Faction

+2 Research
+2 Industry
-2 Efficency
-2 Planet
+50% power on defense

A builder nation at heart - we leave you alone, you leave us alone - but with enough ability to create and maintain a strong defense.

[Blake]

Yours wont have to be as detailed..

oooh, an invitation to be more detailed.

Well my faction would be a bit like the Data Angels, with an all encompassing information network. Ideologically on the political compass it sits between Anarchy and communism.

Faction name: "The Free Society"


Extract from "Not so Pacifist"
It would be nice to base society around the principle of Universal Compassion, but it is an unfortunate reality that sometimes fighting for survival & freedom is necessary, this bitter truth learnt in our encounters with Planets native life - mindworms do not appear to understand the principle of compassion. Sadly, nor do some of my fellow faction leaders. With their restricted & controlled networks, these corrupt leaders are free to spread whatever lies and propaganda they wish. For example, the Citizens of the Lords Believers have been led to believe that the Free Society has so few controls that degenerates regularly sacrifice first-born babies to dark gods. This of course is simply not true, but with the Believers information networks firmly controlled by Miriams "High Priests" there is little we can do to set the record straight, therefore if (or god forbid, when) we must engage Miriam’s forces in battle, they will fight with the conviction that they have the moral high ground, that we are soulless monstrosities and deserve death. It is through such brainwashing that Miriam keeps her followers fanatical about her causes.
The Leadership of the free society have taken a solemn vow to never overtly manipulate the population, communication will be open, direct and two way. When we go to war, everyone will understand why, they will know that all other options have been exhausted, that this is a matter of survival, thus when we defend our freedom, we hope to match the Believers conviction, but through honest and true means.


From the back cover of Enlightened Economics:
The Economics of the Free Society resemble little those of 21st Century Earth. Instead of value through scarcity, our money is information, that is, the record of an individuals contribution to society. If an individual spends an hour working in the Greenhouse, they are entitled to an hour in the Holo.Theatre. That simply principle is how our economy works, and it is made possible through the Network.

The way the Economy interacts with The Network allows for unprecedented flexibility in altering the individuals behavior to best suit the current needs of the Society.

+1 Efficiency: Free society resists corruption & waste.
+25% Defensive Bonus: Willing to Fight for Freedom.
-2 Economy: Energy Credits not standard currency.
-2 Probe: Secrecy is an alien concept.
Starts with Information Networks

Impunity to the negative effects of PLANNED and GREEN.
POLICE penalties halved.
May not use POWER Values.

Build, Explore
Preferred Social Engineering: Democracy

Police State is also a SE that the Free Society should abhor, and to a lesser degree fundie. Thought Control is relatively fine, as the way The Network works is somewhat big-brotherish (however, every citizen can know what the Network knows, so it's open big-brotherish)

Interactions with other factions.
Peacekeepers: We are in bed with the Peacekeepers.
Data Angels: We share many values, it is also said the DA hackers leave us alone because we are too easy - it is hard to steal what we share freely.
Gaians: Claim we are too willing to use force, backed by our inability to communicate with the mindworms. However no other faction would make this claim.
Spartans: Openly call us weak, secretly admire our fighting spirit for when the going gets tough.
Believers: We are godless wretches.
Hive: Disgusted by our love affair with freedom.
Morgan: Claims Yang makes a better trading partner.

[Mr. President]

Aren't you all so good and pure and wonderful

[Blake]

The thing is, the faction leaders seized control rather than been given it. Someone who wants to create a wonderful utopia for the good of all mankind probably lacks the ambitious power-hungry psychology of a leader.

Hence it need come as no suprise that many of the factions in this thread are Gaian or University style. Those who would be the real leaders are off accumulating power (or atleast, respect) rather than posting in this thread...

[Aedan]

That is not necessarily true. Morgan seized control of a colony pod by means of charm, and most of the leaders seized control because of their abilities and knowledge in their area.

The Empath Guild

Relations to other factions:

Gaias Stepdaughters: Lady Deirdre and Dr. Aedan share many skills. Both strive for efficiency, and both are pacifistic. Although the Gaians doesnt understand why the empaths strive to aid humans instead of nature, they share similar feelings for the planet, and its worms.

Human Hive: The controlled and communistic society of the Hive is an outrage to the empaths, though Yang secretly admires Dr. Aedans ability to dig into the human mind.

The University: The efficient and logigal nature of the University is of great appeal to the Empaths, though their inhuman actions toward university drones often leads to clashes between these two factions.

Morgan Industries: The empaths feel that Morgan are too greedy and to caught up in energy reservation, than in the welfare of his own followers. But because of the economical bonuses of providing wealth for his followers, Morgan usually ends up as an important trade partner to the Empaths.

Spartan Federation: Santiago understands little of the empaths psychic powers and desire for peace, and often clashes with them. She does however, fear the empaths leader, and is very uncomfortly around him.

The Lords Believers: Miriam is usually very impressed with the empaths, and like Deirdre, Aedan shares many skills with Miriam. The fundamentalistic approach of Miriam does not impress Aedan though, but they usually stay out of each others ways out of pure respect for their similar goals.

The Peacekeepers: Although the Peacekeepers doesnt have the knowledge and dedication to study the human mind as intensely as the empaths, they admire their desire to maintain peace, and the peacekeepers often ends up as the empaths closest partners.

The Cybernetic Consciousness: The empaths understands little of the cybernetic society, and perceive that faction as sad mirror of their own faction. The cyborgs have little use for a faction concentrating on the human mind, but they are often peaceful enough to maintain truce or treaty.

The Data Angels: The empaths dislikes the chaotic society of the Angels, and feel that they are little more than puny thieves. The angels often clash with empaths because of the knowledge contained in empath databases.

The Pirates: More often than not, the empaths feel that the pirates are nothing but rogues disguised in a human faction. They have little to learn from the chaotic minds of the pirates.

The Drones: The high class society of the empaths often disgusts Domai, but he does admire Aedan determination to insure that all of his followers lead peaceful and valuable lives. Because of this the two factions rarely clash.

The Cult of Planet: The cultists are often too reserved and aggresive for empath tastes. The two factions will often just leave each other alone, and rarely clash or create treaties.

I think i will post more quotes from Dr Aedans books

[Archaic]

Leader: Mamoru
Rank: Lt. Commander
Position: Unity Political Officer
Country of origin: Japan?
DOB: 1984-??-??
Height: 173.7 cm
Weight: 52.9 kg

N.B. Records recovered from Unity Datalinks upon landing were incomplete, likely due to file corruption from high strength magnetic fields in mainframe sector before crash.
Individual's position of Unity Psych Officer should be considered identical to a Psych Chaplain, with the exception that those holding this position are secular, not religious.


Service record:
Claimed birth in 1984, claim substantiated by medical examination. Circumstances of birth and growth, unknown. Individual first makes apperance on world stage when elected to Japanese Diet in 2013 leading a reactionary party of young right wing economists in opposition to the current Social Democratic government, having already assumed the name of Mamoru, and was appointed Minister of Finance in a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party. Was able to use this position to push forward a number of economic reforms, and can be considered the prime reason for Japan surviving the second Asian Economic Crisis in 2119. Allegations of vote-rigging have never been substantiated.

Became Leader of the Liberal Democratic party when the two parties merged in 2222, and was elected to office as Prime Minister of Japan, the first foreign born person to achieve this. Suspected by some to have supressed his past during this period through the power of his position. Remained in this position until the Chinese Civil War. Negociated surrender of Japan to the Chinese following the Crimson Succession. After leading protests against policies of the Chinese occupation government, was sent into exile the following rather than be allowed to turn into a martyr for his cause.

For his ability to organise and manage both society and economy, was appointed Political Officer for the U.N. Alpha Centuari mission. Selection process sealed for 50 years until after departure.


Psych Profile: Manipulator

Highly logical mind allows for subject to make rational decisions under many stressful situations. Subject is able to accurately predict the reactions of social groups to change and interference, and can then adjust plans accordingly to allow for their smoothest implimentation.

Lack of compassion and empathy with other humans makes subject perhaps an unsuitable canditate for leadership. While certainly without par in his fields of specialty, subject considers other humans little more than tools, and their emotions their switches. Amazingly, even though this doubtless will have affected his eligibility for selection, canditate has made no attempt to hide this, something he no doubt could do, with his knowledge of psychological indicators.

Subjects scores dramatically varied in Trauma testing. While many psychological traumas were resisted to levels only matched by Commander Yang amongst the Unity's craw, certain specific scenarios, dealing with hypothetical situations involving loved ones, produced surprisingly low results. Subject recieved dramatically low results in all physical trauma tests.

N.B. Subject shows no empathic potential whatsoever. However, for reasons as yet unknown, subject also seems to show high levels of resistance to empathic contact from others. How high this level of resistance may be is yet untested.


Future Works:

"Religion - Society's Parasite"
"The lowest common denominator"
"On the lies of ethics and morality"


Founding base: Shin-kyo


Quote:

"If I do not want to be engulphed in the fear of evil, then I need only become evil myself. But even as I do so, I will never forget, that redemption is not beyond any of us, and that for one to truly walk in the light, they must first have cast a shadow."


Social Engineering:

+1 Economy: Strong supporter of the free market
+1 Growth: Hedonistic secular society, not concerned with outdated socal hangups and taboos about sex
-2 Efficiency: Impatience and sloth breed inefficiency
-2 Morale: Will fight to the death to protect one's family, but are surrender monkey's otherwise.
One more drone for every 4 citizens (Just because the reforms get through smoothly doesn't mean there aren't bumps on the road)
May not use Fundamentalist Politics (Cannot make his citizens believe a lie he cannot convince himself to believe himself)
May exceed Hab Limits by 2 (Familiar with Japanese city planning methods)


Focuses:
Build
Starts with Social Psych
Preferred Social Engineering Setting: Thought Control


Interactions with other factions.
Peacekeepers & Data Angels: Openly accuse the government of being a Shotgun Democracy, in place only through electoral fraud.
Univesity: Fast and firm friends. Though there are occasional flare-ups from left wing ivory tower intellectuals speaking out, these are tempered by the more rational minds in the faction.
Morgan: While unhappy with the red tape from government ineffeciencies, generally a firm ally and trading partner.
Hive: Openly opposed, demonizing the faction in their inter-faction government news broadcasts, and deluding their people into thinking that this faction has hostile plans against it. In secret, a firm ally, with several secret trade agreements, the ally being bound by the mutual need for methods of controling their societies, which the fake specter of looming war provides them both.

[GeoModder]

My favourite, a seafaction...

DATALINKS1
LEADER: Queen Gwynn Elevea
BACKGROUND: Celtic Sea Colonies, Unity Oceographer
AGENDA: Creating an isolated undersea culture
TECH: Centauri Ecology, Doctrine Flexibility

DATALINKS2
+1 POLICE and +1 PROBE: Loyal citizens of a distinct culture
-2 GROWTH: Accidents for the unattentive in a hostile environment and birth control
May not use Free Market economic choice.
Free Deep Pressure Hull ability with discovery of necessary technology.
Terraform Bonus: Drowning your opponents is an option
Bases need Hab Complex to exceed size 4: Small bases difficult to discover
Enhancements may be built in ocean and trench squares with the discovery of Advanced Ecological Engineering: Trained for life at sea
Bonus mineral from ocean shelf squares: Culture and technology adapted for the ocean
Faction starts with a free seaformer

#BLURB
We found that the last refuge for our people was
the sea as the land had become a place of war, destruction
and torment. Although it pained us to leave our trees
and plants behind we have found new and wondrous forests;
under the sea.

-- Queen Elevea,
"The Exodus"

[Commy]

Lately, I have found playing the Cyborgs the best for me, even though I used to play Morgan. Big switch as far as strategy and ideals. I now do Democracy, Green, Knowledge, and Cybernetic. In all truth, these are really my ideals of how a society should be run. I actually edited the University on the original SMAC, used all the cool graphics of Zak and whatever, then added +EFFIC and added Explore as another interest. And, I made the ideal Cybernetic. THis was all before I even knew crossfire existed. And when I got it, I was amazed at how closely related my custom faction and the Cyborgs were. And yet, I ignored it and played the Angels. Well, that was a mistake.

I really, really, agree with the Cyborgs on their ideaology. People apparently miss the point of the Cyborgs. The Cyborgs still have feelings and emotions and motivation, but their brain works at a higher level. I have always believed that science and technology have ensured the human survival and have progressed their race. And, just like the Cyborgs, I hate those religious fanatics that claim technology and science and altering the human body are evil. Heck, if it weren't for the printing press, nobody would be reading your freaking bible. But no, you never thanked technology for that.

One faction that I would like to see is the Illuminati Cult. While some think that it is just legend, it is still interesting to see their ideals, which are very similiar to the University and Cyborgs. I am not athiest or anything, I am actually Methodist, but I absolutely hate people that try to shove religion down your throat, and I hate those you claim technology is bad. Just remember the printing press...

[logic_error]

One side note relating to Commy's post: when I selected the properties for my faction, I accidentally noticed the bonuses were exactly the same as in the Cybernetic SE choice. Weird.

[Chaos Theory]

A guess at a society of me, if it were possible...

-1 Economy: Intolerance and disregard for advertising, fashion, etc
+3 Effic: Intolerance for wasted effort like fashion, new cars, etc. Tendancy to burn midnight oil. Hatred of secrecy.
+3 Research: A society of doctoral students...
-2 Growth: Lack of interest in the burden of children, intolerance of stupidity
Extra talent every 3 citizens: Intolerance of stupidity, so that the rest can be happy; hatred of secrecy
-1 Industry: Proclivity to laziness
-1 Probe: Lack of interest in keeping secrets

Aversion: Fundamentalist
Social choice: Free Market (what better way to run a society than to impose minimal constraints and actually enforce them, rather than impose excessive and poorly enforced ones?). Other economics choices are not evil, only the aversion is.

[SynthetGod8]

I always thought my own faction would be a cybernetic one and a research driven one. but then I realized that I'd rather have my own religion, with myself as God, of course.

"The Cult of Divine Syn"

-1 Planet (Planet is just an being to be converted)
-1 Economy (wary of trading with other factions)
+3 Police (God is a personal being who looks after them)
+1 Industy (Better, more devoted workers)
-2 Support (carry religious icons and are more than a little paranoid about being watched)

May not choose Wealth. Don't incure Research Penalty for choosing Fundamentalist (or anything else with -Research, but I think Fundi is the only one)