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Grex > Oldrpg > #75: AD&D Planescape Factions: Basic Premises and the Real Basics | |
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bjorn
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AD&D Planescape Factions: Basic Premises and the Real Basics
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Oct 10 03:14 UTC 1995 |
This information regarding factions comes from "The Factol's Manifesto"
Some information, in particular, a demise, will be rearranged as it does
not apply before the conclusion of the adventure "Fires of Dis".
*things*, ie those surrounded by asterix represent italics.
Faction abilities will be posted closer to run-time.
"Factions at a Glance
Designed to help the Clueless pursue their options, this section offers a
shorthand description of all 15 established philosophies.
ATHAR (DEFIERS, LOST)
*philosophy:* The gods are frauds; the unknowable truth lies beyond the
veil.
*factol*: Terrance
*Sigil HQ:* Shattered Temple (Lower Ward).
*Home Field:* Astral
*Allies:* Believers of the Source
*Enemies:* -
BELIEVERS OF THE SOURCE (GODSMEN)
*Philosophy:* All life springs from the same divine source ascending and
descending as the cosmos tests it.
*Factol:* Ambar Vergrove
*Sigil HQ:* Great Foundry (Lower Ward).
*Home Field:* Ethereal demiplanes.
*Allies:* Athar, Doomguard (temporary ally).
*Enemies:* Bleak Cabal, Dustmen
BLEAK CABAL (BLEAKERS, THE CABAL, MADMEN)
*Philosophy:* The multiverse ain't supposed to make sense; there's no grand
scheme, no deep meaning, no elusive order. The only truth worth finding lies
within.
*Factol:* Lhar
*Sigil HQ:* The Gatehouse (Hive Ward).
*Home Field:* Pandemonium
*Allies:* Doomguard, Dustmen, Revolutionary League.
*Enemies:* Fraternity of Order, Harmonium, Mercykillers.
DOOMGUARD (SINKERS)
*Philosophy:* Entropy is ecstacy; decay is divine. The multiverse is
*supposed* to fall apart. We're just here to keep leatherheads from
interfering.
*Factol:* Pentar
*Sigil HQ:* Armory (The Lady's Ward).
*Home Field:* Each negative quasiplane.
*Allies:* Bleak Cabal, Dustmen.
*Enemies:* Fraternity of Order, Harmonium
DUSTMEN (THE DEAD)
*Philosophy:* We're all dead - some more so than others. So, we explore our
current state with patience, purge our passion, and ascend toward the purity
of True Death.
*Factol:* Skall
*Sigil HQ:* Mortuary (Hive Ward).
*Home Field:* Negative Energy Plane
*Allies:* Bleak Cabal, Doomguard
*Enemies:* Soceity of Sensation, Sign of One.
FATED (TAKERS, HEARTLESS)
*Philosophy:* The multiverse belongs to those who seize it. No one's to blame
for a poor sod's fate but the sorry sod himself.
*Factol:* Duke Rowan Darkwood
*Sigil HQ:* Hall of Records (Clerk's Ward).
*Home Field:* Ysgard.
*Allies:* Free League, Mercykillers (loosely)
*Enemies:* Harmonium
FRATERNITY OF ORDER (GUVNERS)
*Philosophy:* everythin has laws; most are dark. Learn the laws of the
multiverse and you can rule it.
*Factol:* Hashkar.
*Sigil HQ:* City Court (The Lady's Ward).
*Home Field:* Mechanus.
*Allies:* Mercykillers, Harmonium.
*Enemies:* Xaositects, Revolutionary League.
FREE LEAGUE (INDEPS)
*Philiosophy:* This ain't no faction, and *nobody* tells us what to do. Keep
your options open; nobody's got the key to the truth.
*Factol:* None.
*Sigil HQ:* Great Bazaar (Market Ward).
*Home Field:* Outlands
*Allies:* Fated (sometimes).
*Enemies:* Harmonium.
HARMONIUM (HARDHEADS)
*Philosophy:* Peace is our goal. But if it takes a little war to get others
to set things right, the *Harmonium* way, so be it. That's how we'll reach
our golden harmony.
*Factol:* Sarin.
*Sigil HQ:* City Barracks (The Lady's Ward).
*Home Field:* Arcadia
*Allies:* Guvners, Mercykillers.
*Enemies:* Indeps, Revolutionary League, Xaositects.
MERCYKILLERS (RED DEATH)
*Philosophy:* Justice is everything. When properly applied, punishment leads
to perfection.
*Factol:*" Mallin "
*Sigil HQ:* Prison (The lady's Ward).
*Home Field:* Acheron.
*Allies:* Harmonium, Guvners.
*Enemies:* Often Sensates, Signers, Revolutionary League.
REVOLUTIONARY LEAGUE (ANARCHISTS)
*Philosophy:* The status quo is built on lies and greed. Crush the factions.
Break 'em all down and rebuild with what's left - that's the only way to find
the real truth.
*Factol:* None.
*Sigil HQ:* Mobile.
*Home Field:* Carceri.
*Allies:* Doomguard, Xaositects (weak tie).
*Enemies:* Harmonium, Guvners.
SIGN OF ONE (SIGNERS)
*Philosophy:* The multiverse exists because the mind imagines it. The Signers
- it could be any Signer - create the multiverse through the power of thought.
*Factol:* Darius
*Sigil HQ:* Hall of Speakers (Clerk's Ward).
*Home Field:* Beastlands.
*Allies:* Sensates
*Enemies:* Bleack Cabal (especially), Harmonium.
SOCIETY OF SENSATION (SENSATES)
*Philosophy:* To know the multiverse, experience it fully. The senses form
the path to truth, for the multiverse doesn't exist beyond what can be
*sensed.*
*Factol:* Erin Montgomery
*Sigil HQ:* civic Feasthall (Clerk's Ward).
*Home Field:* Arborea.
*Allies:* Signers, occasionally Indeps and Guvners.
*enemies:* Doomguard; often Mercykillers, Dustmen.
TRANSCENDANT ORDER (CIPHERS)
*Philosophy:* Action without thought is the purest response. Train body and
mind to act in harmony, and the spirit will become one with the multiverse.
*Factol:* Rhys.
*Sigil HQ:* Great Gymnasium (Guildhall Ward).
*Home Field:* Elysium.
*Allies:* Most factions.
*Enemies:* Harmonium (suspicion).
XAOSITECTS (CHAOSMEN)
*Philosophy:* Choas is truth, order delusion. Embracing the randomness of
the multiverse, one learns its secrets.
*Factol:* Karan
*Sigil HQ:* Hive (Hive Ward).
*Home Field:* Limbo.
*Allies:* Doomguard, Bleakers.
*Enemies:* Harmonium, Guvners."
-from pages 4 & 5 of "The Factol's Manifesto". Punctuation, and
capaitalization may be messed up, but I can't fix that now.
Eligibility will also come up closer to run time.
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| 41 responses total. |
bjorn
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response 1 of 41:
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Oct 10 22:39 UTC 1995 |
I just had a better idea about faction eligibility posting. If you are
interested in joining one, and Primes do have that right, tell me which
faction(s) you are interested in. Upon receiving your mail, or reading your
post I will list the following about those faction(s):
Eligibilty: Mainly what alignment restrictions apply
Benefits: Granted powers for belonging to the faction
Restrictions: Penalties applied for belonging to that particular faction
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bjorn
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response 2 of 41:
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Oct 13 17:12 UTC 1995 |
Information on factions can also be found in the last pages of
"A Player's Guide to the Planes" which is a component of the
Planescape boxed set.
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bjorn
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response 3 of 41:
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Oct 18 17:32 UTC 1995 |
Faction Eligibility, Benefits, and Restrictions (ignoring obvious things)
Athar Eligibility: Anyone
Benefits: Immunity to faith-based spells (*abjure, augury, bestow curse,
curse, divination, enthrall, exaction, holy word,* and *quest*)
Restrictions: Priests of specific dieties may not aid known faction members
with spells or other uses of divine power, particularly healing.
Believers of the Source Eligibility: Anyone
Benefits: +2 (or 10%) to all encounters with planar beings.
Restrictions: Godsmen cannot be resurrected or raised. With DM permission,
they can be *reincarnated* as a PC race (choosen by the DM)
Bleak Cabal Eligibility: Must be of non-lawful alignment
Benefits: immune to madness inducing spells [all of them] (*chaos, confusion,
delude, feeblemind, Otto's irresistable dance,* and *Tasha's uncontrollable
hideous laughter)
Allowed saving throw vs. all *ESP* spells directed at them
Immune to following psionic abilities: ego whip, psychich crush, and psychich
surgery.
Restrictions: most roll 1d20 at the beginning of each game day to see if
he/she cares- 20=meloncholia you are overcome by the pointlessness of life
(wont't do a damn thing unless you can see a significant reason for doing so)
1=maniac euphora- you think you are the Messiah of some sort.
Doomguard eligibility: Anybody
Benefits: All classes are taught to fight with swords, allowing people not
normally allowed swords to wield them with a +1 to attack and damage rolls
when using a sword
Restrictions: Must fail a saving throw vs. spell to be magickally healed,
immune to natural healing.
Dustmen Eligibility: Anybody
Benefits: Dead Truce (walking dead will ignore you if you don't do anything
to them)
Restrictions: 50% of normal Resurrection Survival percentage on Constitution
table.
This ends part one of our faction tour. The tour is three part.
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bjorn
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response 4 of 41:
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Oct 18 19:35 UTC 1995 |
The Fated Eligibility: Anyone who ain't lawful good
Benefits: 2 times normal proficiency slots and the ability to take from all
categories without penalty
Restrictions: Cannot give or receive charity in any form. This means if
someone offers you a heling potion you cannot take it unless you have earned
it
The Fraternity of Order eligibility: Must be lawful
Benefits: *comprehend languages* 1/day
Restrictions: ?
The Free League eiligibility: Anyone
Benefits: +2 on saves vs. charm adn allowed normal save on charms that don't
normally allow it, same thing with all other attempts of mental control
restrictions: No voice in Sigil, fe protected rights.
The Harmonium eligibility: Must be lawful
Benefits: *charm person* 1/day
Restrictions: single mindededness
The Mercykillers eligibility: Must be lawful, no known thieves allowed
Benefits: *detect lie* to a single question 1/day (question must be choosen)
Commitng crime during punishment is not crime for the Red Death
Restrictions: Even if a confession is gained, cannot release quarry until the
proper sentance has been carried out
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bjorn
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response 5 of 41:
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Oct 19 01:10 UTC 1995 |
Faction Tour, Part III
The Revolutionary League Eligibility: non-lawfuls only
Benefits: Can pose as member of any other faction automatically without being
detected.
Restrictions: Can't count on faction
The Sign of One eligibility: Anyone
Benefits: automatic save vs. spell to resist illusions
Restrictions: suffer -2 penalty on charisma reaction adjusments
The Society of Sensation Eligibility: Anyone
Benefits: all sensates, regardless of race, have infravision to 60' and +1
bonus to save vs, poison and surprise roll, good reading of body language 10%
chance of knowing if someone is lying, 20% if of same race as sensate in
question.
Restrictions: Insatiable curiosity, unless known to be lethal, a sensate will
reply yes to any new experience.
The Transcendant Order eligibility: Must be LN, NG, N, NE, or CN in alignment
Benefits: 1 point bonus to initiative
Restrictions: cannot alter statements of intent as it contradicts faction
philosophy
The Xaositects (pronounced Choas ei tects) eligibility: Chaotic Alignment
Benefits: *babble* (reverse of tongues) 1/week
Restrictions: ?
So ends out tour, I will fill in ?'s later when I have more of my stuff
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orinoco
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response 6 of 41:
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Oct 19 19:59 UTC 1995 |
Ok, my tiefling is now a fated.
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bjorn
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response 7 of 41:
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Oct 19 22:01 UTC 1995 |
Cool.
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bjorn
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response 8 of 41:
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Oct 20 14:27 UTC 1995 |
Reference- Subject: The Fated
Those extra prof slots are NW only.
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kain
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response 9 of 41:
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Nov 12 23:09 UTC 1995 |
do everybody gotta hxve a faction?
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jamie
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response 10 of 41:
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Nov 13 03:03 UTC 1995 |
You do if you start the game as a planar character...If you come from the
Forgotten Realms, or Athas, or anywhere else on the Prime Material plane,
though, they are optional, correct Bjorn?
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bjorn
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response 11 of 41:
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Nov 13 17:27 UTC 1995 |
Re #10: That is correct.
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starwolf
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response 12 of 41:
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Nov 14 16:52 UTC 1995 |
Iff I join one, it'll probably be the free league, but I may not, since I will
be in animal form most of the time.
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bjorn
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response 13 of 41:
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Nov 14 18:40 UTC 1995 |
Who said that joiners had to be humaniod? As long as you can still speak
to someone, you should have no problem getting in.
There are things like dragons in the Ciphers...
(logging starwolf as an Indep)
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bjorn
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response 14 of 41:
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Nov 14 22:27 UTC 1995 |
Faction Symbol Descriptions follow:
The Fated's symbol is that of a knight with finery around his helmet.
The Free League's symbol is that of a serpentine gold dragon consuming itself.
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starwolf
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response 15 of 41:
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Nov 15 18:40 UTC 1995 |
Dragon eating itself out (of existence, gutter-brain) ;}
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eldrich
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response 16 of 41:
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Nov 15 21:55 UTC 1995 |
I love that one. It would be cool if Esher had done a picture of that.
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bjorn
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response 17 of 41:
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Nov 16 03:26 UTC 1995 |
I could probably trace it, that is, if I had tracing paper available.
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orinoco
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response 18 of 41:
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Nov 17 14:15 UTC 1995 |
Escher, I think it is....he did do one of a dragon biting it's tail, and
it is kinda coool.
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kain
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response 19 of 41:
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Nov 18 03:35 UTC 1995 |
hey there posing off of Robert Jordan!
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orinoco
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response 20 of 41:
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Nov 24 21:11 UTC 1995 |
I'm sure escher did it first...who is rob jordan?
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kain
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response 21 of 41:
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Nov 25 01:08 UTC 1995 |
Author of the wheel of time series
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orinoco
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response 22 of 41:
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Nov 25 15:28 UTC 1995 |
Being as escher did most of his work in the 1800's, I think rob is posing
off escher
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kain
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response 23 of 41:
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Nov 26 20:39 UTC 1995 |
owell the main insignia in the wheel of time is a dragon sonsuming itself
wrapped around a wheel
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orinoco
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response 24 of 41:
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Nov 28 02:45 UTC 1995 |
the escher (if anyone still cares) is a dragon (2D) with two punctures in
it's body, the tail extending through these and into its open mouth
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