Factions/Discussion

Discussion, from November 2004

Might be time for clarification here... what constitutes a faction? Should we break this down into categories like 'societies' (e.g. Victorians, Star-Lemurs), 'families' (Queens), 'style movements', 'resemblance but not necessarily any connection' (Terrans)...? Or just note these various differences?

[Like movie reviewing, this is intensely personal and subjective and should be experienced to be understood (you want to know what a VRC is 'like'? Watch/read one in action, be patient.) Also like movie reviewing, each 'Faction' is defined on it's own terms. Be wary of entering into 'class-based' systems (this ain't D&D and WW). Factions, for me, are important only when they are and are just like this simple definition of art "Art is whatever sentients like." But it WOULD be interesting and fun to see a character/sentient here to try to come up with Phyla for the different Factions, hmm? Then have fun making it a storyline. --Zoe ]

While I think 'objective' classification of the factions is probably both impossible and undesirable, I think classification from an IC point of view would be delightful. I'm sure up would have a group (or several!) struggling to keep all the differing factions classified, keyworded and cross-referenced -- bickering all the way about which faction belongs to what category. A member of the Topwarp intelligentsia would classify in an entirely different way. Let alone a Bottomwarp keeper of oral lore... or the classifications of Strangelibrary... Of course, I have a mania both for viewing things through the POV lens of other beings/beinggroups (which tells you more about the organizer/definer than the organized/defined). -- Cascade

True 'nuff. I like the idea of different IC viewpoints on the matter - something to work in if we get that Lexicon game going. Heck, no need for an official game. Just start a section of a faction page that's a quote from the Upwarp databanks, or a moldy old book in Strange, or whatever... --A

Some of these groups share only their appearance; some share goals; some, genetics; some, a common origin; most, a set of attitudes and beliefs. Some factions have an explicit structure (e.g. Upwarp departments, Holotron); some, an unwritten hierarchy (e.g. Hemotopians); some have no structure at all (Lamplighters, Tweener). -- Amanita

Yeah, that's probably worth expanding on. Given that the factions are loosely based on the pseudo-ethnic "phyles" from Diamond Age, I think any voluntary cultural association would still safely constitute a "faction," and I'm wary about formal subdivision because I think many of them would fail to fit into neat single categories. But a discussion of different means of affiliation would definitely be something great to have here. -- OR