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The Secret World: The Factional Rundown
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
In his latest column devoted to Funcom's The Secret World, MMORPG.com Lead Writer Bill Murphy takes a look at the three factions: Templar, Illuminati and Dragon. Check out what Bill has to say about these factions and then let us know what you think in the comments!
Next week we have an interview on all things TSW with none other than Ragnar Tørnquist himself, but for this week let’s focus on something that will likely play a very key role in the shaping of Funcom’s Secret World: the factions. Each one has their own goals and designs for the future of mankind and Earth, and there’s a whole lot of reason to start thinking now about just which one you wish to pledge allegiance to. I’m personally hoping that the three-faction setup of TSW leads to some long-missed “realm pride” in Funcom’s upcoming MMO.
Read more of Bill Murphy's The Secret World: The Factional Rundown.
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Comments
I'll take the Illuminati for sure. Each faction has it's good and bad tendencies except for the Illuminati....They kinda throw all that good/evil stuff out the door and take advantage of every oppurtunity that presents themselves. they have no epic philosophy, only a desire to seek and destroy. Really can't beat that.
Templars are too self-righteous and are blindly guided by a philosophy that has no evidence of being true.
Dragons put too much emphasis on balance, and although I do somewhat agree with that philosophy, I think dedicating your life to such a thing is far-fetched. It's impossible to balance anything.
I think they're some of the most iconic factions I've encountered in an MMORPG, with templars and illuminati it's instant recognisability, you get an idea of what they stand for without even having read about their role ingame, and they're among the best choices you can have for a game about secret societies and conspiracy theories among other things.
I liked what was being said on the TSW wikia about them, things Tornquist & co said in the past years:
Templars
Crusaders. Judges. The Templars are the world's least secretive secret society. Their military-ideological machine has operated in plain sight since Babylon - a matter of pride, or moral superiority. Conspiracy theorists, obsessed with the minor 'Knights Templar' offshoot, underestimate the Templars' true European empire. Private armies. Members of parliaments. Royal families.
The Templars believe they will deliver the world from evil by force, and even their opponents - who call them zealots and warmongers - cannot deny that force. As an agent of the Templars you are not just fighting the war on darkness, you "are" the war on darkness. Suave and sophisticated, but brutal and uncompromising, you use history as a weapon to shape the future.
And Tornquist said about the Templars in TSW:
They are old-school. They have been fighting evil for thousands of years and they've been doing this with extreme prejudice. They are traditionalist, but there are changes with the new blood coming to make sure they are in tune with the times, not all is in control by the "withered old men" anymore.
Illuminati
"Sex, Drugs & Rockefeller"
Notorious bad boys and girls of the secret world, the Illuminati are also the most ambitious, cut-throat and furtive of the secret societies. From the gilded halls of the ancient pharaohs to the private clubs and the decadent parties of the famously rich and egocentrically famous, from leaders of industry and Hollywood agents to presidents and popes, the Illuminati have weaved their intricate web with ruthless cunning and acute skill.
They rule their corporate pyramid with cold opportunism, and only the strongest members survive. Their secrets can make you rich and powerful beyond compare - or they may destroy your soul and sanity with it
The Illuminati seek to plunder heaven and hell by any means necessary, and god help those who stand in their way.
As a member of the Illuminati, you don't play by anybody's rules. There are no rules. There is no honour.
There is only victory.
And Tornquist:
These guys are much more about re-inventing themselves rather than being still stuck in the past. These guys are the archenemies of the Templars. They have contacts on different levels of governments, the corporations, they are the guys that, don't deal with the president, but wine and dine with the people of the west wing and the chiefs of staff, they are more subtle than the Templars. They believe in showing off money, showing off power, not revealing who they belong to. They have a very strict pyramid structure and is not about what your family is but about your accomplishments, and at any time anybody can get stabbed in the back by the next guy... These guys are pretty hardcore.
Dragon
"The Art of Chaos"
Manipulators and conspirators, the Dragon have survived for millennia by playing their enemies against each other. Since before the first empire, through the aggression of the Mongol Khans and the ebb and tide of the polotical change, a whisper in the right ear, a strategic assassination, alliance carefully crafted and broken - and the world eventually bends to the patient will of the immortal Dragon.
With a spiritual and philosophical approach to the secret crafts, as an acolyte of the Dragon you are taught to listen, shown how to teach others, and expected to respect the balance of the universe and to be humble in the face of fate. Yours is not the path of force, though force is often needed to clear the path.
Few know of the Dragon and their long history, and that is how the Dragon want it. You are invisible but pervasive, silent but all-knowing, and when the other secret societies have decimated each other, you will rebuild the world from the ruins of their arrogance.
The Dragon is too easily underestimated, but those who do so live to regret it - or die before they get the chance.
Tornquist:
Not as well known as the Templars or the Illuminati, of course, but they've been working behind the scenes for a very long time... Orchestrating chaos is important for order to emerge. The Dragon believes they are the only ones that really understand everything... They've always been, sort of, between the other societies, pulling the strings, setting them up against each other to make sure that they are always, at the end of the day, left standing, without too many deaths, without too many wounds.
Great descriptions
The Dragon though I got the least affinity with, from what is known about them they're bound to be the most enigmatic of the 3 societies.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Templars sound like fun.
They match my idea of a realistic secret society much better. Based on strict codes of conduct and morality. Hiding in plain sight. Utterly convinced of their own cause. Willing to sacrfice themselves for what they believe in.
We are the bunny.
Resistance is futile.
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When I took the test (http://www.thesecretworld.com/society) it said I was best suited to Dragon, which stangely I agree with, so I will probably go Dragon.
Leaning toward Dragon at this time.
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
well i'm almost 2 years with templars for this game XD and jsut waiting
@chod
well that is your opnion but I think you are wrong XD, but hense why they make this 3 factions descriptions like that, so you can choose the more close to what you belive^^, though IMHO illumanati you can't trust anyone even from your on faction or you could get back stabed XD is far from throw all good/evil out the door.
There is a test proposed by funcom to find out which faction you are most suited for : http://www.thesecretworld.com/community/initiation
Me I find myself aligned with the dragons and the test proved it.
They are just awesome, between the pirate and righteous fool they are truly the ones who control the world
Illuminati.
I made their test that pointed me to Dragon, and it seam to fit right in.
Templars!
Yeah Dragon here as well, Remains to be asked whether I want rp something that is close to myself or not ...
Somehow the factions remind me of Fallen Earth:
Templars would be Enforcers, Dragons would be Lighbearers / Vista and Iluminati would be Techs / Travelers.
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Yeah, Chota/Evil faction is missing or I'd probably pick that. Illuminati don't seem evil to me, just greedy. I guess the NPC faction is taking over that role.
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
I like templar traditionalism and their background, but I always have been more of a "knowledge seeker" so I might go with Illuminati at some point
Dont know if Im even going to play it, but imagining possibilities is nice
"It has potential"
-Second most used phrase on existence
"It sucks"
-Most used phrase on existence
I'll probably start with a Templar. But, I can totally see playing a Dragon character at some point.
no faction is evil or good, all are gray, that is what they are aiming for.
what is interesting is that, pools have shown an almost equal distribuition between the facs
Illuminati here
Templars here. For whatever reason, I always feel the need to fight for the righteous or those who believe they are righteous.
Dragon suits me more but i like the Illuminati fashion so i'm gonna go with that probably altho i hate their philosophy... and templars will be my nemesis no matter which one i choose.
Hmmm I just don't understand how you can read this:
Their whole existence is founded on the principle of looting and plundering the many mysteries of heaven, hell, and the mortal realm. They will exploit every advantage they can in the search of power and wealth. There’s no honor or rules… there’s only the pursuit of the shiny.
And not associate that faction with pure evil. Of course I biased towards a Templar (because I am not a narcissitic sociopath
). Not a big fan of the "end justifies the means" philosphy but at least they are in it for the good of humanity.
I drop by the forums sometimes and I think there are many more dragons than the other 2 factions.
I dont like templars, they seem to me like the religious / self claimed righteous side. Dragons are kind of ok but im really tired of rolling stealthy chaotic ninjas in most games so that faction wont do it for me. So Im inclined towards Illuminati. And the motto "sex, drugs and rockefeller" has a place in my heart. I mean, who doesnt love sex?... drugs? i dont do drugs, but im somewhat addicted to coffee so i consider it my drug. Rockefeller? there you go...
Umm... Didn't Rockefeller die of Aids?
blame on him for not using protection
Man I can't WAIT for this game!
LOL... just saying... Rockefeller, drugs and sex. In this day and age that combo gives anyone a high percentage of contacting the virus. Not exactly something that has a place in my heart.
you're thinking Rock Hudson not Rockerfeller, who died of aids