Factions comparison

[Nail]

For me it will be clearly RDC, maybe with mere influence on Príncipi.

"best defense is a good offense" sounds like a good tactic

 

I've never liked Vailians.

Huana are like the dozens - bunch of plebs.

 

What about you?

 

Edited April 12, 2017 by Nail

[Messier-31]

Principi sen Patrena

That would be my first choice, coz I'm a Vailian dissident ffs.

 

No faction AKA the Yes Man

Again, because I'm a dissident, that's why. You should probably add this option to the poll.

 

Vailian Trading Company

Tempting, because I'm a Vailian with a knack for shifty trading and style

 

Royal Deadfire Company + Huana

My dissident pc doesn't like them royalties very much, but who knows what time will bring

Edited April 12, 2017 by Messier-31

[Nail]

No faction AKA the Yes Man

Again, because I'm a dissident, that's why. You should probably add this option to the poll.

 

Added this option.

Made multiple choices.

[Nail]

For those who missed the info:

Update #28 - Factions of the Deadfire, Part I

Update #29 - Factions of the Deadfire, Part II

 

Royal Deadfire Company

(Abbreviated as RDC in some text locations)

The Royal Deadfire Company is based in the aumaua nation of Rauatai but have expanded their empire's reach to their ancestral homeland in the Deadfire Archipelago. While they are interested in the harvest of precious resources from the region, the RDC have a long-term goal of conquering the archipelago and making it an extension of their empire. The Rauataians believe that the native Huana culture is inferior to their own and treat the Huana people accordingly. In contrast to the Vailian Trading Company, the RDC is organized like a naval force. Their titles and behavior reflect that view of the world. 

Philosophy and Goals - Rauataians as a cultural group have a long history of trade and conquest. The more hawkish personalities in their government have made steady progress towards a more aggressive "best defense is a good offense" stance in the world, and the leadership of the RDC comes from that mindset. They have flourished through a mixture of intrepid exploration, aggressive conquest, and relentless engineering of their hardscrabble homeland. They believe that through organization and engineering, they can bring civilization to Deadfire.

Relationship with Other Factions -

• Vailians/VTC - They are deceitful, flamboyant, and frivolous, emphasizing form over function. Their pretty words cannot be trusted. Their preference for polymaths over specialists suggests impatience, which can never lead to true mastery.
• Huana - They are super disorganized and (seemingly) passive - it's why they haven't flourished like the Rauataians. They were fractured by the disaster that drove the Rauataians away, and rather than establish a strong nation, most of them drift from island to island chasing seasonal resources. They don't solve problems, so they're beholden to them. What they need is some good ol' Rauataian civilization to set them straight.
• What looks like adaptability to the Príncipi looks like haphazardness to the Rauataians. Like the Rauataians, the Príncipi had to leave their homeland. But rather than establishing a stable country (like their cousins in the Republics), they remained shiftless and aimless, living on ships and in driftwood towns that are one squall away from destruction. They are like children who refuse to grow up.Resources - Rauatai is known worldwide for its cannons. Gunpowder likely originated there, and they still trade in it as well as raw saltpeter. Those latter two items are the primary staples of their trade economy.

RDC clothing

 

Vailian Trading Company

(Abbreviated as VTC in some text locations)

The Vailian Trading Company is the largest with a ducal charter and the only trading company with a canc suolias (five suns) charter, meaning it has the full backing of all five Grand Ducs of the Vailian Republics. The VTC was first featured in Pillars of Eternity during the quest 'At All Costs' in Ondra's Gift.

Philosophy and Goals - The Vailian Trading Company exists, according to its charter, for the sole purpose of enriching its investors, and, by proxy, the Vailian Republics themselves. Beneath that, however, runs a strong undercurrent of cultural pride. The directors of the company are motivated by the belief that the Vailians are the best traders in the world, and must always continue to be. While the Vailian Trading Company is generally considered reputable among the major foreign powers it trades with, on the frontier, far from the prying eyes of overseers, those standards quickly degrade.

Relationship with Other Factions -

• The VTC is at peace with the Huana, but see the Huana as little more than a means to get what they want from Deadfire. They do not think anything of the Huana's claims to the land there, and believe it is only a matter of time before they are able to wrest it away with their charms and wiles.
• Hostilities with the Royal Deadfire Company are ongoing. A bargain struck with the Kahanga prohibits conflict between the two in Deadfire, and within the borders of Neketaka, there exists an uneasy truce. (Though the two make every effort at espionage, sabotage, spite, and one-upmanship.) Elsewhere in Deadfire, the agreement is all but impossible to regulate, and fighting occurs readily when the two companies have the opportunity.
• The Príncipi are a perpetual thorn in the side of the Vailians. They have a personal grudge of sorts against the Republics, and relish targeting VTC ships, seeking not only personal enrichment, but to do great damage to VTC operations.

Resources - The Vailian Trading Company is known for its versatility, having made a name for itself by securing deals on a broad range of goods. The Vailians feel that if there is money to be made on anything, large or small, they want to be the ones to be making it. The Republics themselves are sources of iron, copper, silver, glassworks, ships, spices, clocks, and astronomical equipment.

 

RDC clothing

 

Príncipi

The Príncipi are largely descended from a group of refugees who fled the decline of Old Vailia (shortly before the Republics declared independence). They sailed around the Eastern Reach until they reached Deadfire, where instead of settling the islands, they continued their shipboard life. Seizing opportunities where they could, they gradually became pirates, smugglers, mercenaries, and merchants of ill repute. Over time, their ranks have swelled to include Deadfire's indigenous peoples (Huana) as well as enterprising or desperate individuals from other countries and cultures not aligned with the Republics or Rauatai (Dyrwood, Aedyr, Readceras, Ixamtl, etc.)

Religion - Religion among the Príncipi is as varied as membership. As sailors, many of them worship Ondra (as goddess of the oceans) and Hylea (for her influence over wind and weather) but others worship gods and goddesses that were more prominent in their homelands. Worship of Ondra, Woedica, and Hylea is especially common among descendants of Vailians.

Relationship with Other Factions

• The Príncipi have fluid relationships with most other factions, as they are in a position to plunder (or sell to) just about anybody. 
• The Príncipi frequently target Vailian Trading Company ships. Remembering that the first families could not find shelter in the Republics during their voyage, the Príncipi subject even surrendering crews to (painless) humiliations, such as leaving them all stranded in their smallclothes. 
• Additionally, the Príncipi have been raiding Huana villages almost as long as they've been in the Deadfire. Pirates may have a better relationship with larger towns, however, particularly when they're frequented by merchants who will buy stolen goods.

Geography and Location - The first families initially landed toward the warm, northern portion of the archipelago, but the Príncipi have expanded their reach since then, and their ships can be found anywhere in Deadfire. They tend to lurk near trade routes and settled areas, though their havens are necessarily more remote. While the Príncipi do not found formal cities, they have semi-permanent colonies all around the archipelago where members may safely land for repairs, R&R, or to purchase new supplies. The locations of these havens are typically known only members (or extremely close associates) of the Príncipi.

 

Príncipi clothing

 

Huana

The Huana are the primary indigenous people of the Deadfire Archipelago. The term "Huana" is a loose association that describes a decentralized population of aumaua, and Huana culture has evolved into a pastiche of local variations with a common root. Yet this is not to say that the Huana are entirely without structure or leadership. In time, they were able to establish a central government, although its influence tends to diminish the farther one sails from the seat of power.

Religion - Favored deities of the Huana include Ondra (who controls the seas) and Hylea (who controls the winds), as well as Woedica (who ensures peace by way of justice). Galawain also has a scattered following among the more conquest-oriented Huana tribes such as the Wahaki and Kahanga, who tend to use the god's endorsement of survival of the fittest as an argument for their positions of power. Huana in search of revenge against their enemies readily pray to Skaen, though he is not widely worshipped in other circumstances.

Relationship with Other Factions

• The Huana are difficult to generalize because different tribes have different stances on the various influential groups in the region.
• The most visible of the tribes, the Kahanga, has made deals with trading companies from both Rauatai and the Vailian Republics, who both have outposts in their largest city, hoping that they will keep each other in check and that their mutual competition will both enrich the Kahanga and ensure their safety. 
• The Príncipi have historically raided the Huana, and many Huana consider them sworn enemies. However, the increased presence of the trading companies in recent years has diverted much of the pirates' attention, and it is not unheard of nowadays for the Huana to strike up alliances with the Príncipi in hopes of staving off the companies' advances.

Geography and Location - The Huana are spread across most all populated islands in the archipelago. Deadfire spans the length of the entire southern hemisphere, thus climate ranges from tropical in the north to temperate and polar in the south. Its largest population centers are in the subtropical band of islands.

 

Huana clothing

 

This information may vary.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Nail

[juanval]

Vailian Trading Company here ;D

[White Phoenix]

Huana or no one (if there is a choice) for my Eothasian Watcher. But lone wolf fits him the best. I'll decide finally in the game. All fractions look interesting (maybe without Royal Deadfire Company who seems to be typical 'evil colonists').

Edited April 13, 2017 by White Phoenix

[Guest]

I have a feeling that I'll end up siding with either the Huana or the RDC. The latter is a little to militaristic for my tastes, but Kana was my favorite companion in Pillars and I have a feeling that's going to influence my feelings in Pillars 2.

[Heijoushin]

I'm really torn here, because each of the factions seem interesting.

 

- The Principi sound like a lot of fun, considering they do silly things like leaving their victims in their underwear

- I wasn't really into the RDC, but after seeing their designs, I'm starting to change my mind. They look pretty awesome.

- The VTC's philosophy of "profit first" is appealing. Also, I'm guessing that route will give you lots of interaction with Pallengina.

- I guess I find the Huana the least appealing, although I assume they're the standard route if you want to be the "good guy". (You know, be a White Knight and help the natives throw off the yolk of foreign invadors.)

[Messier-31]

I have a feeling that I'll end up siding with either the Huana or the RDC. The latter is a little to militaristic for my tastes, but Kana was my favorite companion in Pillars and I have a feeling that's going to influence my feelings in Pillars 2.

 

Wow, this actually figures. I disliked Kana, so I'm thinking about other factions.

 

The way I see it Achilles will be friends will Maia Rua and/or blue-guy Tekehu, while Pallegina and/or Serafen might get pissed at you at some point.

 

And there'll be opposite companion reactions in my case.

[blotter]

- I guess I find the Huana the least appealing, although I assume they're the standard route if you want to be the "good guy". (You know, be a White Knight and help the natives throw off the yolk of foreign invadors.)

 

I wonder about that. Per https://www.fig.co/campaigns/deadfire?update=256#updates, Huana society is stratified based on a caste system that its members appear to be born into and there's no particular emphasis on or celebration of equality for its citizens. Depending on how visible these traditions are, siding with the Huana may raise serious questions as to whether you're helping a blameless underdog with their valiant struggles or disrupting changes that may actually benefit the lower-caste Huana overall. Even if they mostly ignore this particular aspect of the culture, there's still plenty of room for grey areas in regards to the compromises Queen Onekaza II makes to further her intrigues and/or the extremes Prince Aruihi will go to in his efforts to get rid of the colonizing forces. 

 

It'd be pretty lame if they didn't address any of these areas of concern, but even setting them all aside, there's still the question of whether the Watcher will truly have the power/influence to permanently banish any of the factions from the Deadfire Archipelago. If not, then whatever harm or setbacks you end up causing these groups could result in them oppressing the Huana more harshly. If the Watcher can somehow permanently force the groups out, there are still bound to be other groups that are interested in cornering the market on luminous ardra (unless you somehow wreck all of it to deter colonizing interests in the area, which could have all sorts of dire implications for the region and possibly the world at large).

 

As for my choice among the factions, my dissident watcher's currently leaning towards the Principi or no faction commitment. His contributions to revolutionary efforts via his background left him pretty burnt out on the political idealism front, realizing that he hates commoners about as much as he hates nobles, so the Prinicipi's focus on exploiting any and all parties would make the most sense to him. He could be persuaded to favor the Vailian Republics depending on the extent to which animancy research/experimentation is associated with them to the exclusion of other factions, though. If they're the primary hub for animancy, then what remains of his dissident instincts could lead him to promote their interests insofar as it enables animancy research and thus defiance of the gods, who he was never particularly fond of, especially after learning what he did about them at the end of Pillars 1.

Edited April 14, 2017 by blotter

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

I'm gonna be a god damn pirate and raid everything I can.

[Kl3in]

I'm gonna be a god damn pirate and raid everything I can.

 

I will do the same :D

[Katarack21]

Huana are like the dozens - bunch of plebs.

 

 

Tomorrow my master chokes on his own whip.

[Regggler]

I will JOIN ALL THE FACTIONS!

 

Not at once though, probably

Edited April 21, 2017 by Regggler

[smjjames]

So, basically, the Huana are the natives, the Principi are organized pirates the two trading corps are an indengenous civilizations trading company while the other is an outsider trying to invade into the others territory. The closest equivalent of those two companies are pretty much any major European trading company during the Age of Sail. Though the Royal Deadfire Company would be more like if Indonesia (or at least other SE Asian nations) was on par technologically with Europe.

 

Anyways, being a pirate sounds like fun, so, I dunno, Principi maybe? or dissident?

[Katarack21]

an indengenous civilizations trading company

Not so much. The people of Ruatia are amaua, but they are most assuredly *NOT* Huana. According to Obsidian, they explicitly consider the Huana to not have real "civilization" and that what they do have is inferior to Ruatai.

 

They are members of the same species, not the same civilization. Though yes, it seems pretty clear that Deadfire is based on the mass European cluster-****ing of the Spice Islands.

Edited April 24, 2017 by Katarack21

[smjjames]

Well, I meant 'indengenous to the Deadfire Archipelago', even if the home civilization is equivalent to Rome in that they think they are the pinnacle of civilization and everybody else are barbarians.

 

I had another idea last night, allied with Huana, but being a pirate at the same time. Honestly though, faction affiliation shouldn't stop you from being a pirate, it just changes who you can and can't attack.

 

Edit: Actually, I looked at the wiki and it looks like Rauatai isn't actually in the Deadfire Archipelago? I thought it was in the Deadfire Archipelago. So, misunderstanding/misinterpretation on my part. Though Kana's family is from the Deadfire archipelago.

Edited April 24, 2017 by smjjames

[Topcliffe]

(You know, be a White Knight and help the natives throw off the yolk of foreign invadors.)

Careful you don't wind up with egg on your face ;P

[JFutral]

As they are presented, I could have enjoyed any of them, I think. But as they are fleshed out in the game, I don't like any of them. I could role play in PoE1 enough to enjoin one of the factions—if I considered myself primarily chaotic mercenary the Dozens make sense; if I am thievish, capitalistic rogue, the Doemenels work; if I am a lawful fighter/paladin the Knights work. Even if any of these factions are ineffective, there was a core I could adhere to that was agreeable as a PC.

 

In this game at some point in the relationship all of the factions deviate from what I would want to associate myself, no matter how I role play my character. They are all scheming, conniving scum. Effectively, ethically and morally, they are all the same.

 

I'm not sure how to reconcile this as I do want to try an ending with an ally.

 

I won't even get into the "gods". I still want to side with Eothas in the end no matter how I play my character, unless I go pure evil.

 

Joe

[Daggerknight]

On my first run, I went with the VTC. 

Royal Deadfire Co. came across as exceptionally arrogant and far more imperialistic than the Valians. In fact, I almost felt like they were -more- hostile to the native culture than the VTC, which is made worse by the fact that between the two, the RDC SHOULD  find some common ground with the Huana. Instead, they almost seem to be doing everything in their power to prove themselves better. VTC on the other hand vary in their response to the locals between either tolerating them, or just being indifferent either way. Not that the VTC are angels, they just seem less cruel between the two. 

 

Also, I wanted to punch Atsura the second I met him... god that guy is a slime ball if there ever was one in all of Eora. 

 

And another thing; RDC is way quicker to resort to sabotage and assassination against outside forces than the VTC were. VTC only ended up directly launching an outright black ops by the end AFTER being very directly provoked. Before that, they were just fine negotiating and making (admittedly skeevy)  deals. 

 

Final note....and for anyone who has not finished the game but is still reading this forum.....

 

 

---!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!!SPOILER!!!------!!

 

 

 

This is perhaps a little meta, but ultimately, VTC is also the "in the right". Eothas breaks the Wheel, with the intent that Kith will study Animancy some more and figure out a way to remake it themselves. Well, RDC plainly states that they are not really concerned with researching Animancy, and the Huana don't even possess the means to do so at this point. VTC is the one that might actually make progress on that front out of literally every faction in the world we know of (including everyone inthe Dyrwood). 

[Celan]

VTC is the one that might actually make progress on that front out of literally every faction in the world we know of (including everyone inthe Dyrwood). 

Except their track record is pretty dismal.

 

Anyway, I hated all of them by the end and (cue Sonatra music) did it my way.

[jtbehnke]

My vote goes to the Huana.  They may have problems, but the Deadfire is their home, and the other factions are looking to exploit them and their resources.  Colonialism and imperialism are nasty things, and I don't want to aid and abet them.

[CrazyL3opold]

Everyone who chooses the Huana is an enemy of mine. They are the faction with the least morally acceptable quest to do... I would never do anything that is bad for Castol! He's one of the nicest and friendliest persons hanging around in the Deadfire and that b**** of Onekaza is simply to weak to do anything at least a bit ok. Caste system... Lose of power... etc... All other factions are ok ^^ But I like Vailians and Furrante most!

[Tick]

Everyone who chooses the Huana is an enemy of mine. They are the faction with the least morally acceptable quest to do... I would never do anything that is bad for Castol! He's one of the nicest and friendliest persons hanging around in the Deadfire and that b**** of Onekaza is simply to weak to do anything at least a bit ok. Caste system... Lose of power... etc... All other factions are ok ^^ But I like Vailians and Furrante most!

 

Some strong feelings there lol.

 

I sided with the Huana because I think the culture has strengths and the government wants to do right by its people, and I don't feel comfortable with helping a foreign power forcibly take over another group of people, potentially ruin that group of people's lives, and take away their culture and identity.   It gives the group no choice in the matter, either.

 

I don't think the caste system is fantastic, but when it works properly, it means everyone is taken care of.  Which I think is a huge strength compared to some societies that just let people fall in the cracks and rot there.  I couldn't go Huana if I knew that the problem with the Gullet and Watershapers wasn't fixed, but those are fixable issues.

 

I do love Castol and I was horrified when I realized that was the Huana route, but there are ways to go the Huana route without ruining his life, so that's the route I went.

[Mari]

I ended up going my own way.

 

I was a bit conflicted at first since I knew going solo was the chaotic ****ty ending, so I did consider maybe just joining one of the factions. In the end, I disliked all of them, and the choice was kinda made for me because all the ending quests require you to become a terrorist who blows up buildings and/or kills major political figures! I really couldn't come up with a in-game reason my character would agree to any of this. I'm just here to help the poor, make some money, and to stop a God, not play terrorist for some **** who cant even cooperate long enough to deal with a common crisis. 

 

I know everyone likes the VTC cuz of the animancy, but I found them to be the worst of the bunch. They sound like the personification of every real world corporation willing to kill us all so they could strip mine natural resources for profit. Like, luminous adra seems pretty vital, what with housing souls and all that, and these people wanna mine it all up and snort it???? Not to mention that they have no issue with slavery and Castor himself was dealing in slaves. I think their "profit over anything else" mentality is dangerous and it wouldn't take very much before they depleted all natural adra and started trying to make their own by killing slaves (which, as indicated by the letter you find, one of their research team was already contemplating). I had Eothas inspire mortals so I feel like the animancers will be able to figure out the Wheel even without these crazy bastards.

Out of all of them, I thought the RDC where the least of the evils and the most "gray" faction. I still cant make up my mind about it. On one hand, colonialism is undeniably bad and the RDC are arrogant imperialists who think they know best. On the other, if your culture involves oppressing people and intentionally keeping them in abject poverty where they starve, am I really gonna shed a tear if another group shows up and assimilates you? Buuuuut the RDC attacked me when I said I wasn't going to assassinate the Queen for them so I had to kill them all. Oh well.    

The Huana have an abhorrent caste system, but I feel the most sympathetic for them cuz they are the only faction where we got to meet civilians/regular people. The RDC is military, VTC is a corporation, but a lot of the Huana we meet are just villagers who are getting screwed over on all sides. I tried to help the villagers as much as I could, but again, no way am I doing the dirty work for a society that thinks its fine to intentionally keep a whole group of people in poverty. 

 

As for the principi, they are a bunch of loosely organized pirates so I didn't even consider them. I killed the old man and replaced him with Aedlys cuz she was anti-slavery and I liked her. Plus, she was helping me smuggle food to the Roparu.

Edited June 25, 2018 by Mari