Space Opera Factions

[Phantasm]

Been working on something like this for a while, as part of a primer for the space opera genre. (While the following uses GURPS terminology, they can fit any system.) I'm trying to touch upon the usual various factions encountered in space opera settings from the past 40-50 years, but I'm not sure I've got things situated or worded properly. I've also got that nagging feeling I'm forgetting someone.


Space Opera Factions

The Empire
The Empire in space opera is the faction dedicated to law and order, sometimes militantly so and often at the expense of civil liberties. While often used as the bad guys, the Empire is only rarely portrayed as being unrepentantly evil; usually, when used as the bad guys, the Empire is portrayed as a rival faction. Sometimes, there are two Empires who are at odds with each other.

Used as the good guys, the Empire is often seen as a bastion of law and order against the forces of anarchy who would destroy civilization. Sometimes they're the allies who provide a military force that the PCs' home faction cannot provide on their own.

Regardless of whether they're portrayed as good guys or rivals, most people in the Empire will have a Code of Honor, usually Soldier's, although occasionally Chivalry or Bushido. If portrayed as unrepentantly evil, such codes of honor will be actively stamped out; such Empires are rife with corruption and backstabbing.

Examples: The Galactic Empire in Star Wars, running the gamut from unrepentantly evil in the Original Trilogy to bastions of law and order against perceived anarchy in EU sources; the Klingon and Romulan Empires in Star Trek, portrayed as the rivals and (in later seasons of Deep Space Nine) allies against a common foe; the Kilrathi in Wing Commander, portrayed as the rival.

The Federation
Also known as the Republic, the Federation is almost always portrayed as the good guys, often set with an Empire or two as rivals.

If the Federation has a dark side, it is that the bureaucracy takes forever to decide things. This may frustrate PCs with the Honesty disadvantage, especially when PCs without that disadvantage take advantage of the indecision to right wrongs their own way.

The Federation is sometimes shown as being too dependent on its central government; when the central government gains too much power, the Federation may find itself transforming into an Empire, in fact if not in name.

Examples: The United Federation of Planets in Star Trek; the Galactic Republic/Old Republic in Star Wars; EarthGov in Babylon 5; the Terran Confederacy in Wing Commander.

The Rebellion
When the Empire becomes too oppressive against civil liberties, the Rebellion inevitably pops up. Sometimes, the Rebellion appears when the Federation transforms into the Empire, with the stated desire to restore the old Federation. The Rebellion may also occur as a result of a deal between a Federation and an Empire which leaves certain areas under the faction they don't like.

The Rebellion is almost never as well-equipped as the other factions, having second- and third-hand gear, often resorting to piracy to obtain much needed goods; even when engaged in piracy and other acts, however, they're portrayed as honorable. Sometimes, however, the Rebellion is portrayed as a force of anarchy.

Examples: The Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars Original Trilogy; the Marquis in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space 9; the Border Worlds in Wing Commander IV.

The Merchant State
This faction is concerned with profit, sometimes above all other ethical considerations. Portrayed as the good guys, a merchant state sees the free trade of goods and services as bolstering society. A less benevolent merchant state will see the profit margin as its own goal, and will lie, cheat, and steal (though rarely kill) to get ahead.

Examples: The Corporate Sector in Star Wars Expanded Universe sources; the Ferengi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.

The Underworld Cartel
Often considered the flip side of the Merchant State, the Cartel is composed of gangsters, unscrupulous bounty hunters, slavers, drug dealers, and pirates. This faction is almost never shown as the good guys, being the bad guys even the other bad guy factions won't hesitate to shoot.

Examples: The Hutt Cartel in Star Wars; the Orion Syndicate in Star Trek.

The Space Knights
This faction is often affiliated with either an Empire or Federation, but can just as easily be portrayed as being a neutral third party or even assisting the Rebellion. Its members hold themselves to a Code of Honor (commonly Soldier's, Xia, Chivalry, or Bushido) or a Discipline of Faith (usually Ritualism or Mysticism, though sometimes slipping to Asceticism). Space Knights tend to see themselves as the champions of justice and/or freedom. Space Knights often have an edge, be it psionic or mystical abilities, or technology far in advance of their contemporaries that it may seem like magic.

Occasionally, however, a Space Knight is portrayed as one of the bad guys. This is commonly a rogue member or a splinter faction that has abandoned or twisted the Code of Honor; then the emphasis shifts from championing justice to ruling through fear.

Examples: The Jedi Knights in Star Wars; the Green Lanterns in various DC Comics titles; the Lensmen. Adversarial examples include the Sith Order from Star Wars, and Sinestro in Green Lantern.

The Primitives
Sometimes, the heroes find themselves on worlds with natives who possess much lower technology than the rest of the setting. Enter the Primitives, who are still able to hold their own against the bad guys' superior technology by using traps, tactics, and the occasional stolen blaster. This technology may run anywhere from TL8 down to TL0. While primitive in outlook and lacking in native technology, they are not stupid. Evil Empires may scoff and see the primitives as pests, while Rebellions, Federations, and Space Knights see them as potential allies.

Examples: The Ewoks in Return of the Jedi; the Fremen in Dune.




What am I missing?

[Astromancer]

Empires come in different flavors. You can do a glorious and honorable Rome, or a corrupt and decadent Rome, or both. Star Trek's Romulans were originally meant as a sort of Rome in decay. Later they were clearly evil Rome. China the wonderful is a good seldom used Empire. A sinister Fu Manchu China in space (can you say Ming the Merciless?) is also an option. A glorious radical Empire is also an option. The early Islamic Empires, brutal as they often were, saw themselves as liberators. Some people in their empires, including people not of their faith, would have agreed. You could have several different Empires with different strengths and weaknesses playing against each other.

[Agemegos]

I guess you're probably familiar with the Tough Guide to the Known Galaxy, but just in case: http://rocketpunk-observatory.com/spaceguide.htm.

[tanksoldier]

Star Wars is a samurai movie... it was also a western.

Most westerns are actually samurai movies.

If you fit your space opera into a samurai or western template you’ll probably be ok.

[adm]

Refugees

People fleeing a disaster, perhaps natural, the Vidians from Star Trek Voyager, or war Battlestar Galactica.

Assimulators/Destroyers

Essentially, a "different" expansive force that changes those it encounters beyond all recognition, or simply destroys everything in their wake. The BORG Star Treks TNG and VOY, Berserkers, Saberhagen's books.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Empires come in different flavors. You can do a glorious and honorable Rome, or a corrupt and decadent Rome, or both. Star Trek's Romulans were originally meant as a sort of Rome in decay. Later they were clearly evil Rome. China the wonderful is a good seldom used Empire. A sinister Fu Manchu China in space (can you say Ming the Merciless?) is also an option. A glorious radical Empire is also an option. The early Islamic Empires, brutal as they often were, saw themselves as liberators. Some people in their empires, including people not of their faith, would have agreed. You could have several different Empires with different strengths and weaknesses playing against each other.

The cliche "Empire" is evil. It is possible to have an empire no worse then an empire on Earth. "Good Empires" are just Federations with fancy clothes. But I think the rule of thumb in speculative fiction is that empire is shorthand for evil and large, even if particular authors use Imperial titles for a good state.

I don't remember Fair Cathay being used as the basis for a sci fi state. Unless you count the Ziru Sirka. One not mentioned which could be used is an empire which is never found on stage but from which come marvelous things. I think that would be a great setting hook.

If I remember Fu Manchu was a gangster not an Emperor. The idea really isn't incompatible in principal with a sympathetic China even if the original was incorrigibly racist.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

T

I don't remember Fair Cathay being used as the basis for a sci-fi state. Unless you count the Ziru Sirka.

China as a model for a good Empire was the idea I was pushing. It would be unexpected and fun.

One not mentioned which could be used is an empire which is never found on stage but from which come marvelous things. I think that would be a great setting hook.

True.

If I remember Fu Manchu was a gangster not an Emperor. The idea really isn't incompatible in principal with a sympathetic China even if the original was incorrigibly racist.

I was evoking certain orientalist tropes that haunt sci-fi's margins. Fu Manchu is often used as shorthand for the "Yellow Peril Myth" and I use him as such. By the way, remember that Fu Manchu's family, with the exception of one daughter, was wiped out by brutal and corrupt colonial officials. He had plenty of reason to hate and fear Britain and the West. Take Fu Manchu as your base and rework him as a deeply flawed hero fighting to defend his people and others from deadly imperialists. Heck, allow him a nuanced view of the world that sees where he can get allies and how to bring the strengths of other cultures into his own.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

China as a model for a good Empire was the idea I was pushing. It would be unexpected and fun.

David Wingrove's Chung Kuo novels might be an interesting basis for Chinese Imperial Sci-fi.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

Been working on something like this for a while, as part of a primer for the space opera genre. (While the following uses GURPS terminology, they can fit any system.) I'm trying to touch upon the usual various factions encountered in space opera settings from the past 40-50 years, but I'm not sure I've got things situated or worded properly. I've also got that nagging feeling I'm forgetting someone.

This is a handy list:

https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php...u-ll-Ever-Need

which also got turned into an actual map, most readily seen here:

https://boingboing.net/2017/04/17/ev...-star-map.html

[Astromancer]

If you watched Babylon 5 you might think of the ESPer Guild as a faction. The ESPers in B5 would be the Evil version. Good versions exist too. The X-Men would be typical of what a "good guy" ESPer faction may want/work toward.

Dune's Bene Gesserit would make a good faction. Sneaky conspirators with a breeding scheme.