faction
FAK-shuhn
/ˈfæk.shən/
A distinct, organized group or alliance within a larger organization, society, or virtual game world.
In games, factions are usually pre-designed, lore-driven coalitions (e.g., Alliance vs. Horde) that players must choose to join, dictating their allies and enemies.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'factio', which referred to a political clique or a chariot-racing team in ancient Rome. These Roman racing factions (the Reds, Whites, Blues, and Greens) had fanatical, often violent fan bases, mirroring the intense rivalries of modern gaming factions.
Word relationships
- coalition: A coalition is a temporary alliance of distinct parties, whereas a faction in gaming is a permanent, structural division of the game world.
- sect: Sect usually has religious connotations, while faction is political, social, or military.
Commonly confused with
- guild: A guild is a small, player-run club, while a faction is a massive, game-wide division that dictates the overarching lore and PvP boundaries.
Word family
- factional (adjective): Relating to or caused by factions.
- factionalism (noun): Party strife or dissension within a group.
Collocations
- faction war
- choose a faction
- rival faction
- faction reputation
Example sentences
- "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united by some common impulse of passion." A classic political essay on the dangers of division in society. (James Madison, Federalist No. 10)
- "Upon reaching level ten, players must choose to align with either the Rebel Alliance or the Empire faction to unlock unique quests." Choosing a side in a role-playing game.
Memory hook
A faction is a 'fraction' of the population that acts with 'action'. A fraction of the world united for action.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a small, player-created group like a guild; factions are typically massive, developer-created global entities.
Fun facts
- In the early days of World of Warcraft, the rivalry between the Alliance and Horde factions was so intense that players of opposing factions could not even chat with each other in-game; their messages were automatically scrambled into gibberish.
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