This module allows organizations, guilds, corporations, governments, cults, or criminal networks to act as structured forces in the campaign.

Use factions to create:

• Political tension
• Territory conflicts
• Long-term campaign arcs
• Strategic consequences

Each faction has four ratings (1–5):

• Influence (social & political power)
• Force (military strength)
• Intelligence (information network)
• Mobility (reach & logistics)

1 = Minor group 3 = Regional power 5 = Dominant force

Keep numbers simple.

Use scale appropriate to campaign:

Small Scale:

Street gangs, village guilds, pirate crews

Mid Scale:

Corporations, city governments, knightly orders

Large Scale:

Empires, megacorps, galactic alliances

Scale determines narrative scope, not stat changes.

When two factions clash:

Roll:

1d20 + relevant stat

Winner:

Rolls 2d10 and reduces opposing stat by that amount (minimum 0).

Example:

Gang A (Force 3) attacks Gang B (Force 2).

Gang A rolls:

1d20 + 3

If successful, reduce Gang B’s Force by 2d10.

If a stat reaches 0:

That domain collapses.

Examples:

Force 0 → Military defeat Influence 0 → Public support lost Intelligence 0 → Network exposed Mobility 0 → Cut off from operations

Player actions may:

Increase a faction stat by 1
Reduce a faction stat by 1
Create temporary Advantage
Introduce new faction rivalry

Major story arcs should impact factions.

Each major story arc:

Each active faction may take one strategic action:

• Expand territory
• Sabotage rival
• Recruit forces
• Influence public opinion
• Acquire resources

Resolve with a single roll.

Keep it fast.

Factions may possess:

• Safehouses
• Armories
• Political leverage
• Blackmail material
• Smuggling routes
• Research labs

Assets grant narrative advantages.

Destroying an asset may reduce a stat by 1.

Track simple Reputation:

Hostile Unfriendly Neutral Friendly Allied

Reputation shifts based on player actions.

Friendly factions may:

Grant resources
Provide reinforcements
Offer intelligence

Hostile factions may:

Send assassins
Spread rumors
Block access
Issue bounties

Keep reputation visible to players.

If factions repeatedly clash:

Increase stakes.

Examples:

• Turf war becomes city-wide conflict
• Corporate sabotage becomes open warfare
• Cult activity becomes public panic

Escalation should reshape the campaign.

Factions should:

• Move even when players are inactive
• Create long-term tension
• Provide allies and enemies
• Influence setting evolution

Do not over-simulate. Resolve faction conflicts in minutes, not hours.

ODDS RPG Faction Module v1.0