Welcome back, today the object of discussion is the new role that factions will play in Solar Nations after major update 1. I have always felt a little let down by the current factions system as I believe it inadequately represents the idea that factions are the sort of pillars on which your Empire is built. Now, I have devised a new system which should not only fit this purpose better, but also offer new and interesting gameplay.
- Instead of only having 1-4 factions which each give bonuses or penalties based on loyalty, nearly every faction in the game is present in every civilization.
- But only 1-4 of those factions make up that civilization's ruling coalition; the factions which actually provide bonuses, but also get to vote on reforms.
- Reform stability cost is heavily influenced by the legislative support for the reform.
- Republics cannot even pass reforms without majority legislative support.
- Faction power is now mostly determined by modifiers rather than a base value.
- Factions can be added or removed from the ruling coalition more easily than before, but there are consequences for this tyranny.
- Cool pie chart
This certainly changes a lot of the calculus surrounding reforms, as each faction differs in what reforms it favors or opposes. Generally, this is intuitive from what the faction's expressed ethos are (the militarists support military professionalism), but other times a little experimentation is required in order to properly piece together a functional state. And If worst comes to worst, you can always kick out the dissidents!
But be careful, as the non-ruling factions are always somewhat disloyal, and the level of popular support for your government impacts how stable your country is in the long run!