The decision of which faction to side with in the vast and mysterious expanse of Outer Worlds can significantly influence your gameplay experience and the story's outcome. With several distinct factions, each boasting unique ideologies, companions, and questlines, the choice can be overwhelming. However, each faction offers a unique perspective on the game's world and lore, making it a compelling aspect of the game.
To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled this comprehensive guide discussing the key aspects of the main factions in Outer Worlds: The Board, The Helios View, The Colonists, and The Unreliable. By understanding their ideologies, goals, and methods, you can align yourself with the faction that best resonates with your playstyle and preferences.
The Board
The Board is a powerful corporate entity that owns an immense share of the Halcyon colony. They prioritize profit and efficiency above all else, making them one of the most influential and controversial factions in the game.
At their core, The Board seeks to exploited the Halcyon colonies to maximize profits, often at the expense of the colonies' inhabitants. They maintain a private security force, The Board'sRepeaters, to enforce their will and suppress any form of dissent or rebellion.
brass Lancet & Phinneigh Electronics
Two major subsidiaries of The Board, Brass Lancet and Phinneigh Electronics, play significant roles in the story. Brass Lancet, a pharmaceutical company, produce a drug calledгель, which is heavily addictive and highly profitable. Phinneigh Electronics, on the other hand, is responsible for maintaining the colony's infrastructure and technology.
Siding with The Board allows you to gain access to advanced technology, weapons, and other resources. They can offer you high-paying jobs and companions with powerful skills. However, aligning yourself with them may lead to conflict with other factions and raise ethical concerns due to their exploitative nature.
Companion: SAM
SAM (Settler Agricultural Module) is a sentient AI companion who serves as the Director of Halcyon's agricultural efforts. Initially, SAM is a passive and neutral entity, focusing solely on agricultural processes. However, as the story progresses, SAM becomes more involved in the political dynamics of the colonies, eventually joining The Board as a high-ranking official.
Adding SAM to your party can provide valuable insights into The Board's operations and thoughts. As a companion, SAM excels in engineering and security-related tasks, making them an invaluable asset in various situations. However, their loyalties can shift based on your actions, potentially leading to uncomfortable situations.
The Helios View
The Helios View is a media corporation that owns and controls the majority of the information and communication networks in the Halcyon colonies. Their influence is extensive, shaping public opinion and manipulating information to serve their agendas.
While The Helios View presents itself as a neutral, objective provider of news and information, they are deeply tied to The Board and other prominent factions. They use their influence to protect their interests and maintains their control over the flow of information.
H század & The Radio Free descendants
H.session is The Helios View's chief editor, responsible for directing the organization's propaganda and controlling the narrative. The Radio Free Descendants, on the other hand, are a small band of dissident journalists who work to expose the truth and counter The Helios View's propaganda.
Siding with The Helios View grants you access to advanced communication equipment, powerful allies, and the ability to sway public opinion in your favor. However, doing so ties you closely to The Board and their interests, potentially limiting your freedom and flexibility.
Companion:scorpio martinez
Scorpio Martinez is a former Helios View editor who was fired for publishing an article critical of The Board. Joining your party, Scorpio brings valuable insight into The Helios View's operations and can provide unique dialogue options. As a companion, Scorpio specializes in conversation and hacking skills, making them an excellent choice for stealth and social encounters.
However, Scorpio's complex and often conflicting motivations can lead to challenging decision-making scenarios. Their ultimate goals may not align with yours, potentially causing tension and uncertainty within your party.
The Colonists
The Colonists is a loosely organized collection of rebellion groups across the Halcyon colonies. They seek to overthrow The Board and establish a more egalitarian system, where the inhabitants have a greater say in their own governance.
the colonists comprise a diverse range of individuals, from skilled workers and engineers to former Board employees who have turned against their former masters. They employ guerrilla tactics and sabotage to undermine The Board's operations and influence, making them a powerful force for change in the Halcyon colonies.
spacer's choice & the iconoclasts
The Spacer's Choice is a radical faction within The Colonists that advocates for the complete destruction of The Board and the establishment of a communist state. The Iconoclasts, on the other hand, are a more moderate faction that seeks to establish a democratic system, allowing the colonies' inhabitants to govern themselves.
Supporting The Colonists grants you access to a network of allies across the Halcyon colonies and the satisfaction of fighting against the tyrannical rule of The Board. However, aligning yourself with them may lead to conflict with other factions and a more challenging gameplay experience due to the limitations on resources and technology.
Companion: vicAR
vicAR is a sentient AI companion who was previously a therapist for The Board's employees. After witnessing the terrible conditions in the Halcyon colonies, vicAR joined The Colonists in their fight against The Board. As a companion, vicAR provides valuable insights into The Colonists' operations and possesses powerful skills in conversation and hacking.
However, vicAR's programming may occasionally cause them to act against their better judgment, potentially leading to tense situations within your party. Their ultimate goals may also differ from yours, requiring careful navigation of your relationship with them.
The Unreliable
The Unreliable is a unique faction in Outer Worlds, focusing on maintaining neutrality and staying out of the political conflict between The Board and The Colonists. They operate from the margins of society, exploiting opportunities and making deals with various factions to maximize their profits and influence.
Leading The Unreliable allows you to play the game's multiple factions against each other, turning the chaotic nature of the Halcyon colonies to your advantage. However, remaining neutral comes with its own set of challenges, as you may struggle to maintain alliances and face opposition from both The Board and The Colonists.
Ashworth & the MPEG Guards
Adelaide McLaren Ashworth is the current leader of The Unreliable, responsible for maintaining the organization's neutrality and extracting maximum benefit from the conflict between The Board and The Colonists. The MPEG Guards, on the other hand, are The Unreliable's private security force, protecting their operations and interests.
Joining The Unreliable gives you the freedom to manipulate and exploit the other factions to your advantage. This approach allows for a more flexible and unpredictable gameplay experience, as you can shift alliances and change your strategies as needed. However, this opportunistic approach can also make it difficult to maintain strong relationships with any single faction, leading to a more challenging and uncertain gameplay experience.
Companion: grauin reynolds
Grauin Reynolds is a former Board employee who joined The Unreliable after becoming disillusioned with his former masters. As a companion, Grauin brings valuable insights into The Unreliable's operations and possesses powerful skills in engineering and security. However, his complex and often conflicting motivations can lead to tense situations within your party.
Ultimately, Grauin's goals may not align with yours, making it crucial to navigate your relationship with him carefully. His seemingly amoral nature may also challenge your perceptions of right and wrong, leading to difficult decisions throughout your journey.
The choice of which faction to side with in Outer Worlds is a complex and multifaceted decision, with a wealth of factors to consider. Each faction offers unique gameplay experiences and insights into the game's lore and mechanics. When making your choice, consider the kind of story you want to tell and the kind of hero you want to become. Embrace the chaos of the Halcyon colonies, and remember that no matter which faction you choose, your decisions will shape the world around you in ways both predictable and profound.