Factions are one of the essential parts of Kepler’s lore. Each faction is going to have it’s own unique stats, leveling and crafting systems. Faction choice affects the plot movement and character’s development.
There are three factions in Population Zero at the moment (more are coming): Xenobiote, Technocrat, and Void (a kind of transition between the first two).
The Choice
Mysterious forces on Kepler affect everything, including the character from the moment the player appears on the planet for the first time. During their life on Kepler, characters are constantly changing and even losing the human form.
Void
Void is the first stage of evolution and faction-based gameplay. Having become a void, the player’s character gets more survivability, strength, and resistances than other Kepler inhabitants. Being a void, players can’t get poisoned; they have more damage and endurance. Also, they can find unique things that are unavailable to other factions. However, voids can’t build, craft objects, wear armor or wield weapons.
The first time colonist loses human form; he gets a particular quest that helps him choose the future path — become a Technocrat or a Xenobiote. The choice is not final: after becoming a Xenobiote the player can change into a Technocrat and vice versa. One can also choose to stay a void. After all, he is the perfect hunter.
The Technocrat
Technocrats are colonists who chose to go back to the human-ish roots. Though they can’t become 100% human anymore, they decide to stay in that form. To become a Technocrat, the player has to find an implantation module that helps to fight the transformations that change them during rebirths.
When leveling, Technocrats learn how to create more advanced devices and tools, improving armor and weapons. Technologic advance is their way, and all they want is to turn Kepler into New Earth.
The Xenobiote
Xenobiotes are colonists who decided to unify with nature. They choose to create a symbiosis between Kepler’s flora and fauna and conform to their unique features. The process of turning into a Xenobiote is entirely different from the Technocrat’s. The first biome where they genuinely feel powerful will be the Jungle biome. The symbiosis with local fauna and animals will allow for both fast crafting, weapon building, and construction. Instead of tools, Xenobiotes will use plants for crafting; they do not kill the animals like technocrats do, but rather ally with them. To upgrade, players will use a complex mutation system.
Who will win?
Becoming a Xenobiote or a Technocrat is a personal choice every player has to make. Though the factions have some similarities like the ability to wear the same armor, they follow different evolution paths. Technocrats want to conquer the planet while Xenobiotes believe in alliance with nature. This leads to the open conflict between the factions.
Which side will win? Or will the factions have to join forces to fight off something even more dangerous than each other? Only time will tell.
