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So mainly I was wondering what the most common/popular factions you see on the table top? Including sectorials I guess. I haven't started yet myself but hoping to in the next couple of months. Is there any reason why these factions pop up the most? I know there's the "it's not your list. It's your tactics" mentality in infinity. But surely that doesn't explain why certain factions are more popular then others.

Cheers,

You'll find some factions are more popular in one gaming community and other factions in other communities.

Overall I don't think there is a 'most common' faction.

Hi,
I think most player like YuJing. In my gaming group there are a lot of YJ-Players or players who own on of the sectorials, mostly Japanese. Next is IMO Ariadna and PanO. I don´t know a lot of Combined Players, but I´m not sure about it...

As good a measure as you might get of relative faction popularity is something like the Thread/Post counts from each of the sections on the Infinity forums. After all, people are more likely to be talking about their own factions or those they play against than those they don't see.

(I find that polls are often skewed based on who actually can be bothered to answer them. For an easy example, the typical "Left/Right Handed?" poll will almost always turn up a high percentage of left handers - being in the minority, it's a bigger deal in their lives and they're more motivated to answer the poll.)

As I last loaded the page:

PanOceania 648/12,145
Yu Jing 684/13,478
Ariadna 573/9,248
Haqqislam 515/9,851
Nomads 564/8,440
Combined Army 453/6,868
ALEPH 368/6,349
Tohaa 8/358

Obviously, ALEPH and Tohaa are newer factions, so that's a bigger factor in their lower posts. But for the factions from the original book, it seems like Yu Jing has a slight edge on how much it's talked about. And from that, I'll infer it's likely to be one of the more used factions, although there is always the possibility that it has reason to bring up more rules/fluff questions instead (still, it would have to be popular to raise a lot of those questions).

Amusingly, the post counts of the human factions appear to correlate slightly with their size in actual fluff. PanO and YJ are the superpower factions (if the wrong way around here), Ariadna and Haqq are smaller factions that still control a planet, Nomads consist of just three (large) spaceships and ALEPH are scarce agents of the AI.

Slightly, but only slightly. I'd guess PanO probably outnumber the Nomads several thousand to one.

Interesting, though.

EDIT - in my first post I'd meant to mention that although there isn't really a favourite faction there's a least favourite faction in the Combined Army, as shown in MarcoSkoll's figures. Whether this is because they have (in my opinion) a higher proportion of poor sculpts, are less popular due to being aliens/harder to empathise with or are harder to learn with (or a combination of all three) nobody seems to know.

They almost go in order of when they came out too. The Combined and Aleph came out last.

Our club has;

4 Yu Jing
4 Ariadna
3 PanO
3 Haqqi
2 Nomads
1 Tohaa

So far . . .

 IJW wrote:
Whether this is because they have (in my opinion) a higher proportion of poor sculpts, are less popular due to being aliens/harder to empathise with or are harder to learn with (or a combination of all three) nobody seems to know.

#2 was at least amongst the reasons I've heard to keep the Tohaa pretty human, at least in appearance. Inhuman models evidently don't sell well (the cat Daktari apparently excluded).

That, and a pinch of #1, is it for me. Much though I like the CA background (reminiscent in many ways of the late Mr Ulysses... I mean, the Covenant from Halo) and the concept of the EI, the models don't grasp me.

The thing about Combined Army to me is that it doesn't seem to fit the rest of Infinity. Infinity seems extremely focused on humans and their stuggles and politics, and Combined Army just feels sort of forced in to have an alien enemy. Even Tohaa seem to fit better.

Another part that pushes me away from Combined is, well, Infinity has some absolutely drop dead gorgeous human sci fi figs that just ooze style and surpass every other model range on the market. While the Combined Army figs are nice (I really love the Cascuda and the smaller Cascuda drop infantry), they're not up there with some of the better alien races offered by other companies.

 -Loki- wrote:
The thing about Combined Army to me is that it doesn't seem to fit the rest of Infinity. Infinity seems extremely focused on humans and their stuggles and politics, and Combined Army just feels sort of forced in to have an alien enemy. Even Tohaa seem to fit better.

Model aesthetics aside, this is exactly the point of the Combined Army!

They are extra-galactic, and bent on conquest.

I think Infinity "needed" a clear cut 'Bad Guy' and I think the CA fits the bill nicely!

Last time I checked with my group, it was:

4 Haqqi (3 QK).
3 PanO
2 Nomads
4 Ariadna
4 Combine
1 Tohaa (new player)
4 Yu-jing

Most of these players have multiple armies, though.

 Alpharius wrote:

 -Loki- wrote:
The thing about Combined Army to me is that it doesn't seem to fit the rest of Infinity. Infinity seems extremely focused on humans and their stuggles and politics, and Combined Army just feels sort of forced in to have an alien enemy. Even Tohaa seem to fit better.

Model aesthetics aside, this is exactly the point of the Combined Army!

They are extra-galactic, and bent on conquest.

I think Infinity "needed" a clear cut 'Bad Guy' and I think the CA fits the bill nicely!

You see, I don't mind having an out and out bad guy race, or an extra galactic mystery race. I play Tyranids afterall.

The problem is, at least to me, is that the game universe hasn't been set up properly to make them fit. It works with Tyranids because 40k is the epitome of over the top sci fi ridiculousness, and with rampaging ape fungi, crystalline elves, various old military forces IN SPACE, heaven vs hell backdrop and everything else, extra galactic aliens are borderline normal.

But in Infinity, it just feels forced. They had this awesome game universe set up with warriing human factions, each very unique, and just thought 'We need aliens, throw some in there'.

 -Loki- wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:

 -Loki- wrote:
The thing about Combined Army to me is that it doesn't seem to fit the rest of Infinity. Infinity seems extremely focused on humans and their stuggles and politics, and Combined Army just feels sort of forced in to have an alien enemy. Even Tohaa seem to fit better.

Model aesthetics aside, this is exactly the point of the Combined Army!

They are extra-galactic, and bent on conquest.

I think Infinity "needed" a clear cut 'Bad Guy' and I think the CA fits the bill nicely!

You see, I don't mind having an out and out bad guy race, or an extra galactic mystery race. I play Tyranids afterall.

The problem is, at least to me, is that the game universe hasn't been set up properly to make them fit. It works with Tyranids because 40k is the epitome of over the top sci fi ridiculousness, and with rampaging ape fungi, crystalline elves, various old military forces IN SPACE, heaven vs hell backdrop and everything else, extra galactic aliens are borderline normal.

But in Infinity, it just feels forced. They had this awesome game universe set up with warriing human factions, each very unique, and just thought 'We need aliens, throw some in there'.

See where you are coming from Loki, but i think thats exactly the point! Its an age of naivety, of assuming that we are alone in the galaxy (universe? not sure on scale...) and of petty backbiting instead of being wary of what might be out there.

Thats why the CA works in Infinity. The introduction of not only a big bad alien enemy, but the introduction of a power that would not only fight you, but conquer you. This isnt a spat over Teseum or land, or Silk or anything like that, it becomes a fight for survival. This is a fight for the future of the human race, and seeing whether or not the various human factions can unite (or at least stop fighting each other) long enough/quick enough that the CA doesnt just roll over us...

Yes, its very much like the Tyranids in 40k, but i think the point is that you almost expect an enemy like that in something as grimdark as 40k, thats almost the point of the setting, the brutal, gritty survival of the Imperium against every other thing out there, struggling to keep everything together on a war on all fronts...Whereas in Infinity you have the infighting between factions, that while dangerous and deadly, are really only skirmishes, its a fairly lighthearted setting (especially in contrast), but really, there is a deep, dark undertone to everything you see/read, that just on the horizon is a war like nothing the Human sphere has so far encountered...

Just my view on them anyway...

EDIT: added some stuff...

I think its also really interesting that this amazing and revolutionary society-changing technology / resource (silk and cubes) has some connection to the aliens (helloooo sepsitors!)

Well said Revenent Reiko!

I also like that the EI is pushing Aleph, and maybe making it into something that eventually Humanity will have to be afraid of - just like the Nomads have been saying all along!

Eh, I guess their fluff just isn't going to work for me.

Thanks Alphy, hadnt really thought about why i liked them so much before, but once i put pen to paper (as it were) it just sort of flowed...

and i agree, its a learning machine, so what happens if all it learns is war...? *dun dun duuuuuuun*

I like them too. I think they are something like a catalyst in the Infinity universe. I like the crazy Shasvastii with their super paranoia and the EI. The Morat are a bit too much like klingons of Star Trek or orcs but they have style too...don´t understand the problems with CA at all....but I like the models and that´s a very important point...

Interesting to see that Yu-Jing is so popular.

There isn't an active Infinity community around me, so much of my Infinity life is 'theoretical' vs. 'practical'.

Many seem to think that PanO are the "Space Marines" of Infinity.

Maybe that's true, but it looks like Yu-JIng is too!

 IJW wrote:
EDIT - in my first post I'd meant to mention that although there isn't really a favourite faction there's a least favourite faction in the Combined Army, as shown in MarcoSkoll's figures. Whether this is because they have (in my opinion) a higher proportion of poor sculpts, are less popular due to being aliens/harder to empathise with or are harder to learn with (or a combination of all three) nobody seems to know.

So I play Shasvastii-heavy Combined, and enjoy being the eevil gribblies of my game store quite a bit. However I totally feel this empathy problem, to the point that I'd really like to branch out into a human faction. Here's where the monkey wrench gets thrown in: I've wanted to play Nomads since they existed back when, and was just about to hit up some BJC action, when I watched a buddy play his Nomads and realized that a) lots of people play these guys/gals, and b) they're a bit too much like my Shasii, albeit fleshier and all together a lot curvier (Sheskiin not withstanding )

And so I'm picking up the Tohaa starter tomorrow. Forever doomed to be the xenos guy

EDIT: Until the Riot Grrls box comes out, that is. BJC here I come

- Salvage

I ordered one of the Tohaa starters this week, so add one more to the Tohaa. Then again, I'm just getting into the game and have picked up too many factions. But I'm supplying the models for my group, so I should have a bunch.

My buddy is getting them too. I'm looking forward to go up against them.

At our FLGS :

3 Nomads
3 Alephs
2 Haaqislams
2 Yu Jing
1 Pan O
1 Combined

Alote more bought starters+models but they rarely play so they don't count them as active players...

 -Loki- wrote:
Eh, I guess their fluff just isn't going to work for me.

Have you read the rulebook's background Loki? The CA are a pretty big part of it, like Revenant Reiko says its like a dark red glow on the horizon that everyone knows is there but are refusing to acknowledge in amongst their own inter-faction squabbles. I don't think it feels forced, more like an integral part of it, and the CA themselves have some really cool (and somewhat mysterious) background and reasons for wanting the human sphere beyond 'kill attack raaarrgggh', which has been the rallying cry of at least 90% of alien species in every bit of science fiction/fantasy background written ever!

In fact, with the storyline seemingly progressing in the new book, the introduction of the Tohaa makes perfect sense. Although the CA incursion was limited to Paradiso in the main rulebook, the implication is that with their 'voodoo tech', and overwhelming application of force, the rest of the human sphere was getting its bottom kicked. The Tohaa are another element that was needed to contain the CA, or at least give reason for them not steamrollering further human planets if the time line is to continue.

In my club I think that most armies are covered, but with some players have two or three factions each. I think at least five players have Nomads, a couple have Pan-O, a couple Haqqislam, one CA.

I'd really like to get into the Combined Army. Partially because I've always fancied a Tyranid force, and it'd be a hell of a lot cheaper this way

Hell if you friends don't mind you can use genestealers as Hungries!

My group is hovering around four people now (lost one but gained one who didn't previously play Infinity). The rundown is:

Me: Yu Jing & Nomads
#1: Ariadna, Aleph and Military Orders
#2: Combined Army
#3: Haqqislam

#1 and I have been playing the longest out of the whole group and #3 is a recent convert who only just got his starter. The player we lost was a general Pan Oceania player, I miss killing his Cutter. *sniffle*

I'm thinking about picking up another force but I was out of actively playing Infinity for over a year so I need to pick up a bunch of stuff to catch my collection up (I used to have at least one of almost everything released for Yu Jing). But once I have my Yu Jing and Nomads up to snuff, I think I'll do the "play a specific sectorial" thing and grab Qapu Khalqi. So far no one has claimed Tohaa, but they haven't done anything that has really wowed me yet.

I have to admit, even with my misgivings on the Combined Army, the Morat stuff looks ace. The Morat sectorial is very tempting as a second army.