Alliance Restrictions Shape How Players Read NPC Factions

When designing NPC factions for a competitive board game, their existence enriches the game world by hinting at politics within the theme. Restrictions on alliances with an NPC faction influence how players perceive the game's thematic power dynamics. Specifically:

1. A faction that only one player can ally with appears subordinate to the players.
2. A faction that is hostile to all players appears to be equal to the players.
3. A faction that multiple players can ally with appears to be superior to the players.

Exclusive alliances evoke the appearance of a subordinate because only a stronger faction can restrict a faction's relationships with others. In Root, the Hirelings are small NPC groups players can control. Hirelings are controlled by one player for a few turns, then control passes to another player. Their exclusivity and small size make it clear they are politically weaker than player factions.

If an NPC faction is hostile to all player factions, it appears to be a political equal, at least in competitive games. This is because players are also hostile to each other, so the NPC faction's motivations simulate those of a player. The existence of an enemy faction implies it has the power to survive even against powerful opponents. This is common in games that replace players with automa at lower player counts, as those automa replace player-controlled factions.

NPC factions that can ally with multiple players appear more powerful than the players who ally with them by framing their conflict as a squabble among subordinates. In Arcs, the Empire exists as a faction independent of the players and controls systems with imperial ships. Though one player can act as regent of the empire, multiple players can belong to it simultaneously, all framed as imperial subjects of a greater power.

You can design NPC factions that do not follow these tendencies: great powers that support only one player, peers that ally with anyone, or hostile minor powers. The mechanical exclusivity of alliances simply fits better with some power dynamics than others. If alliance mechanics are already decided for a faction, consider whether their narrative power level matches their willingness to work with players.