Overview

During this season of giving, everyone should analyze their conflicts with their enemies to determine whether or not a mutual understanding can be made in the name of peace.

What would happen if all conflicts in the galaxy ceased to exist? Would people from various factions gather together to be thankful?

Before we can dream about the future, we must first look at the present to see which factions are currently hostile with each other.

What is Faction?

There are two meanings to the term Faction in Star Wars Galaxies. One of them refers to the two warring sides in the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. Players can join these factions and engage in player vs. player combat with one another, as well as advance in standing with the faction.

The other type of faction is simply the game tracking how various groups of NPCs feel about you. If you are consistently mean to Jawas, eventually Jawas will come to hate you, and may attack you on sight.

Faction Points and Perks

Faction points are acquired by earning GCW points for the Rebellion or the Empire. If you acquire enough faction points, you can visit a Faction Recruiter who will sell you special rewards.

Once you are a member of a faction, you can earn faction points to purchase faction perks, which are special benefits that are only granted to members of the faction. Examples of faction perks include special weapons and armor.

Opposing Factions

Regardless of the planet or surrounding space, the galaxy is saturated with groups that despise each another. These factions are more than willing to have unsuspecting adventurers work for them and earn their trust. Some groups will only let you work for payment though because they will never trust an outsider like you!

Here are a few opposing factions that can be found within the galaxy as you know it.

Galactic Civil War

The Galactic Civil War is the on-going battle between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance that spans many worlds. The Empire has broad control and power throughout the galaxy. Its immense size makes it vulnerable, however, and the Rebel Alliance takes advantage of this at every opportunity. The Empire is ruled over by Emperor Palpatine.

As a politician in the Old Republic, Emperor Palpatine gained political power using the corruption of the senate as a springboard to his own goals. Using his political savvy, he gained control of the senate and promised to restore the order of the galaxy. He now oversees all planets under Imperial control.

The Alliance to Restore the Republic, more commonly known as the Rebel Alliance, was formed by Senators Mon Mothma of Chandrila, Bail Organa of Alderaan, and Garm bel Iblis of Corellia in the early days of the Empire. The Alliance fights for two things: to bring freedom of the galaxy by bringing back the Old Republic and the defeat of the hated Galactic Empire.

Nym versus the Trade Federation

The pirates that prey on the spacelanes have a variety of motives. Greed and power are most common, but there are those brigands with a sense of honor and higher purpose. Nym is just one example.

Nym was orphaned at an early age. He was raised by harsh criminals as a child, contributing to his physical skills and abrasive personality. By the time he reached adulthood, Nym's reputation as a fierce fighter and brilliant tactician earned him respect in the underworld. Before long, he amassed a pirate crew and became a scourge of the space lanes.

Nym's fearsomeness came not from cruel acts of violence, but in fact, he made every effort to minimize bloodshed in all his ventures. It was the speed and effectiveness of his raids that earned him his fearsome reputation. One of his prized spoils of piracy became his personal ship, a heavily modified Scurrg H-6 bomber he named the Havoc.

Nym's success eventually got the better of him. Hoodwinked by a Trade Federation-hired mercenary named Vana Sage, Nym was captured trying to fence a cache of secret weapons. He spent time in a Trade Federation brig, but was promptly rescued by his loyal crew.

Returning to his base on Lok, he found it flattened by a reprisal strike delivered by the Trade Federation. Enraged by his new enemy, Nym partnered with two unlikely allies to wreak his own brand of havoc against the colossal foe. Rhys Dallow was a Naboo pilot devoted to protecting his world. The very same Vana Sage who captured Nym was in turn betrayed by the Federation, and joined Nym in a quest for vengeance.

During the Battle of Naboo, Nym provided crucial support to the combined Naboo and Gungan efforts to repulse the Trade Federation. His Havoc transformed Trade Federation military hardware into smoking rubble.

For his role in helping liberate the planet, Nym was awarded a full pardon from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine for his past crimes. But Nym wasn't about to turn a new leaf. He returned to the fringe life, leaving his newfound friends behind.

Returning to Lok, Nym found that the Trade Federation was using his old base as a staging ground for their raids in the Karthakk system. Creditless and without his forces, Nym couldn't hope to defeat them, so he lay low in Bothan space looking for work.

Nym spent the next few years working the oddest of jobs, but before long, he rebuilt his pirate forces, becoming a capable and distinguished leader.

Jawa versus the Tusken Raiders

Also known as Sand People, the Tusken Raiders, are primitive desert nomads and killers adept at surviving the harsh desert environment. They are named for their bloody overthrow of Fort Tusken on Tatooine. Their origin is unknown, but they've fought against the humans since they moved to Tatooine. Since most of their technology is stolen from settlers, it's not rare to find hundred year old rifles still being used by them.

Tusken Raiders are a threat to all, primarily settlers and travelers. Most inhabitants of Tatooine believe that until the Sand People are wiped out, no one is safe.

Jawa, one of the native species of Tatooine, are a fairly peaceful race but with the Tusken Raiders. They are short, wear brown robes that cover their faces at all times, have glowing yellow eyes, and deal in "used" technological equipment, including star ship parts, vehicles, and mostly droids.

The Meatlumps versus CorSec

The Corellian Security Force, also known as CorSec, is the police force for the Corellian sector of the galaxy, including Talus. They keep a close watch on the renegade group known as the Meatlumps.

The Meatlumps are a band of thugs described by the CorSec authorities as "fanatical" and as "somewhat stupid" anti-technology terrorists. It is reported that they are led by three brothers: Hraykken Bender, Draykken Bender, and Louis Bender. There is a rumor, however, that the true leader of the Meatlumps is someone who known only as the Meatlump King. The story continues that his three sons, all dullards in their own right, formed the Meatlumps after Imperial assassins attempted to kill their father. They named themselves after their favorite food.

The Meatlump Base is in Coronet on Corellia underneath the city in some old and long abandoned maintenance tunnels and chambers. Dissatisfied with the normal choices for currency, the Meatlumps decided to create the "Lump" and have been using it to fund their operation.

Endor Marauders versus Ewoks versus Duloks

Ewoks are the primary native civilization on the Forest Moon of Endor. They are a small race of furry humanoids that live in treetop villages, or in some cases, in homes built on stilts by the lakeshores. The two tribes of Ewoks are called Gondula and Panshee.

The "evil form" of the Ewoks, Duloks are ill-proportioned cousins featuring fangs and large, pointed ears. Like the Ewoks, they are also native to the Forest Moon of Endor. Donkuwah is the main tribe of Duloks.

Long ago, a reptilian species was stranded on the Forest Moon of Endor. These Marauders, as they are known, have been living there ever since, attacking visitors to the planet and are enemies of the Ewoks and Duloks. They are a warlike society and scavenge any technology they can find.

Witches of Dathomir

On the far edge of the galaxy lies the hostile planet known as Dathomir. It is inhabited by many aggressive beings, including the Witches of Dathomir, a group of Force-sensitive women who ride fearsome rancors. There are two key clans of the witches - a group of Darksiders calling itself the Nightsisters and the Singing Mountain Clan that follows the lighter side of the Force.

The Nightsisters are a matriarchy of Dark side Force users native to Dathomir. They should not be mistaken for Dathamiri witches, who cast out the Nightsisters who used the Dark side of the Force for using "magic that did not need singing, chanting, spells or rituals". Once the Emperor discovered the Nightsisters, he took control of the planet, forbidding any Dark Force user from leaving the planet.

Enemies of the Nightsisters, the Singing Mountain clan are the mortal enemies of the Nightsisters. They are wary and cautious of men, never trusting them, and sometimes killing or enslaving them. People who have seen the home of the Singing Mountain Clan return with strange reports of unusual sights.

Visitors to Dathomir often find themselves siding with either side of the feud - benefiting from trade with these powerful indigenous creatures. Outcast clans continuously try their best to convince the visitors to work against the two main powers.

What other opposing factions can you name?