Meta-Factions
1 Definition: Groups of factions and independent players with a     commitment to their region’s” success and goals.
2 Purpose: Exist to give several factions (rival or not) reasons to work together, automatically getting players involved in intrigue and rivalry against other “metafactions”. 
3 Which Ones-
A Upper Sanctuary: clearest existing metafaction is some ways. Upper has a clear goal; to protect Sanctuary and survive in the Underdark even if that means dominating other those who do not wish Upper’s protection. Its factions do not agree on how best to keep Sanctuary safe, but all agree that that is their primary goal.
		1 Watch
		2 Seekers
		3 Society of Ordered Mind
		4 Spellguard	
B Lower Sanctuary: existing in opposition to the Upper faction makes Lower slightly more understandable. It exists to survive but is much more independent. Survival means community, but doesn’t necessitate “protecting” those who don’t agree with your methods. 
		1 Golden Mercenaries
		2 Seekers
		3 Brotherhood of Ascension
		4 Lower Watch
		5 Crone Staff and Crew
C Sewertown: Sewertown exists for survival, the remnants of a failed Lower uprising, but Sewertown appears to have evolved past mere “surviving” to embracing various theories on the reality of life in Dunwarren from beliefs that illithids secretly rule the world, to beliefs all souls in Sanctuary are existed as the damned in Hell, or that demonically created machines are replacing the elites in Upper. Sewertown is a region for those furthest out on the fringe, outsiders, exiles, radicals all find refuge here.
		1. Sewertown has no visible factions involved in it.
D Escapees: Those new to Sanctuary, who have yet to form a regional affiliation and quickly will move to do so.
		1. Obviously, no “factions” exist amongst the recently escaped.
E Outsiders: Those who don’t live in Sanctuary. Rather than existing as metafactions, these are merely places that do not even have factions operating in their interest.
		1 Fort Mur: Could develop as a duergar faction.
2 Blue Mushroom: Although it exists as an inn, it really feels like the BM could become a location for a svirneblin settlement, it could truly grow and even become a small village of svirneblin who are willing to shelter some escaped slaves if they prove themselves to the community.
3 Pyrimo: This could be an excellent location for a fully functioning DM faction if it isn’t already.
4 Benefits of Membership: 
	1 Cheaper rates at Inns, Merchants in their “region”.
	2 Access to special “region” gear—starting equipment
	This needn’t be much, in fact it would still amount to little more than either
		A Specific starting equipment for each class
		B Access to a super cheap “regional” newbie shop
	3 Access to special “region” quests
	 Quests that only open if either
		A One member of that region gets it
		B All party members are from that region. (I don’t hire outsiders/I don’t 			trust scabs)
		 
5 Hindrences to Operation
	1 Sewertown lacks any reason for low level PCs to frequent 
A Currently, many players don’t even get sewer keys I imagine. Having 	the option to play a character raised in Sewertown should come		complete with a sewerkey for you to start out with.
B Sewertown lacks quests for the most part, parties don’t go there 	frequently. If Sewertown had more needs, “fetch us food/fetch us 	supplies/cleanse our water” especially as low level-mid level 	quests people would have more reason to be there.
C. Sewertown lacks goals. Is it going to overthrow Upper, is it still			 harboring a grudge? Its got a great personality, but the fringe 	groups lack cohesion as “factions” and lack even more apparently 	any goal at all even as simple as “terrorize/proselytize outsiders 	into accepting the Truth”
	2 Lack of ability to organize quests in their region
A. If you want to organize a quest, without resorting to Tells or the Buddy Only system you have to go to Upper. Either to find people in the Rock Bottom or to make a sending. Lower and Sewertown should have their own “sending” system. Perhaps not as good as the Upper system, but perhaps orphans in Lower are hired to run through the streets shouting (loudly enough you hear them from inside buildings) and in Sewertown you can pay Mad Tom a few coins to send rats that find other “sewer folk” you can alert to a quest. 
	3 Lack of clarity in metafaction relationships
		A. If metafactions are to work, it needs to be clear that there is more			 rivalry between them. The impression (correct or not) is that Upper and 			Lower have few differences, only a few demogogues stoke the fires of 			rivalry. Sewertown has no desire to do anything to the other metafactions 			and no perception of being in danger from them. There should be different 		or stronger perceptions, stereotypical “Upper/Lower/Sewer” views that 			while not descriptive of all NPCs and PCs do tend to reflect the feelings of 		the majority.
1 Upper could deign Sewertown the last remnants of treasonist mad men that must be destroyed, while Lower is a barbaric, criminal riddled cesspool that must be contained by draconian measures to ensure Upper’s safety and freedom. 
2 Lower is better defined here, since most Lower folk do think Upper is composed of tyrannically domineering elites unconcerned with Lower’s freedom or rights so long as they can milk economic or social advantages and ensure no threat can harm Upper by coming through Lower first. 
3. Sewertown, as discussed could more readily be prepared to continue the good fight, the guerilla war against Upper tyranny while remaining baffled at the inability of Lower to see the Truth and fight for it  (whether Strangebones, Red Skulls, or other Conspiracy Theory) even if they *do* fight Upper sometimes.
	4 Inability to “move” regions.
Finally, your “region” should mean something more than just where you get some special quests or perks. If you are in “Sewertown” but spend most your time hanging out in the Rock Bottom, doing quests for Upper folk, you should find your “metafaction” NPCs start to lose faith in you, and start treating you like an outsider while the Upper NPCs start to view you as an Upper member—essentially exchanging the various perks but even earning enmity (former “metafaction” members may pay more than outsiders even or have NPCs who only give them rude responses).

An excellent read as always Oroborous. Dead nuts on too.

One thing I used to ponder was: I think what makes the RB preferable (for some) to the Crone is the more good-centric nature of upper, as well as close proximity to the citizen stone sending area and to many low level quests. I don't think it would take much to tilt the balance a little there to spread the playerbase slightly. In fact I have often thought a citizen stone registry/ sending area in lower that would allow for the much sought after "get yer own BS name on your stone" option would be great. In fact I often thought it would be a good hook for an enterprising player to go after.

Oro has a well thought out and convincing argument as usual. But I must disagree with Sedarine on a citizen stone system for lower. First, the split is still fairly recent. Second, I have enjoyed my evil chars more than the good ones because there was a place for the "undesirables" to gather. Lastly, I don't think anyone should be encouraged to play any alignment. This has the possibility of dramatically altering the balance of good/evil on the server, which in my opinion is just about right (if not quite evil enough).

Actually, I don't think any "metafaction" would have an alignment at all in the good/evil view. Upper appears to favor Law though I'd point out, while Lower tends to be nuetral (not Neutral), and Sewertown appears more Chaotic.

Yet I know evil thrives, really really thrives in Upper. Having had two evil characters that indeed, thrived in the organizations of Upper.

Yeah, I got a little off-topic on this one. I fully agree with the meta-faction idea. I just wanted to point out that part of the charm of Lower was it's pseudo-seperation from Upper. If Lower starts acting like Upper, it risks losing it's seperate ambience. Anyways, bring on the meta-faction action!