Gaian/Cthonic cards to the existing elements.
Maybe, maybe not. For now we'll aim for the core 12, then see if people want Other + Outside Factions (Void,Psi,Mirror,etc...). I still need feedback on the abilities in the first post of the thread.
I think sufficient justification could be found for most of the 12 Elements to favor Gaian/Cthonic with a rough 3-per-element model - Elements that favor Gaian/Cthonic would have their 'hybrid' GC card display more Gaian/Cthonic traits. A very small number of elements completely reject one of the two factions - these could developed into later 'traitior' cards once we are done with the main Gaian/Cthonic project.
Here's my view on the Element-Faction interactions. For the purpose of the below table, I refer to the Cthonic 'deity' as Hephan and the Gaian deity as Demea. (Names are based on
).
Elements | Thoughts on Gaian | Thoughts on Cthonic | Thoughts on Hybrid | Card Range |
| "Wisdom must be found in the essence of the world(s) we traverse. To gain this knowledge, we must broaden our experiences." | "Tradition holds us bound to certain techniques and technologies we may use to achieve true enlightenment." | "We must embrace both ways, and use newfound knowledge to improve upon the lesson that we teach." | GG,GC,CC |
| "Nature does not only encompass your trees. The Sacred Wind holds the natural probes to explore and uncover more things in this world." | "The Steel Wind is a concept separate from nature. She gives our machines flight, the ability to expand quickly and in one straight path." | "A divine wind sings to touch both the arrows of wood and the bullets of metal. What makes you think we should not explore both routes?" | GG,GC,CC |
| "The shadows hold secrets, with no need for interference to leave them kept. Interested in 'stealing' a few?" | "To maintain the desires/fears of the unknown, we must become it's wards and traders." | "Why work to benefit a faction, when you can work to benefit yourself in the end?" | GG,GC,CC |
| "Nature ends at some point, and sinks into the grave. We guide the spirits and give them new purpose, if needed." | "The undead already start soulless. Adding metal only builds upon that trait." | "A great necromancer uses all materials present in the grave. A lingering soul, a ceremonial sword, they all become part of the constructs I raise." | GG,GC,CC |
| "We abhor the concept of 'Nature' that plagues this world. Only by following the blueprints does one complete a building." | "We praise Terrma, the Earth's Will, for enlightening us to the great steel that we shape to his will." | "I was once bound to the steel will of Terrma's sight. I fear now that encountering Demea's will allows me to see why so many wished to twist his decrees." | GC (Traitor),CC |
| "The endless chaos of the world is everywhere! The arrival of this so called 'goddess' proves it! Hey, want some noodles?" | "Bah. We hate those that declare ideas only go in one direction. Also, ice cream is the best!" | "Developed order can get you somewhere... if you use it properly to distill chaos on your opponents. And order that doesn't swing in favor of my enemies is a source of chaos, isn't it?" | GG, GC (Traitor) |
| "Fire is an energy that springs from the wood. Likewise, a volcano erupts in many directions at once. Rage and flame can come from multiple sources, from the hot-headed pyromancer to the sheer fury of a meteor." | "Tempering goes best on one thing - cold steel." | "Metal is pliable when under the heat of a properly prepared forge. Figure out what it becomes." | GG,GC,CC |
| "Technology does not need nature's bidding to improve upon it. We perfect constructs as Terrma directs it." | "Terrma sets out a series of guidelines - our goal is to figure out how to reach their ends." | "There is no reason to defect to a faction that at best corrupts well-planned constructs with malfunctioning cells and at worst abhors the usage of carefully crafted robots." | CC |
| "The wood is sacred to Demea, and likewise we too must carefully improve upon Nature's blessings." | "We see little use in metal, as it does not grow from the blessings of Demea nor feels any emotion." | "Flesh inevitably intertwines itself with metal. A twisted perfection, yet, a beautiful one." | GG, GC (Tratior) |
| "Nature is another messenger in which we may help everyone and unite them in bliss." | "Only one kind of peace exists, and it is through a brotherhood of steel where all think as one." | "We must unite the powers of flesh and metal, rather than flay one or condemn the other." | GG, GC, CC |
| "The future is like an ocean, a wide, open storm. So is the rest of time, if you look carefully enough." | "Time is set into one, direct path. Like a piece of metal, it does not crave to be changed in more destructive hands." | "Time is like a living clock, with the living mind of a man yet with the precision of a robot." | GG,GC,CC |
| "Water is the catalyst by which Demea sends her blessings. Likewise, we encourage the continuing growth of our allies." | "Metal corrodes before our touch and Terrma's objects seem to slip through our hands. Freezing ourselves into ice gives us the potential to harness this power, but the metal they use greatly fears the heat."* | "It is not possible to find a meeting point between the chant of nature and the dirge of metal. Either one solidifies to hold the iron or one lets it sink past his hands." | GG,CC |
Liquids/moisture rust metal, metal can be very dense. Ice elementals can use metal but it tends to become brittle and thus very weak to fire.