{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/strategy-planning--t074","type":"mechanic","id":"strategy-planning--t074","lang":"en","title":"Asymmetric factions","summary":"Factions solve shared strategic problems through different systems; balance depends on comparable practical options.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/strategy-planning--t074/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/strategy-planning--t074.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/strategy-planning--t074.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Strategy games","Mechanics and variants"],"sourceIds":["source-32d0598945d8807a","source-a87676af6ff3df88"],"sources":[{"id":"source-32d0598945d8807a","title":"OpenRA","url":"https://www.openra.net/","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-a87676af6ff3df88","title":"Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/17480/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Factions solve shared strategic problems through different systems; balance depends on comparable practical options."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Mechanic variants\n\n<a id=\"t074-variants\"></a>\n\n- Different resources alter development routes. <a id=\"t074-v1\"></a>\n- A mobile base replaces stationary defense. <a id=\"t074-v2\"></a>\n- Numbers compensate for individual unit weakness. <a id=\"t074-v3\"></a>\n- Terrain conversion creates a unique power zone. <a id=\"t074-v4\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"A nomadic faction moves depots away from a raid but suspends production during relocation.\n\nPrototype check: Test every faction pairing on small and large maps, including responses to early aggression."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Strategy connects production, territory, information and long-term commitments against an uncertain opponent. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"strategy-planning","id":"t074","title":"Strategy games","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/strategy-planning/#t074","categoryIds":["mechanics"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Asymmetric factions","description":"Factions solve shared strategic problems through different systems; balance depends on comparable practical options.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/strategy-red-alert3-11.webp","width":1224,"height":918,"game":"Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/17480/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/17480/0000006512.1920x1080.jpg?t=1779987212","credit":"EA Los Angeles / Electronic Arts","rights":"© EA Los Angeles / Electronic Arts. All rights reserved.","caption":"Opposing sides use different combat vehicles","alt":"Opposing sides use different combat vehicles","markers":[{"x":53,"y":37,"label":"A vehicle firing an electrical weapon"},{"x":18,"y":66,"label":"The opponent fields different combat vehicles"}]},"tips":["Compare the usefulness of responses to threats rather than matching faction statistics."],"examples":[{"title":"Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ 3","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/17480/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/strategy-planning"}}