S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Lore - Introduction to Faction Relations

[@sprypry]

Stalker stop playing guitar, there's a new Dugout video.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

:)

[@egementopcu3950]

*Boots up the PDA*

[@latewizard301]

Shit internet here in Merc base...

[@egementopcu3950]

​@@latewizard301I thought you guys always had the best equipment

[@latewizard301]

​@egementopcu3950 I think they just don't want us sitting around all day, that's all.

[@newt4050]

Clear Sky is always my favorite faction, it's sad that they're gone At least Novikov is alive

[@minhnghiemtuan1792]

And Nimble.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Understandable.

[@newt4050]

@@minhnghiemtuan1792 oh yeah, how could I forget

[@judsongaiden9878]

You can play as Clear Sky in Anomaly. They have some of the most interesting armors.

[@newt4050]

@@judsongaiden9878 it won't make a difference to me anyway since Anomaly is just a fanfic game lol

[@Iron_Soil]

This will be great topic becuse the relations where changing with games So they are quite dynamic

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Indeed.

[@Broken_Savior]

I really appreciate how you touched on the dynamic between Duty and Freedom without the usual phallus-measuring that is typically involved whenever one, or the other, is brought up.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yeah it's really getting annoying.

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

Duty does not only possibly trade with Military, if I remember correctly the Duty leaders want all artefacts to either be handed in to them, or to Ecologists, so they probably have some agreement going. Edit: It may also be worth nothing the neutral stance between Renegades and Bandits, it could be that Renegades were one of the bandit "clans" that were particularly vile enough to eventually morph into their own faction.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes maybe. Renegades and Bandits never meet so who knows what would happen if they did.

[@Benetkabc2nd]

Lets admit it, Renegades were created so you can kill "bandits" in campaign and also have opportunity to join Bandits :D @@anomalousdugout9557

[@MutheiM_Marz]

My belief is, Bandit is a loner gone bad and cast out. Renegade is a full fledge systemic criminal, and they recruit a new member from bandit.

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

From what I read elsewhere, the main difference between Bandits and Renegades is that Bandits are Stalkers that became organized raiding parties, while Renegades are defectors from Duty, Freedom, Mercs, etc

[@ВиталийИванов-з9з]

I think that the Renegades are the same representatives of the criminal world and people from the Bandits faction, but unlike ordinary Bandits, who live by their criminal concepts and their own gangster code, the Renegades are such vile scumbags and lawless men who don’t give a damn even to the bandit code, that they were rejected even by the Bandits.

[@grimmerjxcts2206]

Monolith: shoot everything that moves 😎👍

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes.

[@Korben-c5x]

That’s basically monolith

[@geram2431]

"not all freedomers smoke weed" that shit got me laughing

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Unfortunately some people still think that.

[@yercules]

These videos are excellent! It does not only intrigue new stalkers to start playing the trilogy but also provides veteran stalkers new angles and knowledge of the lore in Stalker. You're great at this; thank you for making them!

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Thanks.

[@nellivajnagi1011]

Thank you Your video have unique atmosphere, it's like comeback in 2007-2013

[@anomalousdugout9557]

I guess it is.

[@B.L.I.N.O.V.]

And I'm here hoping to see the Final Day faction in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Maybe it will happen, who knows.

[@5-56x45mm_NATO]

I hope in stalker 2 there will be the ISG

[@ttttttttony]

Many years into the trilogy, yet I found this narration is so well put together so I actually enjoyed this video very much.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Nice :)

[@Operator_Krystof]

Man I just finished studying for an exam tommorow, and I can just finish the day with another anomalous dugout video

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Nice, good luck for your exam.

[@177Willy]

I feel u fellow stalker 💪🏻

[@starioncostumes]

Good summary. Honestly, if there was one man in the zone to ask about it's story, it would be Nimble. He is a real underdog. Keeps his head low, but hat some serious business going on.

[@zoneoperator]

Average Stalker: "So you're purposefully making little to no progress so you can constantly collect a stream Government funding?" Ecologists: "First of all....lower your voice..."

[@anomalousdugout9557]

:)

[@kordroll1955]

Still better then freedom (infantile idiots) and duty (lots of talking while doing almost nothing). Even monolith makes more sense than freedom (much more)

[@uteriel282]

@@kordroll1955 at least freedom protects the southern part of the zone from being overrun by monolith forces while trying to make the zone more accessible to more people. without them around there wouldnt be any factions in the zone other than monolith and the military. meanwhile duty shoots a couple dogs and calls that mission accomplished.

[@kordroll1955]

@@uteriel282 duty: +, they are almost useless; Freedom: i don't think so. Military is doing freedom's goal much better. Freedom is just sitting on base surrounded by enemies and do nothing to accomplish their goals. Maybe i don't understand what they did/doing for their goals

[@jamesabernethy7896]

Although I've been through STALKER several times and am well acquainted with the factions, I've really liked this short introduction.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Nice.

[@StuGLyfe]

Good vid. I think a lot of people get caught up in the story of mods and don't know the official content. A lot of my buddies were convinced Freedom was friendly to Bandits and Mercs, but that's simply not the case.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes, that's what happens when people only play certain mods.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

@@F-I-N-E-RThen your perception of faction relations will be altered.

[@XanderNiles]

What I find the most interesting are the Mercenaries as they seem to be a faction but with various subgroups, same as the loners. Anyways, another awesome video Dugout. 👌

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes, it can create unexpected situations!

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

Funny thing is that, in every game, including Anomaly, I tend to kill Loners as much as I'd trade with them, depending on context. Same for Mercs.

[@zjanez2868]

would make sense with mercs being guns for hire you couild give them basically any faction allegieance and explain it through that

[@ВиталийИванов-з9з]

The only ones that can be called full-fledged and integral factions are factions with an ideological basis, such as Duty, Freedom or Monolith. Mercenaries are simply different groups from different syndicates or PMCs, often from different countries, each group of which works for different customers with different tasks. And if the interests of different customers (individuals or corporations) conflict with each other, then these groups of mercenaries also fight among themselves. Bandits are also essentially not a faction, but simply a conglomerate of various criminal gangs under different bosses (from large organized crime groups to small gangs), who can also fight each other for the interests of their gang. Among them are the Renegades -- the most complete gang of scumbags and thugs, rejected even by other bandits, whom they despise for totally lawlessness. And Loners are simply the vast majority of ordinary stalkers who are outside of any factions.

[@hi_im_v1439]

i am really sad that sin and the dark S.T.A.L.K.E.R s were never really introduced officialy, i think it would have been a great addition and horrifying in more ways than just "spooky guy with no eyes". they could have stayed in tunnels and been ambush hunters making you borderline paranoid having to go into enclosed dark areas. they could have also had a major influence on the story or have known more than the other factions and hunting them solely for their pdas and journals for lore could have been so much fun. the fans have made mods with them, yes, but i wish we got them in an official capacity. i have heard some rumors on forums that dark stalkers will finally make an appearance in S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 but sadly i personally doubt it.

[@yercules]

I totally agree with you. Sin and the dark stalkers would have added an unique element because of their sinister and mysterious nature. Their connection and knowledge of the zone could be entirely psychical and they would be the direct antagonistical faction of the C-Consciousness. Because the C-Consciousness tried to remove negative emotions from mankind; Sin and the dark stalkers would want the opposite to happen.

[@jimbothegymbro7086]

honestly I think they just cut them because they felt like bandits but with the monolith spice, you can feel it in mods that bring them back like anomaly so I totally understand why they're cut, however I'd have preferred they got reworked over cut but it is what it is

[@anomalousdugout9557]

We will see what the future has in store for us.

[@SpartanMozi]

Great video, brother! Can't wait to see how the relations between the factions will change with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Keep up the great work, don't let anything stop your ambitions.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Thank you.

[@disgorgingconsciousness2250]

I'm always so happy to see you upload, you always seem to drop a video as I'm having my morning coffee before work, great way to start the day. Loved this explanation, too. I always loved the dynamic relations between factions in the games. Like how one of the first missions that Sydorovich gives you is to kill a fellow stalker who is completely neutral to you. Makes you think about who your friends really are in the zone.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Nice :)

[@Cavemanner]

You do such an amazing job of making your videos with the same atmosphere as the games! Love your writing style and your way of condensing the informstion so it's still complete but more easily digestible. Always a good day when you upload!

[@Matt-md5yt]

my man, glad you did this video. hope you been doing well

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes I'm fine.

[@acry4734]

I didnt even know faction relations were missing from your vids. Thanks once again dude.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Glad you liked it :)

[@lovrom7671]

Interestingly enough, in SoC, Freedom is hostile to the Scientist faction even though they never seem to cross each other's paths.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes, that seems to be a relic of a cut concept where Kruglov would have been attacked by Freedom instead of Mercs.

[@xxfalconarasxx5659]

Yes, but because they never really cross paths, I don't think it should be taken as literal canon. On the contrary, in Call of Pripyat, Freedom is rather amicable towards Ecologists. They express some distrust, with them being a government funded organisation and all (Freedom is very anti government), but Freedom is also in support of their goals when it comes to the Zone, and can be persuaded to protect the Ecologists in a quest.

[@lovrom7671]

@@xxfalconarasxx5659 On the other hand, SoC PDA encyclopedia mentions they sabotage research groups.

[@uteriel282]

freedom is only hostile to duty, the military and the monolith. they might fight other groups from time to time but overall they have nothing against the other factions.

[@lovrom7671]

@@uteriel282 Looks like someone still didn't join Freedom in unmodded Shadow of Chernobyl :)

[@monolith4653]

I agree with what you said "Foreward" part of the video, I cringe when newcomers in places like discord complain that Barman and Sid will give bounties on some stalkers as if they are a faction leaders trying to kill its own "faction members" or as if freindly mercs are a bug or something. Also CS have the dumbest patch and colours but it is my favorite facton to play as because of their goals.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes, reality is often more complicated than relations on paper.

[@gamer_pro2411]

The fact that in every faction picture, picture of faction member are shown with armor icon like their armor

[@umbra6772]

Man you actually seem to have good videos. I wanna get into this lore and set of games and you seem to know your shit. If you do indepth vids I'll be looking

[@judsongaiden9878]

9:46 Isn't Freedom neutral and/or friendly toward bandits and mercs? They also supposedly conduct raids on ecologists. This is according to the in-game lore as per ShoC (if I recall). In most mods, like Oblivion Lost, becoming an ecologist makes you friends with both Freedom and Duty.

[@kairosprods]

We don't really know why Bandits and Freedom are friends actually in ShoC, might be just something that wasn't changed by the devs. But they clearly shouldn't be. Freedomers wouldn't accept someone trafficking Zone's Goods and inhabitants for pure profit. As for Ecologists, Anomalous said it was a missing plot point so i don't think this is relevant, but could make sense. Mods badly enough aren't relevant to actual lore, you can't put a basis on a modified work even if i hear how it makes sense.

[@zmielov50]

Свобода після того как переїхала на військові склади, опинилася відрізаною від поставок з поза меж Зони, і це під час війни з Обов'язком і нападів Моноліту на Бар'єр, плюс Обов'язок захопив один з караванів Свободи... Новий лідер бандитів допоміг Свободі, в результаті чого був встановлений тимчасовий мир... Після численних перестрілок з найманцями за контроль над Складами, та спільних проти Моноліту які лізли з Рудого Лісу - так само і з найманцями було встановлено перемир'я

[@BruceForte]

Downloading this to my PDA right now, gonna watch this with my squad when I get to Rostok 👍

[@Nibtarr]

Get in to here, Stalker.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Evil Duty guard be like:

[@cyrik2112]

If you ever see this comment, may I suggest a video or perhaps even a series about the lore on specific locations within the zone. I would love to learn more about Zaton/Jupiter and the many buildings/points of interest they have.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

I would do it if there was enough interesting things to be said about locations, and if other people did not do it already.

[@gr-fk8sd]

In gamma Mercs have English lines from Tarkov and as a merc main it’s a breath of fresh air, the first time my guy yelled I’m fucking dead guys right before bleeding out cracks me up

[@linus3nvy]

Thank you for all your wonderful content. It's greatly appreciated by all of your many fans.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

:)

[@bonesmalone3563]

Love listening to your videos while doing my uni work, you go really in depth and you write your scripts well

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Nice!

[@P18Junior]

Idk why ... but ecen tho there isnt much Story i just live the military.... they are perfect in every way... Just love them

[@blonde-eyed-blueondie]

Great video as usual I would just like to add that Bandits seem to have weirdest kind of relations with others They seem to be neutral to Ecologists. Dont know why. You would think they would want to rob them of artefacts or good equipment and such but seems like that is not case Maybe they just never got into contact with each other and they seem to be hostile to both Mercenaries and Freedom in start of timeline but later in timeline develop friendly relations with them as well as having semi-neutral relations with some Loners but shoot on sight other Loners even more later on in timeline

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes, maybe it's because Bandit leaders change often? Scientists also have weird relations but that's because they are not supposed to meet many of the other factions.

[@fimmywa]

Don't bandits sell artifacts to ecologists?

[@anomalousdugout9557]

@@fimmywa Not that I know of.

[@blonde-eyed-blueondie]

@@fimmywa I never see them interact or hear anything like that so am not sure

[@THE_MR_MAN]

love it bro

[@arvideng9333]

From what I have heard, clear sky is a faction. But it's a minor faction since a lot of members died. And the bartender became the owner and leader of that faction since he had the most connections. Clear Sky is kinda like the Loners when it comes to rep. But they are enemys against the duty faction I think.

[@SamP-by7iv]

"For example - and contrary to popular belief - not all Duty members are neo-Nazis, not every Freedom member sleeps with bloodsuckers Some mercenaries aren't cannibals, and so on."

[@ORLY911]

One thing I always found odd is how in SoC Freedom and Ecologists are hostile to each other but neutral in all other games. Maybe something did happen to explain this but it just seemed they were set to hostile either by mistake or it just wasn't thought out, and changed in the next two entries. Know anything about that? Ecologists have some relation to Millitary but you'd think getting ecologists to work with you would help Freedoms goal.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Ultimately this does not matter since the two factions never meet. However, it seems to be a remnant of a cut plot point, according to which Kruglov was attacked by Freedom instead of Mercs. You could even have decided to help one side or the other.

[@ORLY911]

@@anomalousdugout9557 Ooooh well that would make sense, interesting.

[@SkyLoVe643]

Very nice topic and very nice chart ! Btw, as I recall, duty was founded by ex ukranian soliders that went in expeditions deep within the zone, maybe this is why the military is neutral to duty. I am not sure if my information is cannon or some spinoff from a mod.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes, Duty was founded by former soldiers, however they are not neutral with the Military. In game they'll shoot on sight.

[@m.v.r752]

As a merc i love these insightful videos (still not telling you who our employers are)

[@enceladus-117]

Maaa! New lore vid dropped...

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes.

[@overlordmgcover2262]

I think the factions in STALKER are very well designed and make sense for their setting. I kinda hope that there will be a small Clear Sky remnant that still tries to conduct the original mission of their once larger faction in STALKER 2. I just think Clear Sky is a neat middleground between the likes of the ecologists and other factions.

[@French_officer_of_1e_Regiment]

Bandit solos no diff 🍷🗿

[@ant-qo1dw]

Thanks for the information, Snitch!

[@KoBaKaBaNa1]

Great music choice with Wasteland I

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Of course.

[@reapersasmr5483]

Love all this info !!!

[@c4ns3r53]

Everybody gangsta until the green trenchcoat deformed stalker starts scalping dead stalkers.

[@falco5148]

Clear sky is like my father, they left after the start of the story

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Sad.

[@anedgygundampilot8208]

Playing the games for the first time. At least they bring the milk and smokes later!

[@ShnobyWalker]

Man I love clear sky. Such a noble goal. Also, man I hate clear sky, they’re in the swamps.

[@mattheweagles5123]

A great video as ever

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes.

[@ghosterdude]

the diagram should have all the factions in a circle, and have lines connect them. also you could have one faction in the center and the other around it in a circle connected by radiant lines, but you need a different diagram for each faction.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Maybe when I'll do ALL the relations, in a 2-hour long video.

[@fokkerdr.1832]

Fantastic video as always! I have to ask however, what is the song at 12:50? Skimming through the soundtracks I cant seem to find it.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 OST - Mass.

[@marin6452]

glad to see this channel is still going

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Same :)

[@maximpershutin8257]

"Not all the freedomers smoke weed" HERECY!!

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Facts.

[@critical_0327]

As always, a great and informative (unbiased as well) video about the factions in the zone. Although I'm interested if is it possible to download the beautiful faction chart you've made. Thanks, and also, thanks for the great video! Good hunting stalker.

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Thank you my friend. I'll send you the chart :)

[@lunch96box]

Love your content is there any chance we will get any more campfire tales or possibly uncle coins adventures

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Thanks. Unfortunately no, I am not planning on making any more stories. However, Coin is still writing stories and books on his own.

[@thomasfalkenberg8549]

One of these days I'm actually going to play the games, but until then, I will continue to just enjoy the lore. ( I've been saying that since I found this channel 2 years ago.)

[@anomalousdugout9557]

You should play the games for sure.

[@latewizard301]

A lot of people might scare you away by explaining how complex the games are, but just don't listen to them, and play at your own pace, it's really fun once you get into the games, and you get so immersed that suddenly you've played hours and hours. We're lucky to have 3 games already and then Stalker 2 on top of that.

[@coel3572]

​@@latewizard301 the only relatively complex thing is detectors and they aren't even in SoC, which makes it a great starting point

[@latewizard301]

@@coel3572 and clear sky does a good job of explaining them anyway so it won't be a huge issue.

[@iiSKULLii99]

Attention Stalkers, new video is online

[@artursturluks3799]

Good video, thanks

[@elkhanmammadli6267]

In radiophobia 3 clear faction exists and that mod is same with shadow of Chernobyl

[@aironium]

Watching while eating noodles at 4 AM

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Nice.

[@mayoe1430]

Great video!

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Thank you.

[@SpecterSensorial]

Im curious about "Sin" faction

[@IKMojito]

Wake up baby, Dugout posted

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes.

[@prashantteelucksingh2964]

8:51 How come they don't die as easily as i remmber

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Every game copy is unique.

[@AirSmellerThe3rd]

Ah i see you finally figured out how to be neutral with bandits in soc

[@LeVraiFlorensac]

J'adore, si seulement cette chaîne était en français

[@gr-fk8sd]

I always thought freedom and bandits where cool with each other

[@matthewdionisio4862]

What’s the music in the introduction

[@yeetus9146]

@anomalousdugout9557 nice vid, i have one question, its not on the game but more on the soundtrack that plays on the background, the first one to be especific, can you tell me the name of that soundtrack? it plays at 0:17 of the vid

[@anomalousdugout9557]

The track is Wasteland I - it was cut from the final game.

[@aleksandrowsky1231]

I respect for soundtrack from Raidophobia 👊

[@anomalousdugout9557]

All tracks are from the original games.

[@LifeEnjoyer463]

Wasteland I enjoyers

[@anomalousdugout9557]

But of course.

[@nallydee2351]

so you pick when to roll your R's?

[@AFGHANWARRIORR]

Good video❤❤❤

[@SCP-8917-A_S.R.P.C]

what about sin? i mean i know their not seen in-game but i would of loved to hear about sin but i'm glad you did add the renegades.

[@LiamChapman-ps4js]

The only diffrence from freedom and jamacia is that freedom is in cherynoble

[@egechicken]

Yeah but where does Redrick Schuhart fit into this?

[@kquindarlewisfyindujbar]

🛡💀 Bandit country best country 🛡💀

[@Zetaa831]

Love the stalker accent 😂

[@papalegba6796]

*JOIN DUTY!*

[@anomalousdugout9557]

And save the world!

[@uteriel282]

duty? oh those guys... i always get them mixed up with peta seeing how they seem to do nothing but kill dogs.

[@ianmiller4920]

what about sin

[@Kira_Silly]

Ecologists moment (I have been utterly destroyed by 5 waves of zombies)

[@CatholicCarlismEnjoyer]

That is a cursed pfp. Anime girls and S.T.A.L.K.E.R just don't mix.

[@Kira_Silly]

@@CatholicCarlismEnjoyer dont worry, its only a placeholder until my actual pfp is finished

[@LambFlameman]

You could have added the cut factions as well

[@anomalousdugout9557]

I could but I did not.

[@uteriel282]

the cut factions are pretty simple. sin: hates everybody and wants to see the world burn. unisg: shoots everyone but the mercs on sight cause there is no such thing as a un special force in the zone conducting operations... and if you claim anything else you might find yourself with a sudden case of lead to the brain. since those 2 factions are pretty much separated from the rest there isnt really any point in including them.

[@chernobylworker4896]

Yipee

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Yes.

[@anuprananmajhi8504]

what about sin faction?

[@Korben-c5x]

As a Military STALKER, we are very elite and win firefights all the time :D

[@MostCoolestName]

i dunno who to join!!

[@ninnyhammer3739]

so what's the deal with Sin and UNISG? What's their lore? do they even have lores?

[@robingrewal8103]

Anomalous dugout has a very good video on sin A must watch if you want to know there lore and how they would have been implanted into the original story of shadow of chernobyl or as it was known back then as stalker oblivion lost

[@robingrewal8103]

As for the UNSIG they are cut content from clear sky back when it was known as stalker anarchy cell They there more or less a international research group from memory

[@Thisisharel]

When the stalker 2 release

[@anomalousdugout9557]

2024 or so we are told.

[@mrmaxturbo2916]

It's c-consciousness or sea-conciousness ??

[@uteriel282]

c-con as in common-consciousness.

[@donkongre9026]

I think bandits and freedomers do have some kind of neutral or even cordial relationship. Their ideas are similar in theory and in SoC,if you join the freedomers,the bandits wont attack you

[@lanecolvin95]

freedom is nutrual with bandits

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Freedom and Bandits will fight each other whenever they meet in the games.

[@khharkivsky]

being a freedomer is so obviously the better choice. id rather have information everyone could share with each other all over the world rather then hording it and handing it to authorities like a little piggy

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Maybe.

[@Rongaming3065]

1st no else 1st i will cry if anyone else says 1st

[@Tadders]

F i r s t (:

[@anomalousdugout9557]

:)

[@papalegba6796]

*J O I N D U T Y !*

[@gabork5055]

Greedo shot FIRST.

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

:+ D

[@WINDOWS-ke1ic]

E

[@Rambobamborocky15]

So clear sky is smarter and not brain washed version of monolith? Cool

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Something like that.

[@gamer_pro2411]

11th comment 🥸

[@anomalousdugout9557]

Cool.