Frostpunk 2: Surviving the Freeze, Building Factions, and Leading the Table
I recently had the chance to play Frostpunk 2, the sequel game to the city builder survival Frostpunk. In this game, you take charge of a group of survivors of a Global Freeze, seeking to save them by planning out the city and making tough choices that can spell disaster if not planned carefully. I enjoyed the previous game a lot, and this one has been just as addicting. There is something about the Frostpunk world that keeps pulling me in. It’s not just that bleak, frozen world you play in or the nail-biting struggle for survival–it’s the agency in the face of constant crisis. Frostpunk 2 builds on that icy foundation, trading some of the desperate fight against the cold and loss of resources with new political and ideological elements that become part of rebuilding a society that cracked like ice.
The factions in this game, each with their own goals and views, constantly pull at your leadership and force you to make tough decisions and compromises to avoid falling into total chaos that makes you wonder: how do you unite a city when no one can agree on what the path ahead should look like? It’s a dynamic that resonates, to me, at the TTRPG table, both in and out of game. Managing player expectations and desires can have the chill of Frostpunk: a messy challenge, but deeply rewarding when it all comes together.
From Survival to Ideology: Leading Through Crisis
The original Frostpunk takes place after an event known as the Great Frost, a cataclysmic plunge into a new ice age that devastated this late 19th-century alternate Earth. As temperatures dropped to a global minimum, most civilizations collapsed overnight, leaving only a handful of survivors struggling to cling to life. Players take on the role of the leader of New London, a city built around a generator designed to stave off the bitter cold.
The gameplay revolves around balancing the needs and desires of the city’s citizens against the harsh reality of limited resources. Survival means harvesting raw materials to keep the furnaces burning, while ensuring enough food, warmth, and shelter to keep the population alive. However, Frostpunk is not just about building a city—it’s about managing the psychological toll of survival. Players face morally wrenching decisions: Will you enact laws that force children to work in factories? Sacrifice the ill to preserve limited resources? Authoritarian rule may bring short-term order, but it risks alienating the citizens whose cooperation you need.
The stakes are simple but stark: survive against the relentless cold or watch your city fall to ruin. The climax comes as a massive apocalyptic storm, testing the resilience of every system you’ve built. This relentless focus on survival forms the foundation of the Frostpunk series and its exploration of leadership under crisis.
While the gameplay keeps its roots in city-building and resource management, Frostpunk 2 introduces two transformative systems: factions and the Zeitgeist. These systems reflect the societal and ideological complexity of rebuilding after a catastrophe.
Factions represent groups of citizens united by shared beliefs and priorities, each defined by three “cornerstones” selected from six ideological options. As the Steward of New London, the player must manage relationships with these factions. Gaining their favor can unlock valuable resources or city-wide bonuses, but neglecting or alienating them may lead to unrest, riots, or even outright rebellion.
The Zeitgeist system tracks the overarching direction of New London’s societal evolution. Decisions made by the player gradually shape the city’s identity along ideological spectrums:
Equality vs. Merit: Should society value the equality of all, or prioritize the contributions of individuals based on merit?
Adaptation vs. Progress: Will New London adapt to the frozen world, accepting its harshness as inevitable, or strive to overcome it through technological and social progress?
These ideological choices tie directly into the tech tree and the city’s development, influencing not just the attitudes of its citizens but the player’s approach to leadership. While survival is still a concern, the game’s core conflict now revolves around negotiating these competing beliefs to create a unified vision for the city’s future.
The addition of factions and Zeitgeist shifts the narrative from surviving an environmental apocalypse to rebuilding a fractured society. Frostpunk 2 challenges players to move beyond survival and ask: What kind of future are we building?
Photo by Jedypictures
Building Dynamic Factions for Your TTRPGs
When I started playing Frostpunk 2, the additional elements brought to play inspired me. I realized these mechanics could form the basis of a versatile faction system for TTRPGs, allowing GMs and players to create dynamic groups with distinct philosophies, goals, and conflicts.
Designing Factions: A Step-by-Step Creation Guide
This framework introduces Values, Flaws, Goals, and Opposition as the core components for faction design.
Step 1: Rank Values
A faction’s Values define its philosophy and priorities. Instead of choosing one side of a value pair outright, assign ranks (1-3) to reflect the faction’s priorities, with the remaining values ranked inversely (4-6). This ranking introduces depth by capturing shades of competing ideologies while emphasizing the faction’s guiding principles.
How to Rank Values
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Rank 1-3: Select three values that the faction prioritizes, with Rank 1 being the highest priority. These represent what the faction actively pursues and fights for.
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Rank 4-6: The unchosen values are ranked in reverse order, representing their degree of opposition. Rank 6 is the value most in conflict with the faction’s philosophy.
The Value Pairs
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Ambition vs. Altruism
- Ambition: Prioritizes achievement, ambition, and the drive to accomplish goals at any cost.
- Altruism: Emphasizes empathy, care, and the well-being of others, even at the cost of progress.
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Autonomy vs. Harmony
- Autonomy: Values individual freedom, self-expression, and independence over collective goals.
- Harmony: Prioritizes unity, cooperation, and the needs of the group over individual desires.
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Morality vs. Reason
- Morality: Guided by ethical principles, doing what is “right” regardless of practicality or logic.
- Reason: Focuses on logic and efficiency, emphasizing the best possible outcomes, even if they conflict with emotional or moral concerns.
Example
Faction: The Vanguard of Progress
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Rank 1: Ambition (drives their relentless pursuit of innovation).
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Rank 2: Reason (supports their logical decision-making).
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Rank 3: Harmony (used to align efforts within their group).
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Rank 4: Autonomy (individual freedom is acknowledged but seen as secondary to collective progress).
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Rank 5: Morality (moral considerations are occasionally factored in but often seen as impractical).
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Rank 6: Altruism (dismissed as unnecessary sentimentality).
Step 2: Pair Value with Flaw
Every Value has a corresponding Flaw that emerges when pushed to extremes. These flaws add depth and introduce opportunities for internal conflict or opposition from other factions. Choose one or more flaws that best reflect the faction’s vulnerabilities.
Flaws:
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Ambition:
- Overreach: a faction focused on achieving may ignore practical constraints, leading to dangerous or reckless decisions.
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Altruism:
- Sacrifice: a faction prioritizing the wellness of every member might undermine their own goals or progress.
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Autonomy:
- Fragmentation: when a faction focuses on individuality, they may have discord or selfishness, which will make group efforts more difficult.
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Harmony:
- Conformity: a group focused on unity may suppress personal freedoms for the sake of the group, stifling innovation or dissent.
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Morality:
- Skewed: a faction defined by morality may have unique or skewed values, based on whose morality they go by, making it hard to work with other groups.
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Reason:
- Cold Pragmatism: A truth-driven faction may dismiss emotional or moral concerns, focusing on what works the best or is most efficient, upsetting those who do not agree.
Step 3: Determine Goals
While the Values and Flaws define what a group prioritizes and what that priority can lead to, a faction needs to have goals it wants to achieve. The goals of the faction can depend on a lot of factors, such as the size of the group, how long you intend for them to be in your story, and how radical they might be. Define 3 Short-Term Goals, 2 Ongoing Goals, and 1 Long-Term Goal.
Short-Term Goals
A Short-Term Goal is an immediate objective, typically achievable within a single session or adventure. They establish a faction’s active presence in the world and provide opportunities for player interaction.
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Examples of Short-Term Goals include:
- Secure Resources: Acquire a valuable material, artifact, or supply that will aid their cause.
- Sabotage Rivals: Undermine an opposing faction’s plans through covert or direct actions.
- Recruit Supporters: Expand their influence by recruiting key allies or growing their numbers.
- Protect Interests: Defend a critical location, asset, or individual from attack or sabotage.
- Prove Superiority: Achieve a visible success to show the validity of their philosophy.
Ongoing Goals
An Ongoing Goal represents medium-term objectives that require sustained effort. They may take several adventures to achieve and reflect the faction’s role in shaping the campaign world.
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Examples of Ongoing Goals include:
- Expand Territory: Gain control over additional land, resources, or influence.
- Weaken Opponents: Conduct a campaign of propaganda, espionage, or attrition to diminish a rival faction.
- Shape Public Opinion: Build trust or sway public support toward their values.
- Secure Strategic Alliances: Form partnerships with other factions to further mutual goals.
Long-Term Goal
A Long Term Goal should be something that could eventually be achieved, but not before the current story arc completes. Short-Term Goals should build towards the Long Term Goal.
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Examples of Long-Term Goals include:
- Establish Dominance: Become the leading power in the region or the world.
- Create a New World Order: Reshape society around their core philosophy or value.
- Destroy Opposition: Eradicate all factions or ideologies opposed to their value.
Step 4: Define Opposition
No faction exists in a vacuum. Their values, goals, and methods will naturally create opposition from individuals, groups, or even broader societal forces. Opposition doesn’t need to be an all-out enemy; it can range from mild ideological disagreements to full-scale conflict. Understanding a faction’s opposition helps create dynamic storytelling opportunities and natural tension within your world.
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Opposing Value: What specific values or aspects of the faction’s philosophy are being challenged? Opposition is often rooted in a clash of ideals, where one side’s priorities contradict or undermine the other.
- Which of the faction’s values most likely spark resistance and why?
- A faction driven by Ambition primarily would face opposition from an Altruism focused one.
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Define Opposition: Who or what opposes the faction? This could be:
- A rival faction with opposing values.
- A single influential individual, such as a leader, hero, or other antagonist.
- A larger external force like a government, societal structure, or natural phenomena.
- Is the opposition a rival faction, a lone adversary, or an impersonal force?
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Nature of the Conflict: What form does the opposition take? Not all conflicts might be violent or obvious. Opposition could be political action, propaganda, economic competition, or even just philosophical debates.
- How does the opposition act against the faction, and what is at stake?
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Shared Goals or Overlapping Values: Even opposing groups might have areas of overlap, and often they do. Highlighting shared goals can add complexity, creating nuance in the conflict.
- Are there areas where the opposing factions agree or would compromise?
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Scale of Opposition: How big is the conflict between the two groups? Even if the groups are large, world-scaling entities, these could be localized rivalry. Scale of the opposition will determine the resources available as well as how often one might see such an occurrence.
- How far reaching is the opposition, and how directly does it threaten the faction?
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Consequences of Conflict: What happens when the faction and its opposition clash? These should ripple out into the larger story, impacting the world and occasionally the players.
- What happens when the faction and its opposition clashes and the faction prevails?
- What happens when the faction and its opposition clashes and the opposition prevails?
- What collateral damage happens when the faction and its opposition clash, no matter which side wins?
Example Factions
Example 1: The Vanguard of the Ox vs. The Circle of the Ant
Faction Name: The Vanguard of the Ox
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Value: Ambition
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Flaw: Overreach
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Goals:
- Short Term: Expand industrial operations into the forest to secure resources.
- Ongoing: Develop infrastructure to increase productivity and stabilize the city’s economy.
- Long Term: Establish industrial dominance in the region.
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Conflict: Relentless industrial expansion threatens the Circle of the Ant’s forest, displacing its members.
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Potential Resolution: A compromise where the forest is partially preserved, using eco-friendly methods to minimize harm.
Faction Name: The Circle of the Ant
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Value: Altruism
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Flaw: Sacrifice
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Goals:
- Short Term: Rally local citizens to resist deforestation.
- Ongoing: Protect and maintain the balance of the forest ecosystem.
- Long Term: Foster a society that prioritizes living in harmony with nature.
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Conflict: Industrial encroachment by the Vanguard threatens their homes and the ecosystem they protect.
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Potential Resolution: The factions could agree to shared stewardship of the forest, balancing growth and conservation, or escalate to open conflict, forcing players to take sides.
Example 2: The Luminaries of the Emberlight vs. The Keepers of the Flame
Faction Name: The Luminaries of the Emberlight
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Value: Progress
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Flaw: Cold Pragmatism
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Goals:
- Short Term: Secure ancient ruins containing advanced technology.
- Ongoing: Research and apply the technology to advance society.
- Long Term: Overcome the harsh environment through scientific and technological progress.
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Conflict: Their excavation of the ruins risks awakening curses or destroying cultural artifacts revered by the Keepers of the Flame.
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Potential Resolution: Work with the Keepers to carefully explore the ruins, balancing technological gain with cultural preservation—or risk antagonizing them, escalating to sabotage or violence.
Faction Name: The Keepers of the Flame
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Value: Morality
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Flaw: Skewed Morality
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Goals:
- Short Term: Prevent excavation of the ruins without thorough examination of potential moral consequences.
- Ongoing: Preserve sacred traditions and ensure cultural heritage is respected.
- Long Term: Maintain spiritual and moral balance within the city.
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Conflict: The Luminaries’ pragmatic approach clashes with their belief in the sanctity of the ruins, creating ideological and physical conflict.
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Potential Resolution: The Keepers could guide the Luminaries to uncover only “safe” artifacts, or outright oppose their efforts, leading to spiritual or physical confrontations.
Example 3: The Shadow Syndicate vs. The Council of Unity
Faction Name: The Shadow Syndicate
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Value: Autonomy
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Flaw: Fragmentation
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Goals:
- Short Term: Maintain their secretive operations without interference.
- Ongoing: Expand influence while preserving their independence.
- Long Term: Establish a society where individuals are free from external control.
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Conflict: Internal divisions lead to vulnerability, and the Council of Unity seeks to expose and dismantle them.
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Potential Resolution: Unite the Syndicate under strong leadership or accept the consequences of their fragmentation.
Faction Name: The Council of Unity
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Value: Harmony
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Flaw: Conformity
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Goals:
- Short Term: Uncover and disrupt the Shadow Syndicate’s operations.
- Ongoing: Establish a united front to protect societal stability.
- Long Term: Create a community where all citizens work together for the greater good.
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Conflict: The Council’s efforts to unify society conflict with the Syndicate’s commitment to personal freedom, creating an ideological and tactical clash.
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Potential Resolution: Cooperation to balance autonomy and harmony—or mutual destruction as the conflict escalates.
Photo by Ian Iavrinovich
Final Thoughts
At the time of writing this, I’ve beaten Frostpunk 2 twice and can’t wait to dive into another play through. The game’s balance of survival and societal needs is deeply rewarding, and the addition of the Zeitgeist and Faction elements elevates the experience to new heights. These mechanics breathe life into the citizens of New London, transforming them into a tapestry of values, flaws, and goals that make every decision feel impactful.
This rich system inspired me to create the faction guide shared here. Designed to be system-agnostic, it offers a toolkit to deepen the personality and complexity of factions in your tabletop campaigns. With these elements, your factions can become more dynamic forces—challenging your players, interacting with NPCs, and shaping the world around them.
Leadership Lessons from Frostpunk for Your TTRPG Table
The challenges of leadership in Frostpunk 2 resonate beyond its frozen cities. As a Game Master, you face similar tasks: balancing the competing play styles, priorities, and expectations of your players to create an experience that everyone can enjoy. Like factions in the game, every player brings something unique to the table—values and goals that may sometimes clash but also make the story richer.
Frostpunk’s mechanics offer valuable lessons for Game Masters managing group dynamics at the table. Consider these parallels:
Rotate the Spotlight: Just as factions in Frostpunk 2 demand attention and balance, every player deserves their moment to shine. For example, if one player thrives in combat while another prefers roleplay, create a mission where each gets a key role—such as a battle requiring brute strength and a negotiation to secure vital resources.
Blend Play styles: Like Frostpunk 2’s Zeitgeist system, campaigns thrive on a mix of approaches. For instance, one session could focus on uncovering a mystery through social interaction, while another highlights resource management with limited spell slots and rations in a survival scenario.
Listen and Adapt: In Frostpunk, failing to address a faction’s needs leads to unrest; similarly, failing to acknowledge players’ feedback can cause disengagement. Use tools like a Session 0-2 to gauge player satisfaction and recalibrate if necessary.
In Frostpunk 2, you’re fighting for survival and unity. At the table, we’re striving for something equally vital: a shared story where everyone feels valued. Both endeavors require compromise, collaboration, and a touch of creativity to succeed.
Final Reflection: Stories of Survival and Unity
In Frostpunk 2, you guide a fractured society through crisis, balancing survival with competing ideologies. At the TTRPG table, you guide your players through their own challenges, weaving a story where every voice matters. Both require compromise, empathy, and a shared vision for the future. As the Steward of your table, how will you craft a world that players will not just inhabit but cherish?
In the end, the stories we tell—whether on a screen or around a table—remind us of the power of unity, imagination, and the choices that shape the worlds we build together. So, how will you, as the Steward of your table, create a world that your players will cherish and return to?