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What's Factions?

For more information, visit LeagueFactions.net. Factions is a community game mode run entirely by volunteers. It is not Riot-sponsored, though several Rioters have participated in their private capacities, which we really appreciate.

Factions is a community game mode and lore initiative inspired by Riot's original Ionia versus Noxus tournament. That tournament resolved in the in-universe outcome of the Noxian invasion of Ionia with an actual match fought on the Fields of Justice: a pretty cool way, IMO, to immerse the community in the lore. Factions works in much the same way, only instead of having a single big tournament, anyone can start a scored match anytime; results are submitted online, scored, and added to a running scoreboard. All skill levels are welcome, and we use a database of factions matches to compute predicted winrates based on skill matchups and adjust the point value of the matches accordingly.

Factions is organized into arcs (a.k.a. "storylines" or "chapters"), each of which lasts for about three months and features a new set of playable factions. Summoners must declare for a side in each arc they participate in, and there are no backsies mid-arc, as we want people to really commit, but your oath ends when each arc does, leaving you free to declare for anyone you like in the next round.

So what's this about a tournament?

Although most Factions matches are pick-ups, we also have shoutcasted matches on the weekends, which are more carefully balanced and have additional story impact. Most weekends have best-of-three "Featured Matches" on Saturday and Sunday; this weekend, we're holding a full-scale tournament. Day One is complete, and the two finalists are Bilgewater and Ionia. They'll be facing off on Sunday, 23 November, 24 CLE, starting at 11:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Come watch!

You're welcome to come watch. The matches will be streamed at twitch.tv/LeagueFactions. If you're interested in participating in Factions, come declare for a faction and represent them on the Fields.

Place your bets

I also think this would be a fun opportunity for the League community at large to try their hand at guessing which faction will prevail tomorrow. Here are their Champion lineups. (There are some "odd" entries here: we give factions the chance to recruit additional Champions from beyond their core pool as the arc progresses. For example, Bilgewater has recruited Diana as part of Nami's quest for the moonstone.)

For Bilgewater

For Ionia