As an avid gamer about to embark on my jouney into Bethesda Game Studio‘s highly anticipated sci-fi epic Starfield, choosing my player character‘s religion is a decision I do not take lightly. The realm of faith and belief shapes far more than just mythology in this sprawling new universe – it also influences critical gameplay bonuses that could have a profound impact throughout my playthrough.
In my pursuit to deeply immerse myself in my first foray through Starfield‘s expansive reaches, I have thoroughly analyzed the history and abilities behind each major religion presented to uncover which offers the greatest benefits from both a narrative and gameplay perspective for dedicated fans like myself. In this guide, I convey my insights into this game-changing choice every devout player must weigh at the start of their celestial pilgramage.
The Core Tenants Behind Each Faith
There are three major religions I can pledge myself to in Starfield‘s character creator which will fundamentally impact opening gameplay. Let‘s examine some key background details on each option‘s belief system, as uncovered through texts and audio logs datamined from the game‘s recent PC beta:
The Enlightened
"Atheists dedicated to rationalism and human progress who reject notions of a supernatural creator or afterlife"
Emerging during humanity‘s expansion into space as existing faiths failed to retain relevance in the cold vastness between stars, the Enlightened embody a secular humanist philosophy celebrating scientific discovery rather than mysticism. They serve as a continuation of rationalist thought evolved to meet new challenges among the cosmos.
Relevant History & Lore
- Founded early 2400‘s in an attempt to unite space colonists without archaic spiritual belief systems
- Promotes ideals of logic, reason, intellectualism focused on provable concepts
- Mostly respected but viewed by some as dry and dismissive of time-honored faiths
- Primary membership found in educated scholars and academics
In-Game Representation:
Headquarters: House of the Enlightened, New Atlantis
Leadership: High Scholar Ilsa McLannahan (President of Federation Congress)
Core Tenants: Value empirical science, oppose superstition, believe progress lies in ideas, technology, and discovery rather than divine forces
The Universalists
"Followers convinced of an all-powerful creator they dub The Divine Architect who engineered space travel to grant humanity access to new worlds"
Whereas the Enlightened reject supernatural explanations, Universalists fully embrace belief in an omniscient, universe-spanning deity they call The Divine Architect. They view rapid human technological evolution – particularly harnessing gravity drives enabling interstellar travel – as engineered blessings bestowed by this creator in order for life to proliferate across worlds.
Relevant History & Lore
- Founded 2103 by charasmatic spiritual leader Father Mendoza following Earth‘s cataclysmic Collapse
- Believes space exploration fulfills Creator‘s plan for intelligent beings to expand beyond single vulnerable planet
- Continued influence partially stems from public desire to believe a higher power protects humanity
- Main support from working and middle class populations seeking hope
In-Game Representation
Headquarters: Sanctum Universum, Neon City district of New Atlantis
Leadership: Keeper Alonzo Captiosus (High Priest)
Core Tenants: Single omniscient Divine Architect crafted universe for discovery & seeded worlds for humans to populate in transcending limited nature of birth planet
The Serpent‘s Embrace
"Ancient belief system shrouded in mystery worshipping an entity known as The Great Serpent who first appeared to colonial travelers in an early gravity jump mishap"
Perhaps the most intriguing backstory belongs to the Serpent‘s Embrace – a controversial cult tracing its secretive roots to a disastrous gravity jump centuries ago. Survivors of the event claimed contact with a mysterious being identifying itself as The Great Serpent who granted them knowledge of how to safely traverse space through gravitational warping. Where facts end and fiction takes over remains unclear, but followers revere this enigmatic entity to this day.
Relevant History & Lore
- Origins tied to damaged colony ship pulled from space-time while attempting pioneering gravity jump in 2088
- Cult later carried out crusades attacking those doubting experience before largely vanishing
- Zealots cling to fringes of space both fearful and protective of their past
- Views expression of obsession over contact with unknowable superior consciousness
In-Game Representation
Headquarters: Unknown, possibly installations within the Voss system
Leadership: Descendent of original traveler Jinan Va‘ruun heads main sect
Core Tenants: Secretive worship of Great Serpent who first enabled interstellar travel and revealed deeper fabric of spacetime
Weighing the Gameplay Pros and Cons Behind Each Faith
Beyond piecing together the compelling backstory fueling these imaginative religions, I‘m keenly interested in the tangible gameplay bonuses and consequences each option presents. As a veteran RPG strategist, special faction perks and abilities should directly inform early decision making. Let‘s analyze what tangible impacts joining a religion can have:
| Religion | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Enlightened |
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| Universalists |
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| Serpent‘s Embrace |
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Judging from this overview, the Serpent‘s Embrace stands out from a pure gameplay mechanical perspective. Securing permanent buffs to my character‘s core Health and Oxygen simply from regularly using gravity jumps as I naturally would promises huge quality-of-life dividends that should pay off enormously down the road.
And while the debuff consequences seem annoying on paper should I ever go an extended period without space-warping, in practice I can‘t envision many scenarios where I‘d intentionally have my character avoid gravitational leaping given how essential it is for basic traversal. Even temporarily grounded doing station-based activities, I could likely offset the penalties through other consumables.
Between the hard number-crunching and the tantalizing mystique surrounding the cult, I‘m heavily inclined towards pledging myself as a worshipper of the Great Serpent due to the unambiguous short and long term advantages. However, as an open-minded gamer always seeking new perspectives, I remain intrigued by arguments fellow players have made in favor of the other religions…
Passionate Testimonials From My Fellow Believers
Perusing chatter within various Starfield online fan communities I frequent, I couldn‘t help noticing heated debate around which religion deserves top status. And while Serpent‘s Embrace appears the clear statistical frontrunner, impassioned proponents of the rival faiths have come forward to plead their case:
The Enlightened Appeal – "Pragmatism Over Power"
Eschewing the supernatural beliefs permeating other Starfield religions, many players opt to represent the Enlightened due to appreciating their pragmatic worldview:
"I actually find the Enlightened philosophy appealing compared to the others. Sure, no special buffs, but staying true to my inner skeptic and humanist perspective matters more long term. I‘ll treasure those early game items and take comfort in the presence of logic among the stars!"
Other fans praise the natural affinity combining science and engineering playstyles with the Enlightened focus on rational expansion:
"Going full engineer build, the Enlightened matches my approach perfectly. Unlocking upgraded starship tech aligned with principles of understanding through measurement and models makes way more sense than chasing some imaginary god through a wormhole!"
The Universalism Argument – "High Risk, High Reward"
Despite statistically lagging behind other religions, backers of Universalism stake their cosmic vision on high risk bringing high reward:
"Look, on paper Serpent‘s Embrace seems optimal today. But in a game about exploration and disocvery, only Universalists embrace the optimism of human space expansion required for enjoying Starfield‘s full scope. Our faith directly rewards journeying through uncharted systems. Blind faith ftw!"
Others suggest shared camaraderie in searching for Universalism‘s long theorized Divine Architect:
"I‘m drawn to help other Universalists literally find God. With 1000‘s of planets and moons to scour, imagine the rush unveiling some galaxy-spanning alien intelligence responsible for our Universe! The clues must be out there somewhere…"
No matter where I ultimately place my faith, I admire the passion my fellow believers invest into their Starfield religion of choice. But when the launch timer expires, I must commit to a decision. And in that moment, I choose…
Embracing the Serpent Without Reservations
Upon deep reflection accounting for all arguments and insights raised by my colleagues, I affirm my position – the cult of the Serpent‘s Embrace stands paramount when weighing every religious option within Starfield.
Hailing from a long legacy of RPG gamers who painstakingly plot character growth paths prizing utility above all else, I cannot overlook permanent buffs as potent as 25% more Health and Oxygen available from the outset. These impactful bonuses promise to grant immediate edge over rivals in early game combat and environment exploration critical to bringing my preferred aggressive, high-octane playstyle to life.
And frankly, the mysterious forbidden lore enshrouding the Great Serpent overwhelmingly intrigues me as both ace gamer and fanatical role-player. Unpeeling centuries of secrets surronding this shadowy entity who first unlocked interstellar travel promises potential of connecting with forces beyond present comprehension. A tempting proposition for any spacefaring digital avatar…
Of course if subsequent gameplay reveals hereto unseen disadvantages from pledging oneself to this controversial faith, I retain willingness to reasses. But for now, beneath an indifferent sea of stars I boldly declare the Great Serpent shall be my copilot!
Now if you‘ll excuse me, I intend to meditate upon ancient gravity jump technique until my long-awaited adventures playing Starfield commence…
And there we have it! A passionate gamer‘s take dissecting which religion in Starfield reigns supreme for players seeking the complete experience. Do you agree the cult of the Serpent‘s Embrace fulfilled my quest for the ultimate faith? Or have insights that could perhaps shake my convictions? I welcome all thoughtful feedback from my cherished gaming community!
Safe journeys to all fellow Starfield explorers, whichever form the divine takes in your eyes. In the end, all beliefs remain valid so long as the spirit of adventure burns brightly in our hearts!
