After laying out the gist of factions last week, I’m shifting my efforts to looking at each one individually. Today we’ll peek behind the curtains of the Illuminati so you can get a look at the inner workings. Don’t worry: I promise to make this as spoiler-free as absolutely possible.
The mantra
One reason to pick a faction is because of its ideals. So what do the Lumies stand for? Well if you got the puppeteering innuendo with the Wizard of Oz remark earlier, you have a pretty good idea already. Or, you get the got the gist if you watched the introduction clip from the character creation process that is embedded above.
Basically, the Illuminati want to rule the world from behind the scenes. The organization wants all the power (and a good portion of all the wealth as well), and will use anything to get it, from blackmail to bribery to badassery. Make no mistake: If the occasion calls for it the Illuminati will come out with guns blazing, it just isn’t the modus operandi. This may very well be the most cut-throat and ruthless of the factions, with a healthy emphasis on personal gain; members are encouraged to party as hard as they work… as long as they always do what they’re told. There’s a reason the tag line is Sex, Drugs, & Rockefeller. Hedonism is truly a way of life here.
If you like the idea of your character being a part of team that goes for controlling the world through media and manipulation, this could be the faction for you!
The headquarters
The Illuminati are headquartered in New York City, a fitting place as they consider themselves the New World Order and NYC is often considered the heart and hub of the new world. The secret lair is called The Labyrinth, and it is the organization’s brain trust. Located in underground tunnels beneath Brooklyn. it’s a very sterile environment, all shiny steel and bright lights. Just don’t try to walk in if you aren’t an invited guest.
Honestly, I wish there was much more of The Labyrinth accessible to the players. From the descriptions Geary shares about other wings, I totally want to go poking around! Although, I do get that my life would probably be forfeit if I did.
The handler
When I said Kirsten Geary is the personality of the Illuminati in TSW, I wasn’t joking. She has personality to spare. Some players swear by this faction just because of the interactions with this NPC. There is quite a dark humor as well as an aloofness in her communications with players, and I know plenty of folks who join the faction just for her. She is sarcastic with a side of snide, and totally self-serving. (Though I will tell you, KG does the player a solid at some point in the game — at least that’s what she tells you.)
If you are not a fan of foul language (yes, there are some of us out there!), you might want to skip this faction. While there are characters and missions that utilize swearing in other parts of the game, it is particularly prevalent with Geary. Personally, some of the zip of her humor is lost for me because I don’t appreciate swearing for swearing’s sake.
The supporting cast
As much as Geary is the star of the show, she’s not the only cast member. Players get to meet some pretty interesting folks throughout their work with the Illuminati. One of my all-time favorites is good old Charles Zurn. I really don’t want to spoil too much, but he is why I found the Illuminati “welcome” to be the best one. I wish he played more prominently throughout things. I can dream that he gets a bigger role in Secret World Legends!
Players are also introduced to a U.S. Senator, Henry Cicero, and a reclusive information handler Leah Cassini. These two really make you wonder how blurred those lines between game and reality really are; you can’t help but wonder how much this faction is controlling life out here in the real world.
Of course, there is also Alex McCall, one of the figures in the early trailers of the game. He’s the one in the trench coat with the cigarette in his mouth. You don’t actually get to see him in game as a character, but you do interact with him in some mission cut scenes.
The quirks
When first planning this guide, I actually wanted to go really into detail about things, but I realized I just couldn’t. Obviously, I don’t want to give too much away of the neat things you discover as you complete missions and delve deeply into The Secret World. Faction missions definitely have a different bend to them, so if you’ve played one faction and you choose to move to Illuminati for a new character, some of your “been there, done that”s will actually throw you a few surprises. One of my favorites is how the parking garage is skewed differently for each faction. Having had already completed it as a a Templar, I quite enjoyed comparing the changes.
This faction is pretty savvy technologically, and seems to be quite ahead of the curve compared to the other two when it comes to that. As such, there will be more of a focus on utilizing technology with the Illuminati.
Did I mention the dress blues? If favorite color is your deciding factor, and you love blue, Illuminati is for you! When it comes to the majority of faction colored-clothing, the blue looks spiffy. Faction uniforms tend to feature gas masks — less as a fashion statement than out of practicality. Speaking of clothing, you might like some of the deck outfits available only to the Illuminati. However, understand that we only know of these being available in TSW proper; there has been no word on whether or not Legends will get any of these outfits.
What are your favorite parts about the Illuminati? Who are your favorite NPCs? Please feel free to share, but please do warn folks if you have any real spoilers in your comments!
Is it real? In The Secret World, rarely is it not. Conspiracies, ancient legends, paranoia, secret societies, chaos — they all swirl together in a cacophony of reality. In Chaos Theory, MJ Guthrie infiltrates this secret world, exposing the truths that lurk beneath the surface. The big question is, can you handle the truth?
