The zone is a cruel place. At the center of it all is the 1000 Rads Bar, a neutral safe zone for all factions to come trade, take tasks and find rest. The region surrounding the bar is currently hotly contested by the two large factions Duty and Freedom. 

Duty, made up of former Ukrainian Military, believe in control and eradication of the zone. Freedom believes in the open access and trade between the zone and the outside world. Both sides receive significant support from the outside world, with Duty showing a heavy presence of Ukrainian and Russia equipment, uniforms and supply, while Freedom mysteriously has unprecedent access to NATO based uniforms, equipment and hardware. 

-POI Control Points, HQ, and Respawns-
 

For the player, this struggle translates to Point of Interest Control points. these are located at major structures, and safe junctions between anomaly fields, often at major choke points in the few safe routes throughout the zone. In game these are indicated via a flag pole with a faction colored flag on it. These flags are part of the task system and POI capture is a major objective for stalker raid groups. Faction Commanders or Faction Rep NPCs will hand these to stalkers and assign them with capture tasks.

These points are CRITICAL for faction players. These are your only locations to respawn besides your headquarters. Headquaters can be assaulted but not captured. If an HQ is assaulted and the commander killed that faction looses major standing in the zone and will be forced to divert all assets to rebuild it. 
 

Territory Control is a minor aspect of the experience, the Faction War is a backdrop and it allows faction members and their allies to have safer routes throughout the zone and more places of respite. For those wanting a gunplay focused experience gravitating to Duty and Freedom will let you focus on a more combat oriented experience. 

-Neutral Factions-

Several player factions are available for those that DO NOT want to participate in the Faction War.
-Clearskies Remnants are focused on the ongoing rumors of former Monolith Forces and the rise of a new Bandit Leader,  

-Ecologists and their security teams continue to study the zone, and while hostile to bandits and monolith are friendly to all other factions.  
-Loners have the option to stay neutral, aid a faction or join a faction. By default they are only hostile with bandits and with monolith forces. The various military interests in the zone will actively target loners on sight though so avoid or sneak by checkpoints and patrols controlled by the military faction. 

These Factions have HQ's and set POI/Camps, the downside to this relative safety from major conflict is your travels will be significantly longer and major factions may charge you for respawn, aid and safe passage or deny it.

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