Minecraft Hardcore Factions vs Regular Factions
Minecraft has so many possibilities and game modes. But, I'm going to be focusing on Minecraft Hardcore Factions (HCF) and Regular Factions. They are extremely similar game modes, but there are also so many details that differ. The main aspects of the game modes that relate are PvP (Player vs Player), Base Building, Raiding, and the items a player uses. HCF and Regular Factions also differ in those same areas.
Base Building is a key aspect to HCF and Regular Factions because it's very unique for HCF, and on Regular Factions it has to be built strong to defend raiders. On HCF, a player has to find an area on the map that is clear and claim the area. Claiming an area means that a player's faction or group can only build in that area. Then, a player just has to get all the materials and blocks they want for the base. Most players commonly use stone bricks, wood, etc. to build an interesting design. Another thing players usually do is put dangerous traps outside their base where other players can get hit into and they can kill them. Inside the base, players usually create a chest room, potion room, and a spawner room. Inside the chest room the faction stores their valuables which would be like diamond blocks and so on. The potion room is where the faction builds auto brewers and use them to create many types of potions used for PvP, such as Instant Health, Speed II, and Fire Resistance. The grinder room is where they get XP levels from mobs. There are commonly anvils and enchantment tables in that room for the faction to enchant and combine weapons and so on with the XP levels. On Regular Factions base building is completely different. A simple base is considered a sky vault or a dispenser vault. A sky vault is a base up in the sky with chests placed in the air where you store your items. A dispenser vault is an area underground with dispensers to store your items in. But most factions create a huge base with tons of defenses. They are commonly built in the end, which is another dimension. The base consists of obsidian which is one of the strongest blocks. Then on the outside of the obsidian the faction places water and lava walls which creates a whole wall of cobblestone. They continue to do that until they have 20 walls or so. Inside the obsidian box the faction creates many rooms for items, spawners, and so on. Therefore, HCF and Factions players store similar items in their bases, but they differ in design.
Raiding is also a really fun experience on HCF and Regular Factions. It's very different but in the end, it's the same result, a player gets another players items. On HCF, you can only raid a faction's base when they are "raidable". A faction is raidable if they have negative DTR, which means Deaths Till Raidable". On HCF whenever a player dies they get deathbanned for a certain period of time, on Regular factions a player can simply respawn. So, if a faction is raidable any player can go to their base and take all of their valuable items. But, on factions it is a bit harder than that. If a player found a sky vault or dispenser vault they could just take the valuable items, since it wouldn't be claimed. If a player is trying to raid a huge obsidian base as I explained above, they would need to create either a cannon or spawn an wither to raid the base. A cannon is built with dispensers and TNT, the player builds a strategic one where they can flick a lever and the TNT flies and hits the base. A player continues doing that until they have a hole in the base. Once inside, they can use creeper eggs which spawn a creature that blows up. Then, since the base is claimed they use the eggs to destroy chests to hopefully get the good items and the spawners. The other way to raid is with a wither. Basically, a player spawns in a wither which is a creature that has the ability to follow a player that has hit it. It also has the ability to shoot "wither skulls" at a player. The player spawns the wither and directs it towards the base and then the wither shoots at the base and destroys the walls, chests, etc. Raiding is extremely different between the game modes, but players end up getting other players items in the end.
PvP is my favorite aspect of HCF and Regular Factions in my opinion. In HCF, to PvP a player needs a diamond set, a diamond sword, enderpearls, splash health potions and speed potions. To get these items, it takes a lot of work! Hence, "Hardcore Factions". Basically, whatever "Map Kit" there is on the server a player is on is what kind of armor you would want. For example, if the map kit is Protection 1 Sharpness 1 a player would need to get all the correct materials to make the set. A player would have to mine with a pickaxe to get diamonds which they use to make the set. Then, they would have to craft an enchantment table and use leather and paper to craft books which a player enchants and has the chance of getting "Protection 1", "Sharpness 1", etc. Then once they have the book you take the piece of armor (helmet, chestplate, and so on) and place it in an anvil with the enchantment book and combine them to get the Protection 1 Diamond Helmet, etc. To enchant and use an anvil a player will need XP levels, which they get from mining ores or from making a grinder. A grinder is a thing a player can build that has a spawner up in the air then water underneath that pushes the mobs into an area for a player to attack and get the XP Levels. A spawner is a block that drops a certain type of mob (zombie, skeleton, spider, and so on). On HCF, players can only get these by using a "crowbar" which is something you can buy at the shop by getting money from selling goods you mined (iron, gold, diamonds, etc.) Once a player has a complete diamond set, you still need a sword, enderpearls, and potions. To get a sword a player crafts it and enchants like before. Enderpearls are found in the end dimension I spoke of before, a player gets them by killing endermen. An enderman is a tall black creature that is found in the end. An enderpearl gives the ability to teleport away. To get potions, the player would need brewing stands and the correct materials. Then, a player just uses a brewing stand to make them. Now that a player is completely set up for PvP, they simply go outside their base and find someone to fight. On Regular Factions, it's fairly similar. Factions is more of a "pay to win" gamemode on some servers. Which means a player can donate to receive the good armor. A player can start by making a source of income on the server by a farm. A player then sells the items from the farm at the shop and from there they can purchase potions. On Regular factions there are these items called "Golden Apples" which gives you regeneration, so they help you PvP. A player can still work for items on regular factions just like HCF. Armor ranges from Protection 1 to Protection 4. Obviously, Protection 4 is the best and hardest to get. PvP is extremely similar in each game mode, but some of the items and how a player gets the items differ.
After explaining the key aspects of Minecraft Hardcore Factions and Regular Factions we can tell they are quite similar but extremely different in some areas. Base Building is all about design and traps on HCF and it is more about defenses on Regular. Raiding is all about the strategies to get in bases on Regular Factions, but on HCF players have to defeat another faction to get their items. PvP is all about using the correct materials and items on both but has some differences like items you have and armor protection levels. Therefore, HCF and Regular Factions have similarities and differences.