Probably the most unknown group in STALKER games is the Sin group. Unfortunately, collecting reliable information about it is simply impossible. Indeed, in none of the three official games this group is even mentioned - it appears only in mods. And they are most often developed by amateurs, each of whom has a certain point of view. As a result, the data are very contradictory. But still, we will try to classify the available information in order to understand what this mysterious grouping is.
Who are they?
From the very beginning, there are disagreements. Some fashion creators believe that the Sin group and its members, calling themselves sinners, arose as a result of inhumane experiments conducted in closed territory before the second explosion that gave rise to the Zone. Most people (usually used by convicts, inveterate criminals) simply could not stand it and died. The remaining ones were disfigured, but at the same time received unique abilities.
However, not all fans adhere to this point of view. There is also a version that sinners are ordinary religious fanatics. They firmly believe that the Zone was created by God to punish humanity for its pride. Thus, any penetration of stalkers into the Zone, the search for artifacts, an attempt to understand the nature of this unique territory is heresy, blasphemy and must be brutally suppressed. Therefore, relations with most groups are either strained or openly hostile.
Relations with other groups are quite controversial. Sometimes they are initially neutral to everyone. In other cases, the only ally is Freedom. But there are also modes in which, having killed a sinner, the player spoils the relationship with “Debt”. Therefore, it is simply impossible to say exactly what niche sinners occupy in the Zone.
As you can see, the "Sin" grouping has very conflicting information in the STALKER game. The first mode is contrary to the second mode, but this is only the very beginning!
Where is their base located?
One of the few things that all mod developers, where the "Sin" group is present, converges on, is the place of constant deployment. In all additions without exception, this is the location of Dark Valley. However, in most mods there is only mention of this. The base itself is shown in only a few additions - Fallen Perimeter, Ultimate v0.5.5, Lost Alpha.
But according to some reports, sinners also successfully control the Wild Territory, the Dark Hollow, and the Abandoned Cordon.
You can meet them at almost all locations: Cordon, Landfill, Army depots and others. Usually they just walk — alone or in groups of three sinners — without getting involved in conversations, reluctantly answering questions. However, sometimes with them you can quite profitably trade.
A bit about symbolism
Each group in the games of the STALKER universe has its own logo. But what is the emblem of the Sin group? It is also difficult to say at least something with a high degree of confidence.
The fact is that in different modes different symbols are used. It is reliably known about two options.
For example, in Lost Alpha, this is a Celtic cross (four-pointed Christian with a circle) on a brown background.
In some others, a completely different symbol is found - on a black background is the sun, tied with a ribbon with the inscription "SIN." A wriggling snake is located in the upper left corner, and the Orthodox eight-pointed cross in the upper right corner, which additionally hints at the origin of the group of religious fanatics.
The main goals of the group
Alas, there is at least some certainty here as well. Much depends on the vision of the creators of the mod. Moreover, it is far from always that the goals are spoken directly - one often has to guess from the hints and actions of the sinners.
But the main versions are still two.
The first follows from the assumption that sinners were the result of cruel experiments on people. As a result of this, they are most often found precisely in those locations where there are underground laboratories. Apparently, they are looking for some secret documents, reports that can shed light on their past, experiments. Therefore, in the Lost Alpha fashion, they most often appear on such locations as Rostock, Radar, Amber, Pripyat, Chernobyl.
But there is a completely different point of view, stemming from the fact that the group "Sin" is a bunch of religious fanatics. Since the Zone was created by God himself, any attempt to study it is a terrible sin for which humanity can be punished. Therefore, artifacts should not be mined in the Zone and sent beyond its borders, just as scientists should not try to understand the nature of anomalies and the most unusual territory. Which is rather strange and a bit contradictory - because sinners fiercely destroy mutants - the creatures of the Zone, which, judging by their logic, are also God's creatures.
Unfortunately, so far we have to be content with such conflicting information.
Favorite Outfit
What pleases is the almost identical equipment in most mods. All sinners walk in brown long cloaks with hoods pulled over their faces. Made of leather, reinforced with special armor elements, it not only protects the wearer reliably, but also hides his external ugliness. Outwardly, the cloak of sinners is similar to the cloak of bandits.
But with weapons everything is quite complicated. In some mods, sinners use the most common weapons - AK-74, shotguns, machine guns, Gauss guns. In others, the developers were not too lazy to create a unique line of weapons that armed sinners specifically. This is how the Gauss Cannon of Sin, the Chaser-13 of Sin, and the Colt 1911 Sin appeared.
What mods appear
No one mod for the Sin group was created. But representatives of this mysterious association appear in many other mods. In some, they are important, give plot and secondary tasks, while in others they are inserted rather so that the player feels the atmosphere of the Zone, constant despair, danger.
One way or another, sinners appear in such famous mods as: Ultimate v0.5.5, Simbion Mod, Oblivion Lost Remake, HS-COP, RLoCZ, Lost Alpha, REVOLUTION MOD: Second Universe
Legend Returns 0.9, Black Stalker 2. Some of these mods are almost inferior to the development of official games, while others are just amateur crafts. But if you are interested in the Sin group, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with each of these additions.