EXILES

The Exiles are the remaining human presence in the Archon system. They have been divided and forced to live in exile from their home world of Atlan. After having their civilization destroyed in a single day, since named the "Upheaval", they now fight desperately to survive and return to their former power.

Those who remain on Atlan struggle daily to stay alive, relying on their grit and ingenuity. They are driven by a burning hatred for the Promethean machines that hunt them and hope to one day reclaim control of their planet and return to their old way of life.

Those who were wealthy and connected enough to flee the planet on colonial vessels have found a hostile new home on the terraformed planet of Octanor. They greedily scheme amongst influential families for control over the planet's resources while fighting to tame its native inhabitants.

The worst parts of humanity weren't even present on Atlan during the Upheaval and, arguably, benefitted from it. Violent criminals occupying maximum-security containment facilities in space were now left to their own devices. Powerful gangs rose up and took control of the facilities and their ships. They now pirate nearby space, act as mercenaries for hire, and fight for their own gain.

Formations & Unique Feats

Warren-Dwellers

These rugged warriors and ingenious engineers survived the Upheaval by retreating underground. They have adapted to use ambush fighting tactics in their complex tunnel systems and use them effectively to surprise their foes with unexpected angles of attack.

Colonists

These wealthy and influential families survived the Upheaval by having the means to flee the planet on spacefaring colonial ships. They have access to the best of humanity's remaining technology and wield it brazenly against enemies. This has shaped their preferred long-range fighting tactics, allowing them to engage their targets from a presumably safe distance.

Condemned

These violent criminals were condemned to serve life sentences in maximum security containment facilities orbiting Atlan. They have lived hard lives and will do anything to gain an unfair advantage in a fight. Everything is for the taking and humanity's downfall has brought them interesting opportunities to leverage their unsavoury skills and new-found freedom.

Faction Rule - Desperate Will

Underground Ambush

In the Action Phase when a unit enters the battlefield from Vanguard, instead of making a Basic Move, it can perform any normal Action from any battlefield edge.

Dangerous Velocity ("DaVel") Rounds

In the Action Phase when a unit performs a Shooting Activation, the targeted enemy units cannot perform the Return Fire Reaction.

Con-Stim Injection

In the Action Phase or Battle Phase when targeted by a Shooting or Battle Activation, a unit gains the Resilient 4+ ability until the end of the Phase.

Biology

Faction Overview

Psychology

Society

Ever since its downfall, humanity has clung desperately to survival. When their backs are against the wall and their bodies flood with adrenaline they are capable of pushing themselves past normal limits to preserve their lives and the lives of their kin.

The Desperate Will rule is triggered when an Exiles unit suffers enough damage to bring its model count to half, or below half, of what it started the battle with. In the case of a single-model unit, it triggers when the unit suffers enough damage to bring its Health to half, or below half, of what it started the battle with.

After resolving the enemy activation that triggered the rule and resolving any already declared normal Reactions, the Exiles unit will be forced to perform a Desperate Will Reaction. This Reaction will differ depending on the circumstances the Exiles unit finds itself in. In some cases it may flee to try and escape danger, in other cases it may lash out and fight twice as hard to eliminate the threat.

Download the Exiles specs for the detailed rule description.

The humans of Atlan numbered in the billions at the height of their power. After the Upheaval, their fractured populations were greatly diminished and spread out wherever they could find any hope of survival. Due to the harsh conditions they currently live in, births are less common and only the strongest or most fortunate children survive into adulthood.

Those that remain on Atlan have been forced to live in dark, damp underground Warrens. To sustain themselves, they have learned to cultivate various forms of fungi which they use for food and medicines. However, some more desperate groups have abandoned their humanity and turned to cannibalism. The humans who colonized Octanor have discovered the richness of the coral species on the planet and they harvest it for food whenever the opportunity arises.

Their physical bodies are quite vulnerable so they wear various forms of leather and metal armour to protect themselves against their environments and enemies. Due to their lack of any real dangerous physical traits, they require the use of force-multiplying weapons to be effective in combat against anything besides other humans.

Technology

Exiles utilize vehicles for more efficient land, air, and water transportation. They have the ability to travel short distances in space with specialized vessels, but it is a significant undertaking to travel between planets. The primary energy source used to power their technology is Prometheum: a long-life artificial element created to solve humanity's energy needs when artificial intelligence was adopted by the entire civilization. Prometheum is dangerously radioactive so it must be contained properly for it to be used safely by humans.

Exiles arm themselves differently depending on their enemy and environment. Those still on Atlan prefer seismic weaponry that uses concentrated shockwaves to break apart rock and tear apart enemies. When travelling in space and fighting in the cramped corridors of their vessels they prefer blades, power gauntlets, flame weapons, and small firearms. On Octanor they more commonly use long-range weaponry to engage their enemies at a safer distance.

Human intellect and ingenuity allows them to adapt to situations quickly and is the primary reason for their continued survival. Despite their physical limitations, their ability to problem-solve and utilize technology allows them to overcome challenges that would otherwise be impossible.

Humans are diverse in how they think and what they believe. There are many logical thinkers among them but also many religious fanatics. In their current state, the most powerful emotions that drive them are the love for their family and friends, hatred towards the Prometheans, and fear of what tomorrow might bring. There is a wide range of intellect across the faction, from genius engineers and military commanders to simple labourers and criminals.

No matter where they find themselves, humans organize into communities. They utilize the strengths of individuals within a group to maximize the efficient use of time, effort, and resources. This is what allowed them to become the dominating faction on Atlan prior to the Upheaval, and is what allowed them to colonize the hostile planet of Octanor.

In these uncertain times, Exiles are extremely careful in who they trust. Family bonds are strong and strangers are not readily welcomed. Most operate under a shared sense of responsibility for the wellbeing of others in their community and basic laws are enforced by those in positions of power to keep things civilized. However, desperation can make people do unspeakable things.