ZEPHON - The Twisted & The Hollow

NEW LEADERS

TWISTED MOTHER

“We take care of our own, here. I take care of the rest.”

• Voice Affinity: Though she isn’t aware of it, few have travelled deeper into the Voice than she has. Start with Voice units and gain early access to Voice technologies.

• Gifts of the Voice: When her burning smile is turned to you, you feel so very special. Spend influence to buff your units… at a cost.

• Tender Ministrations: Despite her afflictions, the Mother insists that all her children care for one another. Increased healing rate if adjacent to an allied unit.

• Abhorrent: Though her kindness is obvious, the Mother’s appearance and unreliable personality puts off independents. Gain less from trading pacts.

• Immaculate Delivery (Elite): Her love envelops a target, passing it safely through the Bleed to another place. Spend influence to teleport units to allied units.

HOLLOW WARLORD

“I came, I conquered, I will again.”

• Human Affinity: The Warlord is a simple man, interested in conquest, not cursed magic or alien technology. Start with Human units and gain early access to Human technologies.

• We Who Are About To Die: The adventures of the Warlord and his soldiers are told and retold in the city streets—as long as the blood keeps flowing. Every turn that your units kill or die, your cities’ loyalty increases, but otherwise decreases.

• Tales of the Hunt: The tales of the Warlord’s endless campaign spread far and wide. Attacking gives influence.

• Restless: The sharp-toothed townsfolk will not stand for idle warriors—and will not feed them either. Units in cities and outposts have increased upkeep.

• Horde Mandate (Elite): When the Warlord masses his forces for war they attack with vigor, eager to prove themselves to him. Spend influence to grant troops in a large area a bonus to attacks and movement.

NEW UNITS

• Sharpshooters (Human, Tier 1): Biological infantry with anti-infantry sniper rifles as well as stealth and reconnaissance capabilities.

• Scramblers (Human, Tier 2): Bio-mech bikers that excel at weaving in and out of combat.

• Devotees of Throkos (Voice, Tier 1): Biological ranged monsters that are strong against wounded enemies.

• Amoetia's Devourer (Voice, Tier 2): Large biological creature that decays and has to consume its enemies or incapacitate itself for sustenance

• Cassiel Shredders (Cyber, Tier 1): Mechanical melee hover infantry that sustain their damage output at reduced group size.

• Ithuriel Harbinger (Cyber, Tier 2): Large mechanical robot with potent overheating cannons.

• Wastelander (Chieftess): Large mechanical transport that is heavily armed and empowers nearby allies.

NEW OPERATIONS

• Enriched Alloys (Human, Tier 3): Increases ranged damage of target allied unit. Efficient Enrichment (Tier 4) upgrade reduces resource cost.

• Transubstantiation (Voice, Tier 3): Target allied unit restores hitpoints on attack. Metabole (Tier 4) upgrade increases restored hitpoints.

• Systemic Reset (Cyber, Tier 3): Removes temporary debuffs from target allied unit. Systemic Interference (Tier 4) upgrade allows the removal of temporary buffs from target enemy unit. 

NEW ITEMS

• Suicide Drones (Human, Common): Damages target enemy unit.

• Stolen Flesh (Voice, Common): Restores hitpoints each turn.

• ICAR Fluid Deflector (Cyber, Common): Grants evasion damage reduction.

NEW OUTPOSTS

• Erebus Excavator: Provides minerals and chips, and has a chance to unearth an item each turn.

• Temple of Cr'la: Provides food and algae, and every 10 turns grants an ability that heals target allied unit.

NEW QUESTS

• Message to the Stars (Early-game): You hear rumors of human spacecraft that left Earth before the war, but ZEPHON blocks you from sending any message out into space.

• Circus Cambion (Mid-game): A mysterious Ringmaster comes to town and cajoles you into helping him with a grand performance.

• Concordat Compromised (Late-game): The Concordat asks you for help–an agent has been kidnapped by a group calling themselves “The Constellation.”

• Impossible Conception (Twisted Mother): Driven by love and longing, you set out to rescue your lost husband and fulfill your shared dream of starting a family, no matter the cost.

• Reyndverra (Hollow Warlord): Haunted by idleness, you pursue a legendary reality-warping sword, facing rivals who test your resolve and your understanding of power.

NEW MUTATORS

• Must We Suffer So? (Unrestricted): Start the game with Research Laboratory, Holo Theater, Habitation Block, Construction Yard and Engineer researched.

• Can Free Will Exist? (Unrestricted): Weapon damage is randomized by ±20%.

• Can Anything Redeem This Horror? (Twisted Mother): Purchasing units from NPCs is 50% cheaper.

• Can A Journey Be An End In Itself? (Hollow Warlord): Units have an additional action point.

NEW MUSIC

• Exploration: 5 minutes 17 seconds of enticing wondrous harmonies.

• Human (Early-game): 5 minutes 39 seconds of hard rock militaristic beats.

• Cyber (Early-game): 7 minutes 2 seconds of sharp methodical synths.

• Voice (Early-game): 6 minutes 59 seconds of primal ominous melodies.