Operator Tactics — Quick-Start Rules

01 Welcome to the Line Introduction

Operator Tactics is a tabletop RPG about contract operators in a fractured near-future Earth. One GM and one to six operators can run a mission in a session; one player can use the solo protocol. Take the contract, build the kit, run the op, and carry the consequences forward.

Rules Authority This page condenses the v1 core book. When a scenario or supplement conflicts, OperatorTactics_v1.pdf controls.

The RPG came first. OT was designed from the ground up as a narrative game: a GM-led, character-driven experience where operators build histories, carry liabilities, and run campaigns across connected missions. The skirmish and solo formats grew out of that foundation — same engine, different shape.

The rules are minimal by design. One six-sided die handles everything. Shoot, fight, hack, breach, heal — same mechanic, one die. The system stays out of the way so the action and the story stay at the table.

Design Intent Every rule earns its place. If it doesn't create a decision or generate tension, it gets cut. The engine is one die. The game is everything else.

Modes of Play

OT is designed to run in three formats. The core rules in this document are the foundation for all three.

Format	Players	Structure	What It Is
RPG	GM + 1–6 players	Narrative missions, campaign arc, between-mission sequence	The primary game. Operators have backgrounds, liabilities, and service records. The GM builds scenarios and plays NPCs, factions, and the world. Missions connect. Consequences carry.
Skirmish	1–2 players (no GM)	Head-to-head tactical combat, 400-point squads, 6 scenarios	Competitive format. Both players build simultaneously after seeing the scenario. No narrative overhead — pure tactical decision-making. Also playable solo with the NPC Behavior tables.
Solo	1 player (no GM)	Solo oracle, story engine, campaign framework	A GM-less single-operator campaign. Uses oracle tables to generate mission complications, NPC responses, and consequences. The narrative weight of the RPG format, without a second person at the table.

New to the game? Operation: First Light is the recommended entry point — a guided learn-to-play tutorial that walks one GM and up to four players through every core mechanic across a single 60–90 minute mission. No prior rules knowledge required. Find it in the OT First Contact folder.

The World

The game is set in Terra Conflictus, Earth 2066 — a world where climate displacement, resource wars, and political consolidation fractured the old map into seven competing powers. No front lines. No declarations. Proxy conflicts, deniable operations, and operators like you, running jobs for people whose names you never learn.

The setting is built into every operator's background, every faction's training profile, and every mission's political texture. You don't need to know the full world to play — but the more you know, the more the scenarios mean.

02 The Core Mechanic Foundation

Roll D6. Meet or beat your proficiency threshold. That is the whole engine.

Almost every action in the game resolves this way. Shoot, fight, hack a terminal, throw a grenade, stabilize a wound — one die, one number.

Rating	Threshold	Probability (unmodified)	Meaning
Good	2+	5 in 6 (83%)	You almost always succeed. Only a natural 1 fails.
Ordinary	4+	3 in 6 (50%)	Coin flip. Modifiers make the difference.
Bad	5+	2 in 6 (33%)	You need help, gear, or luck.

Modifiers

Modifiers always adjust the die roll — never the threshold. Cover gives attackers −1 on their roll. An adjacent teammate gives +1 to an objective check. Stack all modifiers, then roll once.

Critical Results. Natural 6 always succeeds, regardless of threshold — on an attack it normally deals a Mortal Wound. Natural 1 always fails, regardless of modifiers. These are the only true absolutes in the system.

Threshold above 6: When Armor pushes a shooting threshold above 6, only a natural 6 can wound — and even then, it deals a Flesh Wound only.

Action Floor: No combination of penalties can reduce an operator below 1 action per activation.

Challenge Thresholds

Some tasks set a fixed challenge, such as TACT 4+. Use the stated threshold. The v1 core mentions a proficiency bonus for these checks but does not define its numerical conversion; this Quick-Start does not invent one. The GM should state before play whether a fixed challenge replaces the printed attribute threshold or receives a campaign-specific modifier.

03 What You Need Setup

Item	Notes
D6 dice	A handful. You roll one at a time.
Miniatures or tokens	One per operator. Anything works at this level.
Measuring tape	Everything measured in inches.
Playing surface	3×3 feet minimum. Larger is fine.
Terrain	8–12 pieces of hard cover. Open tables get people killed.
Markers	Track wounds, status, Edge, Supply, Alert, and objectives. Poker chips, coins, or dice work.

Your Models

There are two ways to get figures on the table. Neither requires buying anything new.

The parts-bin path: sprues, clippers, 40k piles of shame, military model kits, dollar-store dinosaurs. Raw material, built up. Whatever you kit-bash can be a gene-forged operator — the Gene Forge provides the in-world logic for any silhouette.

The Dead Shelf path: a complete figure you already own. A Pop Mart blind box, a thrift store find, a Quiccs TEQ63 you bought for a different reason, a Labubu that's been sitting on your desk since last year. You don't build it. You give it a name, a card, and a place in a splice.

These figures are Commercial Stock in both senses. In the OT world, Commercial Stock gene-forged were built for entertainment markets and ended up on the battlefield when the Upheaval reorganized everything. In yours, the figure was built for a collector shelf and is now on the table. The lore was already written. No conversion required.

The Point The figures already in the world are the correct figures. Designer vinyl — Pop Mart, 52Toys, Quiccs, Kidrobot — already looks like it exists in a near-future contested zone. It was in the toy bins before this game existed. We designed around what already exists. For faction marking, modification techniques, scale guidance, and the full collector crossover framework, see the Commercial Stock document.

04 Attributes Operators

Every operator has six attributes. Five are rated Good, Ordinary, or Bad. One (MOBI) is a fixed number in inches.

Attribute	Used For
SHOOT	Ranged attacks. Fire at enemies, reaction shots, shooting through doorways.
FIGHT	Melee attacks. Close combat, grapples, knife work.
TACT	Physical and technical tasks. Force doors, plant charges, navigate terrain, throw grenades.
OPINT	Operational intelligence. Hack systems, spot ambushes, download files, read the room.
GUTS	Morale and toughness. Hold under fire, recover between missions, resist panic.
MOBI	Movement in inches per activation. Not a roll — just distance.

05 The Six Classes Operators

Every class fills a role the squad cannot survive without. You are not picking favorites. You are picking the right people for the job.

Each class has one Signature ability (always available) and four Specializations — choose one per mission. Specializations can be swapped between missions.

Commando

100 pts // Combat

Commando

SHT

2+

FGT

2+

TCT

4+

OPI

5+

GTS

4+

MOB

6"

AR 2 (Medium Rig) // 3 FW / 2 MW

Signature: Rapid Deployment

Activation-timing +1. When the splice activation order is set, the Commando may insert first or last. Applies every round.

Specializations (choose one per mission)

Breach & Clear. When first through a door or opening, first Shoot that activation gains +1 to the die.

Heavy Weapons. +1 to FIGHT or SHOOT with LMG, HMG, or other heavy weapons.

Assault Leader. Adjacent ally gains +1 to their next Shoot or Fight this round.

Last Line. When at 1 MW, next Shoot or Fight roll gains +1. Once per mission.

Marksman

110 pts // Recon

Marksman

SHT

2+

FGT

5+

TCT

4+

OPI

4+

GTS

4+

MOB

5"

AR 1 (Light Vest) // 3 FW / 2 MW

Signature: Steady Aim

Spend both actions, must be stationary. Next Shoot action gains +2 to the die. Natural 1 still fumbles.

Specializations (choose one per mission)

Counter-Sniper. +1 to SHOOT against targets that made a Shoot action on the previous round.

Designated Marksman. Ignore 1 level of cover on the first Shoot per activation.

Spotter. Adjacent ally's next Shoot gains +1 to the die.

Long Watch. Overwatch covers two adjacent zones instead of one.

Infiltrator

100 pts // Recon

Infiltrator

SHT

4+

FGT

4+

TCT

2+

OPI

4+

GTS

4+

MOB

7"

AR 1 (Light Vest) // 3 FW / 2 MW

Signature: Ghost

Stealth persists when firing silenced weapons. Unsuppressed fire breaks Stealth. Re-entering Stealth from cover costs 1 action (instead of the normal Hide cost) if already in cover and outside all enemy LoS.

Specializations (choose one per mission)

Close Cuts. +1 to FIGHT against an unaware target.

Cat Walk. Move through difficult terrain without MOBI penalty.

Electronic Ghost. +1 to OPINT on hack or intrusion rolls.

Ex-Filtration. At mission end, ignore one pursuit or exfil complication.

Breacher

110 pts // Combat

Breacher

SHT

4+

FGT

2+

TCT

2+

OPI

5+

GTS

2+

MOB

6"

AR 3 (Heavy Plate) // 3 FW / 2 MW

Signature: Structural Damage

+1 to FIGHT or TACT rolls against structural elements (doors, barricades, walls). Passive, always on.

Specializations (choose one per mission)

Wall Breaker. Make a Fight action against a wall or barricade to create a 2" opening. Costs 1 action.

Door Kicker. First through a breached doorway: +1 to Shoot or Fight that activation.

Overwatch Fire. May set Overwatch covering a breach point. Triggers when enemy crosses.

Armored Hull. +1 AR when adjacent to cover.

Medic

90 pts // Support

Medic

SHT

5+

FGT

5+

TCT

4+

OPI

2+

GTS

2+

MOB

6"

AR 1 (Light Vest) // 3 FW / 2 MW

Signature: Field Stabilize

1 action. Adjacent ally at 1+ MW. Roll OPINT 4+. Success: remove 1 MW. Cannot self-treat. Non-Medic using a kit rolls at -1.

Specializations (choose one per mission)

Battle Chemist. Injected stim: target's next Shoot or Fight gains +1. 1 action, adjacent, once per target per mission.

Trauma Surgeon. Field Stabilize succeeds on OPINT 3+ instead of 4+.

Calm Under Fire. Medic ignores Pinned status once per mission.

Preserve Life. When an ally would go Out of Action, spend 1 Pressure to keep them at 0 FW / 1 MW instead.

Tech Specialist

100 pts // Support

Tech

SHT

5+

FGT

5+

TCT

4+

OPI

2+

GTS

4+

MOB

5"

AR 1 (Light Vest) // 3 FW / 2 MW

Signature: Circuit Override

1 action. Roll OPINT 4+. Interact with a system: door, turret, drone, camera, or terminal. Hardened tablet grants +1.

Specializations (choose one per mission)

Drone Operator. Deploy a tactical drone (1 action). Drone acts on your activations as a separate 1-action element.

Netrunner. Remote Override within 12" instead of adjacent.

Counter-Intelligence. Once per mission, cancel an enemy Alert Level tick.

EMP Discipline. EMP Device blast 6" instead of 3".

Doctrine Bonuses

Each class has a Doctrine Bonus — a reward triggered by successful use of the class signature ability. Doctrine Bonuses are always active and do not need to be chosen.

Class	Doctrine Bonus	Effect
Commando	Forward Momentum	When both actions are spent on Shoot or Fight, the next activation ignores the wound-state action penalty (act with 2 actions regardless of wound state).
Marksman	Line of Sight Discipline	On a successful Shoot beyond 18", the target is pushed 2" in a direction you choose (no Reaction), OR the Marksman's next Overwatch this mission costs 1 action instead of 2.
Infiltrator	Shadow Discipline	Kill from Stealth: re-enter Stealth without a TACT check.
Breacher	Hinge Point	Fight action within 3" of a structural element: +2 to the Fight roll.
Medic	Triage	When you Stabilize an operator at 2 MW, their next activation gets 2 actions regardless of wound state.
Tech Specialist	Clean Break	On a successful Override, move up to 3" free (no action cost).

06 Building Your Squad Operators

Format	Point Budget	Minimum	Restriction
Standard Play	1,000 pts	3 operators	Must include 1 Combat, 1 Recon, 1 Support
Skirmish	400 pts	2 operators	No composition requirement; use a scenario-defined opposed turn structure
Advanced Play	1,200 pts	3 operators	Max 3 of any single class
Solo Play	400 pts	1+ operators	One or more operators — v1 permits either

The Three Roles

Role	Classes	What They Do
Combat	Commando, Breacher	Close with the enemy. Hold ground. Clear rooms. Create approaches.
Recon	Marksman, Infiltrator	Shape the engagement. Control sightlines. Get the team in before anyone knows they're there.
Support	Medic, Tech Specialist	Keep the squad viable. Without a Medic, wounds accumulate with no recovery. Without a Tech, every locked door is a wall.

Loadout

One primary weapon and one sidearm.
Up to four pieces of general field gear — free at character creation in canonical v1.
Melee weapons and grenades do not consume field-gear slots.
Weapon and armor point costs count against the squad budget.

07 Operator's Edge Operators

Every operator starts each mission with 1 Edge token. Spend it at any time — including during a reaction — to reroll one D6. The new result stands. Edge normally resets between missions.

Pressure

Canonical v1 references Pressure for healing, Preserve Life, and mission rewards but does not provide a complete earning procedure. If using the optional Quick-Start Pressure module, keep it separate from Edge and agree on its earning triggers before the mission.

Alignment Note Edge is canonical. Pressure is retained only where a class ability or scenario explicitly awards it; the former three-token personal reroll economy is not assumed.

08 Supply State Playing the Game

Before each mission, check the squad's Supply State. This determines what consumables operators carry and how Field Stabilize works.

State	Consumables	Field Stabilize
Operational	Standard, full loadout.	As written.
Strained	Max 1 grenade + 1 medkit per operator.	Once per operator per mission.
Critical	None at mission start; acquire in field only.	TACT 4+ to improvise a kit, then OPINT 4+ to stabilize — two actions.

Supply State follows campaign circumstances and patron sentiment. A sour patron may lower Supply State; exceptional mission success may raise it.

09 Turn Sequence Playing the Game

Phase	What Happens
1. Priority Check	Both sides roll D6. High roll chooses first or second. Ties reroll. The losing side's first activated model gets 1 action instead of 2.
2. Operator Phase	Activate each operator, normally 2 actions each. Activate in any order.
3. Threat Phase	GM activates NPC units, patrols, reinforcements, and environmental effects. Each NPC unit activates once.
4. End Phase	Resolve ongoing effects, objectives, clocks, and expired Sustains. Start a new round.

09 Actions Playing the Game

Each operator gets 2 actions per activation. No combination of penalties can reduce you below 1 action.

Action	Cost	Effect
Move	1	Walk up to your MOBI value in inches. Movement can be split around another action.
Sprint	2	Move up to MOBI ×2 inches. No other actions this activation.
Shoot	1	Make a ranged attack against a target in LoS within weapon range.
Fight	1	Move into contact (base-to-base, or within 1″ if either model uses a separate base) and make a melee attack. Fight triggers immediately.
Overwatch	2	Hold. Make one free Shoot attack at the first valid enemy entering the declared trigger arc / LoS.
Interact	1	Manipulate an objective, door, charge, or trap. Usually TACT or OPINT 4+ check.
Field Stabilize	1	Adjacent ally at 1+ MW. Cannot self-treat. Roll OPINT 4+. Success: remove 1 MW. Non-Medic using a kit rolls at -1.
Hide	1	Roll TACT 4+. Must be in cover and outside all enemy LoS. Success: enter Stealth.
Field Read	1	Choose: Spot Weakness (OPINT), Call Target (TACT), or Read the Room (OPINT), normally 4+.
Desperation Fire	2	Make a second SHOOT attack at −2. Natural 1 on the second shot jams your weapon (1 action to clear).
Stand Up	1	End Prone.

10 Reactions Playing the Game

When targeted by a SHOOT attack, declare your reaction before the attacker rolls. Cost: lose 1 action on your next activation. One reaction per operator per round.

Reaction	Trigger	Effect
Return Fire	You're shot at	Immediately make a Shoot attack against the shooter. Normal modifiers. Cannot Return Fire if Pinned.
Take Cover	You're shot at	Reposition up to 3" into the nearest cover. The triggering shot resolves against the new position.
Duck Down	You're shot at	Go Prone. The attacker takes −1 on the triggering shot. Standing is a normal action.
Body Shield	Adjacent friendly is targeted	An adjacent operator or NPC becomes the target instead. Resolve as if they were the target.

11 Shooting Combat

Step by Step

1. Declare target in LoS within weapon range.
2. Set threshold from SHOOT proficiency: Good 2+ / Ordinary 4+ / Bad 5+.
3. Add defender's AR to the threshold. AR never modifies the die roll.
4. Apply all die modifiers. Stack them, then roll.
5. Meet or beat threshold to hit. Hit = Flesh Wound. Natural 6 = Mortal Wound, except under the heavy-armor rule.

Shoot Modifiers (to die roll)

Condition	Modifier
Target in Light Cover (low walls, foliage)	−1
Target in Heavy Cover (barriers, vehicles)	−2
Target Prone	−1
Attacker has 3 FW	−1
Attacker Pinned	−1
Elevation advantage	+1
Assisting operator	+1
First attack from Stealth	+2
Shooting into a fight	−2
Long range (19–30")	−1
Extreme range (31"+)	−2
Desperation Fire (second shot)	−2
Marksman's Steady Aim active	+2 to the die (natural 1 still fumbles)

Range Bands

Short 0–6" // Medium 7–18" // Long 19–30" (−1) // Extreme 31"+ (−2). Weapon entries specify which bands are available.

Special Cases

Threshold Above 6: Heavy armor can push the threshold beyond 6. Only a natural 6 wounds, and it deals a Flesh Wound only — armor absorbed the penetration.

12 Fight (Melee) Combat

1. Move into contact: base-to-base, or within 1″ if either model uses a separate base. This is your first action. Fight triggers immediately.
2. Both operators roll D6. Add +1 if armed with a melee weapon. High total wins. Attacker wins ties.
3. Armor check: roll D6. If result exceeds the loser's AR, the wound lands. Equal or less: armor absorbs. Natural 6 always penetrates. Natural 1 never penetrates (unless AR is 0).
4. Winner deals a wound: any winning roll = FW. Natural 6 from winner = MW.
5. Loser stays in contact. TACT 4+ at start of next activation to break free (move 3″ clear). Fail: take 1 FW, try again next turn.

Canonical Limitation The published v1 melee procedure does not apply the printed FIGHT threshold. This edition reproduces v1 rather than adding an unofficial modifier.

13 Grenades Combat

Throwing a grenade costs 1 action. Declare a target location in LoS within range. Roll TACT 4+. Blast radius: 3". Grenades ignore cover modifiers.

Roll	Result
Natural 6	Perfect throw. Lands exactly on target. Only a damaging grenade converts this into Mortal Wounds.
4–5	Grenade lands on target. Apply the grenade's own effect.
2–3	Grenade scatters D3" in a random direction.
Natural 1	Grenade scatters D6" in a random direction. May threaten friendly operators.

14 Movement & Terrain Battlefield

Terrain	Movement	Cover Modifier	Notes
Open Ground	Normal	None	You are exposed.
Light Cover	Normal	−1 to attacker	Low walls, foliage, fences.
Heavy Cover	2" per 1"	−2 to attacker	Concrete barriers, sandbags, vehicle hulks.
Full Cover	Blocked	Blocks LoS	Solid walls, deep water, cliffs.
Difficult	2" per 1"	None by itself	Rubble, mud, shallow water, dense vegetation.
Elevated	Normal	−1 from below	Rooftops, balconies. See over Light Cover.

Line of Sight

Draw a line from the center of your base to the center of the target's base. If solid terrain blocks it, no LoS. Elevated operators can see over Light Cover. Heavy Cover still blocks.

Contaminated Terrain

Any terrain can carry the Contaminated tag (GM marks on map before play). If you end your activation in contaminated terrain:

Operator Type	Effect
Baseline	Roll GUTS 4+. Failure = take 1 FW.
Gene-Forged	Take 1 FW automatically. No roll.

Passing through contamination without ending there = no effect. Salvage looted from contaminated terrain starts Stressed.

Special Movement

Situation	Rule
Climbing	Costs 2" per 1" vertical. Ladders/stairs: 1" per 1". No clear route: TACT 4+ or no progress, action spent.
Falling	1 FW per full 3" fallen.

15 Visibility Conditions Battlefield

Condition	Effect
Total Darkness	SHOOT −2. Stealth OPINT +2. MOBI −1. NVGs negate the SHOOT penalty only.
Dim Light	SHOOT −1. Stealth OPINT +1. NVGs negate the SHOOT penalty.
Normal Light	No modifier.
Bright Light	SHOOT +1 beyond 12". Stealth OPINT −1.
Flashlight	Illuminates a 6" cone. Negates darkness for attacks into the cone. Reveals Stealthed enemies inside it.

16 Alert Levels Battlefield

Track where enemy forces are on the attention scale. Most missions start at Level 0. The squad's job is to keep it there — or manage what happens when they can't.

0

Cold

Standard patrols. No active search.

1

Tense

Shorter patrol intervals. Some guards check in.

2

Elevated

Active search. Patrols double. Reinforcements stage.

3

Hot

Sector lockdown. Reinforcements each Threat Phase. Enemy quality rises.

4+

Blown

Full mobilization. Extract or fight through.

What Raises Alert (+1 each)

Event
Unsuppressed gunfire.
An alarm.
A discovered body.
A wounded HVT.
A missing guard at the next patrol cycle (D6 rounds).
A communication failure at check-in.

Alarm consequences may add more.

One Direction Alert never decreases during a mission unless a scenario explicitly overrides v1. (The Tech Specialist's Counter-Intelligence cancels one Alert increase per mission — it does not lower the level.)

17 Wound Track Wounds & Morale

Clean

No Wounds

No penalties

2 actions

Wounded

1–2 FW

No penalties

2 actions

Hurt

3 FW

−1 all rolls

2 actions

Critical

1 MW

−1 all rolls

1 action

Failing

2 MW

−2 all rolls

1 action

Down

+1 hit at 2 MW

Out of Action

Removed

Wound Clarity: When you take a MW (conversion or direct hit), clear all current FW. MW penalties replace FW penalties — they don't stack.

3 FW + hit: Converts to 1 MW. All FW cleared. The wound track resets to the MW state.

Mortal Wound removal via Field Stabilize: Medic Field Stabilize (OPINT 4+, 1 action, adjacent) removes 1 MW on success. Apply updated wound state after treatment.

18 GUTS Checks Wounds & Morale

Roll GUTS vs 4+. Success: you hold. Failure: lose 1 action on your next activation.

Make a GUTS check when:

Trigger
A friendly operator in your LoS goes Out of Action.
You take your first Mortal Wound this mission.
You activate with 3 Flesh Wounds.
You are the last active operator on your side.
The GM calls for it under extreme circumstances.

19 Status Effects Wounds & Morale

Status	Effect	How It Ends
Prone	Incoming Shoot attacks at −1. Crawl at half MOBI. Cannot Fight or Sprint.	Stand Up (1 action).
Pinned	Next Move costs both actions. −1 to all Shoot rolls. AR reduced by 1. Pinned only once per round.	Expires at end of your next activation.
Stealth	Cannot be targeted by Shoot. Enemies won't move toward you. First attack from Stealth gains +2. Under canonical v1, an unsuppressed Shoot breaks Stealth only when it hits; silenced weapons never break it.	Hit with unsuppressed Shoot. Any Fight. Failed TACT in enemy LoS. Moving in open within 6" of an alert enemy.
Sustaining	Move at half MOBI only. On any wound, roll GUTS 4+ or Sustain breaks.	Ability expires, or wound + failed GUTS check.
Out of Action	Removed from play.	Fate determined after the mission (see Between Missions).

20 NPC Tiers Enemies

Tier	Core Profile	Wounds	Cost	Activation / Reactions
Hostile Asset	All checks 5+ at −2 · MOBI 4 · AR 0	1 FW	15 pts	Noncombatant; no reactions
Grunt	All 5+ · MOBI 5 · AR 0	2 FW	40 pts	Group up to 6; no reactions
Elite Standard	All 4+ · MOBI 5 · AR 1	3 FW / 1 MW	55 pts	Individual; all reactions; 1 specialization
Elite Hardened	All 3+ · MOBI 5 · AR 2	3 FW / 1 MW	85 pts	Individual; all reactions; 2 specializations
HVT	Varies — FIGHT 3, TACT 3, OPINT 2, GUTS 3 · AR 2	3 FW / 2 MW	100+ pts	Individual; unique ability

21 NPC Behavior Enemies

Tier Rules

Grunts activate as a group. Three or more with LoS impose −1 on the target's next SHOOT. One Grunt may Command instead of acting normally.
Elites activate individually and use Return Fire, Take Cover, Duck Down, and Body Shield.
HVT at 1 MW becomes Cornered: +1 all rolls, acts first in the Threat Phase, and attempts escape. At 2 MW it takes one Last Stand action before going OOA.

GM Behavior

Assign a motivation before the mission: True Believer, Zealot, Professional, Paid, or Coerced. Motivation governs morale and surrender. Run groups consistently and let objectives, doctrine, and Alert determine their choices.

22 Weapons Equipment

Weapon	Range Bands	Cost	Properties
Sidearm	Short	10 pts	Standard
Suppressed Pistol	Short	20 pts	Silent
Shotgun	Short	25 pts	Scatter
SMG	Short / Medium	20 pts	Rapid
Suppressed SMG	Short / Medium	30 pts	Silent, Rapid
Assault Rifle	Medium	25 pts	Standard
Battle Rifle	Medium / Long	30 pts	Standard
LMG	Medium	35 pts	Suppressive
Sniper Rifle	Long / Extreme	40 pts	Heavy
Frag Grenade	Short	35 pts	Blast, One-Use
Smoke Grenade	Short	25 pts	Obscure, One-Use

Weapon Properties

Property	Effect
Silent	Does not break Stealth when firing.
Heavy	Cannot Move and Shoot in the same activation.
Suppressive	A hit also makes the target Pinned.
Rapid	Multiple attacks only when another rule enables them.
Scatter	All targets within 3" take a wound.
Blast	All targets within 3"; ignores cover.
Obscure	Creates a 3" smoke cloud that blocks LoS for 2 rounds.
One-Use	Single use per mission.

Range: Short 0–6" // Medium 7–18" // Long 19–30" // Extreme 31"+.

23 Armor Equipment

Armor	AR	Threshold Effect	Movement	Cost
None	0	—	—	—
Light Vest	1	+1 to threshold	—	15 pts
Medium Rig	2	+2 to threshold	—	30 pts
Heavy Plate	3	+3 to threshold	−1" MOBI	50 pts

AR raises the attacker's shooting threshold, not the die roll. A Good (2+) shooter vs. AR 2 = threshold 4+. Melee uses its own separate armor check. Heavy Armor: if the shooting threshold exceeds 6, only a natural 6 wounds, for 1 FW.

Equipment Stress

State	Effect
Clean	Default. No penalty.
Stressed	Natural 1 on any Shoot = weapon jams. TACT 4+, 1 action to clear; success returns it to Clean for the mission.

Gear begins Clean unless the scenario says otherwise. Loot from contaminated terrain and battlefield salvage begins Stressed.

24 Field Gear Equipment

Each operator chooses up to four pieces of general field gear — free at character creation in canonical v1.

Item	Effect
Night Vision Goggles	Ignore darkness and low-light penalties as specified by the visibility rule.
Flashlight	Illuminate a 6" cone; negate darkness for attacks into it; reveal Stealth inside.
Medkit	Enables Field Stabilize; non-Medic rolls OPINT 4+ at −1.
Smoke Charges	Create a 3" cloud that blocks LoS for 2 rounds.
Breaching Charges	+1 TACT when used to breach.
Signal Relay	Extend Overwatch range by 6".
Sensor Array	Detect movement through walls within 12".
Reinforced Armor Plating	+1 AR; consumes two gear slots.

Specialization Gear

Recon Probe (Infiltrator) // Signal Booster (Marksman) // Hardened Tablet (Tech) // Breaching Tools (Breacher) // Pharmacology Kit (Medic). Assign with the relevant specialization as the scenario permits.

25 Scenarios & Setup Running the Op

Game Setup

1. Choose a scenario. Pick a mission or roll from the scenario tables. The scenario sets the objective, enemy composition, and special conditions.

2. Build squads. Each player builds within the point budget. Standard play: 1000 pts. Skirmish: 400 pts.

3. Set terrain. Lay out the five functional zones below. Standard table: 3×3 feet. Place 8–12 pieces of hard cover. Open tables get people killed.

4. Deploy. Roll D6. High roll chooses deployment zone. The other player deploys first. Operators within 6" of your board edge. In cover if terrain allows.

5. Begin Round 1. Roll Priority. Play begins.

Objective Types

Objective	Mechanic
Extraction	Move a VIP or asset to the extraction point. VIP moves with an adjacent operator's Move action.
Elimination	Remove the HVT from play. Apply HVT Escalation track (Cornered → Last Stand) when HVT takes first MW.
Recovery	Reach a location, spend Interact action (TACT or OPINT 4+) to secure the objective. Carry it to extraction.
Sabotage	Place Demo Charges or Override a system. Demo: Breacher TACT 4+. Override: Tech OPINT 4+. Set and detonate or hold.
Surveillance	Reach and hold a position for a full round. Mark enemies with Field Read. No alarm triggered before timer expires.

Five Functional Zones

Zone	Purpose
Insertion	Squad entry. Defensible. Few patrols.
Approach	Positioning and intel. Punishes a straight dash.
Objective	Where the critical work happens.
Kill	Open ground that can be raked with fire.
Extraction	Exit route. Normally distinct from insertion.

Use "sector" for physical map subdivisions and "zone" for these mission functions.

26 Campaign Framework Running the Op

The campaign is three jobs, a patron, and a problem that gets worse. You don't need a full setting to start. You need four answers and someone on the other end of the comms.

The Squad's Situation (answer before Session 1)

Question	Answer
Who are you?	A squad of 3–6 operators working freelance / for a patron / under contract. Active in [City] for [timeframe].
What do you have?	A staging area — safehouse, shipping container, back room. Note what it provides: supplies, comms rig, medical station.
What do you owe?	Roll D6 on the Obligation table below, or pick one.
What's at stake?	The squad needs [money / extraction / information / protection] within [timeframe]. Failure costs [consequence].

Obligation Table (D6)

Roll	Obligation
1	You owe your patron for the staging area. First job's pay covers it. Refuse the job, lose the safehouse.
2	One operator has a Mortal Wound from a prior contract. It won't heal without a Medic or downtime.
3	A previous employer believes you stole intelligence. One faction starts at Unfriendly.
4	You're carrying gear that belongs to someone else. Return it (lose 100 pts of equipment) or they come looking.
5	One operator has a personal connection in this city. That connection is in trouble. Side job available from Session 1.
6	Clean slate. No debts. Unknown here. That's an advantage — until nobody vouches for you either.

The Three-Job Arc

Job	Purpose	Design Notes
Job 1: The Introduction	Teach the table. Establish the city. Introduce the antagonist's fingerprints.	Supply State: Operational. 4 sectors max. Teach movement, combat, wounds. End with unexpected information.
Job 2: The Complication	The problem is bigger. New actors. New pressure. Stealth matters.	Supply State: Strained (default). Introduce Alert Levels. At least one NPC as person, not stat block. Info from Job 1 recontextualizes something. End with choice affecting Job 3.
Job 3: The Resolution	Everything converges. Split objectives. The antagonist is present. Consequences land.	Supply State: Strained or Critical. Split objectives if group allows. HVT has Cornered/Last Stand behavior, possibly gene-forged. At least one outcome from Jobs 1–2 changes conditions. End with hook forward.

Patron Sentiment

Alignment Note Canonical v1 treats patron sentiment as GM judgment, not a numerical −2 to +2 track. A sour patron may lower Supply State; exceptional success may raise it. Full success earns trust, failed objectives strain the relationship, and betraying the patron's interest burns it — but that arc lives in the fiction, not on a track.

27 Between Missions Running the Op

Run this checklist after every mission, in order:

Step	Canonical Procedure
1. Wound Recovery	All FW clear. Medic treats one operator: OPINT 4+ to recover MW. Without a Medic, each wounded operator rolls GUTS 4+.
2. Downtime	Each operator chooses one activity from the Downtime Menu below.
3. Supply Update	Set Operational, Strained, or Critical for the next mission from campaign circumstances.
4. Field Requisitions	Award Silver, Gold, or Platinum based on mission outcome.
5. Battlefield Evolution	Check performance triggers. Maximum one permanent Evolution per operator per campaign.
6. Advance Factions	Move every faction one step on its private timeline. Don't tell the players.
7. Brief Next Mission	Present the next operation and allow planning.

Downtime Menu

Activity	Effect
Rest	Remove Stress from one piece of equipment; FW are already cleared by recovery.
Train	Swap Specialization. No cost.
Acquire	OPINT 4+; add gear at current Supply State prices.
Intel	TACT 4+; reveal one next-mission detail.
Recover	GUTS 4+; convert 1 unhealed MW to 1 FW.
Lay Low	Reduce Heat/Alert carry-over or one faction Threat by 1.

Field Requisition Tiers

Tier	Qualification	Choose One
Silver	Full or partial success	Extra Edge // Resupply Drop // Pre-Op Intel
Gold	Full success	Close Air Support // Hardened Transport // Black Budget Gear
Platinum	Full success and zero MW	Ghost Protocol // Command Override // Extraction Guarantee

Battlefield Evolutions

An operator can earn one permanent Evolution in a campaign after a qualifying performance trigger: completing the objective at 2 MW, eliminating an HVT alone, maintaining Stealth for three rounds, securing a campaign-critical objective, or another listed v1 trigger.

Last Operator Standing. When all allies are removed, +1 all rolls for the rest of the round; once per mission.
Hard to Kill. First MW each mission converts to FW.
Phantom. Re-enter Stealth from cover without rolling; once per mission.
Weight of Command. One ally within 6" takes a free action; once per mission.
Nothing Left to Lose. +1 all rolls in the first round of the next mission.

XP Advancement

The GM awards advancement for mission success, exceptional performance, and survival. Spend earned XP to improve an attribute from Bad to Ordinary to Good. V1 does not publish numerical XP costs; agree on the campaign scale before awarding points.

28 Solo Protocol Solo

Solo uses the same core rules with five substitutes for a GM: SITREP Oracle, Enemy AI Protocol, Fog of War, Event Phase, and Heat Track. The v1 core contains the first two in usable form; its supplement carries the complete Fog, Event, and Heat systems.

Phase	Solo Procedure
1. Priority	Both sides roll; choose to take or concede priority. Losing side's first model gets 1 action.
2. Operator	Activate each operator completely, 2 actions each.
3. Threat	Activate every enemy by AI priority.
4. Event	After Turn 1, roll the scenario Event table if available.
5. End	Resolve status, objectives, Sustains, and clocks.

SITREP Oracle

Odds	Roll
Unlikely	2D6, take lowest
Even	1D6
Likely	2D6, take highest

1

No, and it gets worse

2

No

3

No, but there is an opening

4

Yes, but there is a cost

5

Yes

6

Yes, and something breaks your way

Enemy AI — First Valid Action

React if targeted → Fight if engaged → Shoot a valid target → Advance toward last known position → otherwise Hold assigned ground.

Targeting priority: the operator that attacked this enemy, then closest in LoS, then most wounded, then nearest the objective.

29 Quick Reference At the Table

Rule	Value
Core roll	D6 vs threshold; modifiers change the roll; natural 6 succeeds, natural 1 fails.
Actions	2 per activation; floor 1.
Move / Sprint	MOBI / 2× MOBI.
Cover	Light −1; Heavy −2; Full blocks LoS.
Range	Short 0–6; Medium 7–18; Long 19–30 (−1); Extreme 31+ (−2).
Wounds	3 FW converts on next hit; 2 MW and next hit = OOA.
Reaction	One per round; costs 1 action next activation.
Stabilize	Adjacent, 1 action, OPINT 4+; remove 1 MW.
Hide	In cover, outside LoS, TACT 4+.
Alert	Cold / Tense / Elevated / Hot / Blown; normally only rises.

Canonical Clarifications Retained

The year is 2066 and the world has seven major powers.
General field gear is free and slot-limited; weapons and armor use point costs.
Only damaging grenades inflict MW on a perfect throw.
Solo permits one or more operators.
Patron sentiment is untracked GM judgment in v1.
Edge is canonical; Pressure requires an explicit class, scenario, or optional module.

Known V1 Ambiguities The core does not define a numerical challenge proficiency bonus, FIGHT ratings are unused by its melee procedure, and XP costs are not specified. These remain visibly marked rather than being replaced by unofficial rules.