Overthrow is built around a dynamic three-faction conflict system that creates the core revolutionary warfare experience. Understanding how these factions interact is crucial to mastering the game.
The Occupying Faction represents the military force that has taken control of the territory. This is the primary enemy you'll be fighting against.
Default Faction: USSR (Soviet forces)
Key Characteristics:
- Controls military bases, radio towers, and key infrastructure initially
- Uses AI-driven systems to respond to your resistance activities
- Deploys Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) to battles
- Manages resources dynamically based on threat levels
- Upgrades bases and deploys patrols automatically
- Becomes more aggressive as your resistance grows
What They Do:
- Garrison military bases with soldiers and vehicles
- Send patrols through towns and along roads
- Respond to attacks with reinforcements
- Build defensive positions and upgrade bases
The Resistance Faction is the player-controlled faction fighting to liberate the territory from occupation.
Default Faction: FIA (Freedom and Independence Army)
Key Characteristics:
- Player-controlled faction with full agency
- Can capture enemy bases and establish FOBs
- Builds infrastructure to support the revolution
- Recruits civilian supporters and AI fighters
- Accesses special resistance equipment and vehicles
What You Can Do:
- Establish Forward Operating Bases (FOBs)
- Build resistance infrastructure (recruitment tents, workshops, etc.)
- Capture and hold military bases
- Recruit and command AI fighters
- Organize and lead the liberation effort
The Supporting Faction represents an external power that aids your resistance movement.
Default Faction: US (United States forces)
Key Characteristics (Planned Features):
- Provides strategic support to the resistance
- Does not directly engage in combat
- Offers resources, equipment, or other assistance
- Represents international backing for your cause
Support Types (Planned Features):
- Equipment drops and supplies
- Intelligence assistance
- Strategic coordination
- Resource support
At the start of each campaign, you can choose which real-world factions fill these roles:
The game includes various faction options depending on your installed content:
- USSR/Soviet Forces: Classic Cold War antagonist
- US Forces: Modern American military
- Other Faction Mods: Any properly configured faction mods (such as RHS)
- No Conflicts: The same faction cannot be both Occupying and Supporting
- Automatic Resolution: If conflicts occur, the game will adjust selections
- Mod Integration: Faction mods are automatically detected and available as long as they are configured for Overthrow (via a compatibility mod)
- Initial State: Occupying faction controls all military bases
- Contested Control: Bases can change hands through combat
- Resource Impact: Controlling faction gets base resources and strategic advantage
- Defensive Response: Losing bases triggers increased enemy activity
- Strategic Importance: Radio towers affect area communication and control
- Capturable: Either faction can control radio towers
- Automated Defenses: Towers have defending forces
The Occupying Faction uses sophisticated AI to counter your activities:
- Threat Assessment: AI calculates threat levels based on your actions
- Resource Allocation: More resources deployed to high-threat areas
- QRF Deployment: Quick Reaction Forces are despatched to battles for town/base control
Overthrow maintains official missions for:
- All Bohemia Interactive official maps (including DLC)
- Popular large faction mods (such as RHS)
- Vanilla Arma Reforger factions
For unsupported faction mods:
- Create an Overthrow "compatibility mod"
- Configure faction settings and equipment specific to Overthrow
- Add to EntityCatalog if needed
- Distribute on Workshop freely
See: Customizing Overthrow for detailed instructions.
Throughout this wiki, you'll see these abbreviations:
- OF: Occupying Faction (the enemy)
- RF: Resistance Faction (you, the player)
- SF: Supporting Faction (your external allies)
- QRF: Quick Reaction Force (enemy reinforcements)
- FOB: Forward Operating Base (resistance outpost)
Understanding the faction system helps you:
- Plan Operations: Know how the enemy will respond
- Manage Resources: Understand faction-based costs and benefits
- Build Support: Use faction interactions to gain civilian backing
- Choose Battles: Pick conflicts that advance your faction's goals
- Long-term Strategy: Plan the progression from resistance to liberation
The dynamic faction system ensures that no two Overthrow campaigns play the same way - the AI adapts, towns change allegiance, and the balance of power constantly shifts based on your actions and decisions.