Welcome to the resistance! This guide will help you take your first steps from a simple civilian to a revolutionary leader. Everything covered here is available in Overthrow v1.3 (Releasing on 10th July 2025).
You begin your revolution with modest resources:
- $100 (on normal difficulty)
- A house (your safehouse and respawn point)
- A car (parked in your garage)
- A map (essential for navigation)
- A flashlight (for night operations)
Your mission: grow this small foundation into a full-scale resistance movement capable of liberating the island.
Overthrow Main Menu: Press U (PC) or hold D-Pad down (controller) to access most Overthrow features including jobs, map info, and building options.
One of the most important new features is the undercover system that changes how you interact with enemy forces. A new clothing indicator appears next to the "eye" icon:
- ⚪ White (Civilian): You appear as a civilian - OF won't make you wanted unless you enter restricted areas
- 🔴 Red (Hostile): You appear hostile due to faction gear or weapons - instant wanted if spotted
- 🔵 Blue (Occupying Faction): You appear as OF - they won't make you wanted unless you get too close (~15m)
As a new player, you'll typically appear as a civilian (white) since you start with civilian clothes and no weapons. This means:
- Enemy soldiers ignore you unless you break laws
- Perfect for reconnaissance and learning the map
- Safe for initial money-making activities
- Carrying visible weapons → Makes you appear hostile (red)
- Wearing military gear → Can make you appear as different factions
- Faction-specific clothing → Changes your apparent allegiance
Tip: Keep weapons holstered and wear civilian clothes during your first operations to stay safe while learning!
Learn More: See the complete Wanted System guide for detailed stealth mechanics and detection ranges.
¶ Getting Around the Island
Fast Travel for a small fee to locations you control:
- Your house (and any other houses you own) - see Real Estate
- Your camp (portable respawn point you can place)
- Any camp placed by other players (new in v1.3!)
- Any Mobile FOB deployed by resistance members
- Captured enemy bases
To fast travel: Open the Overthrow menu, select your destination, then click anywhere near it on the map.
Hint: You will fast travel to exactly where you click on the map, so don't click inside a building!
Your Car: Always visible on the map so you won't lose it. Perfect for early missions and supply runs.
Public Bus System: Most towns have bus stops (red "P" icons). Use the "Catch Bus" action on the pole to travel between stops for a small fee.
Vehicle Dealerships: Car icons on the map mark dealerships where you can buy civilian vehicles (no weapons included).
Note: The job system currently has some known bugs that are being addressed.
How it works: Open Overthrow menu → "Jobs" to see available contracts.
New Tutorial Jobs: Three new tutorial jobs in v1.3 introduce the major new features including undercover operations, Mobile FOBs, and AI recruitment.
Pros:
- Immediate cash payment
- Teaches core game mechanics
- Guided objectives
Cons:
- Limited number available
- Some are challenging for beginners
How it works: Buy drugs from gun dealers (gun icons on map), then sell to civilians walking around towns.
Pro tip: Buy near ports (cheaper prices) and sell inland (higher profits).
Pros:
- Quick 25% profit margin
- Teaches market economics
Cons:
- Each civilian only buys once
- Requires chasing down customers
How it works: Buy goods from shops near ports, transport them to inland towns, and sell for profit.
Pros:
- Guaranteed profit with proper route planning
- Scales with your vehicle capacity
Cons:
- Requires time investment for travel
How it works: Infiltrate enemy bases or ambush patrols to steal valuable items, then sell them at shops.
New in v1.3: Use the undercover system to appear as a civilian or enemy soldier for easier infiltration!
Pros:
- 100% profit (it's free!)
- Weakens enemy forces
Cons:
- High risk - requires stealth or combat skills
- Wanted level consequences if caught
How to place: Overthrow menu → "Place" → select posters, then put them on walls around towns.
Effectiveness:
- Maximum 5 posters per town (no benefit beyond that)
- Each poster provides +5% support (25% total maximum)
- Posters expire over time - replace them regularly
Strategy: Use the bus system to quickly visit multiple towns and place posters efficiently, even with your starting $100.
How it works: Buy medical supplies (gauze, bandages) from shops, load them in your vehicle, then use "Deliver Medical Supplies" action at town centers.
Benefits:
- Raises town support
- Generates passive income through donations
- No formal job required - do it anytime
Strategy: Neutralize defenses at radio towers near towns you want to influence.
Impact: Significantly boosts support growth in nearby settlements.
Learn More: Read about Town Support mechanics and Stability systems for advanced influence strategies.
Requirement: Achieve 75% resistance support in the village.
Strategy:
- Place 5 posters around the village
- Deliver medical supplies to the town center
- Capture any nearby radio towers
- Wait for support to grow gradually
Tip: Villages without nearby radio towers can be captured without any combat, but expect slower progress.
Reward: Captured villages provide regular income (~$2,500 every 6 hours on normal difficulty) through Resistance Funds.
¶ Understanding Support Growth
- Support grows quickly until reaching the current modifier amount
- For example: If there is a population of 100 and support modifier is at 25% then getting over 25 supporters will be very slow
- Additional activities (medical supplies, radio towers, nearby base captures) are essential for reaching 75%
The FOB system has been completely revolutionized in v1.3 with Mobile FOB trucks:
How to get Mobile FOBs:
- Purchase from civilian vehicle stores (~$5,000 on normal difficulty)
- Buy from Garages at captured bases
- Prices scale with difficulty setting
How to deploy:
- Drive the Mobile FOB truck to your desired location
- Use "Deploy FOB" action at the rear of the truck
- Truck locks in place and erects camo net + resistance flag
- FOB becomes active for building and fast travel
Mobile FOB capabilities:
- Deploy almost anywhere except near enemy bases
- Fast travel destination for all resistance members
- Respawn point option (set as "home")
- Build advanced structures (recruitment tents, equipment boxes)
- Undeploy and relocate when tactical situations change
Strategic advantages:
- Multiple FOBs can be deployed simultaneously
- Flexible positioning including in towns and near buildings
- Team coordination through Priority FOB system (officers only)
Strategic value: Mobile FOBs provide unprecedented tactical flexibility compared to the old static flag system.
Learn More: See the complete Mobile FOB guide for detailed deployment strategies and advanced features.
You can also place a personal camp for $150:
- Fast travel point accessible to all players (new in v1.3!)
- Basic building capabilities for personal use
- Privacy option: Use "Manage Camp" to make it private and restrict fast travel access
- Respawn point: Can be set as your home base
- One per player: Placing a new camp destroys your old one and any built items
Learn More: Read the Camp guide for detailed camp management and building options.
Build your own squad of AI-controlled resistance fighters:
Street Recruitment:
- Approach any civilian on the street
- Use "Recruit Civilian" action
- Cost: $250 (default, varies by difficulty)
- Recruit joins your group immediately
Recruitment Tent (Advanced):
- Build at Mobile FOBs or captured bases
- Recruit from nearby town supporters
- Cost: $125 per recruit (50% discount!)
- Requires: Available supporters in nearest town
Recruit Management:
- Open Overthrow menu → "Manage Recruits"
- Rename recruits for easier identification
- Dismiss unwanted recruits
- Status tracking: See alive/dead/distance in real-time
AI Commanding:
- Use ~ key (tilde) to open command menu
- Issue standard Arma commands (move, follow, engage, etc.)
- Remote inventory access through command menu
Equipment Management:
- Recruits start with civilian clothes and no weapons
- Equip manually or use the Loadout Manager system
- Permanent death - recruits don't respawn if killed
Save and apply equipment configurations:
At Equipment Boxes:
- Save Loadout: Saves your current equipment setup
- Load Loadout: Apply saved loadouts to yourself or nearby recruits
- Officer Templates: Officers can create faction-wide loadout templates
Benefits:
- Standardized equipment for your squad
- Quick re-equipping after deaths or resupply
- Team coordination through shared officer templates
Tip: Start with 2-3 recruits to learn the system, then expand your squad as you gain experience and resources.
Learn More: See the complete Recruits and Loadout Manager guides for advanced squad management strategies.
How it works: Locate the flag at the center of enemy bases and use the action to trigger a battle to capture the base
Rewards:
- Access to advanced construction options
- Helipads for helicopter purchases
- Garages for military vehicle acquisition
- Strategic control of the region
Preparation: Ensure you have adequate weapons, equipment, and possibly recruited allies before attempting base assaults.
New in v1.3: All inventory transfers now use progress dialogs for better stability:
- Loading/unloading vehicles shows progress
- Looting into trucks no longer crashes console players
- Smart filtering excludes clothing items during mass looting
- "Loot" action added to truck rear for better accessibility
¶ Economy and Resources
Understanding the economic systems will help you plan your progression:
- Resistance Funds - Learn how captured territory generates faction-wide income
- Resources - Understand how the enemy faction operates and uses resources
- Importing - Advanced supply acquisition for established operations
- Start Small: Focus on one village at a time rather than spreading efforts thin
- Use the Bus: Quick travel between towns makes poster campaigns efficient
- Monitor Support: Use "Map Info" in the Overthrow menu to track town support levels
- Stay Hidden: Use the undercover system to operate safely in enemy territory
- Build Your Squad: Recruit AI fighters as you gain resources and experience
- Mobile Operations: Use Mobile FOBs to establish forward positions for expanded operations
- Reinvest Profits: Use early earnings to buy better equipment and vehicles
- Learn the Map: Identify key locations like gun dealers, vehicle dealerships, and strategic targets
Once you've established basic income and captured your first village:
- Deploy your first Mobile FOB for expanded tactical options
- Recruit AI fighters to help with missions and base assaults
- Build recruitment tents at FOBs for cheaper recruitment
- Set up loadout systems at Equipment Boxes for efficient squad management
- Plan assaults on enemy bases for advanced capabilities
- Understand officer privileges and faction leadership
- Expand influence to larger towns and cities
The major changes in v1.3 that affect new players:
- Undercover System: Clothing-based stealth mechanics change how you interact with enemies
- Mobile FOBs: Truck-based deployable bases replace static flag FOBs
- AI Recruitment: Build squads of AI fighters with street recruitment and recruitment tents
- Enhanced Camps: Fast travel for all players, privacy settings, and building capabilities
- Improved Economy: Difficulty-scaled pricing and enhanced inventory operations
- Tutorial Jobs: Three new jobs specifically teach v1.3 features
For comprehensive information on specific topics:
- Factions - Understanding all faction roles and relationships
- FAQ - Frequently asked questions and common issues
- v1.3 Update - Complete details on all v1.3 changes
Remember: Overthrow is about gradual progression from a lone rebel to the leader of a liberation movement. The v1.3 update provides more tools and tactical options than ever before - take your time to learn each system and build your resistance carefully.
Good luck, revolutionary!