The Recruits system allows you to build your own squad of AI-controlled resistance fighters in Overthrow. These recruits can follow you into battle, help with operations, and grow stronger over time.
There are two ways to recruit civilians into your resistance:
- Approach any civilian on the street
- Look for the "Recruit Civilian" option in the interaction menu
- Cost: $250 (default, may vary by difficulty settings)
- The civilian will immediately join your group
- Build a Recruitment Tent at any FOB or base
- Access the tent to recruit from nearby town supporters
- Cost: $125 per recruit (50% discount compared to street recruitment)
- Requires: Available supporters in the nearest town
- Benefits: Cheaper recruitment and draws from your supporter base
- Open the Main Menu (U Key on PC)
- Select "Manage Recruits"
- View all your recruited fighters in one place
- Rename: Give your recruits custom names to identify them easily
- Dismiss: Remove unwanted recruits from your squad (with confirmation)
- Status Tracking: See real-time information about each recruit:
- Green: Alive and operational
- Red: Dead (permanent - no respawn)
- Distance indicator shows how far they are from you
- Maximum of 16 recruits per player
- Plan your squad composition carefully
¶ Commanding Your Recruits
¶ Using the Command Menu
- Open the command menu using the ~ key (tilde) on PC
- Issue orders to all your recruits
- Use standard Arma commands:
- Move to position
- Follow me
- Stop/Hold position
- Engage/Hold fire
A special command allows you to open a recruit's inventory remotely:
- Open the command menu (~) while looking directly at a recruit
- Choose the "Open Inventory" command to manage their equipment
¶ Recruits and Player Groups
Added in v1.4. See Player Groups for the full rules.
Recruits are owned by a player, not by a group. They follow you into whatever group you are in.
If you join another player's group, that group's leader can command your recruits alongside the rest of the group's AI. Ownership never changes hands: dismissing, renaming, opening inventory, applying loadouts, showing on the map and kill XP all stay with you.
When you leave the group, switch groups, disconnect or reconnect, your recruits come back with you. None are left behind under the old leader's command.
Recruits you hire while in a shared group join that shared group.
Recruits start with civilian clothing and no weapons. You'll need to equip them:
- Manual Equipment: Give them weapons and gear from the ground or nearby containers using the "Open Inventory" command
- Loadout System: Use the Loadout Manager to save and apply equipment configurations
- Recruits can use any weapons and equipment available to players
- Consider their role when equipping them (sniper, assault, support)
- Don't forget ammunition, medical supplies, and armor
- Recruits follow the same wanted system as players
- They won't be targeted when unarmed unless in restricted areas
- Their combat effectiveness improves with experience (planned feature)
- Permanent death - recruits do not respawn
- Dead recruits are automatically removed from your roster
- Their equipment can be looted from their bodies
- Recruit wisely and protect your fighters
Your recruits are saved between game sessions:
- They'll respawn when you log back in
- Their equipment and inventory are preserved
- Position and health status are maintained
- Recruits despawn 10 minutes after you log out (to reduce server load)
- Start Small: Begin with 2-3 recruits to learn the system
- Equip Properly: Well-equipped recruits are much more effective
- Use Cover: Command recruits to use buildings and cover in combat
- Mixed Roles: Create a balanced squad with different weapon types
- Recruitment Tents: Build these at your bases for cheaper recruitment
- Protect Your Squad: Remember, death is permanent
- Each player manages their own recruits
- Recruits are tied to your persistent player ID
- Other players cannot command your recruits — unless you join their group, in which case that group's leader commands them for as long as you are in it. See Player Groups
The recruit system will continue to evolve with planned additions:
- Experience and leveling system
- Specialized training options
- Squad-based operations
- Automated patrol assignments
- Player Groups - Squad up with other players
- Loadout Manager - Save and apply equipment configurations to your recruits
- FOB - Learn how to establish forward-operating bases where you can build Recruitment Tents
- Economy - Understand how to earn money for recruitment and equipment