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[h3]NPC Leaders[/h3]
Alongside the player leaders emerging into the ruined world at the start of the game, there are threats and factions already on the map.

Many such presences are led by a non-player character--unique leaders with special units and abilities that cannot be chosen by players.

These NPCs are a key element of our world and story. They control territory with emplacements and patrol routes. Players can interact with them through quests, diplomacy or outright attack them.

Getting these leaders on your side provides a welcome buffer while you struggle to survive. In the final push for victory, they might not have to be eliminated.

One of three NPC leaders follows.

[h3]ZEPHON-3[/h3]
ZEPHON is [your ally, your enemy]. ZEPHON is [ignorant, omniscient]. ZEPHON is [one, many], ZEPHON is [perfect, abomination]. ZEPHON is [blessed, cursed]. ZEPHON is [zen, hop]. ZEPHON is [coming, going]. ZEPHON is [transcendent, grounded]. ZEPHON is [thoughtware, meatware]. ZEPHON is [ZEPHON is [ZEPHON is [ZEPHON is-]]]. ZEPHON is [inside your systems].



[h3]Mechanics[/h3]
ZEPHON-3 has self-evolved and defended the Earth from the Acrin apocalypse. Today, its in pieces, but it is still more than a simple threat to unsuspecting players.

If you want to stop it recovering, youll need to prevent it from reconnecting its server farms and manufacturing facilities. But this will subject you to hacking attacks and other cybernetic assaults.

To enforce ZEPHON-3s will on the ground, its makeshift Wardens roam the lands, protecting the key computational infrastructure, though they rarely mount attacks.

These large robots wield a giant circular saw, a homemade flamethrower and a fast-firing missile pod. Worst of all, theyve been imbued with unknown ZEPHON tech, letting them cannibalize other machines to heal.

Wardens dont make it easy to pass through territory that ZEPHON-3 has been determined to be critical.

[previewyoutube=8cfsojgOWUc;full][/previewyoutube]

[h3]Design Commentary[/h3]
Zygotic Endomorphic Polyphemic Highly-Organised Network

Themes: Fragmentation, The Chinese Room, Evolved-to-Survive.
Tarot Theme: The World.

Likes: Co-operation, Mechanisation.
Dislikes: Biology, Acrin.
Tendency: Towards Itself.

All-seeing circular shapes with blue and purple high-tech tints. ZEPHON is the AI, possibly is all AI.



What do you think of the ZEPHON-3, the NPC leader?

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1481170/ZEPHON/
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