HLRW - The Combine

"Welcome, welcome to RimWorld 17."

The Universal Union otherwise known as "the Combine," is a mysterious and powerful multi-dimensional empire that seeks to conquer every world it comes across. The exact cause of their intrusion into human space is unknown, but they have established an extensive presence on even minor rim worlds such as this one.

This faction is hostile, but not permanently. It is possible to appease and even ally with the Combine, but only temporarily.

Raids from the Combine are extremely difficult. Most of their equipment is on par with, if not superior to, spacer-level human gear. Pulse weapons cut through armor like butter. Combine body armor has the resilience of power armor without restricting movement. Furthermore, most Combine soldiers are augmented with bionics, and have a high level of training with firearms.

Combine armor automatically biocodes when worn, making it almost impossible to reuse. The majority of their weapons will also spawn biocoded. However, with the right resources and research, you can craft your own.

Because of the extensive brainwashing and neural augmentation that each Combine soldier undergoes, capturing and recruiting the rare survivor is very difficult. "Traitor" Combine soldiers are almost unheard of, but they can be a powerful asset.

If you have Biotech enabled, Combine soldiers will consist of two custom xenotypes: Transhuman, and Transhuman Exo, the latter becoming the hulking Charger and Suppressor units.

Weapons are craftable after researching Gas Operation (SMG1 and shotgun) or Pulse-Charged Munitions (everything else.)

Apparel is craftable after researching Recon Armor (grunt apparel and most helmets) or Powered Armor (most bodysuits, and all Elite/Assassin gear.)

Q: Where Metrocops/Worker/Hazmat Combine? A: Coming soon.

Q: Synths? Turrets? Vehicles? A: Planned. More information will be revealed in the future.

Q: Why doesn't the AR2 ball disintegrate? Why doesn't it bounce? A: Also planned.

Q: CE Compatible? A: Compatibility will be available after CE is published to 1.6 on Steam.

Q: What are the compatible mods? A: There is currently built-in support for Muzzle Flash.

Credit:

Jicker / Slippin' Jimmy - Weapon Art, XML

Immortalus - Apparel Art

Vanilla Expanded Team - Multi-Verb system, CompOversizedWeapon, and settings patching functionality.

Oskar Potocki - UI/graphic references.

Valve Corporation - Half-Life, and the sound effects used in this mod.