Story
Narrative FocusDesigned for players who want to experience the Clone Wars story without grueling tactical penalties.
Enemy HPLow (-25%)
Enemy AccuracyLenient
Injury RulesMinor (heals in 1 cycle)
Bacta TankAvailable
Systems Reference
Mechanics & Campaign Systems
Zero Company runs on a three-phase Cycle: prepare at The Den, spend Intel on Holo-map Operations, then deploy on one tactical mission. Time only advances when a mission completes — but missions carry Cycle timers and expire permanently. Understanding this loop is the difference between a clean campaign and a collapsed one.
ByZero Company Guide Team
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The Cycle Loop
Every Cycle runs through these three phases in order.
1
The Den (base)
Heal, respec, recruit, train and choose where to deploy next.
2
Holo-map (Operations)
Non-combat text Operations that consume Intel. Run as many as Intel allows.
3
One tactical mission
One turn-based deployment per Cycle. Completing it advances time.
Cycle Rules
- One tactical mission per Cycle — time advances after it completes.
- Operations are not limited per Cycle — run as many as Intel allows.
- Missions have Cycle timers and permanently disappear if left too long.
- It is impossible to complete every mission in a single campaign.
- Difficulty ratings: Risky → Dangerous → Extreme.
- Critical-flagged missions are required for the main story.
Difficulty Settings
4 difficulty levels. Enemy durability, accuracy and injury recovery all scale — the Bacta Tank is disabled entirely on Hard and Expert.
Normal
Standard ExperienceThe intended tactical balance. Errors can be punished, but smart positioning and Medbay usage will carry the squad.
Enemy HPStandard (100%)
Enemy AccuracyBalanced
Injury RulesStandard (1-2 cycles)
Bacta TankAvailable
Hard
Veteran TacticsEnemies use flanking and focus-fire aggressively. Bacta Tank instant heals are disabled, requiring deep roster rotation.
Enemy HPHigh (+25%)
Enemy AccuracyAggressive
Injury RulesSevere (2-3 cycles)
Bacta TankDisabled
Expert
Extreme ChallengeUnforgiving tactical combat where any exposed operator faces instant elimination. For hardcore strategy veterans.
Enemy HPMaximum (+50%)
Enemy AccuracyDeadly
Injury RulesCritical (3+ cycles)
Bacta TankDisabled
Beskar Mode — Ironman Rules
The hardest way to play. Every rule below compounds: one save, real permadeath, and a campaign that ends if Hawks falls.
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Single Save File: The game saves automatically after every action and turn; manual reloading is disabled.
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True Permadeath: Lost operators are permanently eliminated from the campaign and cannot be revived.
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No Bacta Skip on Higher Difficulties: Injured operators must sit out complete Cycles in the Medbay.
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Expiring Timers Are Final: Missed missions and failed Operations permanently alter galactic influence.
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Campaign Resets on Hawks' Death: If the commander falls in a critical story mission, the campaign ends.
Mission Types
Deployments are not all the same — Operations never enter combat at all.
Story
Advance the campaign narrative. Briefer labels them 'Campaign Mission'. The most complex — multiple combat encounters plus third-person exploration phases.
Companion
Optional missions tied to a specific squad member. Unlocked by talking to that companion in The Den between missions.
Skirmish
Optional combat with resources and rewards. Single-area, self-contained objectives, all handcrafted.
Operation
Non-combat text adventures on the Holo-map. Consume Intel to run; can be run multiple times per Cycle.
Tactical Objective Types
- Demolition — plant charges and extract
- Rescue — hostage extraction
- Elite Elimination — remove one or more priority targets
- Supply Escort — hold a position
- Extraction — escape the area
- Narrative — story missions built around a single hero
Reward Types
CreditsWeapon ModsUtilitiesFocus PointsZone InfluenceIntelContacts
Intel is the resource that gates Holo-map Operations, which in turn produce more Intel — deciding when to convert Intel into Operation runs versus saving it is a core campaign economy decision.