Rule of the Month - August - XJay & New Gadgets

It's another twofer, this month. As you'll have gathered, Operation Kurgan has a big emphasis on the role of the media in warfare, so we get a new specialism for your heroes to choose: the XJay.

Like an EmJay, but better, XJays have proved themselves not only reliable, but tough, resourceful and willing to get their own hands dirty in pursuit of a good story.

An expeditionary journalist (XJay) is an independent freelancer given the job of making an official, independent record of events in a classified operation.  They are there to act as an objective pair of eyes, making notes and footage of what they observe.

Although they answer to a separate command, they remain part of the team, and can complete objectives, engage in combat and earn XP.  XJays can take Traits and Gadgets from the core rulebook but cannot take Weapons or Allies.

XJays have the same rule as EmJays in the Horizon Wars: Zero Dark rulebook: if an XJay has LOS to the active character - excluding the XJay themselves - the active character may re-roll one dice in the action or one bonus action in the same activation.

In addition, they automatically receive, as part of the XJay upgrade, a relay visor and one of the following:

• camera drone
• local contacts
• songdeck

Camera drone

A zipper drone with a relay node that cannot be given other upgrades.

Local contacts

At the start of a mission, the player controlling a character with local contacts may select three Grunts OR one Grunt and one Elite OR one Boss and re-deploy them anywhere that would have been a possible deployment point for the mission.

Songdeck

A basic form of a spelldeck that can be used by non-specialists, a character with a songdeck can buff allies but cannot hack enemies or enter the Interference state. A songdeck may hack objectives and non-enemy targets such as doors (see 2020 Rules Update) or other targets permitted by the scenario.  A character with a songdeck is a valid target for a Duel.