Category Archives: Exploit Zero

Astra: The Star in the Slum

Posted on by
8

Astra is a name she carries as a stark defiance. She hails from the deepest, most forgotten corners of the urban sprawl – a toxic slum known colloquially as Corruption.

The very air in Corruption, thick with industrial runoff and decay, has permanently stained the skin of its inhabitants.

Astra’s own complexion bears the unmistakable, eerie hue of blue-green, a living testament to the pervasive corruption of her birthplace. Growing up amidst squalor and desperation, she learned early that survival was a brutal, self-taught art.

Despite her grim origins, Astra has become a deadly accurate shooter, a ranged combat expert whose precision borders on the supernatural. Her aim isn’t just skilled; it’s absolute, honed not in sterile firing ranges, but in the chaotic, unforgiving crucible of the slum streets. Every shot she takes is a calculated strike, a brilliant, focused beam of intention cutting through the grime and despair.

Astra now serves as the indispensable sharpshooter for a Direct Action Unit, a team built for rapid, impactful operations. She’s often deployed as an over-watch specialist or a long-range infiltrator, tasked with target neutralization, providing crucial over-watch, and relaying vital intelligence from a distance.

Her primary weapon, likely a heavily customized piece cobbled together from scavenged parts, is perfectly tuned for her unique style, a testament to her resourcefulness.

Her past makes her thrive in dilapidated, hazardous urban environments, where her stealth and infiltration skills are unparalleled. However, her upbringing has also left her with deep-seated trust issues, making alliances difficult.

While masterful at range, she’s less effective in close-quarters combat. The long-term effects of her toxic exposure also present a potential vulnerability, possibly manifesting as chronic health issues.

Astra carries the weight of her past, but she doesn’t let it define her entirely. Her marksmanship is a testament to her resilience, a grim aspiration to rise above the toxicity that tried to claim her. Driven by a quiet defiance, she seeks to carve out a destiny brighter and cleaner than the tainted world she was born into, finding purpose in her unit’s mission to bring down oppressors one precise shot at a time.

Tomorrow some more of the “Direct Action Unit”.

Nerdy Novelties

Posted on by
1

The Slicer character in Exploit Zero is the ultimate cyber geek who joyfully breaks into your foes’ Super Hush Intelligence Technology, armed with an oddball mix of creativity and nerdy skills.

In the midst of digital mayhem, this character powers up their hacking antics by guzzling an outrageous assortment of drinks jam-packed with dextrose, sugar, and malic acid, along with a splash of corn syrup and artificial flavors that make your taste buds do the tango. Each sip is like a secret potion that not only blasts them with energy but also offers a cozy hug during those high-stakes strategy sessions.

With carnauba wax and enough artificial coloring to make a rainbow jealous—because who wouldn’t want their drink to scream “look at me?”—the Slicer is the hilarious embodiment of tech and indulgence, living in a world where the line between virtual shenanigans and life’s guilty pleasures hilariously intertwines.

The slicer also gets to pilot the teams drones In a small-action skirmish game like EXPLOIT ZERO , ‘drone’ is the catch all term for any remote controlled robotic device, be that the surveillance, medical, or combat series.

Although they look cool as a physical model, Agent Drones are basically glorified pieces of Equipment that hog Two Equipment Slots on your Agent’s dance card. These little gizmos have to stick close—like a toddler at a theme park—within 1” of their user until they get the green light to activate.

They don’t improve your moves on the battlefield or make you harder to hit, so don’t count on them for any dance-offs. To get one of these bad boys running, you need to nail a Pilot CAP roll (and don’t forget that sweet Two Dice Bonus!). Once the Drone is all fired up, it’s like having a remote-controlled buddy until the connection goes kaput.

But beware! In the chaos of combat, you can only juggle one Drone at a time—no multitasking allowed. Once you roll a successful Pilot CAP, you can start transferring your actions to the Drone without rolling any annoying dice—just announce your moves like a game show host!

The catch is, the Drone insists on rolling a D8 for its endeavors. To keep this clever little gadget under your thumb, you’ve got to stay within 18” of it, but don’t worry; you won’t need to squint to see it.

The Pilot Link holds strong from turn to turn, just like your last pizza delivery promise—unless you decide to ditch it. The only thing you can do without losing your Drone pal is take a Free Move/Move. But watch out! Any damage or mishaps on your part can snap that connection like a bad reality TV relationship, leaving you to roll for a new Pilot CAP to regain control.

These drones are crafted from “mysterious treasures” dug up from my bits box and a couple of ancient flying bases lurking in my slotta base tub. It’s like a budget-friendly art project gone rogue, and honestly, they look pretty “cool” in a quirky way! I mean, hey, if Guru can give nerds a bad name, I might as well embrace my inner mad scientist!