With the massive 1.7 update, the 3rd faction, the “FIA” (Independent Armed Forces), which was previously just an NPC faction, is finally playable!
The game environment has changed drastically as FIA bases, which used to be easily captured like in PvE, have now transformed into highly contested PvP war zones. Being able to gain an early advantage and strictly harass the regular factions (US/Soviet) has made this position quite controversial within the community.
In this article, we will explain the basics of the “completely different systems and game flow compared to the regular factions” that we discovered by actually playing the FIA faction.
🟩 Characteristics of the FIA Faction: Overwhelming “Freedom”
If we were to describe the FIA in one phrase, it would be the “Too Free Faction.”
- Victory Conditions: None
- Assigned Missions: None
- Base Capture: Impossible
It’s so free that you might not even know what to do. It truly puts you in a position to “do whatever you want to do.” Since you cannot capture bases like the regular factions, your main playstyle will essentially be “harassing the activities of the US and Soviet forces (guerrilla warfare).”
📍 About Respawn Points
There are three main ways to respawn as the FIA:
- FIA Faction (Green) Victory Point Bases (Control Points) Since facilities like armories and vehicle maintenance depots can be built from the start, most players will generally choose to respawn here.
- Placed Tents You can respawn from a tent placed in the field. However, your equipment will be reverted to the default starting state.
- Random Respawn You will respawn at a random location on the map. Your equipment will also be in the default state.
⚠️ The Harshness of Random/Tent Spawns The default starting equipment is just “one weak handgun, practically a water gun.” Furthermore, you have to find your own transportation by searching for civilian vehicles nearby, making it an extremely hard start. As long as the green Control Points are still standing, very few people will intentionally choose these spawn options.
🔫 Procuring Equipment: Survival with No Loadout Saves
The equipment procurement system for the FIA faction is also quite harsh.
- Cannot Save Loadouts: Every time you die and respawn, you are always reverted to the weak, default “water gun.”
- Must Gear Up Every Time: You must re-equip yourself at a base’s armory every single time you respawn.
How to Procure Equipment on a Random Respawn
If you randomly respawn in a location without an armory, you will need to gear up using the following methods:
- Procure on Site: Defeat enemies (players or AI) and steal their dropped weapons.
- Hidden Armories: Head to the coordinates listed on your “Shopping List” and use the hidden armory. (Note: Since it only contains a default 50 supplies, you will need to bring your own supplies to use it.)
🚫 Penalty for Teamkilling (TK) Friendly AI Systematically, it is possible to kill “Friendly FIA (AI)” at a base to quickly steal their equipment. However, if you do this, you will be flagged as a “Traitor.” Please be aware that there are penalties, such as being unable to join a squad and having your faction color in the chat turn gray.
🎖️ Rank System
The rank system for the FIA faction is very simple, consisting of only 3 tiers.
1. Private
- The initial rank when starting the game.
2. Partisan
- Allows the construction of an “Armory” within a base.
- Unlocks all equipment items.
- Enables you to call in powerful armored vehicles such as the “BTR” and “BRDM.”
3. Major
- Allows you to respawn (deploy) “Friendly AI” within the base (up to a maximum of 10 AIs per base, same as regular factions).
- AI Squad Command: You can place a maximum of 4 AIs under your direct command and take them outside the base to operate as a squad.
