Peripheral

Special Skills

Game elements with this Special Skill are Models or Tokens representing pieces of Equipment or Weapons operated by telepresence or given certain autonomy by a control AI.

PERIPHERAL

AUTOMATIC SKILL

Obligatory

EFFECTS

When creating an Army List or determining how many Troopers each Combat Group can contain, a Controller and all its Peripherals are counted as a single Trooper.
Peripherals are deployed on the game table at the same time as their Controller, unless a rule for that type of Peripheral says otherwise.
If the Controller has a Deployment Skill that allows them to deploy after the Deployment Phase, but their Peripherals do not, these Peripherals are deployed during the Deployment Phase and remain in Disconnected State until their Controller is deployed on the game table and moves within the operating distance for that type of Peripheral.
Peripherals are always activated with the same Order as their Controller, executing the same Short Skills of the Order, or Long Skill, although they are not required to have the same target.
If any of the game elements (Controller or Peripheral) does not meet the Requirements of a Skill of the Order declared by the Controller and Peripherals, then they perform an Idle instead of such Skill, while the other may act normally.
Each reactive Trooper must choose only one of the Troopers (be it the Controller or one of their Peripherals) activated by the Order as their target, but they are not obliged to choose the same target.
During the Reactive Turn, both the Controller and the Peripherals gain their own separate AROs. However, unless a specific rule says otherwise, any declared AROs must be the same for both the Controller and the Peripherals.
In Close Combat, the rules described in Close Combat with Multiple Troopers must be applied.
If the Controller enters any Null State or Isolated State, the Peripheral will enter Disconnected State at the end of that Order.
If the Peripheral enters Isolated State, it will also enter Disconnected State at the end of that Order.
Peripherals with a point cost in their profile count towards Victory Points, Zone of Operations control, etc. Remember that the total cost of the Unit includes Peripherals and, therefore, the value of the Peripherals must be deducted to determine the itemized points of the Units.
If the Controller has or gains—due any scenario condition or Skill—the Impetuous Special Skill, the Controller's Peripherals are also affected.
Restriction: Peripherals and their Controller cannot be part of a Coordinated Order nor be a member of any type of Fireteam.
A Controller and their Peripherals always belong to the same Combat Group. If the player moves the Controller into a different Combat Group, all their Peripherals are moved as well.
If the player activates a Hacking Program that grants a MOD or State to the Controller (e.g. Cybermask), that MOD or State will also be applied to their Peripherals.
The Peripheral Special Skill remains active even when its owner is in a Null State.
There are different types of Peripherals, each with their own features:

Peripheral (Servant)

Only Troopers with the Doctor or Engineer Special Skills may have Peripherals (Servant).
There is no limit to the operating distance between the Trooper with Peripheral (Servant) and their Controller.
Restriction: The Controller may have a maximum of two Peripherals (Servant) under their control. In this case, they may only activate them one at a time, applying the previous conditions. Meanwhile, the other Peripheral (Servant) will be inactive.
Peripheral (Servant) and Doctor/Engineer:
- This Special Skill allows the Controllers, if they are Doctors or Engineers, to use their Special Skill even if they are not in Silhouette contact with the target.
- If a Peripheral is in Silhouette contact with an allied Model, their Controller can perform the Doctor/Engineer Skill, targeting that Model.
- In this case, by using the Doctor/Engineer Skill, the Doctor/Engineer will be the one performing the Roll, even if the Trooper in Silhouette contact with the target is the Peripheral (Servant).
- The Doctor/Engineer Skill can only be performed on one target per Order.

Peripheral (Synchronized)

Each Peripheral (Synchronized) must observe the Coherency rule in regard to its Controller. The player must perform a Coherency Check at the start and end of each Order or ARO.
If a Peripheral (Synchronized) Trooper fails a Coherency Check, breaking Coherency with its Controller, it will enter Disconnected State immediately, before measuring any declared movement.
If the Disconnected Trooper passes a Coherency Check with its Controller, its Disconnected State is immediately cancelled.
If the Controller has more than one Peripheral (Synchronized) this Special Skill works the same way. In this situation, with a single Order, both the Controller and all their Peripherals (Synchronized) are activated.

Peripheral (Control)

There is no limit to the operating distance between the Trooper with Peripheral (Control) and their Controller.
Restriction: The Controller may have a maximum of three Peripherals (Control) under their control. These Peripherals form a Control Unit.
The player must designate one member of the Control Unit as the Spearhead, placing a Spearhead Token (SPEARHEAD) beside it.
Each Peripheral (Control) must observe the Coherency rule in regard to the Spearhead of their Control Unit. The player must perform a Coherency Check at the start and end of each Order or ARO.
If a Peripheral (Control) Trooper fails a Coherency Check, breaking Coherency with the Spearhead of its Control Unit, it will enter Disconnected State immediately, before measuring any declared movement.
If the Disconnected Trooper passes a Coherency Check with the Spearhead of its Control Unit at the end of an Order or ARO, its Disconnected State is immediately cancelled.
Each time the Controller and Peripherals are activated with an Order, the player must designate one member of the Control Unit as that Order's Spearhead, placing a Spearhead Token (SPEARHEAD) beside it.
If the Spearhead enters any Null State, the player must designate a new Spearhead immediately.
In the Active Turn, if a Skill is declared that requires a target, only the Controller and the Spearhead perform the Skill, and the other members of the Control Unit perform an Idle instead.

Peripheral (Ancillary)

There is no limit to the operating distance between the Trooper with Peripheral (Ancillary) and their Controller.
A Peripheral (Ancillary) does not deploy on the game table with their Controller. Instead, the Controller may deploy their Peripheral (Ancillary) by performing the Place Deployable Common Skill.

Update PDF 5.2, October 2025

The Controller can be part of Coordinated Orders or Fireteams if they have not deployed their Peripheral (Ancillary), or if it is in Disconnected or Null State. If the Controller deploys its Peripheral (Ancillary), or if the Peripheral’s Disconnected or Null State is canceled, the Controller automatically stops being part of a Fireteam.

Show original text.

Original

If a Peripheral (Ancillary) is on the game table and is not in Disconnected State or any Null State, their Controller cannot be part of Coordinated Orders or Fireteams. If the Controller deploys their Peripheral (Ancillary), or its Disconnected or Null States are canceled, the Controller automatically stops being part of the Fireteam.

Update PDF 5.2, October 2025

Peripheral (Cyberplug)

Only Troopers with the Cyberplug Special Skill may have Peripherals (Cyberplug).
There is no limit to the operating distance between the Trooper with Peripheral (Cyberplug) and their Controller.
Peripherals (Cyberplug) have two Unit Profiles, a Connected Profile and an Autonomous Profile.
While using their Connected Profile, a Peripheral (Cyberplug) is always activated with the same Order as its Controller, declaring the same Short Skills of the Order, or Long Skill. However, the Controller performs an Idle instead of the declared Skill.While using their Autonomous Profile, a Peripheral (Cyberplug) can be activated with Orders from the Order Pool and can declare its own AROs, independently from the Controller. Place an Autonomous Token by the Peripheral.
Restriction: The Controller may have a maximum of two Peripherals (Cyberplug) under their control. In this case, they may only activate them one at a time using the Connected Profile, and applying the previous conditions. Meanwhile, the other Peripheral switches to its Autonomous Profile.
When deployed, one of the Controller's Peripherals (Cyberplug) uses their Connected Profile, while the other uses their Autonomous Profile.
In the Reactive Turn, both the Controller and the Peripherals gain their own separate AROs. The Controller must choose one of the Peripherals to use its Connected Profile. However, in this case the Controller performs an Idle instead of any ARO they declare. The other Peripheral uses its Autonomous Profile and can declare its own ARO.
Alternatively, the Controller can declare and perform an ARO normally, while the Peripherals switch to their Autonomous Profiles and each declare their own AROs independently of the Controller. If the Controller enters Isolated State or any Null State, its Peripherals switch to their Autonomous Profiles at the end of that Order, instead of entering Disconnected State.
If the Isolated or Null State of the Controller is cancelled, one of their Peripherals (Cyberplug) switches to its Connected Profile at the end of the Order in which that happened.
Peripheral (Cyberplug) and Doctor/Engineer:
- If the Doctor or Engineer Special Skill is declared, the Controller does not perform an Idle instead of Doctor/Engineer.
- This Special Skill allows the Controllers, if they are Doctors or Engineers, to use their Special Skill even if they are not in Silhouette contact with the target.
- If a Peripheral is in Silhouette contact with an allied Model, their Controller can perform the Doctor/Engineer Skill, targeting that Model.
- In this case, by using the Doctor/Engineer Skill, the Doctor/Engineer will be the one performing the Roll, even if the Trooper in Silhouette contact with the target is the Peripheral (Cyberplug).
- The Doctor/Engineer Skill can only be performed on one target per Order.
Restriction: A Controller with any Peripherals (Cyberplug) cannot have any Peripherals (Servant).

Update PDF 5.2, October 2025

Sibylla's Advice

When playing missions or scenarios, any restriction applied to Peripheral (Servant)—such as those referring to Specialist Troops—also apply to Peripheral (Cyberplug).

IMPORTANT

When included in an Army List, Peripherals must always be associated with a Controller.
Both the Controller and the Peripherals must respect the selected Army’s general availability limit (AVA).

Sibylla's Advice

Normally, for a Peripheral (Servant) to move towards their target, the Doctor/Engineer will usually remain still in a safe spot on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Peripheral performs the Order, moving until it reaches contact with the target.

Examples

Peripheral (Synchronized) Example

In the Active Turn, a Trooper and their Peripheral (Synchronized) are hidden behind a wall, and are planning to move to different ends of it. The player activates them both with the same single Order and declares Move as the first Basic Short Skill of the Order. Before making any measurements or moving the Models, a Coherency Check is made, and is passed. The Controller sends their Peripheral (Synchronized) to one end of the wall while he moves to the other end.

An enemy can see the Controller and declares a BS Attack ARO against him. Meanwhile, a second enemy can see the Peripheral, so he reacts with a BS Attack ARO. With the second Short Skill of the Order, the Controller and their Peripheral declare BS Attacks. The Controller fires the entire Burst (B) of his weapon at the first enemy, while the Peripheral (Synchronized) uses its Heavy Flamethrower, placing the Large Teardrop Template over the second enemy. Then, another Coherency Check is made to verify that the Peripheral (Synchronized) is still inside the Controller's ZoC.

Thanks to Peripheral (Synchronized), the Controller and their Peripheral have attacked two different enemies, using a single Order from the Order Pool.

Peripheral (Ancillary) Example

In the Active Turn, a Trooper with an undeployed Peripheral (Ancillary), declares his first Basic Short Skill and is not targeted by any enemy AROs. He decides to use the Place Deployable Common Skill to deploy his Peripheral (Ancillary) on the game table. The Trooper places their Peripheral (Ancillary) in Silhouette contact.

From this moment on, each time the Trooper activates, his Peripheral (Ancillary) activates as well following the Peripheral rules, with no limit to the operating distance between the Controller and the Peripheral (Ancillary).

Update PDF 5.2, October 2025

Peripheral (Cyberplug) Examples

EXAMPLE 1:
During the Active Turn, the player activates a Cyberplug Trooper that has two Peripherals (Cyberplug). They select one of the Peripherals as the active Peripheral (Cyberplug), placing an Autonomous Token next to the other.

The activated Peripheral (Cyberplug) and an enemy Trooper declare BS Attacks against each other, and a Face to Face Roll occurs between the two. The Controller, on the other hand, does nothing, as they perform an Idle.

Let’s suppose another enemy Trooper has LoF to the Controller. The Controller has been activated by the Order, and the enemy Trooper can declare an ARO against them. If the ARO is an Attack, it is a Normal Roll as the Controller is performing an Idle.

EXAMPLE 2:
During the Reactive Turn, an enemy Trooper activates within LoF of the two Peripherals (Cyberplug), granting AROs to both of them. The Controller decides to switch control of the Peripherals, swapping their Connected and Autonomous Profiles and moving the Autonomous Token to the other Peripheral. The Connected Peripheral declares a BS Attack ARO, while the Autonomous Peripheral declares a Dodge.

EXAMPLE 3:
In a subsequent Order, the Controller also has LoF to the Active Trooper and can declare an ARO. The Controller chooses to declare and perform a Dodge ARO, so the two Peripherals (Cyberplug) switch to their Autonomous Profiles and can each declare their AROs independently.

If the Controller enters Unconscious State, both Peripherals (Cyberplug) remain active using their Autonomous Profiles and are able to declare AROs and to receive Orders from the Order Pool.

EXAMPLE 4:
If the Controller enters Isolated State, their two Peripherals (Cyberplug) remain in play using their Autonomous Profiles, and can be activated with Orders from the Order Pool. If the Controller’s Isolated State is cancelled then, at the end of that Order, the Controller decides which of the two Peripherals (Cyberplug) returns to its Connected Profile, placing the Autonomous Token besides the other.

EXAMPLE 5:
The Controller of two Peripherals (Cyberplug) has the Doctor Special Skill. With the first Skill of an Order, they declare Move, and their Peripheral (Cyberplug) reaches Silhouette contact with an allied Trooper in Unconscious State. The Controller does nothing, as they perform an Idle.

With the second Skill of the Order, the Controller declares and performs the Doctor Special Skill, using it on the Unconscious Trooper in Silhouette contact with the Peripheral (Cyberplug), as this Special Skill is not turned into an Idle.

FAQs

N5 FAQ

Version: 0.0.0, Oct 2025

Q: If multiple Troopers use Surprise Attack against the same target, for example via a Coordinated Order, or a Controller and Peripheral, do the Surprise Attack MODs stack with each other?

A: No. Each Trooper's Surprise Attack MOD will be applied separately.

Related Pages: Coordinated Order, Peripheral, Surprise Attack

N5 FAQ

Version: 0.0.0, Oct 2025

Q: If several Troopers are activated at once (for example a Coordinated Order or a Fireteam) and generate AROs, can any of the AROs target Active Troopers that are using Stealth?

A: Yes, but the ARO will become an Idle if the Stealth user does not declare a Skill that allows AROs.

Related Pages: Coordinated Orders, Fireteams in the Active Turn, Peripheral, Stealth

Special Skills

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Peripheral

Contents

Peripheral (Servant)

Peripheral (Synchronized)

Peripheral (Control)

Peripheral (Ancillary)

Peripheral (Cyberplug)

Examples

FAQs