AT-43

AT-43 is a science fiction tabletop wargame using 28 mm miniature

AT-43
figures and terrain to scale developed and published by the French
company Rackham. The game is classified as a platoon/company No One Escapes War!
level game similar to Warhammer 40,000.

Released in December 2006, the game features plastic miniatures of

mechs, vehicles and infantry units with corresponding cards showing
the stats and gameplay options for each unit type. The game features
alternate activation of units (similar to Chess) using the sequenced
card mechanic. It also features command resource management (LPs)
to enable special unit actions called 'Combat Drills'.

Unlike many other miniature figure wargames, all of the miniatures

are supplied pre-assembled, and pre-painted. The game also provides AT-43: Operation Damocles box
a few pieces of 3-dimensional scenery, and 2-dimensional game mats
Manufacturer(s) Rackham
to allow player to decide between mission-based objectives, or
skirmish-based combat. Publisher(s) Rackham
Years active 2006 to 2010
AT-43 is now a dead game with no further releases expected.
Players 2+
Setup time ~5–10 minutes

Contents Playing time ~30 Minutes to 2 hours+

Skill(s) required Strategy
Universe
Website http://www.at-43.com/
Inspirations
(currently off line; archived
Forces
The U.N.A.
page)
The Therians
The Red Blok
The Karmans
The Cogs
The O.N.I.
References
External links

Universe
In AT-43 [After Trauma: Year 43], humanity is at war with the technologically advanced Therians, a presumably robotic species bent
on subjugating and transforming all planets for their ultimate purpose: the crafting of a "better", more organized universe under their
rule, which they refer to as their "therian heaven". Humanity is seen by them as nothing more than pathetic, primitive animals. The
center of mankind is the planet Ava, which came under attack by the Therians. The United Nations of Ava managed to push back the
invaders, but bitter fighting left the planet in ruins. This pivotal event is referred to as the Trauma. 43 years later, the human forces
launched a counterattack under the codename "Operation Damocles" on one of the Therian's factory Planets, the starting point for the
AT-43 miniatures game.
Although the UNA and RedBlok will often be identified as the "human" race, this is not the truth. By reading the Therian back-story
in their Armybook, you will find that it is actually the Therians who are the Human Race. The Therians hail from the Solar System
SOL, which is located towards the tip of a spiral arm in the Milky Way Galaxy, and originate from the Third planet ('Terra') from the
Sun. The Therians home planet was reconstructed by the Therians into a dyson sphere covering the sun long ago. Having become
virtually immortal by re-engineering their own bodies, the Therians have been engineering the universe itself to prevent it from
collapsing into a Big Crunch, a trillion years in the future, thereby insuring their eternal longevity. The Therians had predicted that
without their intervention, the end of the Universe is inevitable, and that life will cease to exist in the future. Because of their all-
encompassing view of existence, they see the only way to maintain existence is to destroy all known forms of planets and life and
transform them into their type of travelling homeworld. To other races who do not share their same point of view, the Therians idea
seems like the destruction of life itself, when ironically it is actually the permanent preservation of life. Most races will resist the
Therians because they will fail to see their end-goal, and will put up resistance. Even though there are Races like the UNA who are
powerful enough to temporarily disrupt the plans of the Therians, there are none who can hold them off for good. In the end, the
Therians will either have their way or life will cease to exist when the Universe comes to an eventual halt.

Besides the external threat of the Therians, humanity is still fighting against each other: The Red Blok, a revolutionary faction with
communist ideals, is at odds with the United Nations of Ava. The Red Blok started as an uprising on Ava's manufacturing planet
Hades, and manifested itself into a political movement. At first the political opposition was crushed by the armed forces from Ava,
but as the Avans started to think that the threat was subsided, the Red Blok managed to convince the planetary troops that their ideals
were a better way of life. The Defense force later joined forces with the struggling workers that they were assigned to subdue, and
after a violent rebellion they created their own formal government. After the formation of the Red Blok, Ava lost its main production
facilities, and the political movement spread throughout the planets under Avan control. The Red Blok is now a major threat to the
Avan ways of life. Even though the Red Blok and the U.N.A. are allied in their efforts against the Therian threat, they are by no
means on friendly terms. The bitter taste left between the two sides has led to disastrous un-cooperation, and communication failures.
There is still a deep underlying distrust between the two sides, and as time goes on these feelings only burn deeper and deeper
.

An alien race with as yet unknown motives are the Karmans, highly evolved, sentient apes from the planet Karma. The Karmans
originally allied with the Therians when they first attacked Ava. The Karmans, like most races in the galaxy, owe their technological
achievements to the ancient knowledge passed down through Therian relics left behind on their planet. Now that they see the massing
army of the Therians, and that no one can escape their threat, the Karmans return to Ava to fight with Humanity to take on the
omnivorous threat of the Therians. The Karmans do not want the balance of the universe destroyed, and though they have no
allegiance to the humans, they see it fit to keep them around for the benefit of the galaxy. Not much is known about them yet, but
concept art and a preview miniature show that they are a highly evolved Ape-like species that uses their technology to amplify their
strength.

Inspirations
Main inspirations for AT-43 were typical science-fictiontropes from the 1950s and 1960s, but updated with a modern slant. The Cold
War and the escalating conflicts from that period are also themes in the game. Stylistically, the game tries not to depict a dystopian
future, but a future wherepropaganda from each side paints everything in bright colours.

Metaphorically speaking it is fairly easy to separate the U.N.A and the Red Blok. The Red Blok draws its visions directly from the
formation of the Communist Party, and the background of their formation seems to draw historically from the struggles that brought
about the Bolshevik Revolution. The overthrowing of the government by its people sends a strong message about authoritarian rule
and exploitation, leaving a lesson to be learned, while the motivation behind the political changes paints a beautiful vision of an
egalitarian society.

The inspiration for the U.N.A. is almost an exact doppelganger to the formation of the United Nations after World War II, and shares
many similarities to it. Their goal is to provide a peaceful existence for humanity, but in their struggle for control they have managed
to forget about the interests of the people that they rule and their goal of a Democratic Society. This type of power struggle appears to
be a resemblance of the United States struggle to maintain a uniform system of government throughout the world, and the ups and
downs of their efforts.
Forces

The U.N.A.
The U.N.A or United Nations of Ava, is an interplanetary federation born from the human home planet of Ava. Originally established
as the colonial empire of a united Avan government, the UNA in its most recent form was spawned after the Revolution on Hades
that formed its ideological enemy: the Red Blok. The various colonies that still supported Ava were immediately granted full federal
status and representation, as well as having the debt cancelled. This did not, however, prevent fully half of the Avan nations
(Frontline; the Local Collective of Ava) and colonies joining the Red Blok in protest. The UNA prides itself on its democracy,
liberalism and UN values of prosperity and individualism ("Living in the UNA, where anyone can shine in the firmament of success.
Be a star!"). It appears to support total free market capitalism, with a few nods towards workers rights to prevent the growth of Red
Blok ideology. Its military forces echo its ideals: composed of volunteers the White Stars (the Avan military) prides itself on being
the best ("Better is better!"). Using the best weaponry UN industry could provide, supported by combat striders and with the best
trained soldiers in human space, the White Stars are a force to be reckoned with. The UNA is primarily based on the modern United
Nations and 1950s America, deep in the Cold W
ar but confident in its own ideals.

The Therians
Therians are a hostile invading race of post-singularity humanoids who use skeletal, cybernetic troops designed with spider-like
design nuances. They are extremely long lived and view themselves as a form of what they call "hyperlife" and consequently other
thinking beings are considered to be irrelevant, atavistic, ephemeral, and trapped at a stage of development that they long ago
transcended. This arrogance leaves them with few scruples regarding the exploitation and destruction of other forms of intelligent
life. They possess almost unlimited numbers and astounding levels of technology including highly developed nanotech and
information systems that allow them to reshape their habitat spaces in any way they can imagine it. The Therians are obsessed with
the immortality of their species and so have embarked on a remarkable and horrific plan to restructure the entire universe into a static
and therefore eternal system of dyson sphere habitats that suit their extravagant "living needs". The Therian armies are composed of
terrifying machines: automated combat walkers and golems that are directed by the nanomachine host for a Therian overseer. With
powerful weaponry and tactics courtesy of a millennia of PvP and PvE wars on the EMI Grid (the entertainment and discussion
network that connects all Therians) they are a terrifying prospect on the battlefield. Particularly when they start nano-constructing
new units! In the Therian Army Book it is revealed that the Therians are in fact the descendants of humanity and that Sol is the sun at
the heart of Thera, the first habitat they constructed. It is also revealed that they created both the Karman apelike species and the
Avan humanoid species from modified stores of DNA from Earth. The Therians Take influence from real life internet forums and
online games, taken to the extreme in the EMI Grid.

The Red Blok

The Red Blok is the ideological nemesis of the UNA. Just like its counterpart, the Red Blok is an interplanetary human entity that
lays claim to large number of habitable worlds. Unlike the UNA, however, the Red Blok is instead motivated by Collectivist Ideals
and by a desire to make all people equal. In its efforts to ensure that everyone has the same life opportunities and standard of living,
safe from exploitation, the collectivist movement born out of the revolution on the mining world of Hades has constructed a massive
state administration. From the DistriPop (Distribution of Population) Sub-collective that determines where each and every person in
the Red Blok is best employed, to the Local Collectivs of the various cities and planets to the vast machineries of AgitProp (Agitation
and Propaganda Collective) and Supra (the Supreme Collective that manages all others). Every aspect of life is managed and
controlled to ensure happiness and efficiency for all. It is unclear whether this is truly successful, or instead just repressive and
totalitarian just as it is unclear if the UNA is really as free and prosperous as it claims. The Red Blok, however
, still boasts a large and
impressive armed force to support its ideals. The ARC (Army of Revolutionary Collectives) boast large numbers of committed, if not
talented, soldiers. Equipped with the functional weapons of collectivist industry, the hordes of the Revolutionary Forces are a
significant threat. Especially if backed up by their heavily armed combat striders and battlesuits, which boast far thicker armour than
any UNA equivalent. The Red Blok is inspired by 1940s–50s Soviet Russia, and various elements of dystopian totalitarian regimes
(George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four)

The Karmans
Karmans are an alien simian (specifically, gorilla) race, once subservient to the Therians, their "creators" but now emerging as an
independent force on their own. Originally intended as a project of the Therian race to strip planets of resources rapidly through the
"seeding" of rapidly industrialising societies, the Karman experiment failed after the race came to "Enlightenment". After seeing the
destruction their own evolutionary path was taking them, the Karman race entered a period of soul-searching meditation that birthed a
new philosophy of Karma, from which they are named. In this philosophy, all a person's actions cause a reaction in the universe,
which contributes to the life vibe or energy of said person. This "karma", either good or bad, will result in subsequent reactions in the
universal balance (a bad action will result in cosmic retribution for example) or at rebirth and reincarnation. The wisest of Karman
sages have progressed to a new understanding of time, able to predict the future and influence it by their actions in the past and in the
present. They are even aware that they may be living in several simultaneous incarnations in any one period of time as they perceive
it, a difficult concept to grasp. With their enlightenment, the Karmans realised that the path that their Therian masters were taking
was one of destruction. The final straw was the genocide waged by the Therians against the race called the Krygs, which the Karmans
were unwilling participants in. In the end, the Karman race decided it was time to march to war, to bring enlightenment to the galaxy
and enforce peace. Karman warbands are composed of elite warriors encased in battlesuits, supported by fast moving skimmers that
bring heavy fire on the enemy at breakneck speeds. Their tactics are fluid and ever evolving, strike fast and hard before melting away
and repeating the same elsewhere, leaving their opponents exasperated and exhausted. The Karmans inspiration comes from Buddhist
philosophy and the warrior monks of the East, combined with obvious references to
Planet of the Apes.

The Cogs
The Cogs are an industrial alien race. Their facial features resemble those of the Greys, and wear spindly armor similar to the
Therians, though they appear twice the height of their Avan counterparts. They have been shown carrying quantum blades and a
large, multi-shot missile launcher. Recently, they have been revealed to possess advanced genetic engineering technology and evolve
through cloning, in addition to their lethal quantum weaponry and AFV technology. First contact (with Avan-humans) was with the
Red Blok faction.

The O.N.I.
The ONI Corporation is a massive intergalactic consortium of multiple businesses and industries that unscrupulously sells its services
to the highest bidder. At the forefront of technology in many fields, particularly weapons and "medical research", ONI prides itself on
providing the best at the lowest cost. With interests spread all across human space, and even slightly beyond, the ONI Corporation
will willingly sell the services of its zombie hordes and elite mercenaries to the highest bidder and in furthering its own profit
garnering interests. Rumours speak of a darker secret behind the corporation, that not only laid the basis for its current success but
also its scientific triumphs in the field of zombification. The ONI Corporation is loosely based on dystopian mega-corporations, with
the classic hunger for profit with accompanying low moral standards. This is accentuated by their use of undead soldiers, and
weaponry developed from all other AT-43 races currently available.

References
AT-43 Website "Therians". Accessed April 16, 2008.
AT-43 Website "U.N.A". Accessed April 18, 2008.
Grant Hill "AT-43 Operation Damocles Review",
Tabletop Gaming News, January 7, 2007. Accessed
April 16, 2008.
Overseer-Bilesuck "Therian Review", AT-43 Official
English Forum, December 16, 2007. Accessed April
16, 2008.
Rackham (2007). AT-43 Rulebook. Montreuil, France:
Rackham. ISBN 2-915556-53-9.
 Zen13 "Way of the White Stars – A Guide to UNA",
AT-43 Official English Forum, December 11, 2007.
Accessed April 17, 2008.

External links
Official AT-43 English Website (currently off line 18/02/2015)
Official English forum (currently offline)
AT-43 The Comic (currently offline)
AT-43 Wiki (currently offline)
AT-43 Addict (currently offline)
NEAT-43 (currently offline)
The German forum (currently offline)
German Fansite

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A

T-43&oldid=895236797"

This page was last edited on 2 May 2019, at 21:57(UTC).

Text is available under theCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of theWikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.