Written and Photography By Martin Krasemann
A solo wargame lives or dies by the quality of its opponents. In HAYWIRE MODERN, the AI OPFOR system was designed from the ground up to create tension and uncertainty without slowing the pace. It focuses on simple mechanics built around enemy classes, each with behavior rules shaping how they move, engage, and respond once alerted.
Who Do You Fight In HAYWIRE MODERN?
There are 3 main factions to play against in the game: the Insurgents, the Cartel, and the Armed Forces. The Insurgent faction is the easiest to fight. It can be used to represent Insurgent groups, Militia armies, or even Pirates. It is the best faction to play against when first playing the game.
The Cartel represents criminal organisations that produce, supply, and traffic in illicit substances. Cartel members have the same level of training and combat experience as the Insurgents, but – as the Threat Level rises – they gain access to a police unit with far better training, bribed to protect Cartel interests.
Finally, the Armed Forces are a generic military force that stands in for any country’s main military or Private Military Contractors. The Armed Forces represent the most well-trained and prepared enemy, gaining access to elite Special Forces units at higher Threat Levels.
Each faction comes with a unique set of enemy classes, vehicles, and support actions. For example, the Insurgent could spawn a VBIED, which players need heavy weapons to deal with. For the Cartel, that bribed police unit I mentioned earlier can call in a helicopter with a sniper onboard, requiring precise shooting (or your trusty heavy weapons) to bring down.
How Do Threat Tokens Work In HAYWIRE MODERN?
One of the defining features of the AI system is the use of threat tokens. Enemy units do not begin the mission directly on the table. Instead, players place hidden threat markers across the battlefield to represent unknown activity.
This is where the uncertainty of modern military operations comes in. Moving your models forward always carries risk, as players never fully know what lies ahead. When a model gains line-of-sight on a token, a detection roll determines what is revealed. The result may be an enemy unit, civilians, or nothing at all. As missions progress and the Threat Level rises, hostile encounters become more frequent and more intense.
Even when all the threat tokens are revealed and the alert has been raised, new enemy units enter the board each turn. The battlefield never feels static, and tension remains present from your first turn to the last.
As long as the alert is not raised, every threat token moves in a randomly selected direction, pushing players to reveal the tokens as fast as possible for the best intel and to keep players on their toes when moving in an area that has not been fully cleared of threat tokens.
What Are Enemy Classes Like?
When an enemy unit is rolled, the Threat Level defines the enemy class revealed. Every enemy class comes with its own behavior rules that determine how it moves and attacks. This approach ensures that enemies act in ways that feel purposeful rather than random.
The Insurgent Sniper provides a clear example. Unlike standard fighters who replace the threat token when revealed, the Insurgent Sniper has the High Ground skill, allowing them to deploy at an elevated position with better line-of-sight across the battlefield. Insurgent Snipers come equipped with body armor, making them harder to bring down, and a sniper rifle that deals both high damage and suppression.
As each enemy class has its own skill set and follows its own behavior, it naturally creates varied and believable encounters. Some will rush aggressively; others will hold defensive positions or focus on supporting their allies from a distance. This diversity prevents missions from becoming predictable and ensures that players must constantly reassess their situation.
Ultimately, the AI OPFOR system is designed to simulate the uncertainty and friction of real operations. Players rarely have perfect information; threats can emerge unexpectedly, and even a well-planned assault can quickly turn into a fight for survival. This constant tension is what gives HAYWIRE MODERN its distinctive solo experience, where the battlefield feels alive, and every choice carries meaningful consequences.
Next up, we’ll talk you through all the updates in this new edition! In the meantime, you can preorder HAYWIRE MODERN and get the PDF right now. Not ready to dive into the foxhole just yet? You can get the HAYWIRE MODERN Quickstart for FREE from .net or .us.
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