I have long wished to create something that would absorb some elements from the above mentioned pieces in terms of weapons and background, but with its own twist.
However, as a purely hobbyist and an amateur spriter, I have no knowledge for coding to make it happen. Hence for long no actual progress beyond planning and sprite making has been made.
There goes the background of this Ao variant, though I've changed it for several times, but hopefully this will give a new good head start.
This variant is set in world which an catastrophe has converted near half of the global landmass into "White Gardens" or dubbed "White Zones", contaminated and inhabitable lands crawling with lifeforms mutated by a type mysterious matter released during the catastrophe commonly known as "Ashes of Pandora".
The time is set in the years after the catastrophe, which civilization has survived, adopted to the new world and rebuilt, and balance of power has been reshuffled, and eventually, new era of conflict - May it be battle for resources of survival, conquest of ambition, or continuation of what it was in the pre-catastrophe era. War, and the grey ash that covered this world, will be the dominating theme this age.
So far, ideas on the 6 factions:
The Federation of South Cradia control the Southern Cradia. Least affected by the catastrophe, the lands of Federation preserves some of the largest habitable zones and pre-catastrophe nations of the world. Taking advantage of the mostly untainted home soil, the Federation remained to be the most prosperous great power of the world in the post-catastrophe era.
Federation military prefers to field quality units of lesser quantity, with coordinated support. It prefers to use comparably well-equipped and well-trained troops in generally two forms - tactically flexible and versatile units capable of operating under complicated situations, and specialists excels in certain tactical tasks or theater.
The Northland People's United Front dominate the Northern Cradia. Hardened by turmoils of the catastrophe and forged in flames of reunification wars, the United Front is a rugged and ruthless great power reincarnated from the fractured Northern Bloc, always ready to crush conquer anything that stands in their path of.
United Front military is equally rugged as their people, and plays aggressively with emphasis of mechanized army and superior offensive firepower. The United Front uses overwhelming tactics to pressure and suppress its opponents and then finish them with a crushing blow.
The New Astrian Triumvirate rises from Astria Continent. Though diplomatic alliances and cooperation resources and knowledge are integrated, the Triumvirate quickly rises as great powers soon as the influence of continent Cradia declined. The ambitious yet immature Triumvirate is keen challenging other great powers with their own ideas.
Currently I haven't designate any features or playstyle for Triumvirate.
The Ember Independent Legions roams around the world, a loosely connected military organization with connections to free territories and nations that seek independence from grips of great powers. Inferior in terms of abundance of resource and technology, however, their resourcefulness and cunning are also not to be underestimated.
Legion primarily plays on very mobile forces and stealth, proficient at sudden and unpredictable tactics, and would prefer to infiltrate every corner as possible. Their resourcefulness and ingenuity on salvaged resources has supplemented them with redeployable production buildings and some cost effective weapons.
The League of Horizon Defense Pact rule the Eastern Cradia and Aron Sea. An defensive alliance for a long time in history which in the past they had defended their proud homeland and status as one prominent powers against the aggressive Northern Bloc and the greedy Southern Bloc, they are masters of defense.
Pact forces plays defensively, it prefers consolidated defenses over offense to blunt its enemy and use progressive area denial rather than aggressive contesting to push the enemy to corners. It also have access to unique tech trees and units from its member states to supplement their tactics.
The Illuminate Dynasty lurks in the White Zones. Its origins has been unclear, however, it emerged as a religious cult with sovereign and military since the catastrophe, and believed the "Ashes of Pandora" would be what can bring mankind on the path of ascension and evolution, without consideration on its harmful effects.
Dynasty forces fields bizarre weapons centering on biological weapons than machine technology, fighting on a different form of extreme warfare which includes units with capabilities to reduce enemy fighting strength physically and mentally. (actually its playstyle is't quite defined at this moment)