About Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion, from BoardGameGeek:
The Xyrians are independent faction that brings a whole new dimension to your gameplay, blending unpredictability with strategic depth. Xyrians are creatures that resemble octopuses, and they have an advanced blending technology that lets them hide in plain view. This is why, during the game with Xyrian, you will be adding their Tokens - but you can never be sure whether this is only an old trace or an actual Xyrian until you step into this room and investigate. Or some random Primeblood may do that for you. They operate independently, creating dynamic scenarios that can shift the tide of your mission. What is more, you will be able to use this new race together with all the other races from Retaliation! Xyrians are the third additional party to the whole situation happening in Retaliation. Sometimes, they might be your unpredicted ally, sometimes your worst enemy. This mysterious, technologically advanced race has its own goals that will create a lot of exciting situations. With the Xyrians in play, exploring the depths of the unknown facility becomes even more intriguing. Each step into the unknown carries new possibilities and dangers. Not that it was easy and predictable before, but with this new breed, it's like the merrier, the more challenging!
With this race a series of unique serious wounds are introduced! They will not only deal "standard" damage but also perform unique attacks. Imagine being caught in a Xyrian net, losing precious time as you struggle to free yourself, being poisoned with an unknown substance that makes you weaker for a few rounds, or gaining a special marker that will cause all Xyrians to slowly but consequently hunt your Marine. These events definitely add new challenges and some extra narrative depth to your Retaliation missions.
Also, you must be aware that successfully defeating a Xyrian is a rare and challenging feat. But those who manage it are rewarded with exceptionally rare artifacts (i.e., Weapons, Armor, or some precious Items), adding a tantalizing incentive to engage with this new threat. You know the saying – high risk, high reward.
They introduce some strategic manipulation to the game! There are possible conflicts between the Xyrians and other alien races, which can be used to your advantage. So, it is likely that the Xyrians will eliminate as many Primebloods as possible. Their goals will be different with every game. They might aim to infiltrate the Nest, target the most wounded player, or try to hunt down the Queen. Generally, each encounter with the Xyrians feels fresh and challenging and will bring some twists to your game!
-description from the Gamefound campaign
