Alliances

[Tom]

What are your thoughts on alliances? Considering them more now they are starting to get models, but on paper review the benefits seem to massively outweigh the drawbacks, especially now the extra guys are on top of the normal scenario limit. Seems like if one player took an alliance and another didn’t there could be serious power imbalance. But they’re also really cool both in rules and models!

[Dave]

They are great models so I say go for it. There are downsides and they add to GR I believe so your opponent will be getting extra cards.

[Tom]

There’s no value for them so RAW no effect on GR. I’d say give them a flat 200? Still significant discount probably.

[Dave]

Yeah you’re right, I could have sworn I saw costs for them somewhere (checked the book of judgement and no costs there either).

Looking at their stats and equipment I think 400 would be more on the mark.

[Dave]

Having read the rules properly now (well I think I have) I don’t think we need to change anything or assign a value.

They aren’t guaranteed to show up and in the case of the slave Guild aren’t in addition to the crew restrictions of the scenario (that’s how in interpreting it, if you compare their rules with the narco scum rules which explicitly state they are in addition to scenario Crew limits).

Open to being convinced otherwise.

[Tom]

Not with my books but I'm 100% sure the slaver entourage had the 'Here to help' rule in House of Chains because I remember comparing back to see if anything else had changed from their Book of Peril(?) entry. And isn't the roll to see if they help out impossible to fail until you reach a certain level of rep?

[Tom]

Yup, pg 94 for ‘Here to help’ and can’t fail to get help until rep 5 as need to roll an 11 on d6 plus rep.

[Dave]

Gah, yeah you’re right. I only read page 88.

I’ll read the mandatory scenarios you have to do if you have the alliance and see if they are “bad”, maybe that balances out taking them.

[Tom]

Being in an alliance does take away house favours (presumably including that chunky new house agent) and sub plots/intrigues. So as long as your non allied opponent is using both those then that helps balance it out.

[Dave]

Fair point, although I’d say if you don’t have an alliance and your opponent does you get an extra sub plot or something, they are nice characterful additions (I particularly like the Goliath specific ones) but they are very minor bonuses.