Balance of Power overview (english) version 1.2

This houserule was written by openCards user Christian Krenz (LuthySloan).

What is Balance of Power?

A new First Edition format, invented in Germany. Unfortunately, in Germany standard format and x-list has collapst recently, so I invented Balance of Power to save the last player and give a platform for new and casual players to (re)enter. The Balance of Power scene is growing instead of shrinking. It´s not a substituate for standard format. Player may be trained in Balance of Power and when they have enough experience may try to challenge the old standard format guys.

How is Balance of Power realized?

It´s a set of virtual cards. The first 3 are mandatory seeds (in addition to your other 30), they change the game in a way so that affiliations are much more balanced and all types of player, no matter their experience are much closer together in terms of game results. So, it´s much more exciting for all types of player. Balance of Power has also optional virtual cards which you are free to use. Besides the cards there are no new rules, except a rule allowing a limited use of proxy cards.

What main changes has Balance of Power?

Besides from free plays for weaker affiliations and a lot of other stuff, the main card gives all player the option to draw 3 cards per turn. Also it neutralizes other actions/cards that gives player additional cards in your hand. E. g. If you draw 2 cards in your turn the Balance of Power card says, okay, you got already 2, so you draw only 1 at the end of turn instead of 3. The card also limits your affords to increase the number of cards in your hand to a maximum of 3 per turn. So in 95% of the cases all player have 3 cards available per turn.

Why was it done? Why did it change so determined?

There are a lot of reasons why experienced player beat others 100:0. Some reasons can´t andshoudn´t be changed. However a main reason why those player win is all threes, Sherlock Holmes or other cards that gives them 5-7 cards per turn while a casual player draw 2-3. That difference is extreme and leaves the casual one with hardly a chance, even if the rest of his deck is good. We do no consider it to be a great strategic performance to draw cards. The experienced one just has the cards to do it. So we say: Okay, now everyone gets the same number of cards. This single change is not liked by some, however it makes a lot of difference in balance. Suddenly the results are much closer and the tournament is much more fun. We just changed the number of cards you have in hand, casual players have now more (3) and professionals less (3 too) you have still all the strategy 1e has to offer. It is even more important what you do during your turn now. Mission attempts, battles and the choice of the cards you use. Also you are still able to draw more than 3 cards, it´s just a lot harder. Draw 5 per turn is quit a challenge, as it should be. It was much to easy in 1e to outgun the opponent just because of the number of cards you draw. The benefits of the change outnumber the disadvantages a lot when you play a tournament that way.

What is the future of Balance of Power?

We continue to make cards. Why? 2 reasons:First, since we change the game, other cards or affiliations might become to strong. When we see that theoretically or at a tournament we do something against it and maintain the balance. e.g. the AU federation turn out to be a bit stronger than the other affiliations so we created a dilemma that deals with it. The 2nd reason is, we have a creative intention to continue the game with all the cool things missing so far. E. g. We created the option to play a pure maquis deck, better use of infiltrators and intelligence operation is on the way. We estimate the maquis is a bit weaker than other affiliations. We don´t wanna create a new superpower like the hirogen was. We are not decipher, we do not make money if you use our new cards. They are produced for your fun and keep the balance of the game in mind. You are free to use them Also new player have a better chance to get in the game, since they have access to all BoP cards without buying booster. With Balance of Power we can give inactive casual players an environment where they have a chance so they come again. They might not place first, experienced still do, but all play in the same league again. We also recruited completly new player and they have fun, despite 3 german champions being in the tournament scene. BoP is growing and a great success no matter what people said about BoP theoreticly when it was planed.

Where can I get the resources and start playing?

• LINK to all cards. Remember the first 3 are mandatory seeds (in addition to your normal 30 seed cards). "Balance Of Power", "No Old Cheese for New Player" and "Q´s Own Rules".
• Glossary Add-on - more Rules? No. If you understand the cards, no need to ever look into it. However just like some parts of the normal glossary there are clarifications, examples and details about the cards if you have doubts in some parts.
• The first BoP card is the most important (3 card gain per turn). In ICQ it´s easy to explain the card in 2 minutes. However if someone reads a text about it, it´s difficult sometimes, the bigger the text the more difficult for the person since he/she got to much information. So, the card is explained in short but multiple times, so if one explanation is a mystery to you, just use another one. 1st option: Read the card, 2nd read the variant in the glossary, 3rd and best one: "The card in 4 sentences for player and a detailed version for judges".

Enjoy playing, it´s quit easy when just tried. Brought Germany a lot of fun, let it be transferred to you.

Your Balance of Power Team

LuthySloan, creator
Klim Dokachin, lead designer
Dukat, supporter