I'm assuming this deck provides alternatives to the standard defender rewards. I think that's awesome!

Of course more reasons to ally with the defender could mean it's harder to successfully attack. Then again the increased incentive to join the defense means reduced incentive for the defnder to invite you in the first place! The diplomacy in this game has always been self regulating - largely due to the defender being selected at random. Boy I love this game!

I agree whole-heartedly. The Reward deck informs the dynamic a little, but becomes a deterrent for the Defensive player at some point as well (especially depending on what aliens the Defense is able to invite. Certain aliens you just don't want to give more cards to.

The Reward deck is also a nice way to introduce more (and new, different) cards into the game without significantly affecting the encounter deck balance.

I agree, and openly don't really know anything about the reward deck ... but it seems like it will open up a bit more strategy for inviting allies. It looks like players will be able to be a little more specific in who they invite (rather than a more standard open invitation) because of the cards they may have in their hand, or, cards they don't want them to have in their hand. Either way, I'm greatl anticipating this expansion.

Please tell me the Reward Deck cards will have the same back design as the regular deck, but just get segregated into an additional stack at game start. It would be highly frustrating to have Kickers that cannot shuffle into the regular deck as originally designed.

The Rift card is a compensation trap, so most likely these cards have a the same back as the main deck. They are marked in the corner of the face for easy sorting.

This deck looks great. What else what might be in it? Reinforcement +10? Morph +/- 2? Of course they could always add more reward cards to a later expansion set. Bring it on!

Crooked deal ! yeepee !! me nasty duck

Hem said:

Crooked deal looks great. Obviously yopu can use this to force an imbalanced arms reduction, but the real fun will be using this threat to drive a hard bargain.

The Warp said:

Plague just got better!

crimhead said:

Yep! I'm thinking that saying "of every card type" rather than listing all the different cards you had to discard was specifically done so new types could be added.

This also means Hate can discard a Kicker to activate his power, thus turning the screws even tighter....

Just_a_Bill said:

Personally I think the reward deck is innovative. I don't want FFG to mimic the original design, if I did I just buy the old Eon stuff on eBay. I welcome the creative twists and tweaks that FFG is putting into this. They are doing a fantastic job so far - the game is in good hands I think.

crimhead said:

Nobody disagrees with you on that. I think the reward deck will be great fun and can't wait to play it (and tinker with it!). But I would also like the option to be able to shuffle Kickers into the draw deck the way they were originally designed. FFG has brilliantly worked minor miracles in this game (such as pleasing those who love the original Wild Filch as well as those who hate it*), so I'm remaining hopeful that Kevin's implementation of Kickers will be yet another "have it both ways" recipe.

*FWIW, my three daughters unanimously prefer the old, broken, stinkin', cheatin' version hands down. (And so does their dad.)

Just_a_Bill said:

Nobody disagrees with you on that. I think the reward deck will be great fun and can't wait to play it (and tinker with it!). But I would also like the option to be able to shuffle Kickers into the draw deck the way they were originally designed.

Now you're talking sense! I certainly understand the desire to tinker with CE - that's the attitude that brings us expansions in the first place! I'm glad to hear you're also interested to try the Reward deck.

Just_a_Bill said:

There is a recipe for this expansion posted on The Warp (by Jack Reda) which prescribes a separate deck "with the backs being identical to the normal Challenge deck, but the face should have something to help players shuffle these cards out after the game is over." Although FFG could change this, somehow I doubt it. May this fuel your hope!

Just_a_Bill said:

Ha ha! Are you their Dad?

Another thing I noticed on the kickers is that they can be used with negotiates to gain twice as many cards or to make the opponent lose more tokens in a purposefully failed deal. I don't remember that ever being in the old versions, and i look forward to the change (if it is a change =P)

No that was definitely one of the old uses of the Kickers.