My group hasn't been loving the sympathizer rule in our games, so we're thinking about using the No Sympathizer variant. One question we have before we decide is why Boomer isn't allowed in six-player games? I thought it might just be the component restriction of not having enough Not a Cylon loyalty cards to make the deck if someone else is playing Baltar, but that wouldn't be a problem for our group since we have access to two copies of the game. Also, if that's the only reason for the rule, it would make more sense that either Baltar or Boomer could be chosen as a character, but not both.

Is there some other complication that Boomer would introduce to a six-player no-sympathizer game that we're failing to see without having tested it in actual play?

[cross-posted to BoardGameGeek]

I believe it is a component issue, (not enough "You are not a cylon" cards). Ever since the official no sympathizer variant was released, my group has played it exclusively and we have played 6 person games consisting of both Baltar and Boomer.

We only had a single copy of the game, but just ruled if you received the "Sympathizer" card to treat it as a "You are not a cylon" card. It never created any problems for us.

Since getting the Pegasus expansion, in 6 person games, we almost always play with a Cylon Leader, so no sympathizer.