Hi everyone,

After almost completed the core campaign, i´m thinking about twisting some things for the hoth one, to upgrade the game and make it a better experience for everyone. As the Ip, i want a more theme oriented playing, but i still need to keep things balanced! So, here we go:

1. during the upgrade weapon stage, rebels have access to all of the weapons of the active tier, instead of drawing only six. In the same way, IP would have access to all agenda, instead of drawing only four.

2. Rebels can choose one ally after the mission briefing to bring to the team. they dont need to win them first in the side missions! so it's a strategic choice for them! saboteurs? troopers? leia? lando? wookie warriors? it's up to them! Note that i would use the revised deploy cost often proposed in other threads.

As for the related side missions, it would give them access to either the elite version or another reward from other gray missions.

3. as a balance to #2, Ip can add one unique character to his open group, outside the main characters of the main story arc(ie no sorin or dengar during hoth)! maybe some bonty hunters would show their faces...

4. i really like the ''cautious approach'' reward card from the into the unknown mission, which read as follow:'' during your activation, you may spend 1 movement point to recover 1 strain. limit twice per activation''. which give the oportunity for a rebel to do a half rest/half move. i'm thinking about making it a regular rule form the beginning of the campaign!

any thoughts would be appreciated!

1. I think this might potentially break the game, if not for all else it totally eliminates any replayability. Eventually Rebels/IP will realize "Aha! These are the best combinations!" Campaign should offer a dynamic gameplay and not players attempting to game the system

2 & 3. Again, I think this might potentially break the game. "Pick whatever ally/villain you want" can totally swing some of the missions

4. This is a less swingy houserule but still strictly gives Rebels advantage - you're basically giving them this reward for free without any drawbacks. What if Imperial had access to "Imperial Industry" from the get-go?

Overall I think you're making unnecessary changes that might break the game

Some suggestions (a.k.a. "what would I do")

#1 is flat out "No"

I understand you have some good intentions regarding #2,3,4, so I'd say "Imperial may pick ONE agenda mission anytime in the campaign (as long as you picked it in your agenda deck) to play by spending 3 inf (so no more random draw for that specific villain)" and "Rebels may pick ONE ally mission anytime in the campaign by spending 1200 credits" (same as Empire, no more random draws). Basically offer everyone ONE chance to play at a cost, but without the random draw. Want that Cautious approach? Sure thing spend 1200cr & use up your once-per-campaign-chance and we'll play ISBs next. I really want that 501st training, so I'm going to use up my chance & pay 3 influence so that we'll play Bunker Buster next

Are you also allowing the imperial player to choose any agenda cards from the whole agenda deck? It would be great to get High-Value Target and Imperial Informants as soon as I can afford them.

(No, I don't advocate giving total freedom for purchases. But I do advocate scaling the item draws by drawing half of the appropriate item deck instead of 6.)

See also https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/228545-favorite-house-rules/

1 isn't really the problem others are saying, in fact it will fix several problems with the game such as having meleers and then getting screwed by not drawing a melee weapon and losing due to it.

2 is built in to Hoth with Echo Base Troopers. I fail to see how having every top Rebel leader and hero at your beck and call could possibly be thought of as "thematic."

3 probably fine, even the better ones like Bossk usually aren't a good choice.

4 LOL, so busted. Go ahead, destroy your game.

1. I think this might potentially break the game, if not for all else it totally eliminates any replayability. Eventually Rebels/IP will realize "Aha! These are the best combinations!" Campaign should offer a dynamic gameplay and not players attempting to game the system

i dont care that much about replayability, cause it takes 3 months going through a whole campaign, so maybe i''ll never do it again. for me, there is no fun in drawing the wrong guns. i see it more fun for my players if they can plan ahead on what to buy. i think the question is more: if you have acces to all items, is it equal to imperial having access to all agenda deck? i wonder.

2 & 3. Again, I think this might potentially break the game. "Pick whatever ally/villain you want" can totally swing some of the missions

if they are rightly costed, it shouldnt swing that much,cause you still have to pay them in threat....

4. This is a less swingy houserule but still strictly gives Rebels advantage - you're basically giving them this reward for free without any drawbacks. What if Imperial had access to "Imperial Industry" from the get-go?

Overall I think you're making unnecessary changes that might break the game

Some suggestions (a.k.a. "what would I do")

#1 is flat out "No"

I understand you have some good intentions regarding #2,3,4, so I'd say "Imperial may pick ONE agenda mission anytime in the campaign (as long as you picked it in your agenda deck) to play by spending 3 inf (so no more random draw for that specific villain)" and "Rebels may pick ONE ally mission anytime in the campaign by spending 1200 credits" (same as Empire, no more random draws). Basically offer everyone ONE chance to play at a cost, but without the random draw. Want that Cautious approach? Sure thing spend 1200cr & use up your once-per-campaign-chance and we'll play ISBs next. I really want that 501st training, so I'm going to use up my chance & pay 3 influence so that we'll play Bunker Buster next

1 isn't really the problem others are saying, in fact it will fix several problems with the game such as having meleers and then getting screwed by not drawing a melee weapon and losing due to it.

2 is built in to Hoth with Echo Base Troopers. I fail to see how having every top Rebel leader and hero at your beck and call could possibly be thought of as "thematic."

3 probably fine, even the better ones like Bossk usually aren't a good choice.

4 LOL, so busted. Go ahead, destroy your game.

2. echo base troopers on tatooine inst thematic either. it will be more like: rebel high command send you to help leia on this mission. or, for this mission 2 wookies are coming with you. so it can be really thematic, it just depends how You explain it.

4. yeah, thats what i fear. but i still think i would be cool. have you played with it?

1 isn't really the problem others are saying, in fact it will fix several problems with the game such as having meleers and then getting screwed by not drawing a melee weapon and losing due to it.

2 is built in to Hoth with Echo Base Troopers. I fail to see how having every top Rebel leader and hero at your beck and call could possibly be thought of as "thematic."

3 probably fine, even the better ones like Bossk usually aren't a good choice.

4 LOL, so busted. Go ahead, destroy your game.

2. echo base troopers on tatooine inst thematic either. it will be more like: rebel high command send you to help leia on this mission. or, for this mission 2 wookies are coming with you. so it can be really thematic, it just depends how You explain it.

4. yeah, thats what i fear. but i still think i would be cool. have you played with it?

2 Uh... why exactly? Hoth and Tatooine are both deserts. Echo Base Troopers are the elite troopers trained for exactly this sort of thing. Do you think Navy Seals are only trained to fight in the water?

4 I don't have to, just look at it. While it won't have a big impact on certain heroes, on others it's absolutely huge. It can easily end up being 10 free healing in a game, which is the equivalent to 2 extra actions. If you're planning on giving it to 4 heroes rather than 1 it's just going to be insane.

1 isn't really the problem others are saying, in fact it will fix several problems with the game such as having meleers and then getting screwed by not drawing a melee weapon and losing due to it.

2 is built in to Hoth with Echo Base Troopers. I fail to see how having every top Rebel leader and hero at your beck and call could possibly be thought of as "thematic."

3 probably fine, even the better ones like Bossk usually aren't a good choice.

4 LOL, so busted. Go ahead, destroy your game.

2. echo base troopers on tatooine inst thematic either. it will be more like: rebel high command send you to help leia on this mission. or, for this mission 2 wookies are coming with you. so it can be really thematic, it just depends how You explain it.

4. yeah, thats what i fear. but i still think i would be cool. have you played with it?

2 Uh... why exactly? Hoth and Tatooine are both deserts. Echo Base Troopers are the elite troopers trained for exactly this sort of thing. Do you think Navy Seals are only trained to fight in the water?

4 I don't have to, just look at it. While it won't have a big impact on certain heroes, on others it's absolutely huge. It can easily end up being 10 free healing in a game, which is the equivalent to 2 extra actions. If you're planning on giving it to 4 heroes rather than 1 it's just going to be insane.

2. well, for a lot of people, echo base trooper= snow troopers of the rebels= snow! look at the minis and if you would go in a sand desert equiped like that. and i dont know nothing about navy seals, nor i care, its star wars

4. its meant to be for all heroes, not one. and it's not free healing, they still need to give up movement for it

I've played the core game as Rebel, two Twin Shadows and 1 1/4 Hoths as Imperial. My two cents:

1. As suggested elsewhere - use half of your tier items instead of just six. Not every gun shop will, or should, have every gun.

2. Interesting. I wouldn't use uniques or elites, just regulars. Maybe give them the option to choose 4 types before the campaign and they must cycle through all of them so they don't keep using the same one over and over.

3. No need for this if they don't use uniques.

4. As an Imperial player this flat out gives me the willies. Strain and the difficulty of removing it is a major thing keeping those pesky Rebels in check. It is your game though, if you use this let us know how it went.

For our second Hoth we've added 3 side missions so we all get extra XP and the Rebels have more credits and opportunities to spend them.

1 isn't really the problem others are saying, in fact it will fix several problems with the game such as having meleers and then getting screwed by not drawing a melee weapon and losing due to it.

2 is built in to Hoth with Echo Base Troopers. I fail to see how having every top Rebel leader and hero at your beck and call could possibly be thought of as "thematic."

3 probably fine, even the better ones like Bossk usually aren't a good choice.

4 LOL, so busted. Go ahead, destroy your game.

2. echo base troopers on tatooine inst thematic either. it will be more like: rebel high command send you to help leia on this mission. or, for this mission 2 wookies are coming with you. so it can be really thematic, it just depends how You explain it.

4. yeah, thats what i fear. but i still think i would be cool. have you played with it?

2 Uh... why exactly? Hoth and Tatooine are both deserts. Echo Base Troopers are the elite troopers trained for exactly this sort of thing. Do you think Navy Seals are only trained to fight in the water?

4 I don't have to, just look at it. While it won't have a big impact on certain heroes, on others it's absolutely huge. It can easily end up being 10 free healing in a game, which is the equivalent to 2 extra actions. If you're planning on giving it to 4 heroes rather than 1 it's just going to be insane.

2. well, for a lot of people, echo base trooper= snow troopers of the rebels= snow! look at the minis and if you would go in a sand desert equiped like that. and i dont know nothing about navy seals, nor i care, its star wars

4. its meant to be for all heroes, not one. and it's not free healing, they still need to give up movement for it

2 no, for no people do echo base troopers = snow. Snow troopers also don't = snow, that's absurd, they're storm troopers with different armor. They're elite troops that happen to have certain cloths on. It's the equivalent of saying soldiers with green camo gear can only fight in the jungle, it's totally different soldiers that fight in the city and they have gray camo, putting guys with green camo in a city would be madness!!!

By that logic the heros shouldn't be on Hoth or Tatooine because they'll die from exposure on both places because they're incapable of putting on heavy clothing like Han did to rescue Luke.

4 that isn't how rewards work. Read the mission, you give it to one hero. Rewards for side missions are meant to be powerful and this is among if not the most powerful one. Giving it to all heroes is game breaking.

2. well, for a lot of people, echo base trooper= snow troopers of the rebels= snow! look at the minis and if you would go in a sand desert equiped like that.

Agreed. For desert missions we use Sand Troopers. What is that? Well, we use the Snow Trooper card with Sand Trooper figures from the old Star Wars Miniatures game. Echo Base Troopers in the sand use the regular Rebel Trooper minis from that same game. It just helps us get the Star Wars feel.

2 no, for no people do echo base troopers = snow. Snow troopers also don't = snow,

Uh...to me they do.

Cruel and disregarding rebel leaders, taking the Echo Base Troopers with them when they escaped from Hoth. What an excruciating end to all of the Echo Base Troopers who melted away when taken inside starships. They should've been left there in the wild.

2. well, for a lot of people, echo base trooper= snow troopers of the rebels= snow! look at the minis and if you would go in a sand desert equiped like that.

Agreed. For desert missions we use Sand Troopers. What is that? Well, we use the Snow Trooper card with Sand Trooper figures from the old Star Wars Miniatures game. Echo Base Troopers in the sand use the regular Rebel Trooper minis from that same game. It just helps us get the Star Wars feel.

The sand troopers for whatever reason have the heavy backpack and large gun so I use them as an alternate sculpt for Heavy Storm Troopers. The alternate sculpt sand troopers which are just regular guys with sand on them I don't have.

2 no, for no people do echo base troopers = snow. Snow troopers also don't = snow,

Uh...to me they do.

You must have a pretty boring Hoth if all you can take are snow troopers, trained wumpas and probe droids since everyone else freezes to death.

I've played the core game as Rebel, two Twin Shadows and 1 1/4 Hoths as Imperial. My two cents:

1. As suggested elsewhere - use half of your tier items instead of just six. Not every gun shop will, or should, have every gun.

2. Interesting. I wouldn't use uniques or elites, just regulars. Maybe give them the option to choose 4 types before the campaign and they must cycle through all of them so they don't keep using the same one over and over.

3. No need for this if they don't use uniques.

4. As an Imperial player this flat out gives me the willies. Strain and the difficulty of removing it is a major thing keeping those pesky Rebels in check. It is your game though, if you use this let us know how it went.

For our second Hoth we've added 3 side missions so we all get extra XP and the Rebels have more credits and opportunities to spend them.

2: i like that, thanks, i think thats the way ill go

4. well i think i wont use it, but i just think its a cool rule that would add more options for planning for the rebels. maybe i will test it on some mission before going with it in a campain

1 isn't really the problem others are saying, in fact it will fix several problems with the game such as having meleers and then getting screwed by not drawing a melee weapon and losing due to it.

2 is built in to Hoth with Echo Base Troopers. I fail to see how having every top Rebel leader and hero at your beck and call could possibly be thought of as "thematic."

3 probably fine, even the better ones like Bossk usually aren't a good choice.

4 LOL, so busted. Go ahead, destroy your game.

2. echo base troopers on tatooine inst thematic either. it will be more like: rebel high command send you to help leia on this mission. or, for this mission 2 wookies are coming with you. so it can be really thematic, it just depends how You explain it.

4. yeah, thats what i fear. but i still think i would be cool. have you played with it?

2 Uh... why exactly? Hoth and Tatooine are both deserts. Echo Base Troopers are the elite troopers trained for exactly this sort of thing. Do you think Navy Seals are only trained to fight in the water?

4 I don't have to, just look at it. While it won't have a big impact on certain heroes, on others it's absolutely huge. It can easily end up being 10 free healing in a game, which is the equivalent to 2 extra actions. If you're planning on giving it to 4 heroes rather than 1 it's just going to be insane.

2. well, for a lot of people, echo base trooper= snow troopers of the rebels= snow! look at the minis and if you would go in a sand desert equiped like that. and i dont know nothing about navy seals, nor i care, its star wars

4. its meant to be for all heroes, not one. and it's not free healing, they still need to give up movement for it

2 no, for no people do echo base troopers = snow. Snow troopers also don't = snow, that's absurd, they're storm troopers with different armor. They're elite troops that happen to have certain cloths on. It's the equivalent of saying soldiers with green camo gear can only fight in the jungle, it's totally different soldiers that fight in the city and they have gray camo, putting guys with green camo in a city would be madness!!!

By that logic the heros shouldn't be on Hoth or Tatooine because they'll die from exposure on both places because they're incapable of putting on heavy clothing like Han did to rescue Luke.

4 that isn't how rewards work. Read the mission, you give it to one hero. Rewards for side missions are meant to be powerful and this is among if not the most powerful one. Giving it to all heroes is game breaking.

2. alright, ease up man, i dont want to argue on snow or sand, haha, do whatever you like. but my two cents is they call them SNOWtrooper for a reason...

4. you right, my fault.