Hey guys, have been thinking about some new CIS commanders and things that could make them unique and I came up with something that I’m really not sure if it would be too broken or not.

I was thinking if maybe there was a Commander (unique or generic) that could have keyword entourage: B1 Battle Droids or maybe B2, or whatever their third Corps unit ends up being. I’m thinking possibly Nute Gunray or somebody as cowardly as he.

Writing this up I realize that entourage B1 would be super busted because you could then coordinate the rest of your army off of a free token, so maybe not entourage. But perhaps a similar keyword that lets you bypass army rank maximums for a Corp unit. Likely would have to be an expensive commander for entourage or maybe a cheaper commander if it was worded so you didn’t get the free command.

I think Entourage with anything except B1s wouldn't be too bad. Nute should have Entourage: Droidekas.

Actually, here's a thought: Give Nute Entourage: B1s, but make his command cards give out 1 fewer order than their number of pips. Make the 1-pip either give out no orders or give him 2 2-pips but one of them has text stating it counts as a 1-pip.

12 minutes ago, arnoldrew said:

Actually, here's a thought: Give Nute Entourage: B1s, but make his command cards give out 1 fewer order than their number of pips. Make the 1-pip either give out no orders or give him 2 2-pips but one of them has text stating it counts as a 1-pip.

That’s very interesting. Maybe all of his command cards only target NON Corp units?

Say, his one pip is himself, gives him small for a turn, all units with a face up order token gain a dodge token and he must take move actions.

Two pip only targets himself and one other support unit (droideka flavor) and gives the support unit guardian for ranged attacks targeting Nute only.

Three pip targets himself and any unit besides corps. Not sure what this could be.

I think commanders/operatives that kinda go against their role are very interesting. Chewies command hands (though not the best) is super interesting and flavorful due to the reliance on other characters. I think Nute could be a very flavorful, fun commander

I would like a way to pick a 7th corp units for cis. This could work.

1 hour ago, jocke01 said:

I would like a way to pick a 7th corp units for cis. This could work.

Perhaps a similar keyword to Entourage like Reinforcement or Escort for B1s where they can ignore the rank of a unit but don't get to give a face up order token.

28 minutes ago, KiraYamatoSF said:

Perhaps a similar keyword to Entourage like Reinforcement or Escort for B1s where they can ignore the rank of a unit but don't get to give a face up order token.

I think that would be an excellent way to get an extra Corp unit without having it be absolutely bonkers Like with entourage

Similarly, if we ever got Poggle the Lesser as an entourage character, geonosians would be an excellent choice.

52 minutes ago, KiraYamatoSF said:

Perhaps a similar keyword to Entourage like Reinforcement or Escort for B1s where they can ignore the rank of a unit but don't get to give a face up order token.

I really like Escort as a potential name for an ability like this, and also gives me another idea: Especially as many of us are envisioning an ability like this on someone like Nute Gunray, what if Escort also gave the unit type listed under the ability Guardian 1 while the unit with Escort was defending. So essentially a free Esteemed Leader, but it only worked for the unit listed (e.g. B1s). This would allow the ability to serve a purpose even if a player didn't want to include, say, 7 B1s in a list.

12 minutes ago, Lochlan said:

I really like Escort as a potential name for an ability like this, and also gives me another idea: Especially as many of us are envisioning an ability like this on someone like Nute Gunray, what if Escort also gave the unit type listed under the ability Guardian 1 while the unit with Escort was defending. So essentially a free Esteemed Leader, but it only worked for the unit listed (e.g. B1s). This would allow the ability to serve a purpose even if a player didn't want to include, say, 7 B1s in a list.

That’s actually an exceptional idea. Lose the ability to give an order for free but force the unit to take bullets for you.

You had me at Nute Gunray.

I would almost have expected Grievous to have Entourage: Magnaguard honestly.

24 minutes ago, Caimheul1313 said:

I would almost have expected Grievous to have Entourage: Magnaguard honestly.

When Magnaguards get released they'll probably have a rule that works the same way or very similarly, same with Iden and Inferno Squad. (Also yeah, can't wait for our dedicated melee droids!)

1 minute ago, RejjeN said:

When Magnaguards get released they'll probably have a rule that works the same way or very similarly, same with Iden and Inferno Squad. (Also yeah, can't wait for our dedicated melee droids!)

I'd rather they just errata the old cards to have Entourage than make a new keyword, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.
Or in the case of Grievous, just released another version of him, like they did with Luke and Vader.

3 hours ago, Caimheul1313 said:

I'd rather they just errata the old cards to have Entourage than make a new keyword, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.
Or in the case of Grievous, just released another version of him, like they did with Luke and Vader.

Arsenal 4 Grievous?

I don't see Entourage with B1s - AFAIK, they didn't perform such role in any SW media. B2s, on the other hand, make more sense (as they were used as bodyguards here and there).

However, I believe Magnaguards will get a reverse-Entourage: when you deploy them, choose a CIS HQ and that unit will get Entourage: Magnaguards

1 hour ago, Vector Strike said:

I don't see Entourage with B1s - AFAIK, they didn't perform such role in any SW media. B2s, on the other hand, make more sense (as they were used as bodyguards here and there).

However, I believe Magnaguards will get a reverse-Entourage: when you deploy them, choose a CIS HQ and that unit will get Entourage: Magnaguards

That, and considering they were (as far as I know) always used in a bodyguard role, maybe limit them to 1 unit per commander choice. Though I think it's more likely they will specifically get entourage with Grievous only.

2 hours ago, Vector Strike said:

I don't see Entourage with B1s - AFAIK, they didn't perform such role in any SW media. B2s, on the other hand, make more sense (as they were used as bodyguards here and there).

However, I believe Magnaguards will get a reverse-Entourage: when you deploy them, choose a CIS HQ and that unit will get Entourage: Magnaguards

I can understand that sentiment. We never explicitly see B1s act as guards. But as the swarm faction I was more so thinking of an overall concept that would allow us to take more inherently.

I do like the idea that someone would get entourage: Magna guards or whatever reverse entourage keyword they may receive. For all we know, entourage may be a keyword specifically for Empire

In phantom menace we see Nute with a guard of B1's.

8 hours ago, Caimheul1313 said:

I'd rather they just errata the old cards to have Entourage than make a new keyword, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.
Or in the case of Grievous, just released another version of him, like they did with Luke and Vader.

Then people will ***** about "the cards not being right." They can't win.

Take this with a pinch of salt but I have heard through the grapevine that the generic commander for the CIS is a T-series with Entourage B1's 3 wounds and white defense dice for 30 points.

50 minutes ago, 5particus said:

Take this with a pinch of salt but I have heard through the grapevine that the generic commander for the CIS is a T-series with Entourage B1's 3 wounds and white defense dice for 30 points.

Someone wishlisted this a few months ago. This is not going to happen as Entourage B1’s is way too strong.

1 hour ago, 5particus said:

Take this with a pinch of salt but I have heard through the grapevine that the generic commander for the CIS is a T-series with Entourage B1's 3 wounds and white defense dice for 30 points.

I think mountain of salt is more appropriate. In many lists that equates to complete activation control since the Entourage order could be passed on through the usual daisy chain of B1s. At the very least, it is practically "Entourage: Droid trooper."

B1's already get perfect activation control with an HQ uplink. Entourage would just save you some recover actions. So it wouldn't break the game, because it hasn't. It just needs to be paid for with points.

8 minutes ago, grandmoffjoe said:

B1's already get perfect activation control with an HQ uplink. Entourage would just save you some recover actions. So it wouldn't break the game, because it hasn't. It just needs to be paid for with points.

You only have perfect activation EVERY TURN with the cost of 10 points, 5 recover actions, and a comms slot. This is 30 points for perfect control, an additional activation, and an extra corps trooper slot. Five actions alone seems worth more than 20 points to me. All keywords have a cost, I can't imagine Entourage is free.

22 minutes ago, Caimheul1313 said:

You only have perfect activation EVERY TURN with the cost of 10 points, 5 recover actions, and a comms slot. This is 30 points for perfect control, an additional activation, and an extra corps trooper slot. Five actions alone seems worth more than 20 points to me. All keywords have a cost, I can't imagine Entourage is free.

I think this is a very strong argument against “Entourage”. That free order token would be worth way more than 30 points and would make B1s even more efficient without taking upgrades or actions that they rely on now to be balanced.

If the Tactical droid idea is still the generic commander and is dirt cheap, I think a keyword that just allows you to take an extra Corp unit if you check of “X” requirement could be a good way to do it.