Deciders

Created Wednesday 16 August 2023

How Human use their deciders pretty much, um, decides things. They are very powerful pieces that are nearly unbeatable in an untamed battlespace. (Wow, how was that for bullshitting jargon as I made up the ideas!)

Yeah, so other Human pieces need to be nerfed in light of them. But, yeah, I think the Humans are a race of unequal warriors. Knights and peasants, soldiers and workers, OGREs and Mechs.

But I think it's more arming the Blattids. I don't really think about them or "that side" much except to wallow in a Buzzkill kill, but I guess I do need to arm them a bit more.
Yeah, it's not about nerfing pieces in this game. It's in realizing any peice can die. That any piece can kill an other---it's just that some pieces have a lot more and bigger guns. Nonetheless, since even your most powierful pieces can be killed by a lucky and well-aimed shot, you want to keep them "situationally safe": try to play scenarios to minimize your big pieces to undo risk.

So, considering that even Deciders are also just squishy little targets, what are the guns it brings in its defense?

Decisions

At any time, a Decider can make a Decision. Decisions immediately go into effect system-wide and spread to other, occupied systems at travel speed (or at least light) to be followed by every Human player.
Now just to figure out how they work in the game.

Weapon of Choice

Among the things granted when one becomes a Decider is one's Weapon of Choice. This can be anything that is both feasible and accessable. Othewise, they can have what they want. This means two things:

They have access to anything within a system they deem to be a weapon and that is "accessable," a word with many different interpretations. But otherwise, if they want to shoot your gun, you gotta give it to get. Butt-side first, asshole.
Upon becoming a Decider, all quickly try to construct/aquire one thing that is indeed their Weapon of Choice. Many choose actual weapons, but all have a very powerful---if also always rather narrow---outcome. Fei taking out an occupied system's main defense kinda stuff. Greh Wolf's squad of Weasels lead by a mostly-isolated 3° H0. So, paring available Deciders with scenarios is important.

Once per scenario, a Decider may fire their Weapon. This usually lasts for one battle, but your mileage may vary. Is nearly undefeatable when paired correctly. Otherwise, um, remember that quip about your mileage?

Level 0 Skill

Also once per scenario, a Decider may use their Level 0 skill. (This is assuming I remember right in that they're 3 levels of skills.)

Other Characteristics, Misc.

Try to have an interesting, damaing-but-not-destroying possible outcome for all campaigns and most (if not all) scenarios Deciders are in. There is kinda always one odd, bad thing they need to try to avoid. And to be cleverly paired with the strenths and weaknesses. And to be written as well by someone else.