I don't recall hearing of anyone complaining about Lobot before, and certainly not leaving because of him.

I recently built a squad with 4 or 5 variations because each of them had a weakness to one piece/tactic or another. But then I remembered Lobot (actually, it was this thread that reminded me! lol) and so I went with Lobot to close out my squad. Now I can bring in a BG where needed, or more door control, etc. Honestly, I prefer one version of the squad over the others, but that version would've had very bad matchups vs 1 or more squad types, so I took the less effective squad (overall) to prevent the really bad matchups. Perhaps that's me relying less on skill (because I'll still have a chance in the worst matchups)...or perhaps that's me relying more on skill (because the version with Lobot will be less powerful overall).

I hope you will start to find that SWM is the game for you again. It was good to play with you again (despite Daala showing up) and I hope you'll keep playing.

That's not the point.

The problem with Reinforcement isn't as an ability to "side board." Selecting reinforcements to counter a competitive field during squadbuilding does require strategy and skill. Lots of games like Magic the Gathering allow for a sideboard. However, unlike SWM, every other competitive game's sideboard (Reinforcements) are; limited, restrict alteration, and operate the same as their normal counterparts.

Sideboards have limits in most competitive games. For instance, only being allowed to bring at most 15 cards in addition to a main deck. However, in SWM you can print a list of hundreds of options to hand to a tournament organizer. Players don't even have to list Reinforcements on their squad sheets because they get to play all the options.

The sideboard in most competitive games cannot be altered mid-tournament. You are supposed to choose your sideboard (reinforcements) during "deck" building. Once a tournament begins you can't go looking for counters to add to your sideboard. However, in SWM you can "squad build" during Set Up to add any counter to your squad without needing; a miniature, a card, or it even being on your squad sheet. It requires little to no skill because you didn't have to predict the meta or your opponents when you chose your reinforcements.

The sideboard in other competitive games doesn't change how those pieces work in the game. Prior to each match you add or replace cards (reinforcements) to your deck (squad) to counter your opponent. However, in SWM instead of acting as smart counters, reinforcements most often are used to spam pointless risk free characters to out-activate opponents. It's just a way of winning without having to have any skin in the game.

The change to 2pt characters and act control have lessened the annoyance of Reinforcements. However, that doesn't mean we couldn't do better. I for one wouldn't mind never again hearing, "that's not worth any points."

WotC created both Magic the Gathering and Star Wars Miniatures and they share some parallels. Both collectible games allow for a Sideboard/ Reinforcements which are a set of cards, miniatures that are separate from the player's main deck/ squad. This allows players to customize a match strategy against opponents by changing the composition of their main deck/ squad.

In MtG you build a side deck of 15 cards separate from your main deck. When you build your deck you consider the strengths and weaknesses of your main deck vs various opponents. Do you expect to face many Control Decks, Aggro Decks, or Combo Decks? Your sideboard can help you in those various matches. You register your side deck and main deck prior to the tournament. At that point your sideboard is locked in and before each match you customize your main deck with your preselected pool of cards. Those cards operate no differently than if you had built them into your main deck originally. They don't give you any special advantages just because they came from your side deck.

So I'm not strongly arguing here because I've made my peace with how silly our game is long ago.
But here's how I think Reinforcements in Star Wars Miniatures should work.

Selected Reinforcement options may not exceed more than half the number of the build total.
Therefore, Fringe Reinforcements 20 gets at least 5 groups of 20 point options.
That has little effect on other types of Reinforcements since they have fewer options to worry about anyway.

A character costs half its printed cost (rounded down) after bringing Reinforcements into its squad. Characters brought in as Reinforcements count towards victory points when defeated and may collect gambit.
Half the "printed" cost means Lobot costs 13 points (not 7 points!) and 43 Jabba DT costs 21 points (not 15 points!) Because that's somewhat more reasonable IMHO. Or it could be rounded up as far as I care.

Reinforcement options must be preselected during squad building and registered on a squad sheet prior to the start of a tournament. Before to each match, Reinforcements must be selected from that same preselected reinforcement pool prior to Set Up and then revealed to the opponent in a timely fashion.

Yeet

Advanced Interdiction [Replaces turn: All characters that were added to a squad as Reinforcements are defeated]

So I'm gonna ask the ridiculous devil's advocate question -

What happens when a player that is not on these boards (or just missed the ruling) shows up at a tournament with Lobot but no listed sideboard?

DQ'd?
Can't play with Lobot?
Delay the tournament while they figure it out?


Telling a player reinforcements count for kill points and the piece bringing them is the remaining cost takes less than 5 seconds, and doesn't effect their build. They can still play and nothing is delayed.

Ok, everyone realizes making lobot 7pts and the rein pieces count as kill points changes NOTHING, right? It is no different than Lobot costing 27pts and reins being free, because Math. Its like throwing warm water on an icy sidewalk. Its like a rocking chair, gives you something to do, but you're not getting anywhere. That solution is useless.

We accommodate them as best as we can. The same as with any other change a player might be unaware of. Bans, Gambit, Mice rapport, Naboo change, act control etc. Allow them some extra time to right down on the squad sheet, that already has a spot for reinforcements, some extra time if needed.

Most people that return to a game will seek out information. As we have seen both on Bloomilk and the Facebook group.

I love and play this game and I'm pleasantly surprised whenever we get any positive changes to the game.
Yeah, I'd love to see Reinforcements toned down because it's absurd how they work in this game.

You want to play a game where you show me your army and I get to pick the one thing that stops your army?
That sounds fair, right? Oh, you're playing BXs? Ok, I'm bringing in EV-9D9 who completely neuters your squad. Oh, you have CE Disruption? I'm bringing in Sy Snootles to ignore that. Oh, you have Master Tactician? I'm bringing in Munn Tactics Broker and a bunch of mice droids. The list of counters is HUGE, and some of them are pure HARD counters.

The fact that we have all of these counters is wonderful. The fact that Reinforcements lets you access them all at your leisure is ridiculous. Players don't even need to consider adding EV-9D9 to their Reinforcement pool for the next tournament because it's always available. Someone shows up to a tournament with an unexpected, outside of the box squad, no worries, Reinforcements can counter that too.

Yeah, I guess "Printed" cost wouldn't prevent Rapport from lowering the cost after the printed cost was halved.
Perhaps the best solution would be for it to drop the cost by the Reinforcement value and ignore Rapport.

I've always wondered why the characters brought in by Reinforcements are not simply worth their points...and instead you have to track down a 27 pt character and drop kick him once to get those points.

Is there an old game mechanic that WOTC (Rob was it?) wanted for that?
The glossary on here didn't help much.

I know that won't help much with the counter availability, but that's inherent with an old ability that has lasted thru how many sets in a game where competitiveness has created lower and lower costed characters to counter winning combos/squads.

But maybe changing that one thing will help a bit...

Rob ( I think you're right on that name) also wasn't ever too concerned (or calculating) with balance or mechanics. I remember him saying there was no formula to point costs. He just went with his gut. Lobot might work the way he does because it was Rob's first idea and no one challenged it until this thread.

I question if all this effort is enough to get the desired results. It was mentioned 100 pts is still enough to hard counter most things. Would an even smaller pool be be advised? If mtg has 15 side cards, that's 25% of a deck. 50 pts in our SWM.