Official Balance Committee Rulings for (2024) competitive tournament play.
Simple Version•
Sith Reflexes - Changed to “when damaged by an attack from an enemy”
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Force Choke # & Force Pull # - Place an enemy in the nearest available legal square
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KEN 8 Third Sister (Reva) - Remove Force Attuned
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THG 27 Mother Talzin - Remove “replaces turn” from her CE
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Lightsaber SA - Counts as a Melee Attack
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SNV 46 Rakghoul Warrior – Errata add Melee Attack
Official Version******************************************************************************
Sith Reflexes - Changed to “when damaged by an attack from an enemy”
Due to the (complicated) order in which steps are resolved, Sith Reflexes triggers before area effects are resolved (e.g., Tulak Hord teleporting adjacent to an enemy using Force Lightning to damage them). To curb potential abuse and player confusion, the BC has chosen to errata Sith Reflexes.
Sith Reflexes [Once per turn, when damaged by an attack from an enemy, this character may immediately use a replaces attacks Force Power]
Force Choke # & Force Pull # abilities - Place an enemy in the nearest available legal square
These abilities allowed an enemy to be placed directly behind a “pulling” character. This tactic and the number of characters with these abilities have greatly increased in recent years. The BC has chosen to errata the glossary for these abilities, requiring enemies to be placed in the nearest available legal square.
Force Choke (Variable Force Points): This group of Force Powers moves a target enemy character to the nearest available legal square adjacent to this character and deals damage to that enemy. This movement ignores terrain (except walls) and other characters and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The enemy must end the move in the nearest available legal landing spot adjacent to this character and take the shortest possible route to that space. If multiple routes are tied for the shortest, pick one.
Force Pull (Variable Force Points): This group of Force Powers moves a target enemy character to the nearest available legal square adjacent to this character and allows this character to make attacks against that enemy. This movement ignores terrain (except walls) and other characters and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The enemy must end the move in the nearest available legal landing spot adjacent to this character and take the shortest possible route to that space. If multiple routes are tied for the shortest, pick one. Force Pull itself is not an attack and does not require an attack roll, although it does allow attacks.
KEN 8 Third Sister (Reva) - Remove Force Attuned
Darth Vader, The Emperor's Fist’s CE allowed players to choose Reva’s Force Attuned to share with all Inquisitors. This was an especially powerful combo with Ninth Sister (Masana Tide)’s Force Repulse 3. The Balance Committee is concerned about powerful Replaces Turn abilities becoming too easily accessible. Therefore, Errata to Third Sister Reva loses Force Attuned.
THG 27 Mother Talzin - Remove “replaces turn” from her CE
The addition of “replaces turn” on Talzin’s CE was an error during design. The combo of her and Savage Opress using Force Repulse 5 was unintentional. It allows Savage in one phase to go 12 squares and do 50 damage to all characters within 5 squares then activate them (Save 16). New Force battery options have made the combo even more accessible. Therefore, the BC has chosen Errata to remove “replaces turn” from her CE.
Lightsaber SA - Counts as a Melee Attack
Certain non-melee characters have the Lightsaber special ability, allowing them +10 damage against adjacent enemies. As these characters are non-melee, the ability to Combine Fire or use Blaster Upgrade with a Lightsaber adds complexity and confusion. To address this issue among players and designers, the Balance Committee has decided to errata the Lightsaber SA. It will now be treated as a Melee Attack against adjacent enemies, aiming to resolve an issue arising from a growing number of characters featuring the Lightsaber SA.
SNV 46 Rakghoul Warrior – Errata add Melee Attack
Concerns were raised about Rakghoul Warrior, especially as a shooter with unpreventable damage. Squads featuring Rakghoul Warrior have made top-tables at least five times in recent years. Notably, they won the NZ Championship and went undefeated during the Swiss rounds of the World Championship last year. In response, the Balance Committee chose to address this issue by adding Melee Attack to the Rakghoul Warrior, noting its status as the only non-melee character in the game with Overwhelming Power.
ITT 29 Yuuzhan Vong Kunra, Shamed Lieutenant - Errata – add Force Immunity.
This is from last year but is being added as it was not included in last years post.
During the 2023 season, Kunra designers noticed the accidental omission of Force Immunity and requested Errata. Being a recent character with little play, the BC honored the designers’ request.
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Discussion items receiving No Change
These characters/ Items were requested by the community to be discussed and changed by the Balance Commitee.
Double Battle Ready – No change as we wait on clarification from the Rules Committee.
Fringe a Faction – No change needed, create a stickied “Fringe” post in rules section on Bloomilk.
Concerns were raised about the classification of Fringe as a faction, citing a lack of clarity leading to confusion. The issue includes uncertainty about whether the Yammosk War Coordinator can “steal” Talon Karrde's movement CE or if the Father can bring in Fringe characters. The BC requests the RC create a post "Fringe" in Bloomilk under Glossary Terms, providing clear guidance or exceptions concerning Fringe as a faction.
CotG 27 Admiral Daala – No change (Remains Banned)
BC discovered Daala is still powerful and continues to carry a negative stigma within the community. We do not see a benefit to returning her to the game currently.
3-point cost minimum – No Change
BC would like to maintain the current squad building and is not certain a change here would have a positive effect on the game.
EA 33 Nightsister Hunter – No Change
The BC has discussed removing or changing Plasma Bolt but did not agree that a change is needed. We will continue to monitor Hunters and Plasma Bolt specifically throughout the next season.
Damage Cap – No Change
The BC has not found a universal "fix" that can easily or appropriately be applied to all characters. Therefore, we feel the best approach would be to address specific cases individually.
KotOR Captain Tarpals – No Change
The BC discussed Captain Tarpals CE and issued no changes.
GH 20 Imperial Agent – No Change
The BC considered the Imperial Agent and did not feel a change was necessary.
Gambit – No Change
The BC discussed the role of gambit in the game and advised no changes at this time.
Rapport Stacking – No Change
The balance committee is not interested in changing how Rapport works in the game. We are open to looking at issuing errata to address specific cases individually.
Force Attuned – No Change
Force Attuned is an absurdly powerful ability that should only be used on the most powerful of characters. The issue was discussed, and the solution was to errata Reva specifically.
150 Constructed – No Change
This was discussed, and the BC would like to keep 200 the standard.
PtV Tulak Hord, Lord of Hate (Defense) – No Change
Tulak Hord has a high defense with Melee Duelist and SSM. He is very strong in combo with Darth Cognus and her Doctrine of Fear. The BC discussed Tulak and possible errata. Errata was issued to Sith Reflexes. However, we do not see Tulak requiring additional errata currently. We will continue to monitor.
Darksaber – No Change
Darksaber defines attacks as with a lightsaber. However, the character itself, e.g. Moff Gideon, is not a character with a Lightsaber. Players were wanting Darksaber characters to be considered characters with a Lightsaber. The BC does not wish to give non-force rated characters such as Moff Gideon access to synergies normally associated with Force-rated characters. E.g. Moff Gideon using a Sith Holocron.
Shien Style – No Change
Concerns about Shien Style prompted a review due to its potent ability to avoid all damage even when the enemy is adjacent. The Balance Committee acknowledged its incongruence with other abilities but noted its well-established status in the game and not having caused major issues.
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