Author
Alert
Control
Info
Type
Power of Storytelling
Writes Opponent’s Future
As a leader, after arrival, you may use this power to name a specific encounter pod. If your opponent has that pod in their cache, they must prime it as their driver this encounter if possible. Otherwise, this power has no effect.
Legacy: After arrival, each leader names a specific encounter pod. First the invader, then the defender. Each leader must prime the encounter pod their opponent specifies as their driver this encounter, if possible.
The Authors have already written their best-selling tell-all story about their rise to Cosmic dominance. They haven’t actually accomplished the feat yet, so they’re working to make sure reality doesn’t create any plot holes.
Leader: Arrival
Optional
Wild Flare
As a leader, at any time, you may discharge this flare to name a specific pod. Each other alien must relay one pod in their cache to you. If they have the pod you specify, they must relay that pod.
Leader: Any
Super Flare
During any arrival, you may discharge this flare to use your power, targeting either leader.
Any: Arrival
Modifications
- Original name is Visionary, with the power of Perception. Changed in an attempt to strengthen the theme to something more tangible. The idea of an author writing the story that will unfold.
- Author’s legacy gives everyone its power every encounter, allowing the potential for encounters to go exactly as aliens want. With this power in play, knowledge is power. Aliens like Mind and AI, which can see exactly what their opponent is holding, can excel with this legacy. Aliens like Trader and Clone, which inform their opponents what they are holding, are less enthused. Original Cosmic has no legacies.
Tips
- Author’s power serves two purposes. One is to force the opponent’s driver. The other is to find out what they do or do not have.
- As long as Author doesn’t know what you are holding, the fewer pods you have, the safer you are from the power. Author is the uncommon sort of power that punishes large caches.
- It is dangerous to gain compensation from Author, as you will give Author weaponry for the future.
- The worst-case scenario of opposing Author is to have a P pod. While it is possible for Author to still lose such an encounter, as it may not have a weak enough pod to defeat a P pod, Author will always know if you have one or not.
Development Notes
- I knew I had to change Visionary’s name after I mixed up Seeker and Visionary. This is also why I changed Seeker to Inquisitor.
- Author is similar to Oracle in terms of its theme and mechanics. Both deal with a chosen future. Author writes it, while Oracle predicts it. Unlike Oracle, Author can be wrong and create a “plot hole” by naming a pod the opponent doesn’t have. Oracle sees exactly what its opponent will play, but it learns nothing about what its opponent is holding. Author’s power has more flexibility. If it is right, its power is even stronger than Oracle. If wrong, it gets no immediate benefit, aside from learning a little more about its opponent’s cache.
- Author’s power works as a yellow alert because it requires basic knowledge of the forge pool. Knowing that even pods are more common than odd ones and negotiate pods are most common is useful for being effective with the power.
- Author has a strong Death Note feel to it. Writing something down to influence the behavior and determine their fate, but if what you write is impossible, nothing will happen. It’s not exactly the same, but it’s close enough that I can really get behind the theme.