Citadel
Alert
Combat
Destroy
Support
Type
Power to Fortify
Builds Citadels on Planets
After any destiny, you may transform an attack pod from your cache into a “citadel.” Display the citadel on any planet in any system. The might of a citadel matches the might of the attack pod.
After any approach, if the target planet contains one or more citadels, you may use this power to activate all of those citadels. Add the might of those citadels to the defender’s fleet. If the defender loses in combat after the citadels have been activated, scrap all citadels on that planet.
Legacy: During combat, defenders add 5 might to their fleet.
An ancient race of mysterious beings famous for their architecture, the Citadels seek to reclaim their former glory. Not interested in ruling over a mound of rubble, they intend to make sure their new Cosmos is built to last.
Any: Approach
Optional
Wild Flare
As an actor, after any approach, you may discharge this flare to add 5 to the defending fleet’s might.
Actor: Approach
Super Flare
When using your power, you may discharge this flare to subtract the might of your citadel(s) from the defending fleet’s might when activated instead of adding it. Your citadels are still lost if the defender loses.
Any: Approach
Modifications
- Original power from the base game is the power of “fortification.” Changed to “fortify” to be punchier.
- Citadel’s legacy makes defenders more powerful, making it harder to gain dominion. Aliens without combat powers may need to invite more sponsors to overcome the defensive boost. Original Cosmic has no legacies.
Tips
- Though Citadel is capable of creating a new citadel each destiny, it is limited by its coverage. 5 invasions have to occur for Citadel to get coverage in an entire system, assuming Citadel has enough attack pods. Citadel can choose to protect its own system, or it can attempt to gain sponsors by fortifying foreign systems.
- As Citadel, it is advisable to have at least 2 encounter pods for your campaign as the invader, allowing for two invasions. Generally speaking, Citadel’s power only helps the defender, so it can effectively ignore its power in most situations when invading.
- Citadel specializes in helping the defender in any system, but it can only do so if the target planet has a citadel. The longer the game goes on, the more citadels will be created, and the fewer planets that can be chosen without facing one, especially if you already have a base in the system. Citadel will want to side with the defender to get new pods to create more citadels.
- Because Citadel can only use attack pods to make citadels, non-attack pods get in the way of Citadel wiping its cache clean for an easy resupply. Citadel can swing for compensation or negotiation as a leader to maintain a steady attack pod supply.
- It is possible for Citadel’s base power to help the invader if it can get possession of some negative attack pods. Thanks to Citadel’s power, it doesn’t have to worry about getting stuck with bad attack pods in general. Even if the Citadels don’t see use, the power can be used to benefit Citadel in this manner.
Development Notes
- Citadel is a rare breed. It’s a combat power designed specifically to help the defender. It’s fitting to the theme that the citadel itself is on the planet and helps the defender only, and the distinction between the lowercase and uppercase helps to distinguish the alien from the object.
- I considered if Citadel’s coverage is perhaps too weak considering how many attack pods it needs just to cover its own system. It seems reasonable that Citadel can easily add coverage to three of its own planets, since that is how many it needs to keep its power active. Even a 04 encounter pod allows Citadel to pass the Human Test, and other powers that make specific planets dangerous or desirable like Saboteur and Squirrel can affect how Citadel places its structures. That sort of interpower play is what I like to see in an alien, and the decision is much more meaningful than if the citadel affected the entire system.
- The “destroy” aspect of this power comes from its ability to prune its own cache of pods, unwanted or otherwise. The citadels are also destroyed as part of its power when losing, though thematically it’s meant to be the enemy that destroys them.