Pickpocket
Alert
Resource
Destroy
Type
Power of Theft
Steals from Invading Aliens
During any arrival you may use this power to snatch one pod from any alien with a base in your system. Either claim that pod or scrap it.
Legacy: During each upkeep, any alien with a base in Pickpocket’s system has one pod in their cache ravaged. If Pickpocket has no system, ravage a pod from a random cache instead.
Those who venture into the realm of the Pickpockets invariably find their possessions stolen without a trace. Neither armed guards nor locked vaults nor constant vigilance have proven successful at preventing such an outcome. Specialists in the world of thieving refer to their work as true artistry.
Any: Arrival
Optional
Wild Flare
As the defender, after launch, you may discharge this pod to snatch pods from the invader, up to the number of their committed ships. Claim or scrap those pods.
Defender: Launch
Super Flare
When using your power, you may discharge this flare to instead snatch a pod from any or all other aliens with a base in your system. Either claim or scrap each of those pods.
Any: Arrival
Modifications
- Originally the power to “lift”. Changed to the power of “theft”, which was originally used by Filch. Power name was freed up since I changed Filch to Envy.
- Original Pickpocket can activate the power at any time. Since the power is unconditional, I set the power to only be activated during arrival. It allows the power to still be used to potentially disrupt the invader’s encounter
- Original Wild Pickpocket can only be used if targeting its own home system. In FFG Cosmic, this has significance since you can target enemy bases in your own system. Since this cannot be done in my version, it is only different in niche cases such as if Will invades an alien in a different system.
- Pickpocket’s legacy puts a drain on resources. Any alien with a base in Pickpocket’s system loses a random pod during upkeep. The legacy can be useful for aliens with a weak cache but punishing for aliens with a strong one. Unlike Lich’s legacy, the scrapping isn’t targeted, which means it can scrap both good and bad pods, including support pods. If Pickpocket isn’t in the match, only one pod will be scrapped each upkeep. The value of the legacy will be based on who gets targeted most and which pods get scrapped, allowing for a great deal of variability. Original Cosmic has no legacies.
Tips
- Pickpocket needs to lose as a defender to start using its power. Ideally, it wants everyone to team up against it at once so it can snatch pods from anyone at will.
- Pickpocket can take advantage of its opponent’s unwillingness to establish bases in its system to increase its potency as a defender. Be wary of opponents gunning for compensation instead.
- Though Pickpocket can snatch a pod every encounter, it is not required to do so. Since Pickpocket isn’t required to keep the pod it snatches, it is usually advisable to do so, unless you have concern you might grant someone the option for a free resupply.
- Pickpocket can converse with potential allies to form a symbiotic relationship with them, pruning their cache of weak pods instead of snatching strong ones for itself.
Development Notes
- Pickpocket is perhaps the simplest power idea released since the Prime Galaxy. The bio text is short, and the power is very easy to understand. Pickpocket gets to snatch one pod per invasion, but it can only snatch pods from aliens with a base in its system. It makes Pickpocket a lose-based alien, but unlike Sneak it is perfectly fine with peaceful victories through powers like Pacifist or Empath.
- A “pickpocket” is a type of thief who attempts to steal a target’s possessions without the target noticing, usually through sleight-of-hand tricks. It’s similar to the concept of a cat burglar, which helps distinguish it from other “thief” aliens like Scammer, Outlaw, and Barbarian. Other aliens don’t even know how their pods are being stolen. The Pickpockets are so sneaky that no one is even aware of them taking anything until long after the fact.
- Enemies having to establish bases in Pickpocket’s system works well both mechanically and thematically. Pickpocket has to make direct contact with its target to steal from them, so they have to be in its system first. While Outlaw ambushes its opponents in space and Barbarian pillages its enemies after crushing them, Pickpocket takes a stealthy approach and strikes while its target’s guard is down.
- I sided against making Pickpocket’s power mandatory due to its condition. While it may seem pointlessly optional since it can scrap the pods it snatches, making it mandatory would mean Pickpocket is forced to steal from one alien over and over again if it’s the only one to establish a base in its system. This can restrict Pickpocket’s strategy, since it will guarantee they have an antagonistic relationship unless that target has a weak cache.
- Pickpocket’s power can be a double-edged sword, potentially taking either good pods or bad pods from its target. It also starts without the ability to snatch any pods at all, similar to original Reincarnator. If enemies always throw their encounters against Pickpocket, Pickpocket will never get to use its power. However, doing so will also cost invaders valuable invaders, so they have to gauge the risk of potentially losing pods vs. gaining potentially free dominion.
- Outlaw is a good point of comparison to Pickpocket, another alien that can snatch pods from other aliens. Pickpocket can snatch fewer pods at a steadier rate, while Outlaw can snatch more at once directly from its enemies. Outlaw also doesn’t have a stipulation to activate its power, which can let its cache explode a little faster, and Outlaw cannot scrap the pods it snatches. Pickpocket may gain more pods overall but will take longer to get started. Since Pickpocket is a defensive lose-based alien, it is also comparable to contemporaries Sneak and Squee. These two aliens have different benefits from losing as the defender, one being to gain dominion and the other being to prevent enemy sponsors. All three exist within their own unique design spaces, so there’s no concern for crossover.
- Pickpocket can be viewed as the Anti-Philanthropist, an alien that can take a pod every invasion instead of giving one. Philanthropist does need to be an actor, and Pickpocket can only target those with a base in its system, which gives the two more flavorful distinctions. I gave Pickpocket the same timing as Philanthropist to make them seem more like direct counterparts and still allow Pickpocket to potentially destroy invasions.