Malazan Empire: Tapper - Viewing Profile - Malazan Empire

Jumping the gun a bit, but suggestions tend to spark debate, so here goes.

Solutions for Diplo?

A. Modify Diplo, variant 1.
Remove "system you control" from the targeting requirements and add substitute "other than Mecatol Rex" with "other than Mecatol Rex and home systems controlled by other players."

Diplo is now both a defensive option as well as a nasty roadblock or a way to stake a claim/ keep an opponent from reinforcing a system before you attack it. Logistics still counters it, btw.

B. Modify Diplo to function as a counterbalance to Politics
Add a new line to Diplo:
Take the Diplomat token.

And add a rulebook line:
The Diplomat chooses whether Strategy selection proceeds clockwise or counter-clockwise from the Speaker.

The usefulness/uselessness of Diplo's Primary doesn't change, but being left with Diplo this turn means you'll likely get a much better Strategy the turn after (just like taking Speaker is partially an investment for the future). This change hopefully also puts the whole Speaker token wheeling-dealing to bed, as that would now take 2 selections to reliably control the flow each turn.
It is also somewhat thematic.

Of course, combining A and B is possible, but that might make it too strong.

Solutions for Warfare?
Ultimately, Warfare is okay up until the point where the map is divided and you don't want to attack anyone near you: then all those +1s are largely wasted as a bonus, except perhaps as a deterrent.

To give the card some extra value, I'd suggest adding: "if the system this ship is in has not been activated by you at the end of the Action Phase, place ships with a total value of 4 TG in your home world system."

That's basically a free version of its original Secondary.

I tried to think of unintended shenanigans where the ship moves without activation, but I can't think of much beyond its own current secondary, which the player can't take.

Choice for player #9?
This involves adding a 10th Strategy. I think TI 3rd edition featured different Strategies from TI 4, and some variants of each Strategy (Bureaucracy & Imperial both being numbered 8) and we could borrow from there - I think that's where D'rek also found inspiration for Logistics?

I've been tinkering to come up with something unique that's not broken. It's hard.