Leaders (Second Edition)

**Leaders** are an optional rule variant introduced in the Hope's End Expansion for Twilight Imperium Second Edition

Each race has 3 leader counters which are a combination of the 5 types of leaders: Generals, Admirals, Diplomats, Agents and Scientists

## Placing Leaders

A player's 3 leaders always begin the game on a single planet in their Home system

Leaders are always considered to be located on a friendly planet or on a spaceship

Any ship can transport one or several leaders. They do not count towards the carrying capacity

A leader cannot control a planet without accompanying ground forces

## Moving Leaders

Immediately before the Movement segment, a player may move leaders from a planet onto a specific friendly ship in the same system, or from a specific ship to another ship in the same system

During the Invasion Combat segment, leaders may move from a ship onto a friendly planet in the same system

A leader may also accompany one or more friendly Ground forces onto an enemy planet in an Invasion attempt

## Killing and capturing leaders

If the ship on which a leader is present is destroyed during Space Combat, roll a die:

* 1-5: Leader is killed and removed from play
* 6-9: The enemy captures that leader
* 10: The leader escapes and the owner may immediately place them on any friendly planet

If a ship carrying a leader is destroyed at any time outside of space combat, that leader is killed and removed from play

If a planet containing a leader is successfully invaded by another player, roll a die:

* 1-5: Leader is Captured
* 6-9: Leader escapes and the owner may immediately place them on any friendly planet
* 10: Leader is killed and removed from the game

If a leader is present on a planet whose control marker is destroyed by bombardment (or the planet changes ownership outside of Invasion Combat), the leader escapes and may immediately be placed on another friendly planet

Leaders may never exist on neutral or enemy planets

## Captive Leaders

Upon capturing a leader, the captor places them in their play area

During the political phase, a captor may freely transfer a captive leader to another player. If this other player is the leader's owner, that leader is freed and immediately placed on any friendly planet.

A captor may choose to execute a leader at any time, at which point the leader is killed and removed from the game

### Rescuing Captive Leaders

Every time a planet held by another player is successfully invaded, if that player holds any captive leaders, roll a dice:

* 1-9: No effect
* 10: A captive Leader has been found and the invading player takes the leader (randomly if the captor holds several captive leaders)

If the leader is one of the invaders', they are freed and may be placed on any friendly planet

## Leader Abilities

- The Controlling player may re-roll 1 die during each round of the combat
- Multiple friendly generals can still only affect 1 roll
 **Admiral** |  | **When participating in Space Combat:**
- The owner may roll 1 additional die for the ship the admiral is on
- The opposing fleet may not play a "Skilled Retreat" action card unless that fleet also contains an Admiral
 **Diplomat** |  | **When defending a planet about to be invaded:**
- May force the invasion to be delayed by 1 turn. The invading Ground Forces must retreat to their fleet and may not attack until next turn
-> May not use this ability 2 turns in a row
-> May not be used on Mecatol Rex
 **Agent** |  | **When participating in Invasion Combat:** Enemy PDS may not fire at the Invading Ground Forces
 **Scientist** |  | **When present on any planet outside their player's home system**: That player may use double that planet's resource value in credits toward the purchase of Technology during the Technology Phase
**When on a planet:** Each round, their player may purchase 1 PDS or Spacedock for only 5 credits on that planet

## Optional Rules

Within this optional variant is another optional variant

Leaders may be played face-down instead of face up on the table

If playing this way, leaders are only temporarily revealed to other players when they are using their special abilities