Some scenarios attempt to even the playing field for gangs with a Crew Rating substantially below the opposing gang's Crew Rating. Some scenarios detail specific instruction for what sort of consideration an Underdog gang gets (if any), but others refer to one of the standard options detailed herein. Additionally, if an Arbitrator is designing a custom scenario they should give thought to whether or not an Underdog Bonus of some kind is available and if so may wish to use one of the below options, or formulate a custom one and include details of how it works as part of their scenario write up.
Underdog Determination
In battles with two players, Underdog status is determined by comparing each gang's Crew Rating. The gang with the lower Crew Rating is the Underdog in the upcoming battle, and the difference in Crew Rating is used to determine any Underdog bonuses a gang may receive if relevant.
For instance, a gang with a Crew Rating of 560 facing a gang with a Crew Rating of 775 is the Underdog, with a Rating Difference (775-560) = 215; in the charts below that offer a range of Underdog Bonuses based upon Rating Difference this would place the Underdog in the "Unfavored" category.
Multiplayer Underdog
In battles with three or more players, Underdog status is determined by comparing a gang's Crew Rating against the average Crew Rating of all the opposing gangs (rounded up). The difference in Crew Rating compared to this average opposing Crew Rating is what is used to determine any Underdog bonuses a gang may receive.
For instance, a gang with a Crew Rating of 560 facing a gang with a Crew Rating of 775 and another gang with a Crew Rating of 1000 is the Underdog, with a Rating Difference (((775+1000)/2)-560) = 328; in the charts below that offer a range of Underdog Bonuses based upon Rating Difference this would place the Underdog in the "Longshot" category.
Standard Underdog Bonus Options
The following standard options may be available, based upon scenario specific guidelines.
Automatic Priority
With this option, if a gang has a Crew Rating at least 100 points lower than their opponent, their gang automatically wins priority over the other gang on the first and second rounds of battle, after which priority will be determined normally.
With this option, if a gang has a lower Crew Rating than their opponent, they may draw 1 or more additional Tactics Cards based upon the differences in Crew Rating as indicated by the Underdog Tactics Cards Bonus table.
Underdog Tactics Cards Bonus
Odds
Rating Difference
# of Tactics Cards
Reputation
With this option, after the battle the gang with the lower Crew Rating gains additional Reputation based upon the differences in Crew Rating as indicated by the Underdog Reputation Bonus table.
Underdog Reputation Bonus
Odds
Rating Difference
Reputation
XP
With this option, after the battle the fighters in the Crew with the lower Crew Rating gain additional XP based upon the differences in Crew Rating as indicated by the Underdog XP Bonus table. Only fighters who participated in the battle gain the bonus XP.
Underdog XP Bonus
Odds
Rating Difference
XP
Underdog Variety Pack
With this option, an underdog gang gets a variety pack of cumulative bonuses based upon how much of an underdog they really are.
Underdog Variety Pack Bonus
Odds
Rating Difference
Bonus
Unfavored
-100 to -249
+1 Tactics Card
Longshot
-250 to -499
as Unfavored, and the gang gains +1 Reputation
Martyr
-500 to -999
as Longshot, and each participating fighter gains +1 additional XP
Hopeless
-1000 or more
as Martyr, plus the gang gains Automatic Priority
Hive Scum
With this option, if a gang has a lower Crew Rating than their opponent, they may add one Hive Scum to their Crew for this battle based upon the differences in Crew Rating as indicated by the Underdog Hive Scum Bonus table. This option is not available to gangs that cannot hire Hive Scum normally.
Underdog Hive Scum Bonus
Odds
Rating Difference
# of Hive Scum
In-House Augmentation
With this option, at the end of the Buy Advancements and Recruit Hired Guns step of the Pre-Battle Sequence, after any Advancements have been applied and any Hired Guns have been hired, Escher, Cawdor, Van Saar, Orlock, Delaque, and Goliath gangs who have a Crew Rating that is less than the opposing gang's Crew Rating may appeal to their House bosses for assistance.
To do this, the player rolls a D6 and adds 1 for each full 100 points of difference in rating. If the result is 7 or higher, the player may add a new fighter with 2D6+3 XP to their gang for free, of any allowed type from the gang's Gang List and complying with Gang Composition rules, equipped with up to 150 credits worth of free weapons and wargear from their House list. Any of the 150 credits not spent equipping this fighter are lost; they do not go to the gang's Stash.
This fighter is included as part of the gang's Crew for this battle, and is a permament member of the gang going forward (assuming they survive the battle). However, half of all credits that would go to the gang's Stash during the Battle Sequence and the Post-Battle Sequence are lost, sent to the House bosses as repayment.