21. R7 Rules Clarifications
These resolve or supersede the relevant Open Questions in §20.
21.1 Story Arc and Back-Face Counting#
Only a Storyline whose back face is type-line "Completed Storyline" counts toward the Story Arc win condition (§15.2).
21.2 Storyline Deck Cap#
There is no cap on the number of Storylines a deck may include. To prevent Story-Point snowball, Storyline-completion SP rewards are kept lean (chapter rewards typically +1 SP; the §9.5 final-completion bonus stands). (Resolves the §20.2 question.)
21.3 §16 and Concord Defection Faces#
A Syntient that defects to the Concord does so on a face labeled Fallen (e.g., "Character - Fallen Civilian Syntient / Concord Official"). Such faces count toward the 8-permanent loss total like any other Fallen face.
21.4 Diplomatic Immunity and Homeworlds#
Intruder movement (§14.4) and Diplomatic Immunity (§18.29) include opposing Homeworlds as valid occupiable destinations. The §14.4 occupation rules (Vote/Income suppression, co-located combat, contribution of Rank to Liberation, etc.) apply to an occupied Homeworld exactly as to a Surface Location. This enables infiltration objectives that complete when a Character occupies an opposing Homeworld.
21.5 Bound Character Leaving Play (clarifies §8.8)#
The sole consequence at §8.8 is: a Prime Character bound to a Storyline that becomes unbound while remaining in play flips to its Fallen face. A bound Character that leaves play entirely (e.g., returned to hand) simply leaves; the Storyline loses its bound Character with no further effect.
21.6 Allegiance-Prefix Grammar#
Ship names carry an allegiance prefix: Galatic Union vessels use GUAS ("Galatic Union ...Ship"); a vessel that defects to the Concord uses FMS ("Free Mind Ship"). This parallels the Hegemony's IHN → Emberate secession grammar (§18.39). Galatic Union Maneuver prefixes (GU / GUA / GUJ / GUJA / Union) are bureaucratic flavor — GU = Galatic Union, GUA = ...Assembly, GUJ = ...Joint, GUJA = ...Joint Assembly — and the trailing resolution numbers let a later card reuse a name with a new number for a functional variant.