I guess we'll see it's being tested atm. I find that the power NPCs are picked up and the rest are left alone. In this case you can get the power NPCs anyway, it won't, imo, change the chances of getting them by anything appreciable I suspect.
So the reasoning for the changes is that NPCs are great fun in KS. This allows specific planning for a position and directional choices with set-ups and selection of NPCs that you go for.
Well that's the plan anyway - we'll see what actually occurs in the next 2 games and I'll feedback post that.
I would have to agree with the 2 other gentlemen. Making it harder for the Usurpers to get, say Ji Indur, would make it more balanced. IMHO
In a message dated 10/29/2017 3:57:31 PM Central Standard Time, mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com writes:
I second Drew.
I think the most fun part of KS is hunting the NPCs. If they just become regular part of the setup, then they lose much of the attraction to me.
I suspect I'll be in the minority, but I don't like this line of thinking. NPCs shouldn't be too easy to get. I could see lowering the up front cost of finding some more SNAs for that particular game for nation matching planning, but I really like the existing hard choices on spending setup points to find locations (and starting artifact numbers for LATs) vs everything else there is to be had in setup. Making these things cheaper/easier penalizes those of us who plan long term for the spells, recruiting emissaries, etc, for NPC recruitment. If it's truly for game balance, I can't hardly argue against that, but is it though?
Drew
We're testing out the following changes to make
it simpler to get a feel for your nation design
and where you want to take it. Most are on
theme, some are for game balance, but basically
it's a lot easier to get NPCs from the game start and chase them down.
Did I say we're one duo away from a KS GB game as well? 
Eg Line of Eldacar
Koashun: Find the location at game start with this character 20 points
Koashun: Find the SNA associated with this character at game start 30 points
Koashun: Find the artefact associated with this character 30 points.
Loyalists
Line of Eldacar
Koashun
Radagast
Saruman
Feamire
Rebels of Ered Lithui
Gandalf (already)
Gwaihir
Landroval
Meneldor
Rhovanion
Michel Bandy
Gwaihir
Landroval
Meneldor
Treebeard
Skinbark
Leaflock
Horselords
Saruman
Treebeard
Skinbark
Leaflock
Kingdom of Arnor
Dameric Took
Goldberry
Tom Bombadil
Gandalf
Losspindel
Quendi
Cirdan
Feamirie
Sulkano
Losspindel
Gandalf (already)
Usurpers
Line of Castamir
Sauron
The Blue Wizard (already)
Ren the Unclean
Line of Morlaen
Any - Can already find any one NPC keep as is.
Hoarmurath (already)
Khamul (already)
Lhachglin
Slyardach
Line of Elendin
Enna San Sarab
Fha-Korlash
Shelob
Southron Kingdoms
Akhorahil
Ji Indur
Sauron
Hithlum
Dwar of Waw
Khamul
Ren the Unclean
The Blue Wizard
Istar Luin
Witch-realm of Angmar
Akhorahil
Barrow Wight
Bert
Tom
William
Felagrod
Hoarmurath
Old Man Willow
Neutrals
Line of Tirkhor
Malan-bur-Malan
Orodreth
The Blue Wizard
Khazad
Felagrod
Istar Luin
Turukulon
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