Of course. You’re asking about the **Bonus Slot** in **Avalon 2: The Corruption**, which is a key and often misunderstood rule.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what it is, how it works, and its strategic importance.
### What is the Bonus Slot?
The Bonus Slot is a special, **6th seat** added to a mission team when certain conditions are met. It is **not** a regular player character; it is an extra vote that gets added to the team going on the quest.
### How to Trigger the Bonus Slot
The Bonus Slot is triggered **automatically** when **both** of these conditions are true for a proposed mission team:
1. The team is **Rejected** (fails the vote).
2. The team contains **exactly one “Evil” character** (a Minion of Mordred or a Corrupted Loyal Servant).
If a team is rejected and has 0 or 2+ evil players, the Bonus Slot is **not** triggered.
### How the Bonus Slot Works
Once triggered, the rule applies to the **very next mission team proposal** (for that same mission number).
1. **Automatic Addition:** When the next leader proposes a team, they only select **N-1** players (where N is the mission size). The game automatically adds the 6th “Bonus Slot” player.
2. **Who is in the Bonus Slot?** The Bonus Slot is filled by a **randomly selected player** from the pool of players **NOT** on the leader’s proposed team.
3. **The Bonus Vote:** The player in the Bonus Slot gets a vote on the mission. This vote is **secret and predetermined**:
* If the Bonus Slot player is **Good**, they cast a **”Success”** vote.
* If the Bonus Slot player is **Evil**, they cast a **”Fail”** vote.
* *(The Corrupted token has no effect here; a Corrupted player is Evil and would cast a Fail).*
4. **The Leader’s Risk:** The leader has **no control** over who this random 6th player is. This adds a huge layer of risk and strategy.
### Example Scenario (5-Player Game, Mission 3)
* Mission 3 requires **3 players** on the team.
* **Leader (Alice)** proposes: **Alice, Bob, Charlie.**
* This team contains **exactly one Evil player** (Bob).
* The table votes and **Rejects** this team.
* **BONUS SLOT IS TRIGGERED** for the next proposal.
**Next Leader (David):**
* Wants to propose a team for the same Mission 3.
* Because the Bonus Slot is active, he only chooses **2 players** (e.g., David and Eve).
* The game randomly picks the 3rd player from those not chosen (Alice, Bob, Charlie). Let’s say it picks **Charlie**.
* The final mission team is: **David, Eve, and Charlie (in the Bonus Slot)**.
* They go on the quest. David and Eve play their cards normally. Charlie’s vote is forced: Success if he is Good, Fail if he is Evil.
### Strategic Implications & Tips
**For the Good Team:**
* **A Powerful Tool:** It can force an extra “Success” vote onto a team, making it harder for Evil to sabotage. Use it to your advantage when you strongly trust a core group.
* **High Risk, High Reward:** The leader gives up control. If you trigger it with a team of mostly Good players, the random pick is more likely to be Good. If the team is suspicious, you risk giving Evil an extra Fail vote.
* **Triggering on Purpose:** Sometimes, a Good leader might propose a *deliberately suspicious* team with one known or suspected Evil player, hoping it gets rejected to activate the Bonus Slot for the next leader.
**For the Evil Team:**
* **Disrupt and Deceive:** You want to avoid triggering the Bonus Slot when it would help Good. This might mean approving a team with one Evil member, or rejecting teams with 0 or 2+ Evil players.
* **Blame Game:** If a Bonus Slot is triggered, Evil can blame the previous leader for “putting the game at risk.”
* **Exploiting Randomness:** If you’re in the pool for the random pick, you have a chance to be the hidden Fail vote. You can also advocate for trusting the Bonus Slot mechanic to sow confusion.
### Key Differences from Avalon 1
* **Does Not Exist in Original Avalon:** This is a new rule in Avalon 2.
* **Not the “Loyalty Chip”:** Don’t confuse it with the “Bonus Success” chip from the Lady of the Lake. The Bonus Slot is a full extra player with a secret, predetermined vote.
**In summary:** The Bonus Slot is a dynamic catch-up and volatility mechanic that punishes predictable team-building and forces both sides to adapt their strategy. It makes the voting phase even more critical and adds a thrilling element of chance to the game.
