How does secret enclaves work?

Question

It says Increase Command Value 2&#010;Is this the Command Value X ability?&#010;If taken as a faction trait can I use this to activate my entire army in a single turn? (I highly doubt it is intended that way but it works as written)&#010;Or does it simply increase my command characteristic?

Danny van der Kraan · Accepted Answer

Because Command Value is something different than your Command characteristic. Command Value is your highest Command characteristic currently on the table. Once CV is determined it depletes by activations. And is regenerated at the end of a player's turn.

So in your case, just determine your highest Command characteristic currently on the table (eg 3) and add 2 to it (so CV is 5).

@Mark So to answer your questions:

1) "Is this the Command Value X ability?"

Yes.

2)"If taken as a faction trait can I use this to activate my entire army in a single turn? (I highly doubt it is intended that way but it works as written)"

Depends on how many squads you have. If you have 5 squads and your CV = 5, then yes.

3) "Or does it simply increase my command characteristic?"

Nope. Command != Command Value.

See page 12 of the Core rulebook and page 157 of the 1st Age book.

Mark · Answer

@Danny van der Kraan I suppose it is particularly good if you have a very ranged heavy army. I haven't actuallly checked, do you have to use your full Command Value, or can you pass turn early?

Danny van der Kraan · Answer

@Mark Yeah I think RAW you are correct. I would play it like that. Only Gary ( @natfka  ) can answer if it is as intended. But I personally don't think it's that much of an advantage. You had to spend points on this ability which you can't spend on other stuff. So you could activate more squads, but they also need to 'do'  something. And then when you're done the opposing army can probably activate his/her entire army for free (because all your squads have been activated). :)

Mark · Answer

The thing is, the Command Value X ability give enhancement Command Value X upon activation of a model with that ability. If I have it as a class ability, everytime I activate a squad it would enhance my command value by X, using the rules for enhancements this would stack up to the Max Age bonus. RAW, my command 3 faction could get Command Value 7 by activating a squad with two models in it. Now I imagine this isnt as intended, and I just get the extra two command value once.

Ward Bannink · Answer

The command value is derived from your command characteristic. It (the command value) determines how many units you can activate in a single turn.  So if your Command characteristic is 3, and you take secret enclaves, your command value will be 5; allowing 5 activations per turn.

I know what you mean, the Command Value X ability indeed states what you say it does. But I think this increases the derived stat 'command value', not the ability (since it says 'Increase' Command Value, and not 'Command Value 2'.