I'll preface this by saying that, while I'll go to bat forever that this as the best solution to the problem in question, I am very much not particularly invested in the problem's status as actual problem. That's a conversation for staff/the community! I'm pretty neutral, maybe leaning slightly in favor of putting in a clause.
So, then, the problem, if it exists, is this: handlers with a single character are often at a disadvantage even with the lower odds of being rolled brought by roll-by-character. With just one character, they can easily end up immediately out of the game.
A possible suggestion has been to commute single-character handlers' Hero Cards to Nulls. I hate this for several reasons I can go into later if folks really want. The big thing, though, is this: I think, while it's important to try to keep running only one kid from being a crippling disadvantage (though I note as V7 winds down some solo kids are still doing pretty well), it's even more important to not make it an advantage.
Therefore, I propose the following rule be added if one-character fragility is an issue staff want to address:
This seems to me way easier than messing with cards, tweaking odds, etc. If the goal is to protect last characters, just cut to the chase and make them immune for the early stages!Until the 1/3 completion point of the game, any character who is their handler's sole character will be immune to rolls unless no other valid target is available. Should such a character be rolled, the roll will be redone until such time as it lands on a valid target.
Moreover, as phrased it applies to any character who becomes a last character. Start with four and get bopped three rolls in a row? Your last kid is safe until the 1/3 point. Start with one? Also safe until 1/3. That said, if you want to Hero your one kid out before, sure, go for it.
A few possible quirks/quibbles and their solutions:
"This lets a bunch of handlers write fodder kids to push one specific kid really far!"
Sure, you can get your posse to all write kids for 1/3 of the game and then Hero you after that point if they don't get rolled... but that's making people stay active for a third of the game for fleeting and likely irrelevant tactical advantage. And you can already do more or less this, just with more fodder.
"This lets you run 1-2 spare kids as fodder for your flagship and if you get rolled early they die but if you don't they're a buffer after the first third!"
Sure, but you're writing for a third of the game, first, and second you can already do the same thing, just probably you write even more fodder for a better buffer.
"This is against the spirit of the game, which is that everyone's always at risk!"
Fair enough! This assumes the problem of one-character handlers getting bopped early is not a problem. That's a totally valid stance. What I think is not a valid stance is that it's enough of an issue to change the rules some (Nulls, reduced odds, etc.) but not enough of one for this. If it's a problem, nip it in the bud as simply as possible and with no room for wiggliness.
"But handlers will just adopt after the 1/3 mark to pad their rosters!"
Official adoptions end at 1/3, cards cannot be fueled by adoptees until three rolls post adoptions, and kids unofficially handed off after 1/3 are not subject to multi-roll protections so even if you somehow do adopt after the protection cuts off you gain literally nothing from it.
"1/3 isn't long enough! Make it 1/2 or something!"
1/3 is the minimum to work due to the adoption thing. I don't think you can argue for anything beyond 2/3 as at that point it'd be basically just final kids left. Personally I think if we're giving free rides, 1/3 lets you establish a character and arc but doesn't push too much. But I'm not picky.
Anyways, as requested like half a year ago here's my idea. I'm half lucid at best and super down to elaborate on anything unclear. As mentioned I don't actually care too much if staff does this or not, but I want it in the pool of discussion topics because I think if we're working on this problem this is the best option for a fix.