This variant was proposed to me by Brian Bankler ( http://www.boardgamegeek.com/user/Bankler):

The general still requires the same prerequisite and also yields the same power BUT has the exception of giving two differently colored dice instead of two regular dice at the beginning of your turn (I used blue for the color). Whenever you make a roll using the general power you must freeze one or both of the blue dice FIRST before any other dice. You may still freeze other dice along with the mandatory blue dice freeze. So, if you only have one dice modifying power you may be forced to use it to guarantee two like frozen dice in the opening two rolls of any given turn, thereby slightly bringing down the power of the general.

I highly recommend this variant as it balances the game more and eliminates the "must have a general to win" strategy without dramatically changing any characters or rules.

Edit: Humorous typo.

Brains! Brains!

?

Hehe...

For some reason, that made me laugh out loud for like a minute.

I like the sound of this - it also seems to be generally accepted. (No Pun intended!)

Could you clarify the rules as there seems to be some differences from the comments of other players.

Three situations:-

A). I roll the Dice. I put both of the Generals dice (Lets call them Green) aside. I may add one or more normal Dice before I roll again.

B). After the roll I put ONE Green die aside. I then roll again. This time I put the other Green Die aside and may add one or more normal dice.

C). After the roll I put ONE Green die aside adding one or more normal dice. I roll again put the other Green Die aside and may add one or more normal Dice.

As you state the rule all these would probably be legal but in comments it seems that C). and possibly also B) would not be.

Cheers

I play it like A, B, and C are all possible, since you are setting aside the General's dice before setting any others. This limits the General enough.

This would be my feeling too.

Another possibility has occured to me which would, on a strict interpretation of the rules,(i.e. "......using the general power you must freeze one or both of the blue(sic)dice FIRST before any other dice.....", be legal.

D). Roll the dice. Put one Green Die aside, with or without any other 'normal' dice.
2nd roll, the "..one or both.." rule has been satisfied, therefore the 2nd. Green dice can now be treated as a normal dice.?

Nitpicky questions:

If you choose to set only one of the blue dice, does the other blue die have any restrictions after the second roll?

If you choose to set only one of the blue dice, can I still set normal dice after the first roll?

I am assuming that the blue dice stay active until you choose to set them, meaning any manipulation is fair game.

What if after using the General you must put aside two dice after the next roll in order to continue instead of the normal one die?