From the introduction: Red Strings can be played with two, three, or four players. Every player starts with a single agent representing one of four cells, each with a slightly different agenda - motivated, respectively, by wealth, ethics, force, or faith. Choose anybody you like to be your initial agent. Start the game with six minus your starting agent’s value in tokens. There is a pool of twenty sympathizers from which to draw. Each has a value and a primary motivation. Value represents their power and influence within Richmond society. You’ll get one token for each point of value a sympathizer has when your agents recruit him.