  We discuss the algebra of general gauge theories that are described by the
embedding tensor formalism. We compare the gauge transformations dependent and
independent of an invariant action, and argue that the generic transformations
lead to an infinitely reducible algebra. We connect the embedding tensor
formalism to the field-antifield (or Batalin-Vilkovisky) formalism, which is
the most general formulation known for general gauge theories and their
quantization. The structure equations of the embedding tensor formalism are
included in the master equation of the field-antifield formalism.
