Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Hello all!

I don't see an introduction board here.  If there is one, then someone please point me to it. 

Anyway, I was at a Christian bookstore here in northwest Indiana yesterday, and I stumbled across this game for the first time that I remember, and I decided that this might be something fun to try with my boys.  They had the 4th Edition Starter Decks, some booster packs from 4-5 different sets, and one 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition Starter Decks set - It was $10 compared to $12.50 for the 4th Edition, so I picked it up.  Later last night, I dug into this game some, and I found this forum and registered.  Today, I've been watching various Redemption videos on YouTube and reading through the rulebook.  I'm playing through a 'trial run of the game right now, and I have a rules question:

One deck had the hero 'John in play attempting a rescue.  The other deck has an evil character, 'Sapphira' in play and will block John.  John's special ability says 'Prevent all special abilities on evil characters, except banding."  Sapphira's special ability says, "Negate all special abilities on characters and enhancements (except this ability).

So, does John's special ability cancel Sapphira's special ability?  Or does Sapphira's special ability cancel John's special ability?  Or do they both cancel each other out?

Also, I wasn't really sure where to post this (again, no introduction board that I could see), but as someone just getting into this game, which sets or cards should I be looking at first?  Or maybe I should just look for some large lots of cards to try to pick up?  (I'm kind of a harder core game collector, so if this game sticks for my boys and I, then I will probably be want to try for complete sets.)

Welcome to the boards! There's no real introduction board, but you're in the right place for ruling questions.

John's ability prevents Sapphira's ability, which means Sapphira's ability can't activate to negate John.

Quote from: RedemptionAggie on September 12, 2020, 11:23:15 PM

...but you're in the right place for ruling questions
John's ability prevents Sapphira's ability, which means Sapphira's ability can't activate to negate John.

Thank you for the answer!  I wasn't seeing an answer in the rulebook.
Just to clarify, is prevent 'stronger' than negate?  I.e. prevent stops something from ever happening in the first place, where negate 'lets it happe,', then nullifies it?  Or is it because John was the attacker, so he was in the battlefield first, and that's why his ability activated first?

The latter. If Sapphira got into battle first, then you managed to bring John in, she'd negate him.