Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Where are the cards that Ambush sets aside?  I thought it was obvious they were in the set-aside area until they come back but someone recently told me they are just on the side of the Field of Battle. 

Also I don't remember any official answer to what happens to the blocking evil character when you play Ambush while your hero is being ignored?

Please post abilities on little used cards.

In this case the SA is: "If making a rescue attempt, set all cards in battle aside (regardless of immunity). Holder may begin a new rescue attempt against same player. Once new rescue attempt is completed, the original battle resumes as a battle challenge. Cannot be negated."

Since it says to "set all cards in battle aside", I would say that they all go to the "set aside" area.  It would seem that any blocking evil characters would be set aside as well (due to the "regardless of immunity" part of the SA).

Sooo.... could you use Ambush the City, then make the second RA with Watcher, and shuffle an EC from the first battle into the owner's deck?

Watcher: If an Evil Character was or is currently set aside, shuffle that Evil Character back into Owner's draw pile. Discard the set-aside card(s).

Yes. Watcher is little used, but he has some sneaky ninjastic moves (like this one, as well as getting your demon you discarded back from Tartarsauce).

Also, playing AtC vs. an ignoring character has the same effect as playing it against an immune character. When both characters are in battle already, ignore essentially means: "I am immune to you, you are immune to me, but instead of a stalemate, I am winning." Since AtC doesn't regard immunity as a good enough excuse for the EC to stay, ignoring, as a "specialized immunity" as it were, is also not a good enough excuse. Thus, even if your EC is ignoring me, I can still set you aside with AtC.

I would cite it but the idea comes from "that which should not be cited until it becomes official".

At any rate, it would be an awkward situation to have it not work like that. Everything in battle except for the ignoring EC is set-aside, then what?

No more awkward than playing ANB against an Immune character. Come to think of it, there's not really a good explanation of that one either.

Valid point. I guess since the hero left the battle, he lost the battle (similar to withdrawing or playing a normal set-aside). Then a new rescue could be made, but the same EC couldn't block again (since no character can enter battle twice in one turn).

Either way, I think my point remains if ignore is defined as mutual immunity + winning condition, as Tim currently has it in the New REG. Until then, let's hope it doesn't matter much. Who uses Evil ignores anyway?

(since no character can enter battle twice in one turn)

But...it isn't the same turn...

As to the original question (if it even matters anymore), yes, the AtC'd characters are in set-aside area, where they may be targeted until they return.

Quote from: BubbleBoy on May 29, 2010, 08:16:58 AM

Quote from: Professoralstad on May 29, 2010, 04:38:46 AM

(since no character can enter battle twice in one turn)

But...it isn't the same turn...

Um, yes it is. If I play AtC in an RA in my turn, my next RA is still my TURN. It is not the same PHASE, but it's definitely the same turn.

Sorry, I got confused with ANB for a sec.

Ignore and Repel are the same thing (repel is in general the "evil" version of ignore). However, neither ability ever kicks anyone out of battle. It only serves to a) keep ignored/repelled characters out of battle and b) makes it so that the ignoring character cannot be affected by the ignored character, and vice versa.

Hoping for a solid, official answer on both questions here. 

Both "the other Prof" and I agree that all characters in battle (including the ignoring EC) would go to the set-aside area.  That is official unless other Elders post that they disagree.  If that happens, then we'll discuss it and report back what the official answer is.  But for now, I would rule this according to what Prof A and I have already posted.

Beginning a new rescue attempt means a new battle phase begins, if I remember correctly.

I assume you mean The Long Day rather than Stillness.  Do you remember why were they ruled differently?

It seems to me they should all be the same.

How could you "START a NEW rescue attempt" if the old one is still active? 

It seems to me that you pause the current battle phase, set aside the cards in the current battle, begin a whole new battle phase and complete it (including resolution), then resume the original phase. 

However, it is similar to a side battle, so I can certainly see your side of the argument as well.

Since I am not an Elder, this is how Younger STAMP sees it:

Ambush the City will be abused if it is categorized with The Long Day and Grapes of Wrath.  It should remain in the side battle category but with the extra caveat that it also switches the RA from one to the next.  In other words, AtC starts a side battle then changes it to be the main battle, and changes the main battle to be a side battle.  Furthermore, the original battle does get put in the set-aside area so they can be targeted by cards such as The Watcher.  Finally, as pertains to EC that are either ignoring or protected from the hero's actions, they do not go to the set-aside area but rather return to territory, a la ANB.

So in summary:

1) You can only play one AtC per turn.

2) AtC does not start a new Battle Phase.

3) Cards in original battle are in set-aside area.

4) ECs that ignore or are protected from AtC return to territory.