Cactus Game Design Message Boards

So I was looking through the REG the other day and noticed that in the list of actions that can be taken during Prep Phase, "Deactivate an artifact" was not listed. It's been my understanding forever that simply deactivating an artifact without necessarily activating another in its place was a valid action in prep. Is this not actually the case or is it just missing from the REG?

Furthermore, this got me thinking, if you can actually deactivate artifacts during prep, are there limitations on doing so? Could I activate an artifact with an instant effect to get the value from it then immediately deactivate it to protect it from being removed during battle or are you not able to deactivate artifacts unless they were activated on a previous turn?

From my understanding, and the way I’ve seen it played in just about every game, is you can deactivate an artifact that’s on the art pile and reactivate a different art on the pile. But you couldn’t deactivate say, CwD so you can play a TC enh, then reactivate CwD.

From my understanding, and the way I’ve seen it played in just about every game, is you can deactivate an artifact that’s on the art pile and reactivate a different art on the pile. But you couldn’t deactivate say, CwD so you can play a TC enh, then reactivate CwD.

If CwD is your only artifact, can you deactivate it and leave it deactivated or are you forced to keep it active until you get a new artifact to put in its place?

During your Prep Phase you could deactivate CwD. You don't have to activate another Art, you can choose to have none active.

How about in the case of Moses Staff on Moses - You may take an Exodus Plague from deck (or Reserve if active on Moses). At anytime, you may discard this card to discard an animal. Exodus Plagues are regardless of protect abilities.
     My understanding is the first sentence happens upon activation. Which is once, unless deactivated then reactivated. But it was asked, does that first sentence somehow by default reactivate each Prep Phase? Reason being it says "active on Moses" indicating a state of already having been activated and now sitting idle/waiting. Whereas "activated on Moses" would indicate an action taking place to have X happen and the action would have to take place again in order for X to happen again.

Godspeed,
Mike

The activating location has nothing to do with the artifact's ability reactivating during Prep phase.  It would be the same if you had activated Moses' Staff on your art pile instead of on Moses--it would still reactivate (ability-wise) during your prep phase, so you can snag an Exodus plague each prep phase so long as the staff is still active and hasn't been negated.  So whether it's on Moses or on the art pile, the ability still activates each prep phase, at which time you carry out its ability.

During your Prep Phase you could deactivate CwD. You don't have to activate another Art, you can choose to have none active.

If the current rules allow me to deactivate an artifact without activating a new one, what prevents me from deactivating an already activate artifact like Lacking Prophesy, playing dominants, then activating it as my 1 artifact activate for the turn?

Nothing... unless there was a rule change during the time I was inactive or I just have this totally wrong (which could be the case). But I would suspect that an opponent could ask for Dom inish also while you have Lacking Prophecy deactivated and play Doms also.

Godspeed,
Mike

And yet there is an elder ruling in this very thread saying that you can't actually do that.

Perhaps the updated REG does not reflect that (or is a bit unclear). In any case, the Elder team has begun a discussion regarding this issue.

Glad to hear.

Something to consider in that discussion is the scenario where I have something like False Prophets in my territory holding RBD and Lacking Prophesy in my art pile. Can I activate RBD on my art pile (thereby deactivating LP), play dominants, then activate LP on False Prophets? The current rules seem to allow me to even if I can't deactivate an artifact without activating a new one in its place.

Quote from: Kevinthedude on July 15, 2019, 02:49:35 PM

Quote from: The Guardian on July 15, 2019, 02:45:25 PM

Perhaps the updated REG does not reflect that (or is a bit unclear). In any case, the Elder team has begun a discussion regarding this issue.

Glad to hear.

Something to consider in that discussion is the scenario where I have something like False Prophets in my territory holding RBD and Lacking Prophesy in my art pile. Can I activate RBD on my art pile (thereby deactivating LP), play dominants, then activate LP on False Prophets? The current rules seem to allow me to even if I can't deactivate an artifact without activating a new one in its place.

This is not an official ruling because we are still discussing, but this is how I've understood artifact activations:

From the REG:
Activate an Artifact
Last Updated: 5/7/2019 (v6.0.0)
Released: 7/26/2011
How to Play
● An activate an Artifact effect allows a player to activate an Artifact in a location they control during a phase
other than the Preparation Phase or an additional time during the Preparation Phase.
● If an Artifact is activated on another card and the underlying card is relocated, the activated Artifact is generally
relocated (regardless of protect effects) to the same location that the underlying card is relocated to and remains
there. The exception to this rule is:
1 When a character is captured or rescued, all Artifacts activated on that character are discarded.
● An activate an Artifact effect targets the Artifact that is activated.
● Unless otherwise specified, targets must be in holder’s Artifact pile or hand. If the target is in the Artifact pile, it
must be inactive.
● Unless otherwise specified, the target is activated on the Artifact pile or any legal location for that Artifact.
● Unless otherwise specified, there is a limit of one activated Artifact on each legal location. If an activate an
Artifact effect activates an Artifact in a location that was already at its limit for active Artifacts, an Artifact
already there is deactivated before the new Artifact is activated.
● All activate an Artifact effects are instant.
Special Conditions
● If an Artifact is activated on a card rather than on the Artifact pile, it returns to the Artifact pile when
deactivated.
● If an activate an Artifact effect activates an Artifact, Covenant or Curse in a location with a hold effect that
targets Artifacts, Covenants or Curses, that Artifact, Covenant or Curse must be targetable by the hold effect to
be targetable by the activate an Artifact effect.

And from the REG under Glossary of Terms:
Activate
Activate can mean four things:
• A player can activate an Artifact by putting it face up on their Artifact pile or another
location that allows an activated Artifact to be put there, or by declaring that a face-up
Artifact remains active.
• The special ability of a card activates when the card is played, unless it is a non-territory
class character or rainbow site being put in territory.
• When the special ability on a card activates, the abilities on a card activate in the order
printed on the card or order gained, unless changed by the Ability Activation Order.
• Effects of an ability activate depending on the method of activation – immediate,
activated or triggered.

Artifact
An Artifact is a card having a continuing effect in the game. A grail or serpent icon in the
icon box shows the card is an Artifact. An Artifact is activated when it is put face up on the
Artifact pile or another location where Artifacts may be activated, and remains active while it
remains face up. While an Artifact is active, its abilities are active. Unless otherwise
specified, abilities on Artifacts are used when the Artifact is activated.

Artifact Pile
The Artifact pile contains a player’s grail and serpent icon cards. This pile is in the player’s
territory within the Field of Play. All Artifacts in an Artifact pile are put face down in a pile,
except for a currently activated Artifact. See Player’s Card Arrangement in the rulebook.

Where else should I be looking for the Lampstand/Falling Away, CwD/TC enhs and such...
The REG doesn't seemingly prohibit these from being legal plays. I just want to understand so as a Host/Judge I can rule correctly and as a player exploit those rulings to the best of my ability. 


Godspeed,
Mike