Cactus Game Design Message Boards

There have been questions recently about how many times SI can be used per instance. It was also mentioned that some of the language used isn't entirely clear.

We're attempting to update the entry for special initiative to make it more clear how it's supposed to work. We believe the bolded updates below will do that.

When a player is controlling character(s) in battle and an opponent's activating special ability, or a game rule that has been triggered by an opponent's activating special ability, would leave that player with no character in battle when the special ability has completed, they have Special Initiative.

When this occurs, suspend the card causing the removal, additional abilities waiting to activate, and any triggers (currently active ongoing abilities remain active).  The player with their character(s) being removed has the opportunity to play an Enhancement that will interrupt or negate the ability that is causing the removal (or that triggered the corresponding game rule). The enhancement played must be able to interrupt or negate the removing ability. If the card with the removing ability was already removed from play due to its ability, it may still be targeted during Special Initiative by an enhancement that specifically targets its card type.

This only occurs once per activation of an opponent's special ability.  If a removing ability is negated (or cannot reactivate after an interrupt effect is played) and the negate (or interrupt effect that stopped reactivation) is later undone such that the original removing ability reactivates, this would trigger a separate instance of Special Initiative.

We welcome your feedback and questions about how this might impact the game we all enjoy.

As long as no card is ever printed that uses "suspend," it's fine to use the undefined English word. How could you define "suspend" without using pause, prevent from completing, or any other synonymous phrase that would then, in turn, require defining?