Cactus Game Design Message Boards

The default state for the cards in the original battle (unless the side-battle card says otherwise) is for them to be "in the field of battle" (not the same as "in battle" which refers to the current battle by default), which is also in play.  If a card targets the "field of battle" or cards in play, it can affect those cards in the original battle.

Should an effect in a side battle cause a removal condition that would normally allow for Special Initiative in the main battle, the characters in the main battle cannot play anything at that time; the side battle must conclude first.  After the side battle, if SI were caused, the side being removed may play as if the card causing the side battle were the source of the removal.  And that is just tough..

Negating a side battle cascade-negates everything that happened in the side battle.

...side battles are confusing...

Should an effect in a side battle cause a removal condition that would normally allow for Special Initiative in the main battle, the characters in the main battle cannot play anything at that time; the side battle must conclude first.  After the side battle, if SI were caused, the side being removed may play as if the card causing the side battle were the source of the removal.

This is inconsistent with the Elders' ruling from last May.  See Gabe's summary below:

The elders have finally reached a consensus on this topic. The following clarification is being added to the REG update that's coming later this week.

-If a card with a side battle ability is negated, then all interruptable effects that resulted from cards played during the side battle are likewise negated.

-If a character in the suspended battle is defeated by a special ability played in a side battle, it does not have a chance to interrupt the defeating special ability as it would if the special ability were played in the same battle as the character. This is because by the time the side battle resolves, the only abilities that can be targeted for interrupt are abilities in the main battle, which are not directly causing the removal of the defeated character.