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We were playing tonight and I used Self for the first time ever.

1) Do I choose a hero when he enters my territory, or only when he enters battle?
2) Do I assume correctly that I cannot even play Self if my opponent has no heroes in play?
3) If I bring Self into battle from hand against a FBTN hero, is Self's ability negated?

Thanks for the help.

I am quite interested in the answer to question 2. I don't think there is any precedent by which we could disallow a character from entering play, except maybe that of ignore stopping a character from blocking from hand during battle. If I were to make a guess, I would say that Self is just discarded as soon as he enters play if your opponent has no heroes.

Self
Type: Evil Char. • Brigade: Multicolor • Ability: * / * • Class: None • Special Ability: Abilities (*/*) match the abilities of one of opponent’s Heroes in play. If that Hero leaves the field of play, abilities become 0/0. • Identifiers: Generic NT  Human, (gender, testament, and other identifiers match selected Hero) • Verse: Colossians 3:9 • Availability: Promotional cards (2006 District Tournament)


I would rule that since "*/*" has no definition it is equal to nothing which in turn is equal to 0/0 and would be discarded at the end of the phase in which Self was put into play, barring any changes to the numbers.

That's mathematically incorrect. {0} =/= {}, ie, a set that consists of only zero is distinct from a null set. If there were a hero in play with abilities 0/0, then Self would be 0/0. Otherwise he can't be.

I almost think that Self would just hang out in your territory with no abilities or identifiers, trying to copy a hero but being unable to until your opponent put one in play.

I just don't think it would be a good ruling to just have Self hang around in territory with no definition of */*.  What if I put Self in battle?  In this case, I think it would be easier for all rulings if when */* cannot be defined (null) then of all the different combinations of numbers, 0/0 matches up best with null.

Side battle?  Choose the rescuer, discard the original rescuer and then band him in?

Now I have even MORE questions about SELF.  I have a multi-evil color deck where if I could have a 1/1 multi=color EC I could really wreak some havoc.

1)  Say I copy your 5/5 hero.  The I use one of the evil set asides on Self that allows him/her to gain 1/1 per turn set aside.  I bring him back after one turn, and now I am 6/6.  If your hero leaves play, am I now 1/1 and still in play?

2)  Can I use that evil set aside that allows me to choose whether he comes back 12/12 or 1/1?  Say I do so and Self is now 1/1.  Is he still a "copy" of that hero, in the sense that if the hero leaves play I still have to discard Self?

3)  If I capture the hero that Self is copying, that hero is still "in play", right?

4)  Maybe this would work.  Put two OT 1/1 heroes in my deck, along with Stalks of Flax.  I activate Stalks of Flax and give you my two 1/1 heroes for two turns.  I am now allowed to bring Self in and copy one of "your" new 1/1 heroes, correct?  Would anything change after I get my heroes back in two turns?

5)  I assume Torment will not save Self if he is being discarded because his copied hero is being discarded?

6)  Do Self's power/toughness change as the hero's does?  For example, if I copied Joel (1/1), and Joel gets a lost soul, now Joel is 2/2.  Is Self now 2/2 or still 1/1?  Or I copy a 4/4 hero and activate Plagued with Diseases.  Does the toughness of Self go down because the toughness of the hero just did?

Come to think of it I will start a new thread about this.  Thanks again!