Per the REG, this is what qualifies as a "played" card:
• You play an Enhancement when it is used by a character, unless it is being used by a
character in battle because the previous character to use it has been removed from battle.
• You play a character or rainbow Site by putting it in your territory or your side of the
battle.
• You play any other card type by putting it face up on the playing surface from hand,
deck, Reserve, Artifact pile or discard pile due to your ability or game action, except when you discard a card from hand.
Regarding a card like the new Esther, "If opponent plays an evil card with 'negated' in the special ability, discard an evil human," what if a character, such as Lamech, who has negated in its special ability is in territory but is used to block Esther from territory, would that meet the criteria for the second bullet point (specifically the last part)?
