Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Use a choose the rescuer card or side battle card to force the opponent to use your Simon the Zealot.

I was thinking more of a semi permanent method. Something that would stick around for more than one battle/turn

I cant think of anthing better than the Simon the Zelot thing, but just out of curiosity, why do you want to protect your opponents hand?

To ensure his Primary Objective will work, of course. 

Self control and kings pomp would both still protect my hand if the character would be transferred to an opponent, correct?

They would not; the ":" in the ability means "while placed in that location," which in both cases refers to "your character."  Additionally, placed cards are always controlled by their owner, regardless of who has the character under their control.

The others here have already answered how it can be done, in the limited ways possible

The only way I can think of at the moment, would be to block with an EC whose brigade has a choose the rescuer enhancement while holy of holies is active. Then choose Simon as the rescuer. Then play an enhancement that can band in complainers to exchange Simon for another character in their territory, thereby transferring control of Simon to an opponent. That's the only way I can think of to (semi) permanently protect an opponent's hand from you. If anyone can think of a way that could actually be viable, let me know

I don't think you need all those gymnastics, unless something has changed.  Just choosing Simon the Zealot to your opponent to use activates his ability and protects their hand/deck, even after he's returned to your territory since it lasts while he's in play.  At least that's how it used to work with Judas, where if you had your opponent use him, he was protected from your cards.

Aggie is correct. Side battle cards (such as King Rehoboam) will also work to trigger Simon for Hand/deck protection for your opponent.

Simon specifies "this hero" so his ability would turn off if captured.  I'm unsure how it works without that specification.

I think you're correct on Widows.