L. Scott Johnson#
Includes Rulings Through: RTR 10/6/95
and
Answers from Thomas Wylie Through: 08/29/95
Recent additions are marked with !NEW!
-------------------------------------------
A vampire can only have one title. If it is given another one, the old title
is ignored, even if the new title would be a demotion. [RTR]
Caitiff are clanless. [RTR]
Dodges are always strikes, even if a card forgets to say so. [RTR]
Retainers can only be targetted if the round of combat is at long range. [RTR]
Retainers are never optional. [RTR]
Equipment is always optional. [RTR]
Combat cannot occur in Torpor. [RTR]
The cost for Rescuing another Methuselah's vampire from torpor must be
paid solely by the acting vampire. [RTR]
Combat occurs *after* the block - not as a part of it. [RTR]
Multiple additional strike cards may be played each round, although
only the first will actually bestow any additional strikes. [RTR]
Contested Vampires are out of the game excpet WRT their titles. A contested
Vampire with a contested Title must yield the Title. [TOM 950817]
============================================================================
CARD-SPECIFIC RULINGS
Anarch Troublemaker - Unique Master:
May tap up to two minions. [RTR]
Can only be "activated" during untap. [RTR] (*Whose* untap is up in the air).
Army of Rats - Action (an):
Having multiple copies out are not cumulative (errata). [RTR]
Arson - Action:
Cannot be attempted against a location which is Contested. [RTR]
Astrid Thomas - Vampire:
Tremere can choose to abstain. [RTR]
Betrayer - Master:
Each of their turns, the person subjected to Betrayer names a vampire.
If the guess is correct, Betrayer is burned. [RTR]
Can be damaged by multiple Betrayers each turn. [RTR]
If the vampire chosen for Betrayer is burned, so is Betrayer. [RTR]
If the vampire chosen for Betrayer becomes contested, Betrayer is
nullified until the contention is resolved, at which time the Betrayer
is reactivated. [RTR]
If a player takes control of the vampire that is the target of the betrayer,
that player takes the pool loss. [RTR]
Black Cat - Vampire:
The lower pool cost is used for purposes of cards such as Peace Treaty.
If she is equipped with something and that equipment is transferred to
another minion, then it regains its normal pool value.
Conversely, if a piece of equipment moves onto her, its effective pool cost
is lowered by 1. [RTR]
Blood Bond - Action:
Is a directed action. [RTR]
It's effect will cease when the targetted vampire leaves play. [RTR]
Blood Doll - Master:
The Methuselah controlling the Vampire gets the benefit of the Blood Doll.
[RTR]
Multiple Blood Dolls are cumulative. [TOM 950725]
The ability to play multiple Master cards in no way affects the use of the
Blood Doll. [TOM 950725]
Blood Rage - Combat (th): requires thaumaturgy, not fortitude. [RTR]
Bonding - Action Modifier (do):
Only one of Bonding, Conditioning, or Threats may be used during an action,
but any number of that CARD may be played (by different minions) [TOM]
Brainwash - Master:
Transfers may not be made to the vampire - neither to put blood on nor to
move blood off. [RTR]
Brujah Frenzy - Master Out-of-Turn:
There is no time to play further action modifiers or reactions before combat
begins. [TOM 950829]
# While the action is treated as a blocked action, the "blocking" Vampire is
# not actually "attempting to block" the action, so no block-related costs
# are paid (except that the blocker is tapped). [TOM 950829]
This card only causes combat. It does not cause a block. [RTR] !NEW!
Business Pressure - Action Modifier:
Can only be used during a political action. Consider this errata. [RTR]
Cat Burglary - Action (ce):
The inferior version to just bleed at +1 stealth, maximum of 1 bleed. The
superior version is to bleed any player in this manner (errata). [RTR]
Charming Lobby - Action (ps):
This card requires three vampires to be effective: one to play Charming
Lobby, another to call the first vote, and the third to call the second
vote. Only votes which are successfully called apply. [RTR]
[So a bloodhunt vote would not qualify, since a vampire didn't call it -lsj]
Charnas the Imp - Retainer (Tre) (1):
Does nothing to an empty vampire which untaps in torpor. [RTR]
Cannot be damaged by host, but does not stop host from using effects which
would normally damage it. For example, the host can use Body of Sun, but
would not damage Charnas as a result. [RTR]
Chantry - Master: Unique Location (Tre):
Using the Chantry is optional. [RTR]
Cryptic Rider - Action Modifier:
May only be used after a referndum is successful, not simply a successful
political action (unblocked vote). [RTR]
Dawn Operation - Action Modifier (fo):
Should be read as "If this vampire is blocked..." [RTR]
Deflection - Reaction (do) (1):
Cost is paid from the vampire, not from your pool (errata). [RTR]
Cannot be used to direct a bleed to a Methuselah who would be an
invalid target for a bleed (after Minor Boon, e.g.) [RTR]
Disarming Presence - Action Modifier (ps):
The tapping is a side effect, not a cost, so tapped vampires can still
vote. [RTR]
Disputed Territory - Politcal Action:
The political action symbol is missing, but it is a political action. [RTR]
Domain Challenge - Politcal Action:
Tapped minions are counted after the vote is completed. [RTR]
Eagle's Sight - Reaction (au):
Does not allow a vampire to block an unblockable action. [RTR]
Elder Kindred Network - has no effect on a successful Referendum. [TOM]
Enchant Kindred - Action (ps):
May be used to influence another Methuselah's uncontrolled vampire.
If that vampire turns out to not be younger than the acting vampire,
then no blood is placed. For example, if Helena Casimir uses Enchant
Kindred on someone else's vampire that turns out to be Democritus, the
action simply doesn't do anything. The acting player does not find
out that she tried to put blood on Democritus, and only knows that it
must be some 10-blood vampire. This applies to all similar cards,
such as Govern the Unaligned. [RTR]
Fame - Unique Master:
Fame is a unique master card, and should be contested as such. [RTR]
May be played on a vampire in Torpor. [RTR]
Flesh of Marble - Combat (pt):
Reduces all damage *that was not prevented* to one point. [RTR]
Form of Mist - Combat (pt):
If the superior form is used to continue an action, then all action
modifiers, including stealth and Dawn Operation, are still in effect. [RTR]
The superior version can be used by a blocking vampire, but this will
not cause the action to be continued. [RTR]
Frenzy - Master: Out-of-Turn:
May be played even if you have no minions involved in combat. [RTR]
Ghoul Retainer - Retainer (2):
Read as "Each round of combat, Ghoul can use hands for 1 damage
or a weapon of the employing minion that the minion is not
presently using." [RTR]
Gird Minions - Master:
May be used on a vampire in torpor. [RTR]
Glaser Rounds - Combat:
Must wait until the second time a given gun is used in a given combat. [RTR]
Govern the Unaligned - Action (do):
May be used to influence another Methuselah's uncontrolled vampire.
If that vampire turns out to not be younger than the acting vampire,
then no blood is placed. For example, if Helena Casimir uses Govern
the Unaligned on someone else's vampire that turns out to be
Democritus, the action simply doesn't do anything. The acting player
does not find out that she tried to put blood on Democritus, and only
knows that it must be some 10-blood vampire. This applies to all
similar cards, such as Enchant Kindred. [RTR]
Haven Uncovered - Master:
Does not allow its victim to be attacked while its victim is in torpor. [RTR]
Hidden Lurker - Action (ob):
The card is an Action, as printed. [RTR]
High Stakes - Political Action (Ven):
The last two sentences are talking to each player, not just the player
playing High Stakes. [RTR]
Hunting Grounds - Master. Unique Location (Clan):
All Hunting Grounds should be read as "received by a given vampire",
not "given to a vampire". [RTR]
Kindred Society Games - Master (Tor):
The last sentence is vague. Replace it with "If the vampire doesn't
untap but instead moves the Society Games on, but there is no tapped
younger vampire to move it to, Society Games is burned instead." [RTR]
Malkavian Dementia - Master:
# You lose control of that Malkavian when you start your untap phase. This
# is not an untap effect that you order among your other untap effects; it
# happens when the phase begins. You do not untap the Malkavian [TOM]
Losing control of the Demented Malkavian *IS* an effect that you may order
among your other untap effects (including yielding the Malk) [RTR] !NEW!
You *do* untap the Malkavian at the start of your untap phase. [RTR] !NEW!
If you are ousted while you have control of a Demented Malkavian, the
Malkavian is burned as normal. [RTR]
Malkavian Madness Network - Unique Master (Mal):
Reaction Cards may not be played on your own turn. Action cards may not be
played except on your own turn. The Madness Network does not change whose
turn it is. [RTR]
Malkavians do not have to be Ready to benefit from the Network. [RTR]
Malkavians may block *in addition* to the normaly eligible blockers. [RTR]
Malkavian Time Auction - Master (Mal):
The Methuselah playing the Time Auction cannot bid (errata). [RTR]
Mask of 1000 Faces - Action Modifier (ob):
Masking a "leave Topor" action results in neither Vampire leaving Torpor and
no blood cost being paid. If the action is blocked, the blocking minion
cannot commit diablerie, and combat does not result. [RTR] !NEW!
The Mask cannot be used to allow a vampire to take over an action he is
explicitly prohibited from taking. [RTR] !NEW!
Minion Tap - Master:
May be used on a vampire in torpor. [RTR]
Minor Boon - Master Out-of-Turn:
Is played after the combat ends, retracting the vampire from Torpor. [RTR]
Monocle of Clarity - Unique Equipment:
Questions about questions may not be asked [RTR].
Questions can only pertain to the current game. [RTR]
Question about the future are only binding until your next untap. [RTR]
Murder of Crows - Retainer (an) (1):
Follows all Wolf Companion rulings, except that the damage can happen
when the combat is at range. [RTR]
Psyche - Combat (ce):
The superior version re-blocks as well as starts a new combat, neutralizing
any effect from superior Form of Mist. [RTR]
Pulled Fangs - Combat:
Used during the press step, and counts up damage successfully inflicted
during the round by the opposing minion (retainers don't count). [RTR]
The actions to burn this card may be taken by different vampires, and may
be taken on different turns. [RTR]
More than one Pulled Fangs card may be played on a Vampire in the same round.
[RTR] !NEW!
Rapid Healing - Action (fo):
Read as "If this vampire is blocked..." [RTR]
Rotshreck - Master Out-Of-Turn:
This card affects the Vampire dealing aggravated damage. [RTR]
Scorn of Adonis - Action Modifier (Tor):
Must be played before Voting starts. [RTR]
Society of Leopold - Unique Master:
Moving the Society is a directed action. [RTR]
Spying Mission - Action Modifier (ob):
After successfully being played, it must be burned on the next unblocked
bleed against the same Methuselah, provided the bleed is not reduced to
zero by other modifiers. [TOM]
Taste of Vitae - combat:
Counts all blood burned to any cause (healing, card cost, etc.) [RTR] !NEW!
The Embrace - Action (2):
The vampire created by this card is of the same clan as the acting
vampire. [RTR]
The Second Tradition - Domain - Reaction (Prince/Justicar):
Only usable by a tapped Prince or Justicar. This vampire untaps and
attempts to block at +2 intercept. (errata) [RTR]
The Third Tradition - Progeny - Action (Prince/Justicar) (1):
The vampire created is of the same clan as the acting vampire. [RTR]
The Elysium - Master - Unique Location:
May be used even if you have no minions in the combat. [RTR]
Uriah Winter - Vampire:
Can still defect if in torpor, and will remain in torpor if he does so. [RTR]
Ventrue Justicar - Political Action (Ven):
Makes the vampire Justicar of the Ventrue, not Justicar of
the Tremere. Title is misspelled. [RTR]
Weather Control - Combat (th) (?):
Multiple Weather Controls are cumulative. [TOM 950710]
Wolf Companion - Retainer (an) (1):
The damage is not a strike, so cannot be prevented by a dodge. [RTR]
The damage is done during normal damage dealing, so a Combat Ends will stop
it, as will sending its controller to torpor during first strike. [RTR]
Only does damage at close range. [RTR]
Does not gain any additional strikes of its controller. [RTR]
As with any retainer, the number of lives is set when it is recruited, and
will not change if its controller's level of Animalism changes. [RTR]
Zip Gun - Combat:
Ammo cards just modify the strike, not the damage done to the wielder. [RTR]
============================================================================
[TOM] Tom Wylie - WotC Net Representative
[RTR] WotC Rules Team Ruling
--
L. Scott Johnson (sjoh...@math.sc.edu) | These opinions are mine and
http://www.math.sc.edu/~sjohnson | are subject to card text.
Graphics Specialist and Jyhad Rulemonger. |