Smallpox ability clarification

Greetings, all. In making an effective Smallpox deck, I pondered on the best strategy for her. I want to go the route Matt Morgan did in http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/browse_thread/thread/85699ed1455aa7f/d795d1fff8ba838f with the Vampiric Disease and pox counters all around, with a Fame on a prey's vamp. I hit a dead end when I looked again at Smallpox's card text: Smallpox Griet ANI CEL OBF POT thn Ability: If Smallpox successfully inflicts hand damage in consecutive rounds of a combat, the opponent gets a pox counter. A minion with any pox counters takes 1 damage during his or her untap phase. Burn all pox counters when Smallpox leaves the ready region. I just want to clarify: 1) Does "successfully inflicts hand damage in consecutive rounds of a combat" mean that all I need to do is inflict one point of damage on any round other than the 1st? For example, Smallpox plays an Aid from Bats at ANI, presses then Stutter-Step or Shadow Feint? 2) How many pox counters will be placed on a minion? I understand it as meaning a pox counter will be placed _every_combat_ (as opposed to every round/point of damage) where the conditions (2nd round or onward, unprevented damage from handstrike) are fulfilled. Thanks in advance. Cry Wolf -the poster formerly known as Odrich Wendergass

Cry Wolf wrote: > Smallpox Griet > ANI CEL OBF POT thn > Ability: If Smallpox successfully inflicts hand damage in consecutive > rounds of a combat, the opponent gets a pox counter. A minion with any > pox counters takes 1 damage during his or her untap phase. Burn all pox > counters when Smallpox leaves the ready region. > > I just want to clarify: > 1) Does "successfully inflicts hand damage in consecutive rounds of a > combat" mean that all I need to do is inflict one point of damage on > any round other than the 1st? For example, Smallpox plays an Aid from > Bats at ANI, presses then Stutter-Step or Shadow Feint? > With "consecutive rounds" I think the meaning is at least two rounds in a row, or as many rounds until there is now damage dealt. So consecutive is at least two and as many rounds until he fails to do damage. Aid from Bats does not do hand damage, which is a requirement for Smallpox's ability. But if he strikes with hand damage for at least 1 damage in round one, and then presses and does the same in round two, his ability kicks in. > 2) How many pox counters will be placed on a minion? I understand it as > meaning a pox counter will be placed _every_combat_ (as opposed to > every round/point of damage) where the conditions (2nd round or onward, > unprevented damage from handstrike) are fulfilled. > I would say it only kicks in once each combat since the requirement is already fullfilled after the "first consecutive round". Archie

Cry Wolf wrote: > Smallpox Griet > ANI CEL OBF POT thn > Ability: If Smallpox successfully inflicts hand damage in consecutive > rounds of a combat, the opponent gets a pox counter. A minion with any > pox counters takes 1 damage during his or her untap phase. Burn all pox > counters when Smallpox leaves the ready region. > > I just want to clarify: > 1) Does "successfully inflicts hand damage in consecutive rounds of a > combat" mean that all I need to do is inflict one point of damage on > any round other than the 1st? For example, Smallpox plays an Aid from > Bats at ANI, presses then Stutter-Step or Shadow Feint? No. You have to inflict one or more points of hand damage in each of two consecutive rounds. > 2) How many pox counters will be placed on a minion? I understand it as > meaning a pox counter will be placed _every_combat_ (as opposed to > every round/point of damage) where the conditions (2nd round or onward, > unprevented damage from handstrike) are fulfilled. Doesn't matter, but one pox counter is placed per round. If you inflict hand damage in rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, you'll place a total of three pox counters, one in each of rounds 2, 3, and 6. But note that a minion with three pox counters suffers exactly the same fate as he would with only one: he receives one damage at each untap.

[ quoted text not captured ] Since I answered once for the combat, does that mean unless specified you always check for special effects each round of a combat to see if they are fulfilled?? Archie

Archibald Zimonyi wrote: > Since I answered once for the combat, does that mean unless specified > you always check for special effects each round of a combat to see if > they are fulfilled?? Special effects are checked as often as card text allows/specifies, yes. Smallpox's pox counters don't care, however, so no great care need be spent determining just how often to check. I don't believe the fact that you gave a "once for the combat" answer has any causal relationship to it, however. :-)

LSJ wrote: > Archibald Zimonyi wrote: > > Since I answered once for the combat, does that mean unless specified > > you always check for special effects each round of a combat to see if > > they are fulfilled?? > > Special effects are checked as often as card text allows/specifies, > yes. except for Orun... -- - Gregory Stuart Pettigrew

[ quoted text not captured ] Heh no the actual result is the same but it irks me that I had already written the correct answer and then changed it due to feeling "Hmmm LSJ is prolly gonna say only check it once". Archie

[ quoted text not captured ] Even Orun. Orun is checked as often as card text indicates.

LSJ wrote: > Doesn't matter, but one pox counter is placed per round. > If you inflict hand damage in rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, you'll place a > total of three pox counters, one in each of rounds 2, 3, and 6. > But note that a minion with three pox counters suffers exactly the same > fate as he would with only one: he receives one damage at each untap. Thank you! Just what I needed. Now to pack in those Grapples and Flak Jackets. :) Cry Wolf