rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad

[LSJ] Mata Hari question, again :-)

39 messages from 17 participants · 28 April 2006 – 03 May 2006
original thread on Google Groups

Damnans

1st Question ========== Can Mata Hari play the folliwing cards during the same combat (Raking Talons, Reality Mirror and Leathery Hide)? And if so, will each card take effect (i.e., Mata Hari's hand damage will be aggravated)? Why? Name: Raking Talons [LoB:C] Cardtype: Combat Clan: Gargoyle Only usable before range is determined. For the remainder of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes is aggravated. A vampire may play only one Raking Talons each combat. Artist: David Day Name: Reality Mirror [SW:R] Cardtype: Combat Clan: Malkavian antitribu Choose a combat card in the opposing minion's controller's ash heap, and use the ability of that card as if that card had been played from your hand (pay cost as normal). If the card requires a Discipline this vampire does not have, you can only use the basic ability of that card. Only one Reality Mirror can be played during a game. Artist: Drew Tucker Name: Leathery Hide [KMW:C/PG3] Cardtype: Combat Clan: Gangrel antitribu A vampire may play only one Leathery Hide each round. Prevent four non-aggravated damage from the opposing minion's strike. Artist: Richard Thomas 2nd Question ========== Mata Hari plays Clandestine Contract on another vampire. A turn later, Mata Hari plays Bum's Rush on that vampire. Can Mata Hari play The Khabar: Honor as a strike (when in combat with that vampire)? Why? Name: Clandestine Contract [FN:C2] Cardtype: Action Clan: Assamite Cost: 1 pool Contract. Requires an Assamite with a capacity above 4. +1 stealth action. (D) Enter combat with a ready minion controlled by another Methuselah and put this card on that minion. This Assamite is chosen for this contract. This Assamite may enter combat with the minion with this card as a +1 stealth (D) action. Artist: Drew Tucker Name: The Khabar: Honor [AH:V3, FN:PA2] Cardtype: Combat Clan: Assamite Only usable if this Assamite has been chosen for a contract on the opposing minion. Strike: {make a hand strike at} +3 damage. Artist: Michael Astrachan -- Damnans http://www.almadrava.net/damnans http://www.vtes.net http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/vteshispania/

Orpheus

"Damnans" <damna...@ono.com> a écrit dans le message de news: 1146254413....@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com... > 1st Question > ========== (snip) Damnans, I don't have the answers to your questions, and I'm curious to see them, but I have to say this... My friend, you're in serious need of some heavy mental therapy !! lolololol And me who thought I had a twisted brain... ------- Orpheus

nhetic

1st Question "This Gargoyle's hand strike" means that this must be a gargoyle that must strike. So mata hari can play the card but doesn't benefit from the aggravated damage. However, Reality mirror and Leathery hide can be used fully by Mata Hari. 2nd Question Mata Hari cannot benefit from the bonus of khabar; the honor, because she's no longer the assamite chosen for the clandestine contract when she plays the khabar.

witness1

Damnans wrote: > 1st Question > ========== > > Can Mata Hari play the folliwing cards during the same combat (Raking > Talons, Reality Mirror and Leathery Hide)? And if so, will each card > take effect (i.e., Mata Hari's hand damage will be aggravated)? Why? IANLSJ, but > Name: Raking Talons > [LoB:C] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Gargoyle > Only usable before range is determined. > For the remainder of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes > is aggravated. A vampire may play only one Raking Talons each combat. > Artist: David Day Ongoing effects will see Mata Hari as a Ravnos, not what clan she is impersonating to play the effect. See Keminitri and Closed Session in this post: <http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/msg/571e93365e932a10> She can play the card, but it's ongoing effect will not see her as "this Gargoyle". > Name: Reality Mirror > [SW:R] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Malkavian antitribu > Choose a combat card in the opposing minion's controller's ash heap, > and use the ability of that card as if that card had been played from > your hand (pay cost as normal). If the card requires a Discipline this > vampire does not have, you can only use the basic ability of that card. > Only one Reality Mirror can be played during a game. > Artist: Drew Tucker She plays Reality Mirror just fine, as long as it hasn't already been played this game. She plays it as if she were a !Malk, chooses the card to imitate, and imitates the chosen card all as part of the resolution of Reality Mirror. > Name: Leathery Hide > [KMW:C/PG3] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Gangrel antitribu > A vampire may play only one Leathery Hide each round. > Prevent four non-aggravated damage from the opposing minion's strike. > Artist: Richard Thomas Leathery Hide works fine. She prevents four (non-agg) damage as part of the resolution of the card. > > 2nd Question > ========== > > Mata Hari plays Clandestine Contract on another vampire. > A turn later, Mata Hari plays Bum's Rush on that vampire. > Can Mata Hari play The Khabar: Honor as a strike (when in combat with > that vampire)? Why? > > Name: Clandestine Contract > [FN:C2] > Cardtype: Action > Clan: Assamite > Cost: 1 pool > Contract. Requires an Assamite with a capacity above 4. +1 stealth > action. > (D) Enter combat with a ready minion controlled by another Methuselah > and put this card on that minion. This Assamite is chosen for this > contract. This Assamite may enter combat with the minion with this card > as a +1 stealth (D) action. > Artist: Drew Tucker Any effect which sees Mata Hari as an Assamite will also see her as the Assamite chosen for this contract. > Name: The Khabar: Honor > [AH:V3, FN:PA2] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Assamite > Only usable if this Assamite has been chosen for a contract on the > opposing minion. > Strike: {make a hand strike at} +3 damage. > Artist: Michael Astrachan Yes. The Khabar: Honor sees Mata Hari as an Assamite for it's play and resolution (and therefore the chosen Assamite for the contract). Witness1 -ItE

Obelisk

> Name: Raking Talons > [LoB:C] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Gargoyle > Only usable before range is determined. > For the remainder of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes > is aggravated. A vampire may play only one Raking Talons each combat. > Artist: David Day >Ongoing effects will see Mata Hari as a Ravnos, not what clan she is >impersonating to play the effect. See Keminitri and Closed Session in >this post: ><http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/msg/571e...> >She can play the card, but it's ongoing effect will not see her as >"this Gargoyle". That's bologna! (Spelling?) She should obviously play it as a gargoyle and get agg hand damage. If leathery hide says that this gangrel anti can prevent four damage, then Mata, playing as a !Gangrel, prevents four. Mata, playing Raking as a gargoyle, gets agg hand damage. >2nd Question >========== >Mata Hari plays Clandestine Contract on another vampire. >A turn later, Mata Hari plays Bum's Rush on that vampire. >Can Mata Hari play The Khabar: Honor as a strike (when in combat with >that vampire)? Why? >Name: Clandestine Contract >[FN:C2] >Cardtype: Action >Clan: Assamite >Cost: 1 pool >Contract. Requires an Assamite with a capacity above 4. +1 stealth >action. >(D) Enter combat with a ready minion controlled by another Methuselah >and put this card on that minion. This Assamite is chosen for this >contract. This Assamite may enter combat with the minion with this card >as a +1 stealth (D) action. >Artist: Drew Tucker >Name: The Khabar: Honor >[AH:V3, FN:PA2] >Cardtype: Combat >Clan: Assamite >Only usable if this Assamite has been chosen for a contract on the >opposing minion. >Strike: {make a hand strike at} +3 damage. >Artist: Michael Astrachan I know that Mata can't use the Clandestine to enter combat after the initial action (without a Clan impersonation), but the Khabar question is very interesting...

pd...@lightlink.com

Obelisk wrote: > That's bologna! (Spelling?) She should obviously play it as a gargoyle > and get agg hand damage. If leathery hide says that this gangrel anti > can prevent four damage, then Mata, playing as a !Gangrel, prevents > four. Mata, playing Raking as a gargoyle, gets agg hand damage. That isn't how her ability works. She counts as clan X when she plays the card, but not later on for the card. When she plays Raking Talons at the begining of the round, she counts as a Gargoyle, so she can play it. By the time she gets to strike resolution, the card no longer sees her as a Gargoyle, so no aggro damage. On the other hand, when she plays Leathery Hide, no time passes between playing the card and using the card. She prevents the damage as she plays the Leathery Hide, so no confusion. But Raking Talons works differently. So it works differently. -Peter

James Coupe

In message <1146258792....@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, Obelisk <nozle...@hotmail.com> writes: >That's bologna! (Spelling?) She should obviously play it as a gargoyle >and get agg hand damage. If leathery hide says that this gangrel anti >can prevent four damage, then Mata, playing as a !Gangrel, prevents >four. Mata, playing Raking as a gargoyle, gets agg hand damage. The difference is that Leathery Hide plays and resolves instantly. Raking Talons sets up a lingering effect for "this Gargoyle". Mata Hari's ability only allows her to *play* cards as if she was a Gargoyle, it doesn't allow her to pretend to be a Gargoyle for the duration of a lingering effect. -- James Coupe PGP Key: 0x5D623D5D YOU ARE IN ERROR. EBD690ECD7A1FB457CA2 NO-ONE IS SCREAMING. 13D7E668C3695D623D5D THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

Daneel

On 28 Apr 2006 14:00:59 -0700, witness1 <jwnew...@bellsouth.net> wrote: > IANLSJ, but IANLSJE, but I agree with most of the answers. Except: >> 2nd Question >> ========== >> >> Mata Hari plays Clandestine Contract on another vampire. >> A turn later, Mata Hari plays Bum's Rush on that vampire. >> Can Mata Hari play The Khabar: Honor as a strike (when in combat with >> that vampire)? Why? > > Any effect which sees Mata Hari as an Assamite will also see her as the > Assamite chosen for this contract. > > [...] > > Yes. The Khabar: Honor sees Mata Hari as an Assamite for it's play and > resolution (and therefore the chosen Assamite for the contract). This part. I'm not entirely sure this is how it works. I mean, Khabar: Honor has two requirements: being an Assamite and being chosen for a contract against the opposing minion. Mata's text allows her to play cards that require Assamite, and if she plays Honor, it will see her as the Assamite chosen for the contract, but I'm not sure she can play it to begin with, not being an Assamite chosen for the contract (a requrement of the card) before the card is actually being played. Or maybe I've just seen too many Star Trek episodes with time paradox in them? ;) Anyway, it certainly makes sense to rule (or clarify) it so that she can use Honor, however I could see why the opposite could be the case. -- Bye, Daneel

LSJ

Damnans wrote: > Can Mata Hari play the folliwing cards during the same combat (Raking > Talons, Reality Mirror and Leathery Hide)? And if so, will each card > take effect (i.e., Mata Hari's hand damage will be aggravated)? Why? Yes. Yes (although the "i.e.," doesn't follow, see below) > Name: Raking Talons > [LoB:C] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Gargoyle > Only usable before range is determined. > For the remainder of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes > is aggravated. A vampire may play only one Raking Talons each combat. She can play this. And the for the remainder of combat "this Gargoyle" has agg hand strikes. Since Mata is not a Gargoyle for the lingering effect, she gets no benefit. > Name: Reality Mirror > [SW:R] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Malkavian antitribu > Choose a combat card in the opposing minion's controller's ash heap, > and use the ability of that card as if that card had been played from > your hand (pay cost as normal). If the card requires a Discipline this > vampire does not have, you can only use the basic ability of that card. > Only one Reality Mirror can be played during a game. She can play it and use it. > Name: Leathery Hide > [KMW:C/PG3] > Cardtype: Combat > Clan: Gangrel antitribu > A vampire may play only one Leathery Hide each round. > Prevent four non-aggravated damage from the opposing minion's strike. > Artist: Richard Thomas She can play it and use it. > Mata Hari plays Clandestine Contract on another vampire. > A turn later, Mata Hari plays Bum's Rush on that vampire. > Can Mata Hari play The Khabar: Honor as a strike (when in combat with > that vampire)? Why? Yes. She meets the requirements. Note that this comes from a new ruling, issued to answer this question just now, as to the choosing being an activity accomplished (and completed) by the resolution of the play of the Clandestine Contract card. As opposed to the alternate reading of choosing being some state of "being the chosen one" bestowed upon the Assamite by the Clandestine Contract being in play (which would then cease to see Mata as an Assamite once it was in play, so would stop marking her as "chosen" until she actually changed clans). (The ruling parallels the way most of the other contracts work -- the only one that works by continually broadcasting a chosen state is Haqim's Law: Judgment, so that any new Assamites who come into play can also join in). [ quoted text not captured ]

Joshua Duffin

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146488195....@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com... > Damnans wrote: >> Can Mata Hari play the folliwing cards during the same combat (Raking >> Talons, Reality Mirror and Leathery Hide)? And if so, will each card >> take effect (i.e., Mata Hari's hand damage will be aggravated)? Why? > > Yes. Yes (although the "i.e.," doesn't follow, see below) > >> Name: Raking Talons >> [LoB:C] >> Cardtype: Combat >> Clan: Gargoyle >> Only usable before range is determined. >> For the remainder of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes >> is aggravated. A vampire may play only one Raking Talons each combat. > > She can play this. And the for the remainder of combat "this Gargoyle" > has agg hand strikes. Since Mata is not a Gargoyle for the lingering > effect, she gets no benefit. It doesn't seem to me like this jibes with the similar 'lingering effect' of Daring the Dawn, Force of Will, etc, when played by allies "as a vampire with Fortitude". In this message: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/msg/dbe90fa7da8bd90c Daring the Dawn was ruled to apply damage to allies who had played it "as a vampire". Its text is "Vampires cannot block this action. The acting vampire takes 2 aggravated damage (not preventable) after the action resolves." That seems pretty much the same (there is no "acting vampire" after the action resolves) as Raking Talons vs Mata Hari to me (there is no "this Gargoyle" when the strike resolves). I had always thought of Raking Talons (and Bone Spur, etc) as having immediate (on card resolution) effects on the playing vampires, rather than lingering effects on the combat that would kick in and alter the playing vampire's hand damage during each later strike resolution. That would mesh with the concept of Daring the Dawn setting up its effect on the playing vampire immediately when played, rather than being a "lingering effect" that would no longer find its target at the end of the action - seems to me like it would make more sense overall. Josh malingering gargoyle

LSJ

Joshua Duffin wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > > She can play this. And the for the remainder of combat "this Gargoyle" > > has agg hand strikes. Since Mata is not a Gargoyle for the lingering > > effect, she gets no benefit. > > It doesn't seem to me like this jibes with the similar 'lingering effect' of > Daring the Dawn, Force of Will, etc, when played by allies "as a vampire > with Fortitude". Daring the Dawn's damage is not a lingering effect. It comes from the play of the card. Similarly for Force of Will's damage. See also the resolution of an action -- an effect of the action, even though it is delayed until the action reaches resolution.

Joshua Duffin

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146498072....@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... [ quoted text not captured ] Right, that's what doesn't make sense to me - why would "For the remainder of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes is aggravated" be a "lingering effect" when "The acting vampire takes 2 aggravated damage (not preventable) after the action resolves" is not "lingering", but an effect "from the play of the card"? Just as the resolution of an action is an effect of the action, although delayed, it seems to me that the effect of Raking Talons is an effect of the play of the combat card, although it is an effect that applies to the entire duration of the combat. Just as a Bima with a Potence card can play Fists of Death to have +1 strength for the remainder of combat, I would expect Mata Hari to be able to play Raking Talons to have aggravated hand damage for the remainder of combat. The card she's playing should treat her as a Gargoyle for all aspects of its own resolution. Josh har de har hari

LSJ

Joshua Duffin wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > > Daring the Dawn's damage is not a lingering effect. It comes from the > > play of the card. > > Similarly for Force of Will's damage. > > > > See also the resolution of an action -- an effect of the action, even > > though it is delayed until the action reaches resolution. > > Right, that's what doesn't make sense to me - why would "For the remainder > of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes is aggravated" be a > "lingering effect" when "The acting > vampire takes 2 aggravated damage (not preventable) after the action > resolves" is not "lingering", but an effect "from the play of the card"? How can the application of damage be lingering? It happens once, not continually. > Just as the resolution of an action is an effect of the action, although > delayed, it seems to me that the effect of Raking Talons is an effect of the > play of the combat card, although it is an effect that applies to the entire > duration of the combat. That's what is refered to as a lingering effect. And handled (for allies) in 1.6.3 Mata follows a parallel. > Just as a Bima with a Potence card can play Fists of Death to have +1 > strength for the remainder of combat, I would expect Mata Hari to be able to > play Raking Talons to have aggravated hand damage for the remainder of > combat. The card she's playing should treat her as a Gargoyle for all > aspects of its own resolution. That's a new revelation -- Fists (and Torn Signpost) both set up lingering effects that only apply to "this vampire" so, by 1.6.3., won't stick to an ally.

Joshua Duffin

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146504125....@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > Joshua Duffin wrote: >> Right, that's what doesn't make sense to me - why would "For the >> remainder >> of combat, damage from this Gargoyle's hand strikes is aggravated" be a >> "lingering effect" when "The acting >> vampire takes 2 aggravated damage (not preventable) after the action >> resolves" is not "lingering", but an effect "from the play of the card"? > > How can the application of damage be lingering? It happens once, not > continually. I was thinking of "lingering" as referring to position in time, but it seems you mean it to refer only to duration over a period of time, rather than placement. Since the damage is in the future, it "lingers" until it is applied. >> Just as a Bima with a Potence card can play Fists of Death to have +1 >> strength for the remainder of combat, I would expect Mata Hari to be able >> to >> play Raking Talons to have aggravated hand damage for the remainder of >> combat. The card she's playing should treat her as a Gargoyle for all >> aspects of its own resolution. > > That's a new revelation -- Fists (and Torn Signpost) both set up > lingering effects that only apply to "this vampire" so, by 1.6.3., > won't stick to an ally. Actually a rather old revelation. It seems that the old revelation was undone by the current 1.6.3 rulebook text, without my noticing. ----------------- LSJ 03-May-2002: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/msg/20c49dfa511b6a9e "And Ghouled Street Thug could no longer play Torn Signpost, Increased Strength, or Disarm? (Replace "play" with "benefit from", depending on your "solution", is needed.)" ----------------- The difficulty I'm having now is that there doesn't seem to be any card-text logic to follow as to what effects are "lingering" and what effects are "instantaneous". There is another existing ruling that Drawing out the Beast's effect is "instantaneous" and won't kick in later as a "lingering" effect if you lose your immunity to it after the card was played. ----------------- LSJ 10-Feb-2004: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad/msg/8291216bbd5e3c21 "This is a REVERSAL of the ruling on Lucian stealing a Sire's Index Finger to become immune to Terror Frenzy - LSJ 16-DEC-2003 The frenzy cards resolve when played. If the target is not immune, the target gets frenzied and suffers the effect for the duration stated. Acquiring the Finger in the middle of the frenzy will not snap one out of it. Similarly, if the target is immune because of the Finger, the target doesn't frenzy. Losing the Finger before the frenzy effect would have ended (had it been able to be applied in the first place) doesn't cause the target to suddenly enter into frenzy partway through." ----------------- Card text of Drawing out the Beast: "Only usable before range is determined on the first round. {Frenzy.} [ani] During this combat, opposing vampire gets +1 strength, but he or she cannot use maneuvers to maneuver to long range, cannot use presses to end combat and cannot use equipment. A vampire may play only 1 Drawing Out the Beast each combat. [ANI] As above, and the opposing vampire takes 1 damage during the press step each round. This damage cannot be prevented." "During this combat", in this case, is not a lingering effect, but "for the remainder of combat", for Raking Talons or Torn Signpost or Fists of Death, is? It's not clear to me why that would make sense. Josh outdrawn

LSJ

Joshua Duffin wrote: > > How can the application of damage be lingering? It happens once, not > > continually. > > I was thinking of "lingering" as referring to position in time, but it seems > you mean it to refer only to duration over a period of time, rather than > placement. Since the damage is in the future, it "lingers" until it is > applied. That would be "delayed", right. Like strike resolution. Or action resolution. > The difficulty I'm having now is that there doesn't seem to be any card-text > logic to follow as to what effects are "lingering" and what effects are > "instantaneous". Right. Just regular English. An effect that lasts for some non-instantaneous period is "lingering" > There is another existing ruling that Drawing out the > Beast's effect is "instantaneous" and won't kick in later as a "lingering" > effect if you lose your immunity to it after the card was played. Using the same terms to describe a different ruling, yes. > "During this combat", in this case, is not a lingering effect, but "for the > remainder of combat", for Raking Talons or Torn Signpost or Fists of Death, > is? It's not clear to me why that would make sense. They both are lingering. It's just a matter of application. Sorry for overloading the terms. So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go away.

Joshua Duffin

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146514249....@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... > Joshua Duffin wrote: >> There is another existing ruling that Drawing out the >> Beast's effect is "instantaneous" and won't kick in later as a >> "lingering" >> effect if you lose your immunity to it after the card was played. > > Using the same terms to describe a different ruling, yes. > >> "During this combat", in this case, is not a lingering effect, but "for >> the >> remainder of combat", for Raking Talons or Torn Signpost or Fists of >> Death, >> is? It's not clear to me why that would make sense. > > They both are lingering. It's just a matter of application. Sorry for > overloading the terms. Ah... well, thanks for the explanation, then. Though I'm not sure that the current situation has become entirely clear to me, since it seems like Drawing out the Beast ought to fit the regular-English definition of "an effect that lasts for some non-instantaneous period", which implies that the moving Sire's Index Finger actually should be able to turn DotB on and off. The idea (as in that ruling) of DotB giving "a one time effect (that affects the opposing minion for a given length)" seems identical to how Torn Signpost reads: as a one-time effect (when the card is played) that affects the playing minion for the duration of combat - the very definition of a card with a lingering effect, as you describe it. > So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go > away. Well, getting rid of that limitation on effects of cards that allies play as vampires would presumably make it possible for them to use the untap on Rutor's Hand, the strength bonus from Torn Signpost, the aggravated damage from Wolf Claws, etc. It would also seem to allow Mata Hari and related vampires to benefit from or use things like Raking Talons, Call the Great Beast, Enforcer, Overseer + No Secrets from the Magaji, the Kholo titles, and so on. If allies are ever printed that can use superior discipline effects, the list would get longer. Whether these changes would be a problem for game balance is a question for the rule team, I think. I don't think they would be a problem for clarity of the rules, though. Josh out of it

Chris Berger

Joshua Duffin wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > news:1146514249....@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... > > > So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the > > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? > > > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go > > away. > > Well, getting rid of that limitation on effects of cards that allies play as > vampires would presumably make it possible for them to use the untap on > Rutor's Hand, the strength bonus from Torn Signpost, the aggravated damage > from Wolf Claws, etc. It would also seem to allow Mata Hari and related > vampires to benefit from or use things like Raking Talons, Call the Great > Beast, Enforcer, Overseer + No Secrets from the Magaji, the Kholo titles, > and so on. If allies are ever printed that can use superior discipline > effects, the list would get longer. > It seems that there would be less problem if the distinction was made not on "lingering" or "instantaneous" effects, but on a card played and a card in play. A Torn Signpost or Wolf Claws is really a one-shot effect that lasts a certain amount of time. Whereas a Rutor's Hand or something like that can be played as a vampire, but shouldn't be useable as a vampire once it's in play.

witness1

Chris Berger wrote: > Joshua Duffin wrote: > > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > > news:1146514249....@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... > > > > > So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the > > > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? > > > > > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go > > > away. Interesting that the intercept from, e.g., Second Tradition with Keminitri, was (AFAIK) never considered a 'lingering' effect, even though it lasts for the whole action. > > Well, getting rid of that limitation on effects of cards that allies play as > > vampires would presumably make it possible for them to use the untap on > > Rutor's Hand, the strength bonus from Torn Signpost, the aggravated damage > > from Wolf Claws, etc. It would also seem to allow Mata Hari and related > > vampires to benefit from or use things like Raking Talons, Call the Great > > Beast, Enforcer, Overseer + No Secrets from the Magaji, the Kholo titles, > > and so on. If allies are ever printed that can use superior discipline > > effects, the list would get longer. > > > It seems that there would be less problem if the distinction was made > not on "lingering" or "instantaneous" effects, but on a card played and > a card in play. A Torn Signpost or Wolf Claws is really a one-shot > effect that lasts a certain amount of time. Whereas a Rutor's Hand or > something like that can be played as a vampire, but shouldn't be > useable as a vampire once it's in play. Definitely. Perhaps we could start listing some of the more potent of these effects here, to make the decision easier for those who need to make it? Closed Session (Keminitri) - especially under Fall of the Camarilla, with Ventrue HQ, Feraille, and Minion Tap/Voter Cap - likely a 10-0 vote each turn, but there's significant setup, so maybe it's okay. Mata Hari + Raking Talons: Free agg hands for Mata may be a bit potent, especially combined with all the other things she can do. Then again, a Vitae Slave and Ankara Citadel could let her play Wolf Claws for free if she wanted to take more setup, so maybe it's no problem. I'm running out of time here, so maybe someone else can continue. If not, I'll keep going when I get a chance. Witness1 -ItE

witness1

witness1 wrote: > Chris Berger wrote: > > Joshua Duffin wrote: > > > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > > > news:1146514249....@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... > > > > > > > So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the > > > > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? > > > > > > > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go > > > > away. > > Interesting that the intercept from, e.g., Second Tradition with > Keminitri, was (AFAIK) never considered a 'lingering' effect, even > though it lasts for the whole action. Never mind. Ignore the crack pipe behind the curtain. None of those cards refer to "this vampire" anyway, do they? [ quoted text not captured ] Thinking about this some more, probably the most interesting implication is that a Herald of Topheth would be seen as a vampire by a lingering charming lobby (that he played last turn) if he plays another one this turn. Doesn't seem incredibly potent in that example, but imagine 10 Presence Bimas, each of which is considered a vampire by one of ten lingering charming lobby effects. Of course, a single political action called crosstable ends all the pre-existing lobby effects, but the potential for a dozen automatically passing political actions each turn may be undesirable. Probably not a major problem, though. Witness1 -ItE

XZealot

> So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go > away. Can you precisely define what the "lingering" exemption is, in text, in this thread? You know so that my piddyly vote will be cast post-enlightenment rather than just lashing out at the levers in the voting booth because they are there and I have to press them all before I can leave? :) Comments Welcome, Norman S. Brown, Jr XZealot Archon of the Swamp

Ankur Gupta

> Can you precisely define what the "lingering" exemption is, in text, in > this thread? You know so that my piddyly vote will be cast > post-enlightenment rather than just lashing out at the levers in the > voting booth because they are there and I have to press them all before > I can leave? :) You know. . . this is how I imagine Enkidu voting. Coincidence? No way. Ankur

LSJ

Chris Berger wrote: > Joshua Duffin wrote: > > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message [ quoted text not captured ] Correct. I'm only interested in the "lingering" part right now. While having in-play cards track the minion that put them into play (and remember if an ally put them into play "as a vampire") may not be unbalancing (I'm not saying it is or it isn't), that adds to the bookkeeping required, with little gain. The "lingering" bit, though, seems to be itself more trouble than it is worth.

LSJ

witness1 wrote: > Interesting that the intercept from, e.g., Second Tradition with > Keminitri, was (AFAIK) never considered a 'lingering' effect, even > though it lasts for the whole action. And the blood gained from Summon Soul lasts until it is later burned. Those examples are instant effect (the gaining of something). That the something gained is tracked by the rules doesn't make the gaining a lingering effect. Contrast Torn Signpost, where the effect itself is a lingering, well-deliniated-by-effect-text effect. > Closed Session (Keminitri) This seems the worst of the lot that I can turn up. If it is, then the bar seems to be low enough that having lingering effects track the minion who played them OK. Or if Kemintiri Closed Session is problematic, the rule could just be that "lingering effects applied to the playing vampire" track. Closed Session failing that test, of course. Any confusion generated by that distinction? > Mata Hari + Raking Talons: This looks OK.

LSJ

XZealot wrote: > > So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the > > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per 1.6.3)? > > > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go > > away. > > Can you precisely define what the "lingering" exemption is, in text, in > this thread? You know so that my piddyly vote will be cast > post-enlightenment rather than just lashing out at the levers in the > voting booth because they are there and I have to press them all before > I can leave? :) 1.6.3: "In particular, the ally is not treated as a vampire for effects of the card once it's in play or for lingering effects generated by the card."

witness1

[ quoted text not captured ] Agreed. And the Charming Lobby/Bima problem doesn't really seem to be that bad, first because any combo you could build off that you can probably do with presence weenies already, and second because they can't even chain off each other's CL effect, so you're really more likely to let other methuselah's pass some votes. However, it does cause some bookkeeping issues in remembering which Bimas have a CL effect that remembers them as a vampire. Of course, updating Charming Lobby's text to read 'the next referendum called by any _political action_ thereafter passes automatically' would eliminate the bookkeeping problem, but might make Bimas into the new weenie presence. Witness1 -ItE

jibbajibba

[ quoted text not captured ] IMHO bookeeping is more of a pain here than the power of the effect. Most of the effects under discussion can be achieved in other ways using other combos. The result of treating 'lingering effects' in a different manner to 'instant effects' and more like 'permanent effects' actually creates a new card type. This adds confusion as the card type is not actually included on the card. I would like to see effects that treat "A as a B" apply to any non permanent. So Mata Hari can play Raking Talons and Kemintiri could play Closed Session. This should mean you don't need to track lingering effects as if its not a permanent the effect is allowed. The division is then all about looking for 'put this card in play' text and should be clear an non-ambiguous. in relation to Charming Lobby Witness wrote >>Agreed. And the Charming Lobby/Bima problem doesn't really seem to be >>that bad, first because any combo you could build off that you can >>probably do with presence weenies already, and second because they >>can't even chain off each other's CL effect, so you're really more >>likely to let other methuselah's pass some votes. However, it does >>cause some bookkeeping issues in remembering which Bimas have a CL >>effect that remembers them as a vampire. >>Of course, updating Charming Lobby's text to read 'the next referendum >>called by any _political action_ thereafter passes automatically' would >>eliminate the bookkeeping problem, but might make Bimas into the new >>weenie presence. I would change the text to read.. '...put this card in play. Whilst this card is in play any referendum called passes automatically. Burn this card when a referendum, excluding the current action, is called or if another Charming Lobby is put into play'. This should mean you can't stack a bunch of these and have them hanging about and causing bookeeping headaches and its a permanent while its in play and abusing it becomes harder.

Joshua Duffin

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146571120.9...@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com... > Chris Berger wrote: >> > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message >> > > So, RTR research time: is there any problem with doing away with the >> > > "lingering" exemption on Allies playing cards as vampires (per >> > > 1.6.3)? >> > > >> > > If so, speak up. If not, it might be time for that exemption to go >> > > away. >> It seems that there would be less problem if the distinction was made >> not on "lingering" or "instantaneous" effects, but on a card played and >> a card in play. A Torn Signpost or Wolf Claws is really a one-shot >> effect that lasts a certain amount of time. Whereas a Rutor's Hand or >> something like that can be played as a vampire, but shouldn't be >> useable as a vampire once it's in play. > > Correct. I'm only interested in the "lingering" part right now. > > While having in-play cards track the minion that put them into play > (and remember if an ally put them into play "as a vampire") may not be > unbalancing (I'm not saying it is or it isn't), that adds to the > bookkeeping required, with little gain. In principle, the same amount of bookkeeping already exists, doesn't it? As far as I know, Talaq the Immortal can still put a Rutor's Hand on himself, and it goes on him just fine because that's part of the resolution of the action. But we currently have to remember that, although he played it "as a vampire", he can't use it because the card doesn't think he's a vampire while it's in play. Sure, you could say that no one ever plays Rutor's Hand with Talaq *because* it doesn't do anything. But if the ruling were reversed, the actual game-play would be equally self-evident: it'd be perfectly easy to remember that the Rutor's Hand on Talaq works, because there wouldn't be any (normal) situation where a Rutor's Hand in play *didn't* work. > The "lingering" bit, though, seems to be itself more trouble than it is > worth. I'm inclined to agree. Allowing "lingering" effects to apply to minions who play cards "as if X" would make them behave more like all other minions who can play those same cards do. That still requires bookkeeping, of course (it's always been necessary to remember that Torn Signpost has been played in a given combat, and at what level), but it would be the same bookkeeping that we're already used to doing for minions who play those cards "the normal way". Josh keeps too many books

LSJ

jibbajibba wrote: > IMHO bookeeping is more of a pain here than the power of the effect. > Most of the effects under discussion can be achieved in other ways > using other combos. The result of treating 'lingering effects' in a > different manner to 'instant effects' and more like 'permanent effects' > actually creates a new card type. This adds confusion as the card type > is not actually included on the card. No. It removes a distinction (a somewhat blurry distinction) between effects provided by a card as it is played and a lingering effect provided by the play of a card. The current distinction between effects generated by the play of a card (lingering or otherwise) and the effects generated by a card in play will remain. Nothing new is being added. > I would like to see effects that treat "A as a B" apply to any non > permanent. So Mata Hari can play Raking Talons and Kemintiri could play > Closed Session. This should mean you don't need to track lingering > effects as if its not a permanent the effect is allowed. The division > is then all about looking for 'put this card in play' text and should > be clear an non-ambiguous. That's the current topic , yes: removing the existing "lingering" vs. "as played" distinction.

LSJ

Joshua Duffin wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > > While having in-play cards track the minion that put them into play > > (and remember if an ally put them into play "as a vampire") may not be > > unbalancing (I'm not saying it is or it isn't), that adds to the > > bookkeeping required, with little gain. > > In principle, the same amount of bookkeeping already exists, doesn't it? As > far as I know, Talaq the Immortal can still put a Rutor's Hand on himself, > and it goes on him just fine because that's part of the resolution of the > action. But we currently have to remember that, although he played it "as a > vampire", he can't use it because the card doesn't think he's a vampire > while it's in play. That's not bookkeeping. You don't have to remember which of the cards in play treat him as a vampire -- none of them do. That's just a rule. Changing it would mean that you'd then have to remember which of the cards in play treat him as a vampire and which treat him like the ally he is. That would be bookkeeping. > Sure, you could say that no one ever plays Rutor's Hand with Talaq *because* > it doesn't do anything. But if the ruling were reversed, the actual > game-play would be equally self-evident: it'd be perfectly easy to remember > that the Rutor's Hand on Talaq works, because there wouldn't be any (normal) > situation where a Rutor's Hand in play *didn't* work. Yes ... for Rutor's Hand. There are other cards that are put into play for which the bookkeeping would not be so clear. > > The "lingering" bit, though, seems to be itself more trouble than it is > > worth. > > I'm inclined to agree. Allowing "lingering" effects to apply to minions who > play cards "as if X" would make them behave more like all other minions who > can play those same cards do. That still requires bookkeeping, of course > (it's always been necessary to remember that Torn Signpost has been played > in a given combat, and at what level), but it would be the same bookkeeping > that we're already used to doing for minions who play those cards "the > normal way". The bookkeeping in these cases is either obvious or short-term (and, in the vast majority of cases, both). The bookkeeping in-play cards would require tends to be longer term and not always obvious.

Fred Scott

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146571567....@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > witness1 wrote: >> Interesting that the intercept from, e.g., Second Tradition with >> Keminitri, was (AFAIK) never considered a 'lingering' effect, even >> though it lasts for the whole action. > > And the blood gained from Summon Soul lasts until it is later burned. (***Pokes head into highly technical rules discussion he has no business commenting on.***) I just wanted to say, I think that's an incredibly lame comparison. ..er, carry on... :-) Fred (Cripes. "Lingering exemption on allies." I thought the default language in this newsgroup was English. :-P )

Fred Scott

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146571120.9...@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com... > While having in-play cards track the minion that put them into play > (and remember if an ally put them into play "as a vampire") may not be > unbalancing (I'm not saying it is or it isn't), that adds to the > bookkeeping required, with little gain. Frankly, some of us feel that the whole, "the-X-with-this-card" thing - where "X" may or may not be the name of a member of a specific, restrictive group - adds to the bookkeeping required with little gain. I don't know if it can be done away with now. You'd lose distinctions that affect the power of an Erebus Mask as opposed to, say, a Kali's Fang. But it's always struck me as a mechanic that was far more of a problem than it's worth. Fred

LSJ

Fred Scott wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > news:1146571567....@j73g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > > witness1 wrote: > >> Interesting that the intercept from, e.g., Second Tradition with > >> Keminitri, was (AFAIK) never considered a 'lingering' effect, even > >> though it lasts for the whole action. > > > > And the blood gained from Summon Soul lasts until it is later burned. > > (***Pokes head into highly technical rules discussion he has no business > commenting on.***) > > I just wanted to say, I think that's an incredibly lame comparison. > > ..er, carry on... :-) Well, at least it was accompanied by a expository note and not left to stand on its own. I find it not incredibly lame. So that's 1-1, failing. :-P > Fred > > (Cripes. "Lingering exemption on allies." I thought the default > language in this newsgroup was English. :-P ) Often, we'll use rulebook terminology as well. I doubt if you actually thought otherwise. The lingering bit has been a part of the rulebook for quite some time.

LSJ

Fred Scott wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146571120.9...@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com... > > While having in-play cards track the minion that put them into play > > (and remember if an ally put them into play "as a vampire") may not be > > unbalancing (I'm not saying it is or it isn't), that adds to the > > bookkeeping required, with little gain. > > Frankly, some of us feel that the whole, "the-X-with-this-card" thing - > where "X" may or may not be the name of a member of a specific, > restrictive group - adds to the bookkeeping required with little gain. It doesn't. Card text is the opposite of bookkeeping. One need only read the card, not rely on any notes or memory one has of what has gone before. > I don't know if it can be done away with now. You'd lose distinctions > that affect the power of an Erebus Mask as opposed to, say, a Kali's > Fang. But it's always struck me as a mechanic that was far more of a > problem than it's worth. Following card text is a mechanic that is vital.

Fred Scott

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146582593.4...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... > Fred Scott wrote: >> "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146571120.9...@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com... >> > While having in-play cards track the minion that put them into play >> > (and remember if an ally put them into play "as a vampire") may not be >> > unbalancing (I'm not saying it is or it isn't), that adds to the >> > bookkeeping required, with little gain. >> >> Frankly, some of us feel that the whole, "the-X-with-this-card" thing - >> where "X" may or may not be the name of a member of a specific, >> restrictive group - adds to the bookkeeping required with little gain. > > It doesn't. Card text is the opposite of bookkeeping. One need only > read the card, not rely on any notes or memory one has of what has gone > before. OK, terming it "bookkeeping" makes my point self-contradictory, I agree. Just say that even having "the-X-with-this-card" clauses is more trouble than it's worth. I guess my personal preference is that it not be used. And where a special limitation on who can use a card permanent possessed by a minion is deemed necessary to balance the card, it should be an explicit thing; e.g., "If Erebus Mask is possessed by a Harbinger of Skulls, the possessing minion gains +1 stealth on all actions." These sorts of clauses that affect a card by inference may streamline the text a bit but they cause practical problems such as making the game harder to explain to newbies and causing deckbuilding mistakes. Fred

Ankur Gupta

> The lingering bit has been a part of the rulebook for quite some time. So, would that then make it a lingering part of the rulebook? <ducks> Ankur

Joshua Duffin

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:1146580009....@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... > Joshua Duffin wrote: >> I'm inclined to agree. Allowing "lingering" effects to apply to minions >> who >> play cards "as if X" would make them behave more like all other minions >> who >> can play those same cards do. That still requires bookkeeping, of course >> (it's always been necessary to remember that Torn Signpost has been >> played >> in a given combat, and at what level), but it would be the same >> bookkeeping >> that we're already used to doing for minions who play those cards "the >> normal way". > > The bookkeeping in these cases is either obvious or short-term (and, in > the vast majority of cases, both). > > The bookkeeping in-play cards would require tends to be longer term and > not always obvious. Fair enough. Though I'm not sure which put-in-play cards exist now that would have non-obvious bookkeeping? Mata Hari + Song of Pan? Are there others that would be more confusing? Mata Hari + Waters of Duat is a little confusing already - I suspect that any Waters she makes will be Independent because that's the default sect of the clan she's faking to play them (Followers of Set), but it could be that they would inherit her actual sect at the time she makes them? Mata Hari + Ahrimane Protectorate, I guess - you'd have to remember that she counted as an Ahrimane who could benefit from the intercept. And likewise Mata Hari + Brothers in Arms. Mata Hari + Create Gargoyle is confusing right now too... I expect she creates Gargoyles enslaved to the clan she's faking, of the sect of the clan she's faking; if cards in play remembered who played them, then she could "count as" Tremere/!Tremere for purposes of that slave, which would be a bit weird, I admit. Mata Hari + King's Favor would also require tracking. On the whole, while I can see that there *could be* cards that would go in play and require overly-burdensome bookkeeping, I'm not sure that there already are. Meanwhile, it seems to me that cards that *don't* go in play but have lingering effects have the greater potential for bookkeeping headaches, because in those cases, there is nothing on the table reminding you of the effect's existence (for example, Cryptic Rider, Ancient Influence, Sabbat Priest, Masai Blood Milk). In any case, yes, the lingering effects of transient cards can be addressed separately. Though... thinking about it again... isn't the bookkeeping currently produced by Clandestine Contract + Khabar: Honor + Mata Hari as difficult as any other possible case? It is definitely a situation where you have to remember which cards in play treat her as an Assamite and which treat her as the Ravnos that she is. It seems possible to me that Clandestine Contract *should* be treated as conferring a continuous state of "being the chosen one", as Haqim's Law does, and as it's normal for cards in play to have "always-on" rather than one-time effects. If the Clandestine Contract's "This Assamite is chosen for this contract" effect remains "stuck" to Mata Hari because it was chosen when played, wouldn't pretty much the same logic apply to "This Assamite may enter combat with the minion with this card as a +1 stealth (D) action"? If she became "this Assamite" when the card was played for the "chosen for this contract" piece, the "enter combat with the minion with this card" piece of the ability could have an equal amount of memory of her playing the card as "this Assamite"... Josh non-clandestine service

jibbajibba

I would say its all semantics but that is way too obvious (all laws are semantics after all) but should there be a consideration of intent? Is the idea with Mata Hari that she be able to perform all clan based actions and use all clan based equipment? You can apply the same point to any ally that can take actions as a vampire. Likewise you can apply the same test to say the Sword of Judgement. Does the fact that Mata Hari can use the Sword of Judgement break a principle of the game (currently she can't as the text is pretty clear)? I don't feel it does. I can envisage a role play situation where Mata Hari wields the Sword of Judgement. Once you have decided if there is a principle involved then you have to think about game in terms of balance and simplicity. The Game balance question has been looked at and no one has come up with a devastating combo that really breaks anything. >From a simplicity perspective if Mata Hari can play a card she should be able to use it. Any other option adds complexity. If there is no principle at stake and this doesn't create any broken combos, or indeed if it resolves possible exploitative combos (Mata Hari and Toreador Grand Ball...), then that should be the rule, KISS. If there are possible broken combos then you need to decide if its easier to 'fix' them or 'fix' the underlying rule. You don't need to worry about future cards as you can write them with any new rule in mind. So is the complexity of differeniating between playing a card as x and the lingering effects of a card played as x, or indeed the complexity of playing a permanent and then not being able to actually use it worthwhile?

Kevin M.

witness1 <jwnew...@bellsouth.net> wrote: > Of course, updating Charming Lobby's text to read 'the next > referendum called by any _political action_ thereafter passes > automatically' would eliminate the bookkeeping problem, but > might make Bimas into the new weenie presence. Oh god, please don't change Charming Lobby. It'll take the next 10 years for me to be allowed to play it in L.A. again. :P Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy, and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment... Complacency... Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier

sutekh_23

Seeing as though LSJ asked for opinions, I'd like to add my 5 cents worth in here. It seems to me that the problem that is occouring is due to the actual wording on the card (in this main case, Mata Hari) If we look at her card as it stands now: Mata Hari Clan: Ravnos (group 4) Capacity: 7 Disciplines: CHI OBF aus for qui Independent. Red List: Mata Hari has 2 votes (titled). You and she may play cards that require a sect and/or clan as if she were of that required sect and/or clan. The question arises is if this wording is the "designer intent" of the card, or weather this particular wording was used to keep her in line with all other vampires with a similar ability (Kementiri ADV, Lucinde, Alastor etc)? What I mean by "designer intent" is was Mata Hari intended to be able to "play" cards of any sect or clan, or was see meant to be able to "use" cards of any sect or clan? The obvious answer is "play of course, thats her card text" in which case most of this discussion is technicaly moot, she plays a card A whilst "impersonating" another clan/sect, the card effect is resolved, end of action, Mata Hari returns to being a ravnos. If that card set up a lingering clan/sect specific effect, then too bad for Mata Hari, no longer being the required clan/sect she cannot access the effect, the card is in play and no longer subjet to her card text. However, if the "designer intent" was to be able to "use" cards requiring any clan/sect then the issue is just as moot, she can use whatever clan/sect specific card she wishes and gain the benefit of said cards whilst they are in play or causing a conditonal effect. For example, the Mata Hari contract question: As Mata Hari is written, she should be able to play clandestine contract in order to enter combat with another ready minion. Clandestine Contract Type: Action Requires: capacity above 4 Assamite Cost: 1 pool Contract. Requires an Assamite with a capacity above 4. +1 stealth action. (D) Enter combat with a ready minion controlled by another Methuselah and put this card on that minion. This Assamite is chosen for this contract. This Assamite may enter combat with the minion with this card as a +1 stealth (D) action. As for the rest of the effect, as soon as the card is played / resolved, Mata Hari is no longer an assamite and not eligable to use the rest of the cards effect. In effect, making it a very expensive rush action. As for using Khabar: Honor, I would think not. Khabar: Honor, The Type: Combat Requires: Assamite Only usable if this Assamite has been chosen for a contract on the opposing minion. Strike: make a hand strike at +3 damage. Although in theory it looks like this should work, it probably shouldn't. After playing clandestine contract, Mata Hari reverts to being a ravnos and looses her assamite status, therefore, no longer being the "this assamite chosen for the contract". Her card text as it stands has no ability to effect cards that are already in play. If however Mata Hari's card text was: "Independent. Red List: Mata Hari has 2 votes (titled). You and she may USE cards that require a sect and/or clan as if she were of that required sect and/or clan", then that would be an entirely different story. This would allow Mata Hari to play Clandestine contract and use the ability of the clandestine contract once it was in play in order to gain the ability to use Khabar: Honor (via the lingering effect of the clandestine contract making Mata Hari The "Chosen Assamite") (Actually i'm not entirely fond of that particular explanation, my wordsmithing skills are failing to convey exactly what I mean, but I hope I get the intent across) By changing Mata Hari's card text from "play any card" to "use any card" you would solve alot of the problems arising from her card text, but it may well make her too powerful, I'm not entirely sure. Sutekh_23