rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad

LSJ - "to attempt to do X" vs "to do X"

7 messages from 6 participants · 01 November 2008 – 04 November 2008
original thread on Google Groups

v.ri...@gmail.com

I won't spoil the whole card, but Talbot says : Talbot may do X to attempt to do Y as a +1 stealth (D) action. Is there any difference with the following wording : Talbot may do X to do Y as a +1 stealth (D) action. For example: Hrothulf Camarilla: If you control the Edge, Hrothulf can burn it to enter combat with a ready minion controlled by another Methuselah as a (D) action.

LSJ

[ quoted text not captured ] Hrothulf's ability to "If you meet condition A, Hrothulf can do X as a (D) action." Where X is "burn [the Edge] to enter combat". And from there the difference should follow easily.

Chris Berger

On Nov 2, 11:35 am, LSJ <vtes...@white-wolf.com> wrote: [ quoted text not captured ] Maybe someone else can expand on this... How is "If you meet condition A, Hrothulf can do X as a (D) action" different from "If you meet condition B, Hrothulf can attempt to do Y as a (D) action." Seems the same to me, but the above implies there is a difference... Actually, scratch that. I'm sure there is no difference, but the above says that the difference should follow easily... What does that mean?

witness1

[ quoted text not captured ] Hrothulf can burn the Edge to take action Y. This means that burning the edge is a cost of action Y, and is therefore not paid if the action is unsuccessful. If Hrothulf could burn the edge to attempt action Y instead, he must burn the edge even if the action is unsuccessful. -witness1

Meej

On Nov 3, 5:10 pm, Chris Berger <ark...@ugcs.caltech.edu> wrote: [ quoted text not captured ] If we look at two cases: Case 1: If (Condition A), (Minion) may (Do X) to (Do Y) as a D action. (Hrothulf) Case 2: If (Condition B), (Minion) may (Do X) to attempt to (Do Y) as a D action. (Talbot, apparently.) I can't say for sure, but it looks, to me, like in Case 1 (Hrothulf), "Do X" is the cost of "Do Y as a D action". In which case, if the action is blocked, etc, the cost is not paid. (See also: bleeding with Strike with Conviction.) On the other hand, Case 2 appears that "Do X" isn't the cost of the action - it's something you need to do to be allowed to attempt the action. In which case, whether or not the action's blocked, you've had to Do X already. (See also: a non-Ravnos vampire attempting to do a D action that targets Hazimel. Closest parallel I could find.) I *think* LSJ is referring to one being a cost of the action (1) and the other being a precondition to attempt the action (2). - D.J.

Chris Berger

[ quoted text not captured ] Oh, I see what he's saying now. Thanks for the clarification. It's not that attempting an action is different from doing something as an action, it's a question of where the "cost" part is, i.e. whether it's burn a blood to attempt to do X or attempt to do X at a cost of a blood. Got it.

suolir...@gmail.com

On 4 marras, 00:38, Chris Berger <ark...@ugcs.caltech.edu> wrote: > Oh, I see what he's saying now. Thanks for the clarification. It's > not that attempting an action is different from doing something as an > action, it's a question of where the "cost" part is, i.e. whether it's > burn a blood to attempt to do X or attempt to do X at a cost of a > blood. Got it. It doesn't really change the outcome in this case but I believe burning the edge is actually an effect of Hrothulf's action as opposed to being a cost. Just nitpicking really.