Since Hidden Lurker is an action, it can be blocked with no intercept
needed. And if it is blocked then the action has no effect.
1) Does this mean I must have some kind of stealth in order to attack the
minion of my choice?
2) Does "blocking minion" in the card text refer to my opponents minion
in the "previous" combat or my opponents minion that is "about to enter"
combat.
This is a confusing situation because if the action can be blocked and
the action has no effect, then my opponents minion gets a strike the
first round.
Whatta ya think?
Scott
Bruise and Bleed
In article <4apt1r$5...@stargate.promus.com>,
Scott Lee <sl...@promus.com> wrote:
>Since Hidden Lurker is an action, it can be blocked with no intercept
>needed. And if it is blocked then the action has no effect.
>
>1) Does this mean I must have some kind of stealth in order to attack the
>minion of my choice?
Some stealth or a tapped out defensive line :-)
>2) Does "blocking minion" in the card text refer to my opponents minion
>in the "previous" combat or my opponents minion that is "about to enter"
>combat.
Previous combatant, certainly.
Possibly could mean either, depending on interpretation, however.
>This is a confusing situation because if the action can be blocked and
>the action has no effect, then my opponents minion gets a strike the
>first round.
As printed, correct. This is incongruous with the effects of
Fast Reaction (which is worded identically except for the swap between
acting and blocking and between acting and reacting).
The card should be an action modifier (making it compatible with it's
twin Reaction card - Fast Reaction.) As a modifier, it works completely
and intuitively. As an action, is works poorly at best, and can lead to
confusion.
At one time, WotC Rules' Team issued errata making it an Action Modifier,
but they have since rescinded that errata (and the VtES printing is again
an action).
(How many actions have to remind you to tap the acting vampire? How many
remind you that they can only be played by untapped vampires?)
If you have to play it as an action (at zero stealth), then the "blocking
minion" text will only apply if the action is not blocked. All action
text applies only to successful actions, except when the action text
explicitly states that it is describing what happens when the action is
blocked (cf. Rapid Healing).
As an action, you may use many of them in succession (each Lurker becomes
a new acting vampire). Fast Reaction is not "stackable", since only the
first minion was a blocking minion.
Fast Reaction, on the other hand, is unblockable (the text on Jyhad
Hidden Lurker is written on the assumption of unblockability, but it
doesn't work out this way since it is an action)
As an action modifier, HL is unblockable (like Fast Reaction) and isn't
stackable (like Fast Reaction). Since it's worded the same, why not
let it act the same?
--
-----
L. Scott Johnson (lsc...@crl.com) | The opinions expressed are mine
Graphics Specialist and V:tES Rulemonger | and subject to card text
In article <4aq3vv$8...@crl.crl.com>, lsc...@crl.com (L. Scott Johnson) wrote:
: As an action modifier, HL is unblockable (like Fast Reaction) and isn't: stackable (like Fast Reaction). Since it's worded the same, why not
: let it act the same?
Well, the only reason I can think of not to have it be an action mod is
the ruling on Cloak the Gathering. Both would be action modifiers that
minons other than the one acting would play.
But CtG has been ruled to be playable by a tapped vamp, becuae action
modifers don't inherently include a tap to them.
So, if that ruling followed through on to Hidden Lurker you could use a
tapped minion to take that action mod, thereby giving that minion
effectively two actions in the turn.
There is probably an easy way around this with an errata or a ruling, but
as it stands it isn't that great.
Just my view on it.
stephen beaulieu
hi...@mail.utexas.edu
In article <hippo-15129...@gill.hrc.utexas.edu>,
[ quoted text not captured ]
Quite right, sorry I overlooked that point. From the house rules list:
Hidden Lurker - is an action modifier, not an action. Text as follows:
Usable only by an untapped Vampire other than the Acting Minion after the
Acting Minion is blocked and combat is over. Tap this Vampire. This
Vampire now enters combat with the Blocking Minion. The first round of
combat, the Blocking Minion cannot use any strikes.
Superior: As above, but with an optional Press.
[LSJ] [JC] [CSA] [ASHK] [JHJ]
[ quoted text not captured ]
> Since Hidden Lurker is an action, it can be blocked with no intercept
> needed. And if it is blocked then the action has no effect.
>>Actually I have a problem with the blocking minion part. It assumes
that the first minion had to have been blocked to get into combat (as I
interpt the card) but I feel that as long as there was combat the card
is usable.