Hi all,
this is the current wording for one of my favorite vamp:
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[Malkavian] Osric Vladislav, G5
Camarilla: Osric can burn a location you control to get +1 stealth for the current action.
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It is written in a strangely ambiguous way, for me anyway, not using the "During X do Y" template or specifying timing. Now consider these scenarios:
1) It appears that Osric can burn as many locations as are available during an action. I needed a ruling for that situation at a tournament and it took a good few minutes for the judges to conclude that it is indeed allowed. Was that a correct ruling?
2) Can I burn a location just for the sake of burning it even if Osric does not need the stealth? I know that a card modifier of the similar text would not allow it but this is a crypt card ability worded strangely so I am wondering if there is a quirk hidden there to make it possible.
3) By extension, can Osric burn a location during somebody else's action? The rules text does not specify the "current action" has to be his and the scenario making it useful is having a Info Highway in play while another ally player intends to play his and use it right away...
After some research, I suspect 2) and 3) might be governed by 6.2.2. of the Rulebook but perhaps Osric could get a clarifying ruling or two.
Thanks!
> charmer wrote:
> 1) It appears that Osric can burn as many locations as are available during an action. I needed a ruling for that situation at a tournament and it took a good few minutes for the judges to conclude that it is indeed allowed. Was that a correct ruling?
>
The ruling given is correct. Reference ruling [LSJ 20020814] that was given for Edward Neally & Maris Streck is applicable.
> charmer wrote:
> 2) Can I burn a location just for the sake of burning it even if Osric does not need the stealth? I know that a card modifier of the similar text would not allow it but this is a crypt card ability worded strangely so I am wondering if there is a quirk hidden there to make it possible.
>
The same restriction mentioned on the modifier applies...stealth is only allowed to be gained when actually needed if not overridden by card text...the restriction is on when you are allowed to gain stealth and has nothing to do with where it comes from (special ability, modifier or otherwise)
> charmer wrote:
> 3) By extension, can Osric burn a location during somebody else's action? The rules text does not specify the "current action" has to be his and the scenario making it useful is having a Info Highway in play while another ally player intends to play his and use it right away...
>
Osric cannot use his special during somebody else´s action as the stealth his special provides is for himself and is therefore not "actually needed" and is thereby restricted by the rules.
> charmer wrote:
> After some research, I suspect 2) and 3) might be governed by 6.2.2. of the Rulebook but perhaps Osric could get a clarifying ruling or two.
>
The new rulebook portion mentioning the rules and limitations regarding stealth is Stealth and Intercept