Unofficial Rulebook Discussion #6 (Aug 13 - Aug 16) -- The Witch-king's Beast

[Tbiesty]

This discussion and ruling is part of the series of discussions and rulings for an "Unofficial Rulebook" as described here.

This discussion will be open from Aug 13, 2010 - Aug 16, 2010.
The outcome of this discussion and ruling will be added to the "Unofficial Rulebook".

Discussion #6:

Can the game text of The Witch-king's Beast, Fell Creature be used multiple times at the same site?    (previous discussion)

Option 1:
It can only create one additional skirmish at a site.

Option 2:
It can be used multiple times at a site. As long as you can keep exerting The Witch-king twice, you can keep creating another additional skirmish.

[MuadDib85]

Option one.

"One additional" seems pretty straight forward to me..

[MR. Lurtzy]

MuadDib's right. Option 1.

[chompers]

The previous discussion has a different point of view and suggests option 2 but there is limited supporting evidence.

If it was intended to occur multiple times they could have used 'an additional' as opposed to 'one additional'.

Option 1 for me (unless somone finds something to convince me otherwise).

[Witchkingx5]

Well, Option 1 is obvious but there's nothing against Option 2, no limit, even though it's not easy to exert the Wich-King 4 times, cards that come in my mind are Ring of Rancor or Not easily Destroyed (Shadowy Mount doesn't work cus' the Witch-King already is mounted).

But still, chompers argument finally convinced me: "one additional" is the key expression. have a for that! Option 1.

[Tbiesty]

But still, chompers argument finally convinced me: "one additional" is the key expression. have a for that! Option 1.

Same here.  Option 1.

[Elessar's Socks]

Anyone remember if Decipher released an article on this card? Based on its game text, I'm leaning toward option 1... but if Decipher's intention was option 2, then I'd support clarifying the text to match.

Reasoning:

- The trigger "after all skirmishes and fierce skirmishes have been resolved" seems to be checking for the particular moment when regular rules-provided skirmishes are finished. It doesn't activate after just any skirmish.

- Since this text activates once per trigger (I'm assuming "after" is similar to "when" and "each time"), and the moment when the extra skirmish has been resolved doesn't repeat the "after all skirmishes and fierce skirmishes have been resolved" trigger, the text can't be used again.

[Cw0rk]

Option 1 otherwise it would say 'an' and not 'one'.

[Elessar's Socks]

About that, I'm not sure the "one additional" phrasing matters. "If X happens, you can do Y one additional time" doesn't mean you can't do Y again if X happens again. Or in other words, if game text says "Each time a companion exerts, you may exert that companion one additional time," I'd argue that you can keep exerting that companion.

Though as mentioned, I think the limit *is* handled--just in another way.

[Gerontius]

I think there is a case for Option 2. However, because of the use of "one additional skirmish", I would say that decipher meant for it to be only used once.

[chompers]

"After all skirmishes and fierce skirmishes have been resolved" happens only once even if additional skirmishes occur. The additional skirmish will not be associated with a fierce skirmish so it cannot trigger a second time. This is another case that option 1 is the right one as E.Socks has pointed out.

[Thranduil]

I think if you're going just on the card text, there's no reason to think otherwise than option 2.

However, I think the card's intention was very clearly option 1. Therefore, I think we should rule for option 1.

Thranduil

[mardukra]

#1

I suppose, as clarification, inserting 'regular' before "...skirmishes and fierce skirmishes have been resolved..." would clear up the Unofficial Rules.

[Tbiesty]

Option 1 it is.   The "Unofficial Rulebook" has been updated.