Hi All,
An update to the comprehensive rules has been posted at:
www.ude.com/wow/rules
Your feedback is very welcome in this thread.
Thanks to all who contributed!
PR
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QUICK UPDATES
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100.2e A deck can include a Master hero with a certain name only if it contains no Master heroes with any other name.
200.1 Self-references include “this ability, “this ally,” and so on.
202.4 Arena is NOT an ally type.
206.1a A card shares a class with another card only if each has that tag on its type line.
301.4 Some Master heroes have a power that triggers “when your hero becomes [name].” Such a power triggers only when such a hero enters play while your hero is not named [name].
302.3 A Mount ally can be identified by the word “Mount” on its type line. Mounts can’t be proposed as attackers or defenders.
401.1 A player controls a card type if he controls a card in play of that type.
404.1a If a card says to “add” a counter but doesn’t specify where, it means to put that counter on itself.
415.8e Some modifiers tell you to “exchange” control of two cards. To exchange control of two cards, they must be in play and controlled by different players. Otherwise, nothing happens.
717.6 Some modifiers divide a packet into one or more packets by allowing its damage to be “divided as you choose among any number of [characters] instead.”
GLOSSARY: Add, Assault, Death Rattle, Exchange, Invincible, Mend, Mount, Printed.
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LESS QUICK UPDATES
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206.1c If a card has a trait icon or “[Trait] Hero” followed by a colon and text, that card has that text only if its controller’s hero has that trait. If this results in a triggered power with no triggered effect, that power can’t trigger.
The above rule has been tweaked to handle the new cycle of multi-class equipment (and to explain what happens if certain equipment is stolen by the "wrong" class).
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412.1b As a non-resource in play becomes a face-down resource, it loses all of these things and becomes a different card.
The above rule has been tweaked to clarify that it doesn't apply to face-up resources that turn face down.
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703.3-4 These rules have been extensively rewritten to:
a) Better define "active" and "inactive"
b) Welcome Death Rattle
c) Clarify that 703.4 is applicable in only a small number of situations
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706.1b Some target descriptions allow cards in non-play zones to be targeted. Unless a description specifies one or more such zones, cards in non-play zones can’t be targeted. However, only cards on the chain can be targeted for interruption. This is an exception to this rule.
The above rule has been added to supplement the following existing rule:
712.4 Some modifiers affect cards in zones other than play. Such modifiers specify what zones they affect cards in. Unless a modifier specifies that it affects cards in another zone, or unless it can only function by doing so, modifiers only affect cards in play.
Together, these two rules mean that "stuff only happens to cards in play unless other zones are specified" and they replace the over-lapping (and more confusing) rules that said "ally" means ally-in-play but "ally card" means ally-in-some-other-zone.
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709.2c If some (but not all) of the link’s targets are illegal as it resolves, it affects only those targets that are still legal, and can copy information from only those targets that are still legal.
The above rule has been tweaked because it was aimed at cards like Masquerade Gown but not cards like Chain Purge.
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303.2 If more than one wielder you control is in combat, you must choose one. (See this thread.)
408.3d Tweaked to play nice with wielders. (See this thread.)
717.4 Some modifiers replace “the next time” a character would deal OR BE DEALT (a specified type of) damage.
------- Log of major changes between v3.12 and v3.2:
303.2 You can strike with some weapons “while an ally in your party is in combat.”
706.2 Some modifiers tell a player to “change” the single target of a link to a second target. This triggers any powers or modifiers that trigger off that second target becoming targeted.
717.2c Some equipment “can prevent damage that would be dealt to allies in your party.”
GLOSSARY: Escape Artist, Find Treasure, Irradiated, Will Of The Forsoken
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301.2b Most heroes have the same ATK and health on their other side, but some don’t.
400.5 In addition to its attach description, each attachment has a host description, which is the “attached [thing]” specified in its powers. If no “attached [thing]” is specified, its host description is the same as its attach description.
410.6c Attachment destruction
• Each attachment attached to a Totem is destroyed by the game.
• Each other attachment checks whether it’s attached to a host matching its host description. If it’s not, it’s destroyed by the game. Its attach description is ignored.
700.3 Some modifiers cause a card in play to lose its powers. Such a card effectively has a blank text box for the duration of such a modifier. However, an ongoing ability remains ongoing, and an attachment remains an attachment and retains both its attach and host descriptions.
GLOSSARY: Host, Host description, Preparation
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103.3 Destruction, removal, or interruption "by the game" can’t be replaced.
202.1b A card with a multi-word tag also counts as the last word of that tag, but not the first word. For example, a Fel Orc ally also counts as an Orc ally, but not a Fel ally.
202.4 An ally type is any tag printed on the left side of a printed ally’s type line, following the dash, or any tag specified for an ally token as it’s created. If a card asks you to choose an ally type, you can choose a multi-word tag, but you can’t choose part of a multi-word tag unless that part is also an ally type.
707.1d If the link has a variable number of targets, you must first choose that number and then choose those targets. If the link requires information from the game to determine the number of targets that can be chosen, that information is locked in first.
713.2a If a modifier tells you to draw cards until a limit is reached, and you’re affected by a modifier that replaces drawing a card...
Keyword: A card with a power that can be represented by a keyword doesn’t necessarily have that keyword.
This Way: If a card’s text refers to [something] being done “this way,” it’s referring only to [something] being done by that card’s text, and not by any other card with the same name or text.
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204.3 A loot card is a card with the word “loot” in its collector number.
405.6 Some modifiers say something happens “for each damage” on a character, or “for each damage” dealt, healed, or prevented a certain way. Such a modifier counts only integer amounts of damage. Any fractions are ignored.
405.7 Some modifiers say to “switch” all damage on one character with the damage on a second character.
712.3a If text says to do something to “that [thing],” it’s done to whatever [thing] was last explicitly mentioned in that text, even if “that [thing]” doesn't currently describe it.
712.3b However, if information is to be read from “that ally” (rather than “that ally card”), that information is read from the last time that card was in play, if applicable. This rule also applies to other card types and descriptors.
713.2 Some modifiers tell you to do something “until” a specified limit is reached. If that limit has already been reached (or exceeded) as such a modifier is created, you do nothing.
GLOSSARY: Arcane Torrent, AWESOME!, Hardiness, Inspiring Presence
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103.3 RFG added to list of things that can be done "by the game."
405.3 A character can be dealt damage in excess of its health, but damage can’t be put on a character in excess of its health.
410.6c PPP update: Each attachment checks whether it’s attached to the “attached [thing]” specified in its powers. If it’s not, or if it’s attached to a Totem, it’s destroyed by the game. Its attach description is ignored.
415.10a The "zone change" rule has essentially become the "different card" rule, and now includes cards in play becoming resources:
A card that changes zones becomes a different card, even if it returns to the previous zone. In addition, a card in play that enters a resource row from a non-resource row becomes a different card, even though it hasn’t changed zones. Any modifiers affecting it or that would have affected it previously don't affect it in the new zone/row unless they specify that they do. Any counters or damage are removed as part of it changing zones/rows, and its attachments are destroyed by the game. It becomes an illegal target for any links targeting it. It’s removed from any combat. A card that changes controllers, orientation, or enters a non-resource row while in play is still the same card, and has not changed zones.
603.2 A series of pre-priority checks now takes place as a combat concludes so that characters are destroyed by combat damage while they're still attacking or defending.
714.3b [cardname] hasn’t remained [that way] if it becomes a different card.
GLOSSARY
Bear Form: A keyword power that heroes can have. Each instance of the “bear form” power means your hero has both protector and “When you play a non-Feral ability or strike with a weapon, destroy each ability that’s the source of a modifier granting your hero bear or cat form.”
Cat Form: A keyword power that heroes can have. Each instance of the “cat form” power means your hero has both “+1 ATK while attacking” and “When you play a non-Feral ability or strike with a weapon, destroy each ability that’s the source of a modifier granting your hero bear or cat form.”
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ERRATA
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Corki's Ransom, Alliance (Outland-227C)
Quest
Put Corki's Ransom FROM PLAY into its owner's hand and pay (2) to complete this quest. <p> Reward: Draw a card.
Judgement of Light, 2, Paladin (Legion-58R)
Ability—Holy JUDGEMENT
Judgement of Wisdom, 5, Paladin (Legion-59R)
Ability—Holy JUDGEMENT
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FUNCTIONAL UPDATES (existing rules that have received functional changes)
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* The rules for reattaching a card in play and retargeting a card on the chain have been synchronized. In each case, that card's attach/target description is read from the perspective of that card's current controller (rather than the player doing the reattaching/retargeting). The applicable rules are:
400.6b If that description refers to “you,” it’s read from the perspective of that attachment’s controller (if it’s currently in play) or the player moving that attachment into play (if it’s not).
706.2 Some modifiers tell a player to “change” the single target of a link to a second target. To do so, that player targets that second target with that link, but its target description continues to be read from the perspective of that link’s controller (so “opposing” continues to mean opposed to that player, and so on).
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* Party now refers to all cards in play under a player's control, not just characters:
415.9b Cards in play under a player’s control are collectively called his or her party.
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NEW HOTNESS
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206.1b An Alliance player is one who controls an Alliance hero and a Horde player is one who controls a Horde hero.
307.4 Some locations have a capacity value in their lower right corner.
706.5 Some links target randomly.
New glossary entries: Berserking, Capacity, Conspicuous, Diplomacy, Finishing Move, Shadowmeld, War Stomp
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This update is irregular in that it's relatively major, but not associated with one of the three big sets of the year. Instead, it's associated with three smaller sets of cards, namely the Black Temple raid, the Badge of Justice trinkets, and the Darkmoon Faire product. Because of this irregularity, and also because this update will impact DMF New Jersey and the World Championships, I'm going to be a bit more verbose than usual in describing the changes below.
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ERRATA
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* Silas Darkmoon has recieved errata to clarify that his power adds to his stats rather than wipes them, which is important in a few corner cases. While we're on the subject of Silas, rules buffs will be interested to note that he's the first card to actually road test the dependency rules that have been lurking at the tail end of the comp rules, so an example has been added there.
Silas Darkmoon, 6, Ally—Gnome Ringleader, Unique, 0 [Melee] ATK / 0 Health
Silas has ADDITIONAL ATK equal to the combined ATK of all other allies in your party, and ADDITIONAL health equal to the combined health of all other allies in your party.
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* The three cards that "double" ATK have been functionally changed to clear up confusion caused by differing interpretations of how that word worked in the context of a continuous modifier. The new wording clarifies that the size of the buff is locked on resolution, and stays locked for the rest of the turn (so if a weapon strike takes your hero to 3 ATK, for example, then Avenging Wrath will give that hero +3 ATK this turn, even after that combat concludes).
Avenging Wrath, 4, Paladin (Betrayer-68U)
Instant Ability—Retribution
Double your hero's ATK this turn.
-> Your hero has +X ATK this turn, where X is its ATK.
Bloodstained Ravager Gauntlets, 7, HuSh (Legion-256R)
Armor—Mail, Hands (1), 2 DEF
[Activate] >>> Double target weapon's ATK this turn.
-> Target weapon has +X ATK this turn, where X is its ATK.
Ripper, 1, Hunter (Legion-38U)
Ally—Ravager, Pet (1), 1 ATK (Melee), 1 Health
(3) >>> Double Ripper's ATK this turn.
-> Ripper has +X ATK this turn, where X is its ATK.
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* Noali's Imps how have damage type fire. This is because (a) going forward, every "non-standard" ally in play (including tokens) will have an explicit damage type rather than rely on the melee-default rule, and (b) if we're going to give Imps an explicit damage type then melee doesn't make a lot of sense :)
Imp Mistress Noali, 6, Horde, Ally—Blood Elf Warlock, 4 [Fire] ATK / 4 Health
Your face-down resources are also Imp Demon allies with 1 [FIRE] ATK / 1 health.
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NEW HOTNESS
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* Locations are a new card type, so they get their own set of rules (307) and are also responsible for the following updates:
300.1 There are eight card types: ability, ally, armor, hero, item, location, quest, and weapon
410.6g During PPP, each player who controls more than one location must choose one and turn the rest face down
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* Master Heroes, while technically not a new card type, are still kind of a big deal, so they also get their own rules (301.4) as well as these updates:
205.1 A card can gain additional damage types, and packets can have more than one damage type (because Illidan has damage type melee and can gain additional types from any non-melee weapon with which he strikes)
301.5 A hero can't enter a party from an RFG zone if there's already another hero in that party (to cover unlikely-but-possible Cheat Death shenanigans)
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* New rules (402.2) are required for Essence of the Martyr, the first card that can become a copy of another card, so section 402 has been created for "copying", and the existing rules for copying a link have been moved there as well.
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* Darkmoon Card: Madness is an advance teaser for the new way that all applicable payment powers will be worded from now on. A new rule (701.1) explains that powers that formerly ended with "Use only on your turn", for example, now start with "On your turn:". Why the change? Apart from saving a few characters (which is never unimportant) this moves the restriction up front which (a) is where it more properly "belongs" since such restrictions impact how a power is used rather than how it resolves, and (b) hopefully means it's less likely to be missed/forgotten.
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FUNCTIONAL UPDATES (existing rules that have received functional changes)
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* A trio of related rules changes revolve around the never-dull topic of replacements. First, the zone-change exception that used to hang around at the end of what is now section 415.10 has been completely removed. Why? Well, generally, the fewer exceptions in the rules, the better. And, specifically, because the only reason this rule existed was because of an awkward desire for costs and if-you-do checks to "kind of still work" despite zone-change replacements. With this update, the decision has been made to let go of this desire and simultaneously tighten/simplify rules 707.1e (which now says that you can't pay any cost that would be replaced) and 709.2f (which now says that an "if you do" check fails if any part of it was replaced in any way). The good news is that 709.2f has an example that illustrates pretty much everything discussed in this paragraph, which I'll copy here:
Example: You control Dramla Lifebender, Grunt Baranka, and Ritual Sacrifice. You can’t use Ritual Sacrifice’s power while Dramla is in your party. In addition, when Baranka defends against an opposing ally, her power triggers and tries to destroy her, but Dramla’s modifier replaces the destruction event by removing Baranka from the game. Baranka’s “if you do” is not satisfied, and so the attacking ally is not destroyed.
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* Semi-related to the last point is a simplification to 415.10d, which now says that any and all events that put a card into a graveyard from play are destroy events. (Previously, attachments falling off a host were sometimes exceptions.) Now you can always be confident that play to graveyard = destroy, and destroy = play to graveyard.
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* A new PPP check has been added at 410.6f: all counters on face-down resources are removed.
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* Finally, 415.9b clarifies that a non-character card in play that becomes a character (like Essence of the Martyr, or one of Noali's Imps) neither enters play nor enters a party. (Previously, an argument could be made for it entering a party.)
------- Log of major changes between v2.2 and v2.21:
105.1/501.1 Only physically exhausted cards can be readied, and vice versa (Shadowstep)
413.8 To remove a card from the game, first reveal it unless it’s being removed face down (Bimble Blackout)
703.6 Triggered powers that are active in non-public zones (Bimble Blackout)
------- Log of major changes between v2.1 and v2.2:
100.2d Deckbuilding rules
306.2d Smoke or Croak rules
307.2 A quest is “neutral” if it has neither the Alliance nor the Horde trait icon
405. Dual shield and sextuple wield
411.3 A player searching a zone for “a card” can’t fail to find a card unless that zone is empty
413.4 Playing with the top card of your deck revealed
703.1a Powers that trigger when an event “next” happens
Glossary: Class, Damaged, Deckbuilding, Dual Shield, Loyal, Neutral, Race, Random, Rarity, Reattach, Resistance, Sextuple Wield, Text, Thrown, Undamaged
------- Log of major changes between v2.01 and v2.1:
**UPDATED RULES**
101 Opening hands are "put" not drawn; mulligans are performed simultaneously.
403.2a Tokens entering, leaving, or in play are cards in all respects.
413.8b A card in an RFG zone is face up and public, unless it was removed by a modifier that specified that it was removed “face down,” or removed while it was a face-down resource. In both cases, it remains face down in that RFG zone, and only its owner may look at it. A face-down card is effectively blank—it has no name, type, tags, or text—while in an RFG zone. If a face-down card from an RFG zone enters play, it enters play as a face-down resource.
706.2 Some modifiers let a player “change” the single target of a link to a second target. To do so, that player targets that second target with that link, but its target description is read from that player’s perspective (so “opposing” means opposed to that player, and so on). If no legal second target can be chosen, that link is not changed.
**NEW RULES**
104.3 "Double"
200.3 "Make up" a name
205.1d “Becomes” a [damage type icon] card
206.1 A hero is a traitor if it has that word on its type line; otherwise it’s loyal.
300.1a “Becomes” a different card type
405 Two-Handed dual wield
413.9b If multiple resources appear identical (because they’re all face down, or all face up with the same name) but some are affected differently by modifiers, those affected resources must be clearly distinguished while they remain so affected.
500.5 End the turn
501.1b Inspire
• Only an exhausted card can be inspired, and no more than once each turn. You can’t choose to inspire a ready card or the same card more than once each turn.
• Some characters allow you to inspire more than one card. If you control such a character during another player’s ready step, you may inspire any, all, or none of those cards.
706.4 Some characters say that opposing links “must target” them if able.
714.1 Continuous modifiers are either definite or indefinite.
717.5 Some modifiers prevent “the first” X damage that a character would be dealt each turn.
800.3 Lady Katrana Prestor
------- Log of major changes between v2.0 and v2.01:
103.3 Links that can't be interrupted
403/404 Damage no longer follows rules for counters
409.6f All damage on non-characters is removed by PPP
801 Major change to mandatory loop rules (with Withering Shout example)
NEW/UPDATED GLOSSARY ENTRIES
* Shuffle: If a modifier says to shuffle one zone into another, first combine the cards from the source zone into the destination zone, then shuffle that combined pile, even if one of those zones is empty.
------- Log of major changes between v1.21 and v2.0:
100.2 Reputation
400. New section: Attachments (including new rules for Moving Attachments)
405. New section: Dual Wield (including Ranged Dual Wield)
409.6 PPP updated
501.1a Inspire
6. Sabotage added to combat rules
702. Completion powers renamed to reward powers
704.1b "Definite" continuous powers generate modifiers “as” events happen
705.6 Copying a card on the chain
NEW/UPDATED GLOSSARY ENTRIES
* Ally type = Any tag on the left side of an ally’s type line, following the dash.
* Flip power = A hero’s payment power that involves flipping that hero.
* Keyword = Words in type lines are no longer keywords. Most bold words are keywords, except for Ongoing, Reward, and Aldor/Scryer Reputation.
paul_ross@upperdeck.com
UDE TCG Rules