Rules Team HQ - Open for Business

[MrNobody]

Okay, so I feel like we were almost to a solution when we dropped off here.

[IAmBatman]

What was the ruling we were close to, though?

[toyhandle]

Seems like it was a matter of digging up an old ruling that powers are "must" unless specified otherwise.
And maybe adding "unless the player controlling Blob allows that figure to be moved," in order to preserve the intent of the power, without relying on an FAQ with loose logic.

[toyhandle]

On the topic of updating cards to preserve intent and not rely on FAQ's:

Stuck should have "unless the player controlling [Name] allows that figure to be moved," as figures with Stuck often work best with figure movers. Magneto is going to want to continue throwing opponent's figures that are engaged with Blob, and the FAQ makes it clear that it was the intent.

I've played with both Scarlet Witch (I) and Jinx recently. Scarlet Witch's FAQ allowing re-rolls on special attacks dates back to 2013. At minimum, the better half of a decade had her being played this way.
As of January this year, now it's only normal attacks, and it's not super obvious to anyone already familiar with her FAQ, since the change is only mentioned on the last page.

I think the wording on the power should be adjusted to meet in the middle. Since she would have to be targeted anyway to be attacked with a normal attack, why not just update the wording to specify "when Scarlet Witch is targeted and attacked by a normal or special attack"? Matches YK's interpretation of the power in post #468, at the bottom of pg 39 in her thread. Plays like her old self, with no ambiguity on AoE Special Attacks.

Same with Jinx. She was designed based on Scarlet Witch, and designer intent was to allow re-rolls on special attacks, so that should be tweaked as well.

Also, the SP of Count Vertigo mentions that Nullify is intended to work on Special Attacks, so we should look at that.

[IAmBatman]

OK. Seems best to tackle these one at a time and take them through the process, I think?

[Lord Pyre]

Should we tweak Blob's wording to allow the controller to turn it off rather than try to make a ruling around it?

I don't think Scarlet Witch and jinx are a problem unless we really need them to affect SAs, which I'm not sure is that big a deal. SW especially is already a pretty bonkers figure.

[MrNobody]

Okay, so can we all agree that "Special powers are, by default, a "must" unless the power specifies otherwise" is the correct ruling to make? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here, but that seems like the correct option that is most consistent with C3G.

If so, there's a few next steps.

1. Do a bit more of a deep scan. I don't know if there's any way to check every power for intent, but maybe checking every "may" or "must" power on the sortable index? I can tackle that this week.

2. Decide what we're going to do with the problem case FAQs Toy mentioned. Blob, Scarlet Witch, and Jinx. I think Vertigo might've been misread. The Strategy Tip says Vertigo Effect affects SAs, which it should...that's all the power does.

[toyhandle]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

I think Vertigo might've been misread. The Strategy Tip says Vertigo Effect affects SAs, which it should...that's all the power does.

Not the strategy tip, the bottom of Count Vertigo's SP says,

Nullify also affects all special attacks - you probably don't need to put that whole list out, but it might be worth updating the heading for the part about his electronic implant power to also include the effects of nullify.

[MrNobody]

Ah my b! It looks like there was a name swap on those 2 powers at some point. So Bats was probably referring to the power that’s now called Vertigo Effect because Nullify has no aspect that should touch SAs.

C3G didn’t start the “SP is only for the design info” practice until later, so a lot of old SPs will
have offhand comments like that. I personally wouldn’t count them as “canon” when it comes to determining rulings and such.

[toyhandle]

That makes sense. Thanks!

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by MrNobody

Okay, so can we all agree that "Special powers are, by default, a "must" unless the power specifies otherwise" is the correct ruling to make? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here, but that seems like the correct option that is most consistent with C3G.

I wish I could agree with that. But flying exists.

[Lord Pyre]

Is flying the only offender?