Can you use Bollix [tha] as defense against long range strike?

Hello, I have a question.

Can a vampire play
Bollix [tha]
at long range to protect him/herself from a Gun strike?

Bollix
Type: Combat
Requires: anarch Celerity/Presence/Thaumaturgy
Requires an anarch.
[cel] Maneuver or press.
[ pre] Cancel the opposing minion's aim, frenzy, or grapple card as it is played, and its cost is not paid.
[tha] Strike: hand strike at +1 damage. This damage cannot be prevented by cards requiring Fortitude [for]. The opposing vampire's strikes with weapons inflict no damage on this vampire this round.

BogusMagus wrote:

Hello, I have a question.

Can a vampire play
Bollix [tha]
at long range to protect him/herself from a Gun strike?

Bollix
Type: Combat
Requires: anarch Celerity/Presence/Thaumaturgy
Requires an anarch.
[cel] Maneuver or press.
[ pre] Cancel the opposing minion's aim, frenzy, or grapple card as it is played, and its cost is not paid.
[tha] Strike: hand strike at +1 damage. This damage cannot be prevented by cards requiring Fortitude [for]. The opposing vampire's strikes with weapons inflict no damage on this vampire this round.

no.

The whole text of is part of the strike. If in this case the strike does not hit the opposing minion, it's (extra) effect is negated.

Thank you very much, GreyB-san!

Of course you can

XZealot wrote:

Of course you can

Could you provide any backing for that?

Soul Burn, for example, has similar text to Bollix:

The anti-weapon clause is ineffective if dodged.


[LSJ 20040929]

LSJ wrote:

> 2. If soul burn is dodged, does the "weapon inflict no damage" thing
> take effect or not ? (i believe not)

"Not" is correct. Dodge protects the dodger from all effects of the
strike.

Since the anti-weapon text of Soul Burn is part of the strike affecting the opponent, the anti-weapon text of Bollix is also part of the strike affecting the opponent.

Then, since Bollix isn't a ranged strike, it doesn't take effect at close range. 6.4.3: "Unless the strike is identified as ranged or does "R" damage (or is a defensive strike such as dodge or combat ends), it is only effective at close range."

(Dodge and Combat Ends are explicitly said to be effective at any range, 6.4.5.)

Dodge specifically is ruled in the rulebook

Dodge. A dodge strike deals no damage, but it protects the dodging minion and his possessions (cards on him) from the effects of the opposing strike. Retainers are not protected, however. A dodge is effective at any range. A dodge protects even from the effects of a strike done with first strike. (A dodge is a strike, even though it is solely defensive. It represents the activity of the minion during that pair of strikes.)

There is no such ruling for short range strikes being used at long range.

It is actually on you to prove that the defensive part of the card is negated by being at long range, which it is not.