No Secrets from Vlad Tepes

I agree that a minion acting as if they had a requirement has a lot of coutnerintuitive components. Unless there is a dedicated section added to the rulebook that gets into every little situation of a minion acting as if they had a requirement, there is no amount of rewording on cards that is going to fix this. I wonder if it is better to just ban these cards. (I'm not joking or trying to be controversial; I already avoid any cards that allow a minion to act as if they had a requirement because I honestly do not know how to use them most of the time).

Ankha wrote:

Kraus wrote:

VERY counterintuitive!

My thoughts exactly.

I'm like, what.

I would NOT be able to read that from the card texts alone.

It is very similar to Guard Duty: you have to follow the cardtext, even if it's surprising.

There is a clarification clause in the Amaranth version of Guard Duty, but not the card from Final Nights.

From reading the Final Nights version of Guard Duty I would not be able to comprehend that it is unusable if no intercept is needed.

Is this ruling really needed? Is there any way to work around it? It makes little sense (in any way but the strictest reading of the rules), is really confusing and often (I think) should be reminded in the card text.

Intercept in these, I feel, should be an added benefit, not a hinderance.

Ankha wrote:

Lönkka wrote:

Is this only relevant to Vlad?
And if so why (aren't "other" Magaji with NSFTM affected by this limitation)?

It's only relevant to Vlad who doesn't use it continuously.

Ah, OK now I see it.
Vlad needs to "activate" NSFTM.

Lönkka wrote:

Ankha wrote:

, the same way he wouldn't be able to burn 1 blood with a Bowl of Convergence, or lock a WMRH Talk Radio to gain intercept.

For Bowl he needs to burn a blood and form WMRH he needs to tap WMRH.

For NSFTM he doesn't need to do anything as NSFTM grants him +1 intercept.

Vlad has to "use" it to get the intercept and the "block as if..." ability. Otherwise the NSftM has no effect. And Vlad can't use it if he doesn't need intercept (rulebook)[/quote]

I still think it is highly counterintuitive that if you have an effect (in the case of NSFTM block while untapped) and the same source also gives intercept you can't activate the effect if intercept is needed.



Regarding Guard Duty which is at best a very marginal card that sees no use, perhaps it could be made slightly less marginal card by making the intercept voluntary?

"Put this card on the acting minion and choose a location. If the chosen location is the target of a action (and you control the location), this minion can burn 1 blood or burn this card to untap and attempt to block with OPTIONAL +1 intercept."

or

"Put this card on the acting minion and choose a location. If the chosen location is the target of a action (and you control the location), this minion can burn 1 blood or burn this card to untap and attempt to block with +1 intercept IF NEEDED."

"Put this card on the acting minion and choose a location. If the chosen location is the target of a action (and you control the location), this minion can burn 1 blood or burn this card to untap and attempt to block with +1 intercept IF NEEDED."

Or, rather, even if it is not yet needed so that we'll actually get the benefit?

I'm not sure what to do with Vlad and No secrets to make it more intuitive...