question-circle Sequencing during block attempts

11 Sep 2021 07:36 - 11 Sep 2021 09:14 #103099 by lip
An interesting discussion arose on Discord yesterday, here is the scenario and question:

Methuselahs A → B → C → D
  • A bleeds B at +1 stealth
  • B has two vampires, Alice (unlocked) and Bob (a Prince, locked). C proposes to use Draba at :CHI: to help him block with Alice. So, B declares a block attempt with Alice but adds no intercept.
  • C plays Draba to reduce A stealth to zero.
  • A plays Spying Mission for an additional stealth
  • Can B play Second Tradition to try to block with Bob?
There have been a few rulings on this kind of situation already ( [PIB 20150820] [ANK 20200607] ), but the Discord discussion had two sides on this particular sequence:

Team 1
B had an ongoing block attempt and he passes the impulse to C to play Draba without declining further block attempts. It does not matter if a block attempt is successful or not, you get a full impulse sequence around the table and, only once everyone has played their effects do you know if the attempt is really successful or not - and then decide to attempt another block or decline further blocks. So, yes, you can Second Tradition with Bob.

Team 2
When B is attempting to block, either his attempt is successful and he passes the impulse, or he plays a card or effect to try to make the attempt successful or try another attempt, or, since his attempt is for now unsuccessful, he has to decline any further block attempts before he passes the impulse. So when Alice attempt is unsuccessful and he passes the impulse to C, he declines further block attempts. Draba makes the block successful until A adds stealth but, at that point, it's too late for another block attempt: only Alice is blocking and B has declined any further block attempts - he can still increase Alice's intercept but, no, Bob cannot Second Tradition.

Of course, we use Draba for the question, but this applies with other cards and effects like Hide the Heart, Netwar and using KRCG cross table.

-- EDIT: Ignore the question, Team 1 is right: Bob can Second Tradition --

More research gave us the very neat [ANK 20210205] : Yes, a block attempt opens a window for other effects around the table. It only fails if nobody plays anything. It is interesting to note that, even if it fails, nothing prevents you to attempt again with the same vampire, this time adding the necessary intercept to make it work. (cf. Rulebook: "A minion can attempt to block as many times as they wish as long as another minion is not already blocking.")

So, although you have to declare a block attempt before someone can play Draba or Netwar, you can wait on that play before you decide if you play your intercept or not if the action has some stealth to it.

Draba
Last edit: 11 Sep 2021 09:14 by lip.

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