Ghoul retainer

I'm aware of the designer intent. There isn't really a way to clarify how Ghoul Retainer should work the way the designers intended it without ambiguity being introduced in certain situations, as exemplified with Weighted Walking Stick. It may be time to start examining areas where some of the original designer intent should be changed or removed from the game, as was done for Seeds of Corruption. I firmly believe that Ghoul Retainer is one of these instances. The effect just doesn't fit into the game elegantly enough. And It's by far not the only example.

Hi folks,

Playing a game in which vampire A has a ghoul retainer, in combat with vampire B.

Vampire B is long and strikes with his magnum. Vampire A wants his ghoul retainer to inflict 1 damage at long as in cardtext, the mention "inflicts 1 damage on the opposing minion each round of combat during normal strike resolution at close range" doesnt exists like with other retainers of that type (Wolf Companion, ...).

On the other hand all other retainers inflincting damage at long range specify clearly that they do ranged damages (Murder of Crows)...

Is a Ghoul retainer able to inflict damages at long range without any weapons?

Thanks for your help!

Ghoul Retainer
Ghoul with 2 life. 1 strength.

During the initial strike resolution each round, the Ghoul Retainer inflicts 1 damage or may use a weapon not used by the employing minion (or another retainer) that round (either before or after). This is not a strike, although it does count as "using" the weapon.

Murder of Crows
Animal with 1 life.

i Murder of Crows inflicts 1R damage on the opposing minion each round of combat during normal strike resolution.

I As above, but Murder of Crows has 2 life.

Wolf Companion
Animal with 2 life.

i When the minion with this retainer is in combat, the opposing minion takes 1 damage during strike resolution (if the range is close).

I As above, but Wolf Companion has 3 life.

Damage inflicted as part of a strike resolution effect is affected by range, meaning if it isn´t explicitly R damage it is only inflicted when at close range. [LSJ 20020104]

TwoRazorReign wrote:

I'm aware of the designer intent. There isn't really a way to clarify how Ghoul Retainer should work the way the designers intended it without ambiguity being introduced in certain situations, as exemplified with Weighted Walking Stick. It may be time to start examining areas where some of the original designer intent should be changed or removed from the game, as was done for Seeds of Corruption. I firmly believe that Ghoul Retainer is one of these instances. The effect just doesn't fit into the game elegantly enough. And It's by far not the only example.

Hundred percent agreed. Some of the old clunky cards should be removed (either by ban or errata) so they don't cause rules issues in the future.

Suggestion for errata for ghoul retainer:

During the initial strike resolution each round, the Ghoul Retainer inflicts 1 damage or X ranged damage, where X is the amount of damage that one of the weapons equipped by the employer can inflict.

(Yes, this would make the retainer strictly better, but I think this is acceptable because it requires equipping both the weapon AND having the retainer in order to do anything. And retainer can't be equipped with concealed weapon.. Its still clunky to use, and requires use of a weapon better than magnum in order to give any actual benefit (since it costs 2 pool). This might make the retainer playable which is a goal in itself.. )