Summon History and Eccentric Billionaire

I was wondering if Eccentric Billionaire and Summon History work together. That is, if you control an untapped Billionaire, and you play Summon History at inferior to put an equipment that costs pool into play (e.g. Ivory Bow), can you tap the billionaire to reduce the cost of the Bow (to make it free in this case)? I assume this doesn't work, but I just wanted to make sure. Thanks.

Eccentric Billionaire
[Ally] Ally

[Toreador antitribu] Toreador antitribu

[3 Pool]

Mortal with 1 life. 0 strength, 2 bleed.
Billionaire may tap to reduce the cost of an equipment or location you or any of your minions play by 1 pool. Only one Billionaire may be used to reduce the cost of a given card.

Summon History
[Action] Action

[Temporis] Temporis

[X Blood]

[tem] Search your library and/or ash heap for an ally, retainer or equipment whose cost is X or less. Put that card in play (on this vampire and with starting life from the bank as needed).

This is just a hunch, but I assume Eccentric Billionaire includes incorrect wording. It should say that the payment is one less, not the cost. "Billionaire may tap to reduce {{{the cost you pay}}} of an equipment or location you or any of your minions play by 1 pool. Only one Billionaire may be used to reduce the cost {{{you pay for}}} a given card.

I think your question stems from "cost" and "payment" normally being synonyms. My gut feeling is the two terms are not synonymous in the context of VTES, wherein the cost of a card is fixed and the payment of such costs is what is actually being reduced. And I think this is why your gut reaction is that you are unable to get a free Ivory Bow via Summon History.

Again, I am not sure if Eccentric Billionaire (and a bunch of other cards with similar wording) can reduce the actual cost printed on a card. Hopefully the rules team will weigh in.

mjvtes521 wrote:

I was wondering if Eccentric Billionaire and Summon History work together. That is, if you control an untapped Billionaire, and you play Summon History at inferior to put an equipment that costs pool into play (e.g. Ivory Bow), can you tap the billionaire to reduce the cost of the Bow (to make it free in this case)? I assume this doesn't work, but I just wanted to make sure. Thanks.

This Rules Team Ruling suggests they probably do work together.

Rules Team Rulings 07-JUL-07

TwoRazorReign wrote:

I think your question stems from "cost" and "payment" normally being synonyms. My gut feeling is the two terms are not synonymous in the context of VTES, wherein the cost of a card is fixed and the payment of such costs is what is actually being reduced.

Cost is not a fixed amount in V:TES. It can be changed.

Black Cat : Equipment costs Black Cat 1 less pool (but never less than 0 pool).

Centralized Background Check : Weapons cost an additional pool

Terror Frenzy was changed to affect card cost (from previous wordings about " burns an additional blood " or " pays an additional " (look at the images). www.vekn.net/card-rulings/card-rulings-p-to-z
Edit to add: also, this helpful ruling: [LSJ 20040701]

LSJ wrote:

> Centralized Background Check is in play, a fight involving Vampire A
> is just starting..
>
> Can Vampire A play Concealed Weapon and equip qith a Magnum?

No. A weapon that costs 3 pool cannot be Concealed out.

Relevant Concealed Weapon text: "The weapon cannot cost 3 or more pool or inflict (with a regular strike) aggravated damage or 4 or more damage."

jamesatzephyr wrote:

Relevant Concealed Weapon text: "The weapon cannot cost 3 or more pool or inflict (with a regular strike) aggravated damage or 4 or more damage."

I just spotted the "regular strike" expression.
What in Guiness name is a regular strike?

Another one to put next to the "true disciplines"...

Imo it won't work. Bilionere reduces cost of cards that are played. When using SH you are not "playing" equipment cards but "putting them into play". It is a big difference.