One of the merchant's special abilities is to trade an item when encountering another player. The way the ability is described on the card leaves room for interpretation of whether the "victim" must agree to the exchange or whether he has not choice. Example, Merchant moves and lands on another character. Instead of attacking, Merchant decides to trade an item. Merchant takes Talisman and gives "victim" a water bottle. Victim protests that he doesn't agre to that "trade." Do it matter? I read the description to not require consent, just the replacement of another object.

Any official ruling on this yet?

The victim has no choice in the matter, the Merchant may take any object from the character that he wants, apart from the Bag of Holding or Concealed Pouch.

Ell.

Eli...I notice you say 'any object'. I assume that he still has to follow the rules about alignment objects he's not allowed to carry.

Now what about GIVING objects? For example, I land on someone who is good. Can I trade them a rune sword even tho they can't carry it? Or does the alignment restriction work both ways?

Eli...I notice you say 'any object'. I assume that he still has to follow the rules about alignment objects he's not allowed to carry.

Now what about GIVING objects? For example, I land on someone who is good. Can I trade them a rune sword even tho they can't carry it? Or does the alignment restriction work both ways?

Interesting question about forcing the other character to take an item they can't carry due to alignment. I wonder how that works! Would they be forced to trade and then drop the object?

There's no official ruling but it would be funny. The Priest hands the Merchant a Talisman and the Merchant throws him a Runesword, laughing as he runs off while the Priest dodges and weaves to avoid having any part of his body touch it.

Characters are not permitted to take cards that they may not have. For example, if a character may not have Followers, he may not take one by casting the Mesmerism Spell on another character.

This applies to the Merchant trading Objects with another character. The Merchant cannot trade an Object that the other player is not permitted to take!

"...It burns, It burns us, It freezes Nasty Elves twisted it..."

Thanx for getting back to me. Muchly appreciated