I want to get something clarified because it led to some debate in our group last game.

We encountered a travel card where the OL draws from the shop deck until he draws a melee weapon, then one of the hero's gets to make a melle attack against the "travel card" weapon. The OL rolls 1 grey die ( I think) and the hero gets to roll his "normal defence pool". If the Hero deals more damage than he takes, he keeps the weapon. (He keeps the damage he takes in either cases)

I'm paraphrasing because I don't have the card in front of me, of course.

The debate was whether this included armour, or if it was meant to only include the hero's base defence die. Since the OL rolled an X on his attack die, the point was moot anyways.

including equippements I think

I don't see the word "normal" meaning anything special here. A hero's defense pool is the defense dice he rolls when he's attacked, including armor. It's ONLY ambiguous because it's the travel phase, so does anyone really have anything "equipped?" Otherwise, armor and sometimes shields do augment your defense pool when you have them equipped, and I see no text on this card saying you shouldn't include those dice in your roll.

I would only think it meant "just that gray die on your hero sheet" if it specified not including armor. It also may imply that the spiritspeaker can't exhaust "stoneskin" (or any ability) to give you additional defense dice.

I don't see the word "normal" meaning anything special here. A hero's defense pool is the defense dice he rolls when he's attacked, including armor. It's ONLY ambiguous because it's the travel phase, so does anyone really have anything "equipped?" Otherwise, armor and sometimes shields do augment your defense pool when you have them equipped, and I see no text on this card saying you shouldn't include those dice in your roll.

I would only think it meant "just that gray die on your hero sheet" if it specified not including armor. It also may imply that the spiritspeaker can't exhaust "stoneskin" (or any ability) to give you additional defense dice.

This was exactly the issue the OL raised "Can you be considered to have anything equipped during the travel phase?" and the position we finally settle on was that armour counted, but not anything that requires an action or an exhaust to activate, such as a skill, or the ability of some shields to add one to the result or to reroll a defence die.

Of course the armour counts. Of course you are euqipped with all your items, I mean why won't you on a potentially dangerous travel-session.

It somewhere says in the unofficial FAQ that you can even use lucky charm during the travel phase, however each item you exhaust stays exhausted until the hero's turn in the following encounter.

Hmmm, that's an interesting point.

I think I will submit this to FFG and see what Nathan sez about it, because given where we are in the game (Act II, first quest past the interlude) the Heroes are armoured for bear and rolling 1 grey for base, 1 grey for cloak of deception, adding in the power of the shield of light to either reroll or add 1 to the result, the ability to test awareness to be unaffected by the attack and any skills the hero may be able to apply to it would have made this a piece of cake even if the OL had not missed.

Of course the armour counts. Of course you are euqipped with all your items, I mean why won't you on a potentially dangerous travel-session.

It somewhere says in the unofficial FAQ that you can even use lucky charm during the travel phase, however each item you exhaust stays exhausted until the hero's turn in the following encounter.

I forgot about the Lucky Charm ruling. I suppose as long as the heroes are clear about what is equipped and what isn't during the travel phase, there aren't any problems. (I feel very confident that the hero can't unequip anything during the travel phase, or change equipment.)

This is such a great example of FFG not having the slightest clue how to write rules. "Normal defense pool" makes perfect sense to some people - and perfect sense (meaning the opposite) to other people. The fact is, it is not a defined term in the game.

It is so trivial to define game terms and then use them consistently. FFG seems to be a huge game company with tons of different products - how is it that this is a secret to them?

This is such a great example of FFG not having the slightest clue how to write rules. "Normal defense pool" makes perfect sense to some people - and perfect sense (meaning the opposite) to other people. The fact is, it is not a defined term in the game.

It is so trivial to define game terms and then use them consistently. FFG seems to be a huge game company with tons of different products - how is it that this is a secret to them?

I don't think it's a question of defining "defense pool" -that's crystal clear. From the "Roll Dice" paragraph in the rulebook:

Black Knight, yea I've always played this as whatever you are wearing, but we didn't allow stuff like Shield of Light to be used, or consider things like Leoric's ability (Even though he's probably standing next to you during this duel). Though, now that I think about it, we've let Tomble use lucky charm for tests during travel steps... so who knows!

Honestly this is one of those rules that, yes, was written in a "this will probably be obvious to them" way but I feel a sane gaming group could make a decision on it. Even as overlord I would prolly say "of course you are wearing your armor."

It means the character can use whatever their defense is based on their current equipment, but cannot receive temporary buffs from teammates.

This is such a great example of FFG not having the slightest clue how to write rules. "Normal defense pool" makes perfect sense to some people - and perfect sense (meaning the opposite) to other people. The fact is, it is not a defined term in the game.

It is so trivial to define game terms and then use them consistently. FFG seems to be a huge game company with tons of different products - how is it that this is a secret to them?

A bit harsh and unfair IMO. Writing rules that everyone understands is a lot harder than most people think. Unless you are Stephen Hawkins. But he is already taken. More likely that he would be playing Descent actually, and complaining in this forum about badly formulated rules.

equipment is always considered as equipped during travel,
otherwise the Mapstone would be quite mood, or the lucky charm, etc.

it is an attack of the weapon against all defense the hero can put up.Also the hero can use skills as weapon mastery or abilities as nanok's to boost his attack against the grey die.

I wouldn't allow skills though. Unless the rules specifically states that I should.