House Card Questions

By PainsOfCastamere, in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

Hello, only just got the game and my friends and I have played a couple of games so far and think its great. Apologies if these are repeat questions as well, I've had a quick read through and can't see anything specific. We had a couple of cases where we weren't sure what to do, mainly to do with house cards.

1. If Baratheon is in combat at sea and is being supported by another player's ships, when they play Salladhor is the combat strength of the supporting ships also reduced to 0, not just the attacking ships?

2. If a player is in combat with Martell and currently has the Valyrian blade, if they elect to use it and Martell then plays Doran against them and chooses to push the player to the bottom of the fiefdoms influence track do they still get the bonus in attack? Furthermore, does the player now at the top of the Fiefdoms immediately gain the sword and can they then use it in that turn?

Thanks in advance for your help!

1) All non-Baratheon ships are reduced to zero, even the supporting ships.

2a) The Valyrian Blade is played after the house cards are shown, thus the Doran Martell card would lower the other player immediately and not allow the use of the Blade.

2b) The Valyrian Blade can be used only once per turn, so if the player that lost the Blade has not used it yet this turn, then the new holder of the Blade can use it. If the player had used it already, then the new holder would not be able to use it.

One remark - is Doran is played and Martell player chooses to reduce enemy position on Valerian Blade Track, the blade instantly goes away to the next owner and the initial owner can not use it!