Hi,

We're about to play Respected Citizen (SoN) and as overlord I have 2 questions concerning Bertram:

- In Encounter 1, if I choose Ironbounds as an open group, would they be able to use "protect" on Bertram (being a figure)?

- Since a hero can only attack Bertram with bare hands, should they unequip any weapon first at start of turn? Or is attacking with bare hands allowed when a weapon is still equiped?

thanks

I'm not sure you could. Bertram is "immune to all other game effects" and I'm unsure if you'd be considering Bertram a target of "Protect." Even if you want to make the argument that the target of the ability is the attacking figure and not the targeted one, Ironbounds are quite slow. Since Bertram can't move onto a tile with one, they would need to follow him around.

A hero does not need to unequip his weapons to make a bare-handed attack, but he can't use any of the weapon's text during the attack (just like if it were an off-hand weapon, during the declare weapon and target step it is declared that he is using his hands instead of any equipped weapon.)

Thanks, indeed the "immune to all other game effects" should answer it, missed that bit... Was thinking that especially first few rounds keeping Bertram safe would be important (hence not so bothered with ironbounds needing to follow him later on) since seems that heroes can quite easily get to him before any hulk arrives (earliest round 2)

Hmmm, I think I sort of disagree on the two last posts. Bertram most certainly should be considered a figure, and the Ironbound "absorb" is an Ironbound skill, not related to Bertram at all (except him allowing it to trigger by his mere presence). The skill doesn't heal, which Bertram is immune to.

My point: "...all other game effects". Absorb is simply not an effect on Bertram.

Might be wrong, of course.

Any official ruling on this?

(PS! My group has this quest as the next in line. But as the OL I've decided too use Broodwalkers instead.... muahaha. Choice no. 2 would be Medusa, and Ironbound as no. 3)

What makes you say an ironbound monster ability is not a game effect?

What makes you say an ironbound monster ability is not a game effect?

I didn't say that, at least I didn't mean to. "Absorb" may very well be a game effect (a very wide term). But this effect applies to the Ironbound, not Bertram. It is triggered by Bertram's adjancency, but for the Ironbound, not Betram. Am I way off?

I think I see where you are coming from, and that is a valid point. I am not certain who you would consider the figure affected by protect (the attacking figure or the targeted one). As I said earlier, I don't THINK it is such a huge issue because ironbound are so slow- keeping them adjacent to Betram will be very difficult.

I'm not sure I would call protect a game effect on Bertram. All you're doing is declaring that the ironbound is now the target of the attack. Regardless, I would say that allowing protect was not the intent of the wording and you shouldn't be able to protect him with Ironbound. Obviously the chances of a bare-handed attack making it through black-grey deffense are pretty low and somewhat unfair.