Can Single Purpose be used to activate Planning twice? I do not believe so, but I am unable to find a conflict in the rules. Single Purpose states "You may use the same special action up to twice during this activation." And Planning is a "Special Action", per the 3rd bullet point listed under Actions in the RRG. Thank you for the help!

"After the effect of a Command card has resolved, it is placed

faceup in the player’s discard pile."

The card is no longer in your hand and can not be played again. The character does not gain the special action, they can simply perform it as you play the card.

Furthermore:

"A player cannot play multiple copies of the same Command

card at the same time."

Both under Command Cards in the RRG.

Thank you. His argument is as follows:

Single purpose allows a character to "use the same special action up to twice during this activation".

Planning give the player is a special action.

Further, per the Golden Rule in the RRG, "Card abilities can override the rules listed in this guide".

Therefore, per Single Purpose and the Golden Rule, he can activate planning twice, as Single Purpose overrides when Planning as fully resolved. He is not playing two copies of the same card, he is activating a special ability on the card twice. After the first resolution of the special ability, he has the option to activate it again before the card would go into the discard pile.

Still seems to be a little grey to me. But, I think the key is after the first resolution of the card, it would go into the discard pile. But, if Single Purpose allows you to use it twice, has the card fully resolved after the first activation?

as Single Purpose overrides when Planning as fully resolved

He should stop making up rules and interactions that don't exist.

Once Planning resolves (which Single Purpose has nothing to do with), it is gone. You can't use it again because it doesn't exist.

I agree this does not appear to be correct, but, I can not find anything in the RRG which says otherwise.

Single Purpose say "May use a Special Action Twice". When Single Purpose is played, the "special action" is not declared. Therefore, Single Purpose does not resolve until a special action is used twice and is valid when Planning is played. Planning, being a special action, is not fully resolved until the player chooses to activate it twice or only once.

Please, help me find something in the RRG I can show him to contradict this. Drawing 4 command cards is insane!

Thank you

There are 2 problems with what you're proposing.

1) Single Purpose indeed resolves after you play the card before you've done anything. It grants the figure the ability to use a special action twice, then the command card is discarded. That's all it does. Don't make up any extra parts to it.

2) Actions are resolved sequentially. You're trying to interrupt before Planning is resolved to use the Planning special action again. You can't do that. "Planning, being a special action, is not fully resolved until the player chooses to activate it twice or only once." - This is completely made up and nowhere in the rules or the cards.

Right. You can't perform an action inside another action in Imperial Assault. Each action is fully resolved before you can take the next action.

Examples: The Move action finishes immediately after granting movement points. Moves and attacks and other interrupts from abilities are not actions.

The real nail in the coffin to this interpretation is the fact that the special action granted by Planning only exists while the card is in play. As soon as the card is discarded (which is immediately after you resolve it), there is no timing window available for Single Purpose to allow it to be used again.

The real nail in the coffin to this interpretation is the fact that the special action granted by Planning only exists while the card is in play. As soon as the card is discarded (which is immediately after you resolve it), there is no timing window available for Single Purpose to allow it to be used again.

True, but I think the question comes around the timing of what it means to resolve it, and how Single Purpose fits into that. If you're into math and algebra, it's a question of where the brackets go:

1. Single Purpose (Planning Action, then Discard)

...or...

2. Single Purpose (Planning Action), then Discard

I think that's why there's some confusion around this interaction. If #1 is correct then you can only use Planning once, because the card is discarded after the first interaction. But if #2 is correct, then you can use Planning twice with Single Purpose, because the card hasn't been discarded yet, since Single Purpose isn't finished being used yet.

I could see it being either one, but I'm inclined to assume (and an assumption is all it is) that #1 is correct. Regardless, I do think we need a clear decision from FFG on this.

The entire argument is based around the issue of when the ability exists.

"Command Cards", Skirmish Guide, Page 5:

To play the card, he reveals it to his opponent, resolves its ability, and then discards the card.

Single Purpose isn't an action, and specifically states it lasts the entire activation. The timing works like this:

1) Start Of Activation
2) Single Purpose (lasts until end of activation)

3) 1st action: Planning (effect ends as soon as the card is discarded, which is immediately after Planning resolves)

4) 2nd action: (something else, Planning is no longer an active effect).

Single Purpose does not grant the ability to insert a timing window in between resolving an ability and discarding the card (at which point, the Planning ability ceases to exist), it only grants the ability to play an ability twice, under the assumption it exists, such as a printed ╔► ability on the card or skirmish attachment.

The entire argument is based around the issue of when the ability exists.

"Command Cards", Skirmish Guide, Page 5:

To play the card, he reveals it to his opponent, resolves its ability, and then discards the card.

Single Purpose isn't an action, and specifically states it lasts the entire activation. The timing works like this:

1) Start Of Activation

2) Single Purpose (lasts until end of activation)

3) 1st action: Planning (effect ends as soon as the card is discarded, which is immediately after Planning resolves)

4) 2nd action: (something else, Planning is no longer an active effect).

Single Purpose does not grant the ability to insert a timing window in between resolving an ability and discarding the card (at which point, the Planning ability ceases to exist), it only grants the ability to play an ability twice, under the assumption it exists, such as a printed ╔► ability on the card or skirmish attachment.

Okay, then it's equation #1 from my algebra illustration above. But even then--and I agree with what you've said--it's not as clear as it could be, and I can see why there's a question from some players. And therefore, as I said, it would be helpful to have an official statement from FFG on this one.

Either way, there's no way I'm taking these 2 command cards in my deck when I consider at least 1 of them (Planning) to usually not be a worthwhile choice. If you could draw 4 with it then it would be better...but in order to do that (even assuming you can get the right card draws to make it happen) you already need to take another specific card that has limited usefulness.

Thank you all for your replies!

Please allow me to present an additional quandary: Is the text on Planning a Special Action?

The text is as follows: "╔►: Draw 2 Command cards. Then, if you are not a Leader, discard 1 of those cards."

In the RRG, under Actions, there is the following: "Special actions are denoted on components by the ╔►icon. A figure can choose to spend one of its actions to resolve a special action from one of its cards. If an ability has two ╔►icons, it costs the figure two of its actions to resolve the ability."

If we examine the definition of a Special Action, three things are required: 1. It must be a component 2. It must have the ╔►icon 3. It must be a card. The text is on a component, as Command Cards are shown within the Component List in every rulebook. It is a card. And it has the ╔►icon.

If the text is not a Special Action, then I would agree Single Purpose does not apply. However, by definition, the text on the command card is a Special Action. Therefore, Single Purpose would allow the player to activate the action twice, from Single Purpose: "Use at the start of your activation. You may use the same special action up to twice during this activation". Yes, I understand Command Cards are placed in the the discard pile after it has resolved. But, since Command Card text is a Special Action, the player may activate it twice before the card has fully resolved.

Therefore, Single Purpose would allow the player to activate the action twice, from Single Purpose: "Use at the start of your activation. You may use the same special action up to twice during this activation". Yes, I understand Command Cards are placed in the the discard pile after it has resolved. But, since Command Card text is a Special Action, the player may activate it twice before the card has fully resolved.

Highlighted in RED is the flaw in your logic. Nothing allows you to interrupt the card being resolved.

Go ahead and submit your rules query using my link below, you'll get the same answer from the Dev Team.

Doing it twice via single purpose doesn't let you do it twice in the one action.
What fizz wrote above is the clearest way I can think of saying it.

Play single purpose

Play planning

Perform the special action from planning

Discard planning

Perform second action. Except at this point you don't know/don't have access to the planning special action anymore

Planning is discarded straight after carrying out the first action. Thus it's not available for the second action.

The command card doesn't stay in play long enough to perform 2 actions.

The ones that do (like single purpose) say things like "during this activation" or "during this round" or "until the end of the round"

A special action is a SINGLE event. it must be fully completed (including any relevant command cards) before you can move on to the next action.

Thank you all for your replies! I sent the question to the Dev Team and received the following: