I went through the official answers by FGG, but could not find anything on these (very specific) points:

1. Can a dark charmed hero attacking himself spend valor tokens for his defence rolls through Glory of Battle?

I think not, as he is treated as a monster for this attack.

2. Does a dark charmed Stalker hero attacking himself benefit from an adjacent trap token (Set Trap) during his attack roll?

3. Is it possible to play Dark Charm twice (on different heroes) during the start of the turn phase? I think, if the OL has 15 cards on his hand, Dark Charm is directly redrawn when a hero passes the test or a hero is defeated by the charmed hero. Therefore it should be possible.

Maybe some of the rules experts around here (yes, I am looking at you Dr. Zaltyre ) can help?

For 3. I'd say no, you can't, because the trigger for Dark Charm is "the start of your turn", so being it the same turn, you cannot play the card twice.

I would say:

1- Yes you can, because the hero is only considered a monster for the purpose of assuming the role of attacker for this attack. But the target of that attack is not a monster, it's a hero, and hero can use items, skills, and valor tokens to defend him/herself.

2- Yes, because the effect says "your attack" and is passive.

3- Yes, because although the trigger is the same, the target is different.

(Edited)

I would say:

1- Yes you can, because the hero is only considered a monster for the purpose of assuming the role of attacker for this attack. But the target of that attack is not a monster, it's a hero, and hero can use items, skills, and valor tokens to defend him/herself.

2- No, because the hero is considered a monster for the purpose of assuming the role of the attack, and monsters cannot benefit from skill effects.

3- No, because you cannot play the same card for the same trigger. AndrewMM is 100% correct.

2. There have been FFG answers that state that OL would benefit from all passive effects on the charmed hero:

"Hey Zachary,

Dark Charm does not specifically allow the overlord to trigger hero skills and effects. If they happen to have a passive (that does not involve suffering fatigue or drinking a potion), that can apply, but otherwise he cannot force the Berserker to exhaust Weapon Mastery to gain a surge on the attack.

Try not to thrash your overlord ;-)

Thanks,

Justin Kemppainen

Creative Content Developer

Fantasy Flight Games"

source : https://boardgamegeek.com/article/13379530#13379530

3. The rule book states that " Two Overlord cards with the same name cannot be played on the same target in response to the same triggering condition.". However, in my example the card would be played on different targets. I therefore think this is allowed.

If it involves a choice then no, that can't be activated. So the OL cannot activate an ability that costs fatigue, an action, or something else that is in fact 'optional'. The OL would beneft from passive abilities like 'Keen Edge' that grants pierce 1 on all blade or axe attacks.

1) The hero could use valor tokens to defend himself, but only if the player (usually) controlling him chooses to. The OL cannot force the hero to use valor, just like he cannot force him to suffer fatigue to use abilities.

2) Yes. Based on the response about Leoric's hero ability (monsters performing an attack within 3 spaces of you get -1), I would say that the same logic would apply to the stalker-her passive hero abilities don't stop working just because she is dark charmed. It is important that "set trap" says "you" and not "a hero". Notably, a dark charm walk past a trap would cause the stalker to suffer a damage, too.

3)Props to AndrewMM. EDIT: As long as it were different targets, this could work.

EDIT: regarding #2, the answer from FFG has fluctuated over time, so you might find evidence for both sides. The current interpretation is that passive abilities are in effect regardless of who is controlling (or if the hero is KO), but the requirements of the ability still have to be met ("hero", "monster", "adjacent", etc)

Edit again: Yeah #1 is likely no, too. The skill does say "hero".

OMG, I did not realize that Dark Charm is such a mess. We should get one place to collect all the info available on this card. Or has this been done already?

3)Props to AndrewMM.

Really? On different targets? Is there an official answer to that somewhere?

3)Props to AndrewMM.

Really? On different targets? Is there an official answer to that somewhere?

I believe it is in the base game rulebook. Something to the effect of "Two OL cards with the same name cannot be played in response to the same trigger."

That is, you can't double frenzy or double dash a monster, or add 2 surges to the same attack with Dark Mights, etc. In this case, the trigger is "at the start of your turn."

3)Props to AndrewMM.

Really? On different targets? Is there an official answer to that somewhere?

I believe it is in the base game rulebook. Something to the effect of "Two OL cards with the same name cannot be played in response to the same trigger."

That is, you can't double frenzy or double dash a monster, or add 2 surges to the same attack with Dark Mights, etc. In this case, the trigger is "at the start of your turn."

"Two Overlord cards with the same name cannot be played on the same target in response to the same triggering condition." However, in my example the card would be played on different targets. I therefore think this is allowed.

Well, dang, I should have opened my rulebook. "Same target" is absolutely relevant here. You could do this, if you miraculously drew it again.

In response to "Dark Charm is a mess", no, there isn't really, unless you count the FAQ. In the base game (before all those fancy classes) it was a relatively straightforward card. It was still messy with the reanimate and "vampiric blood".

Well, dang, I should have opened my rulebook. "Same target" is absolutely relevant here. You could do this, if you miraculously drew it again.

Easy to do with 15 OL cards in your hand, no deck and no discard.

Thanks for all your answers! I will try to put a comprehensive paragraph into the unofficial FAQ Wiki at BGG as soon as I have some time for it.

Well, dang, I should have opened my rulebook. "Same target" is absolutely relevant here. You could do this, if you miraculously drew it again.

Easy to do with 15 OL cards in your hand, no deck and no discard.

Thanks for all your answers! I will try to put a comprehensive paragraph into the unofficial FAQ Wiki at BGG as soon as I have some time for it.

A lot of this stuff is already in the unofficial FAQ, it's just scattered across different pages of the topic.

Well, dang, I should have opened my rulebook. "Same target" is absolutely relevant here. You could do this, if you miraculously drew it again.

Easy to do with 15 OL cards in your hand, no deck and no discard.

Thanks for all your answers! I will try to put a comprehensive paragraph into the unofficial FAQ Wiki at BGG as soon as I have some time for it.

A lot of this stuff is already in the unofficial FAQ, it's just scattered across different pages of the topic.

For the answer to the question number 3, you can take a look to the Plot Card "Bribery" of Belthir's Plot deck "Hybrid Loyalty".

Bribery:

Exhaust this card after resolving the effects of a "Dark Charm" Overlord card to return that card to your hand. Immediately play it, targeting a different hero . This card does not refresh as normal. Refresh this card at the end of each encounter.

I reorganized the whole paragraph on Dark Charm over at the uFAQ at BGG. I also looked up everything that I could find concerning that topic here and in other forums. I also added a short summaries after certain subheadings to clarify the principle (or what I think it is).

This is what it looks like now. If you have something to add or correct (or wonder what FFG was thinking when designing this card), let me know!

-- Dark Charm

General points
Dark Charm and Dark Host have identical mechanics. Both do not cause the hero to be activated (1) , the action has to be performed immediately (1) (2) . For the duration of the attack or move action the hero is considered to be a monster and thus loses the attribute “hero” for most purposes (1) (2) .

OL cards
OL cards that specify the target to be a hero cannot be played on a charmed hero.

Q: Can Overlord play Overlord Cards on charmed hero? Especially can traps be played as if he were hero? Can "Frenzy" be played as if he were monster?

A: Overlord cards for the most part cannot chain during the "Dark Charm" move. Since he is treated as a monster, you could not pit trap him. Since his status of being "charmed" ends as soon as his attack resolves, he could not frenzy. However, something like "Dark Might" or "Critical Blow" would be perfectly viable. (1)

Q: If a hero is under the effects of “Dark Host,” can the overlord play “Dash” or “Frenzy” on him?”

A: No. “Dash” and “Frenzy” are played when the overlord is activating a monster. Though the overlord receives a move and attack action with the hero affected by “Dark Host,” it is not considered to be an activation (1)

Movement
Charmed heroes follow the same movement rules as monsters.

Q: Can charmed hero move through monsters figures? Heroes figures?

A: The charmed hero is treated as a monster for the duration that the card is in play (which is for the move or attack), so if he moves, he cannot move through heroes but can move through monsters. (1) (2)

Combat
Q: When a hero fails the Dark Charm test and the Overlord forces him to attack himself,
Is defence die still rolled by that hero?
Can hero use items, such as shield to add to defence roll or reroll defence die?
Can OL use weapon surge abilities?

A: Yes, yes, yes (1)

Q: Can monsters attack charmed hero?

A: The hero is no longer considered "charmed" after the attack or move, so monsters may attack him. (1)

OL using hero abilities, weapons and heroic feats
In general, the OL cannot make charmed heroes spend fatigue or exhaust cards. However, the most recent answers from FFG state that charmed heroes benefit from passive components of hero abilities. In one case this revokes earlier statements by FFG representatives as shown below.

Q: Can passive hero abilities be used?

A: Dark Charm does not specifically allow the overlord to trigger hero skills and effects. If they happen to have a passive (that does not involve suffering fatigue or drinking a potion), that can apply, but otherwise he cannot force the Berserker to exhaust Weapon Mastery to gain a surge on the attack. (1)

Q: During "Dark Charm," the only restriction is not spending fatigue, so: Can the OL use Bow/Rune/Weapon Mastery and/or "Mana Weave"? Can the OL spend Valor? If attacking themselves, can the hero spend Valor? Can the OL use "Valorous Strike"?

A: The overlord cannot force a hero to exhaust or use Skill cards, and he cannot force the hero to exhaust "Mana Weave." (1)

Q: If a skirmisher is "dark charmed," can the OL change a miss to another result using the "Unstoppable" skill?

A: No, the overlord cannot use the “Unstoppable” skill card to change the result of the die. (1)

Q: Can OL use skills, such as Weapon Mastery?

A: No (1)

Q: There is an "unofficial" ruling that Overlord can't use skills of hero when hero is under the effect of Dark Charm. Does it apply to the skills that are automatic and doesn't require Fatigue and Exhaustion of the cards? Especially:

• Runic Knowledge (sure that would cost hero a fatigue, but is an effect not the cost of the skill)
• Inscribe Rune
• Running Shot
• Brute (+4 HP part)

A (new ruling): "Passive" effects would still be active, such as +4 Health on Brute, Inscribe Rune, Running Shot would be active, but it would technically be the hero who would have the option to spend them (Dark Charm doesn't have any sort of caveat for this sort of thing). Runic Knowledge is a problem, unfortunately, as I don't particularly want to contradict a ruling made by Adam Sadler almost a year ago. I believe I've also made similar rulings, based upon not wanting to contradict that. However, rules as written, I would have to say that your interpretation is correct. The overlord is not forcing the hero to suffer fatigue; he is using an ability that happens to contain something that causes the hero to suffer fatigue. My apologies for the contradiction. It is not something I like to do, but it does seem necessary in this case.

Q: Say the Runemaster is affected by "Dark Charm" and makes an attack, and the dice rolled displays a surge. May the runemaster use the surge for applying "Runic Knowledge", thus suffering himself +1 fatigue?

A (old ruling): When using "Dark Charm," the overlord performs the attack as if the hero was one of his monsters. This means that the overlord chooses how the surges are spent during the attack. However, since the overlord cannot force the hero to suffer fatigue, this is intended to prevent the overlord from using the hero's class skills. This includes "Runic Knowledge." The overlord cannot use "Runic Knowledge" when using "Dark Charm" on the Runemaster. (1)

Q: Would a Reanimate under the influence of Dark Charm attack with 3 dice (with vampiric blood) or with 2, since the overlord doesn’t have access to the necromancers skills and at the moment the reanimate is one of HIS monsters?

A: The reanimate would attack with two dice, as it is now one of the overlord’s monsters.

(Though this seems to be a technicality about the wording your Reanimate.) (1)

Charmed Hero using hero abilities and feats
Q: When Leoric is affected by "Dark Charm," are his own attacks reduced by one heart, due to his hero's ability (in other words, as a hero is considered as a monster, does he lose all his heroic abilities, including the 'passive' ones)?

A: Yes, since he is treated as a monster, any attack he performs would have its damage reduced by 1. A hero is treated as a monster but is still, deep down, heroic at heart =) (1)

Q: Can a hero use his feat (or anything else power/ability) while being Dark Charmed (e.g. Red Scorpion using her hero feat to reroll attack dice when attacking herself or Champion using “For the Cause”)?

A: Yes, if Red Scorpion is forced to attack herself, she could use her feat. This also applies to "For the Cause."

Q: Does a hero receive movement points generated by “Running Shot” when a charmed wildlander attacks with a bow?

A: The overlord cannot force a hero to use Class cards, and though his figure is performing the attack, the hero himself is not, so he cannot use Running Shot himself. (1)

Based on the newer rulings about passive abilities, I think you may want to remove the bit about the OL not being able to use "unstoppable", as I'm pretty sure it's invalidated now.

Based on the newer rulings about passive abilities, I think you may want to remove the bit about the OL not being able to use "unstoppable", as I'm pretty sure it's invalidated now.

Yep, I think you are right. But as this wiki page is just a list of official answers, I do not want to add my (or your) interpretation, although is might be correct. Maybe I will ask FFG about it.

I stand corrected about #2, I overlooked the fact the card said "your attack", and did not specifically state that the attacker was a hero.

Based on the newer rulings about passive abilities, I think you may want to remove the bit about the OL not being able to use "unstoppable", as I'm pretty sure it's invalidated now.

Yep, I think you are right. But as this wiki page is just a list of official answers, I do not want to add my (or your) interpretation, although is might be correct. Maybe I will ask FFG about it.

I think that's a good idea. I think it was I who initially posted that response. In any case, it's a good thing to clear up (because there have definitely been conflicting answers).

The following support questions were just sent:

1. Can a dark-charmed hero attacking himself spend valor tokens for his defence rolls through Glory of Battle?
I think not, as he is treated as a monster for this attack.

2. Does a dark-charmed Stalker hero attacking himself (or other heroes) benefit from an adjacent trap token (using Set Trap) during his attack roll?

3. The rules for using "passive" hero abilities or "passive" effects from items are difficult to grasp. In general, passive effects (Brute, Inscribe Rune, Runic Knowledge, etc.) are active on dark-charmed heroes. However, e.g. Skirmishers' "Unstoppable" has been judged to be inactive (OL is not allowed to reroll dice). Could you please try to give a general guideline for players, how to deal with passive effects of dark-charmed heroes?

I think what is needed is a better definition of "passive skills"

For example Runic Knowledge looks like a passive skill, because it's "always in effect" but I don't think it qualifies as passive in the same way that a skill that says "+4 health" does or "all attacks with axe or blade gain Pierce 1" because it requires a choice... you need to spend a surge during your attack. Granted, the OL spends the surges for the Dark Charmed hero in this case but I think a case can be made that the surge in this case is NOT a weapon ability, but a skill.

Certainly true. Let's wait and see, if this will be addressed in the answer.

I would qualify a passive skill as a permanent in-game effect which does not require a cost, an actívation (exhaust) or a decision ("you may"), for as long as the hero sourcing the skill is on the map.

I would qualify a passive skill as a permanent in-game effect which does not require a cost, an actívation (exhaust) or a decision ("you may"), for as long as the hero sourcing the skill is on the map.

Sure, but given the semi-recent discussion of what happens when a hero is KO (it's a treaty of champions thread, I think), being on the map is not required for passive abilities (unless the ability has a range component). That is, "Vampiric Blood" still gives the reanimate a yellow die, even if the necromancer is off the map. However, the Bard's "Song of Mending" does not (because it has a range component).

I have a question about Dark Charm.

If I cast Dark Charm on a hero and move that hero on Lava/Hazard, is hero then knocked out? (Since I use hero as a monster in OL turn.)