Just a nit pick here, the Golden Pocketwatch fires off of the Free Triggered Ability icon, those can only be used during a player window, none of which is at the start or end of any phase.

That being said, the Reaction Triggered ability could have a trigger off of a start or end of phase. Am I missing something? Did FFG use the wrong symbol? I get the intent of the card, but seems like the way its worded, it can't be used by a strict reading of the rules.

You're right, both of Gold Pocket Watch's abilities should be reactions instead of free abilities.

Whoops.

Not that I know anything about rules but could you argue that this is a case where a card contradicts the rules reference and therefore takes precedence., allowing you to use it after a phase begins or ends?

You're definitely right though.

they possibly should be reactions instead of free abilities but with the text it is crystal clear exactly how and when it is supposed to be used, so it doesn't make much difference.

1 hour ago, Guitarquero said:

Not that I know anything about rules but could you argue that this is a case where a card contradicts the rules reference and therefore takes precedence., allowing you to use it after a phase begins or ends?

Not really. The important part of the Golden Rule, which is often missed (and has only recently been added) is If it is possible to observe both the card text and the text of the rules, both are observed.

I phrase this differently, and prefer to say that a card only overrides a rule when it does so explicitly. Something like "Fight. You use your [Willpower] for this test". It explicitly changes the rule for what attribute you use during a fight, but nothing else, so (for example) it wouldn't override the rule that you can only fight things at your location.

It definitely looks like the Watch should have been a reaction ability. My (totally baseless) guess is that it started life only with the ability to repeat the Investigator Phase, and you had to trigger it during your turn. It evolved, but nobody changed up the icons for the new ability.

Regardless though, as said above it's a relatively minor misprint without any real question for what it should be. That's the nice thing about co-op games, nobody going to say "But the card says...so you can't play it!" to try and beat you. Well, maybe if you do something mean like Flare-steal their Dr. Milan they might to get back at you, but it's probably rare