Did a quick search on the forum and didn't find any reference to this so thought I would ask.

Can you use crushing blow on a party upgrade card? While it says that they don't take up a slot in the backpack it seems to me that a hero would still be carrying it?

They are described as market items hence within the written text of the crushing blow card and as a market item would just show up again for purchase fairly quickly so not unbalancing in a permanent removal or luck of the draw kind of way.

However, it does have the unintended effect of possibly stranding the party unless some additional mechanic was created to move them off of the spaces where they could be trapped on either a secret path or water path if you crushing blow'd the map or the boat.

I'd just want to crushing blow the staff myself as it slows them down and makes them spend coins again on that rather than upgrades.

Any thoughts or comments?

Second quick question, about the Gemstone Dragons in the Cavern of Thul. Do they take damage from the magic attacks which they reflect/refract?

Thanks

No, you cannot crushing blow a party upgrade, as nobody is carrying them.

Not sure about the second question, as I don't have the text available for the quest.

dragon76 said:

No, you can't crushing blow a party upgrade because there is no definition over which hero is carrying it. Like coins (even though there is a treasurer), its a party object.

I don't think this is necessarily a definitive argument, but I do think it is pretty clear that party upgrade are not supposed to be crushing blowed and, like you said, allowing it could cause other issues (not to mention the cost imbalance of being able to CB something worth 2500 gold!).

Yes, the dragon suffers the attack. It doesn't say that the dragon is immune to the attack, or ignores the attack, just that the attack is partially diffused/reflected and the heroes (also) suffer some reflected damage.

dragon76 said:

So who would be carrying the Guide on his shoulders?

As said, Crushing Blow works on items, not on upgrades.

The thought of the guide getting smoked by crushing blow is pretty funny though.