So a few months ago I was playing a BL game with a friend and we ran into the following situation: I played a "Field Command" lore card (order units equal to your command) to create a really ugly situation for my friend. After I had announced which units I was going to move and started moving them, he decided to "Foil" my lore card. We had a disagreement over whether he could "Foil" my lore card after I had already started moving the units.

Any insights on what's fair play here? The "Field Command" card interacts with the game mechanics rather differently from the other lore cards, so it's ambiguous when the counter-card should be played.

Thanks for the help, as always.

If it's someone who's used to playing Battlelore, I wouldn't allow it.

My reasoning is like this. Because of its 'in lieu of command card', Field Command is played during the Command Phase. Foil or Dispel Lore is played in reaction to the Lore Card. Normally when playing people place the card on the board or near the board as reminder, but the card should technically go to the discard pile immediately, whether it's reacted to or not. So during the following phases (order, movement, combat, and draw phase), it's no longer being played and can't be reacted to; although if it's not foiled or dispelled, the effect remains.

Another example would be playing Enchanted Mass Might during the command phase (along with command card). It's probable that my opponent don't react at first. Then when he sees me moving my troops in a way that he didn't expect, he plays Foil/Dispel Lore. I wouldn't allow this too.

If asked for written rules, I'd refer to Battlelore rulebook pg. 49: "A Lore card must usually be played during the phase of play specified on its card, and only during that phase." While it's true both Foil and Dispel Lore do not say in which phase they can be played, but Field Command can only be played during the command phase. And only when 'being played' it can be 'reacted to'.

yup. The Foiled! and Dispel Lore cards are designed to be played in response to your opponents' Lore Card, not to the effects of the Lore card. Another example, if I may: Say my opponent played Fireball, targeted a unit, rolled his dice, and a Lore came up. I couldn't then play "Foiled!" just because I didn't like the results of his play. It would be like travelling backwards in time. Once the magic happens, you can't make it un-happen. The only time I'd allow a play like that is if the Lore card was played all fast-like and the player then tried to zoom through the phases in an attempt to negate any possible Dispelling action - the "fair play" idea here would be that you have to give the player a chance to react to your card. A helpful way of doing this is taking your time to read through the text of the card and giving your opponent some time to process the information.

I also agree with Sevej - if it's a new player, give some grace, but if you are both experienced, then your opponent should be able to recognize an undesirable Lore card and dispel it before it takes effect, in true Lore Master style.