I know this issue has been brought up many times before but.....i just finished up playing a game where my opponent had cancel Eddard and Lion's Gate. He wanted to use Lion's Gate so that Eddard could cancel it and draw a card. He said a very well-respected player (whose name isn't important) taught him this "trick." I argued that it wouldn't work since Lion's gate doesn't "choose" anything. Am I right, or am I missing something? Thanks!

FATMOUSE said:

Again:

Eddard says: " Response: Cancel a triggered effect that chooses a Noble character as the only target . Then, draw a card. (Limit once per phase.)"

Lion's Gate says: " Any Phase: Kneel Lion's Gate to discard 1 power from a non-House card in play. Then, give that card a Trait of your choice until the end of the phase."

So, Eddard can only cancel a triggered effect that targets a single character (that has the Noble crest). The definition of "target" as far as the game goes is whatever an effect specifically chooses. If the word "choose" is not used, there is no target to the effect - even if a singular or specific card is affected. (This is right out of the FAQ, but absolutely everyone messes it up.)

Lion's Gate does not use the word "choose." Therefore, by definition, there is no target to the effect. If there is no target being chosen, Eddard's play restrictions are not met and his cancel cannot be initiated.

The Lion's Gate/Eddard combo to draw a card does not work.

I'm not sure I agree with this logic at all. Just because Lion's gate doesn't say "choose", it doesn't mean you still aren't "choosing". Its like saying that because Rusted Sword doesn't say "put into play" that you aren't putting it into play.

But I guess I better go read the FAQ.

Edit:

And here it is from the FAQ

"Target

The target identifies what card or cards the
event's effect is applied to. The word choose
is always used to denote a target. If an event
does not have the word "choose," then it does
not have a target.

A Lanister Pays His Debts
has a target of "a participating character controlled
by the winning opponent." If an event
read "Stand all characters," then it would not
be considered to have a target (because it does
not include the word "choose”).

If you do not have a valid target for an event,
you may not play that event. Not all events
have a target."

Yep. Sorry about that Dobbler. The FAQ is very, very clear about the fact that if the word "choose" isn't on the card, then there is no "target."