Two of the Arkham Encounter cards from CotDP have wording that makes me question their meaning:

The first is at the Hibb's Roadhouse location: it starts ""Friendly game of pool?"", the second result on the table contains the phrase - "If you confront him" then goes on to give the result of confronting the cheater, does this mean you can decide to not confront him and receive neither the bad nor the good effects?

This question actually applies to other cards that have the phrase "you may" and have both good and bad effects.

The second case takes place at the Black Cave location: it starts "A monster surprises you" then goes on to describe what benefit you receive depending on whether you succeed at the Horror Check of the battle or not. What happens if you encounter a monster that requires no Horror Check, such as a Cultist?

Thanks for your help in advance

I've always viewed any encounter (be it Arkham or some Other World) that has the phrase "you may" as giving the player the option of opting out. I don't think its officially written down anywhere; it's just a understanding of the phrase. Personally, it's nice to run into these cards now and then, especially in Other Worlds.

Yeah but he's asking about "if you..." wording. Honestly it wouldn't make sense if that didn't mean you had a choice. I always consider "if you"s to be a choice. Since I stop reading the encounter after a clause containing an "if you," "you may," or a skill check, this makes the decision much more tense.

Yes, the "if...you may" clause always gives you the choice of ignoring the encounter. As for the second case, you won't get any additional benefit from the encounter if the drawn monster has no horror rating

zealot12 said:

Agreed. If the monster has no Horror Check, technically you are automatically "passing" the Horror Check, so unfortunately getting the Bravery Skill is out. But since the benefit of that card is based on its Horror Damage ("-"), you will also unfortunately receive "-" Spells.

Aw, Cultists never did nobody no good no how.

Aw, but they do require a horror check in a game with Chtulhu as the AO.

So if you decide not to opt in on the "you may" cards you get neither the good nor the bad effects?

Yep, you simply ignore it.

Thanks everyone for your wisdom.