Dear All

I've play a game of CoC yesterday and my group went into a debate with regards to timing in the operation phase and the use of Power D rain event card.

Just want to know whether in the operation phase, does the player in his turn play all his characters first and then let the opponent takes his actions. Or does he play his character one-by-one and for each one he plays, he has to ask the opponent whether he is playing any action card?

This matters a lot in a game play. For example, if I can play all my characters at once, I can play Anthropology Advisor and then play other investigators card by 1 cost reduction. However, if the opponent can intercept my subsequent play of character card by playing or activating a character destroying card such as Short Fuse or Shotgun Blast , I will lose my cost reduction benefit.

Power Drain
Can Power Drain and be used to cancel a character card that is played on the board during the operation phase? Our group has a debate whether ‘Action’ consist the action of playing character card . Stated in the rule book on p. 13, “ When the active player plays a character or support card from his hand, it is considered taking an action .”. Does this mean playing a card is considered an action that can be disrupted by ‘Power Drain’ . But then some of friends that the ‘Action’ stated in the Power Drain card should refer to the card effects because of the bold text and not game effects. So which one is right?

If playing Power Drain can cancel a card that is played, then what happen to the character card? Does it go back to the owner’s hand or does it go into the discard pile?

It works like this:

1) Start of Operation Phase

2) Active player may take an action or pass. (note: action not Action).

3) Players may trigger any responses to said action (starting with the active player i THINK. that might be wrong)

4) Then the other player may take an action or pass.

5) Go back to 2.

The operation phase ends when both players pass.

As for the other question, no, playing a character or a support card is not a valid target for Power Drain. This is the distinction between action and Action. action, without the caps, is a game phase. Action, the bolded trigger, is the playing of an event / triggering of an ability. These can be cancelled by a few things such as Power Drain, Performing Artist, etc. All of which have specific targets that they can cancel.