I am getting saddled with DM'ing. I am doing some prep work and have chosen a map. I am attempting to "customize" my deck by using trechery and I noticed that there are multiples of power cards. I was under the impression that cards like, Trapmaster, Evil Genius, Doom, and other "powers" do not stack with each other. But do they actually stack,...I took a peek in the rules and all I found was regarding the power cards was that the DM could only play one a turn.

I get that having duplicates helps get the card faster but at only 2 cards a turn pulling a duplicate power that you already have out seems a terrible waste other than the meager threat you can discard it for.

Just thought I would ask and make sure....thanks for any answers I appreciate them all and so will my OL deck.

Napoleon

napoleonWilson said:

I don't think you're missing anything there. The other consideration is that the "extra" power cards can always be discarded for decent threat.

Duplicate power cards in play do stack. Having two Doom! cards in play will give your monsters two extra power dice to roll. Having two Hordes of Things will let you spawn four extra monsters once a new area is revealed. , and having two Brilliant Commanders in play will let you upgrade two monsters to their master versions. Two trapmaster cards will stack trap damage and reduce threat cost, and so on.

At least that's the way we've always played.

I don't know what would give you the impression that power cards don't stack; I'm not aware of any reason why they wouldn't.

The odds that you will actually want to play your second Hordes of the Things when you draw it are fairly low, but if you do, go for it.

Holy cow...powers DO stack. I just thought it would be too powerful, like 2 trapmasters doing +4 damage in addition to the trap. Well that certainly changes my picks for my deck. Thanks TONS guys for the quick response.... now back to work.

Napoloen

Unless to execute a killing blow, I never really play traps. I always try to save up for powers whenever possible! (unless the power is trapmaster, in which I discard it for lots of threat to execute more devious plans) I also love spawn cards.

Can an OL in RTL and SOB (and vanilla, of course) discard a power card if it is in play to play another power card if he has reched the limit (2 in copper, 3 in silver, 4 in gold)?

@gran_orco:

I recall asking the same question.

Yes, you can, although there's nothing in the rules about that. This applies only to Advanced Campaigns though, since there's no limit on the number of power cards in play in vanilla dungeons.

Do note though that you won't receive the power card's discard value upon removing it from play, because you don't discard it from your hand.

Hmm, I didn't know you could do that. Do you have some other sources to provide to prove your claim?

zealot12 said:

I would also like to know where this information is found. It is completely understandable that you don't get the threat though.

zealot12 said:

I recall reading discussions on this matter but my recollection differs from yours. I don't remember any resolution to the question other than that there is nothing in the rules, FAQ, or GLOAQ to indicate that you may discard played Power cards.

dragon76 said:

The rule about power cards says The overlord cannot have more than (n) Power cards in play during a given dungeon at once.
This does not prevent you from playing an nth+1 power card. However as part of resolving that action, you will play it, find that you now have too many power cards and are about to break a rule, so you discard one of them. This does not break any rule, as the card is not 'in play' until you complete the action of playing it (part of which is the discarding of the other card). This sounds like adding a new 'process' but is really just an existing process that isn't explicitly mentioned in this case - if you receive an additional item for example, and have too much equipment, you are forced to discard some.
The alternative is that you may not play an nth+1 power card. Now this is adding in a new rule...
Another alternative is that you may discard any of your power cards at any time. This is also adding a new rule...

Corbon said:

Your example of discarding items is a false association. That is based on hero player's actions, and there is no equivalent process for the OL.

The only thing that comes close for the OL is drawing up to his hand limit (which involves cards as a resource and a stated limit in the rules, as such IMHO it is a better guide as to what should occur), and if we use that as the basis then we come to the opposite conclusion as the OL is not allowed to draw over his hand limit and discard down to reach it. The obvious extrapolation from this is that the OL may not play an additional power card and discard down to his stated limit of (n) Power cards.

dragon76 said:

But as you say, the OL card drawing is a closer association than the one I used. And it still supports the same conclusion.

The OL is allowed to draw over his hand limit and then discard. In fact he has to!

DJitD pg9
The overlord player collects one threat token for every hero, and then draws two cards* from the top of the overlord deck. The overlord player may then discard one or more cards from his hand to collect extra threat tokens. The overlord player must discard down to eight cards or less after drawing his two cards** for the turn.

*draws two cards, not draws up to two cards up to his hand limit
** and must discard down (clearly indicating that he is assumed to have more), after drawing those two cards.

The OL goes over the limit, and immediately discard down to that limit.

Corbon said:

Wow, can't believe we've been misreading that rule since we started playing. That's why I love these forums, open discussions and the occasional revelation that you have been misinterpreting or misreading something forever.

Glad I could at least give you a better substantiation for your previous point as equating the equipping rules to power cards seems like quite the stretch.