I am a little confused about duplicate unique characters.

The rules of play manual states: "if one of your unique cards is about to be killed, discarded from play, or returned to your hand or deck, as a triggered "response" effect, you may discard an attached duplicate to save the unique card from being killed, discarded, or returned to your hand or deck."

Does this mean that a duplicate may only substitute for the unique character during "response" effects? What about when a unique character would be killed as the result of challenge resolution? or a character trait such as "deadly"? or a plot card, such as "Valar Morgulis"?

It seems too powerful to have - for example - three Drogons stacked out there with him only being killed if my opponent can manage to kill him 3 times thoughout the game.

AM i missing something? I love this game btw and want to make sure I am playing it correctly.

Thanks!

_lalo_ said:

It means that when that unique character with a duplicate attached is going to be killed, discarded from play, or returned from your hand or deck that you can discard the duplicate to save the character. It will save them during any of the instances you listed. It generally isn't too powerful because if you don't draw those duplicates before the character dies then they are dead cards in your deck. Characters can die easily in this game so even killing a character 3 times isn't hard for some decks.

_lalo_ said:

General side question: I'm a little curious. We have gotten a lot of questions from new players in the last few weeks that seem completely baffled by save effects, particularly repeatable ones. They seem to doubt that it is "right" for the impact of a military challenge to be mitigated like that. Yet no one seems to question if it is "right" that they can't get a power from an empty House card when winning a power challenge. What is it about saves, particularly related to the military challenge, that seems to be striking so many new people as unfair?

I think the reason for my question comes from the fact that I played Magic for so long that it is taking some time for me to adjust.

I also have to get used to being able to put out a character and then be allowed to attack with him right away during the same round (again Magic). This game is an absolute bloodbath compared to Magic which I think is slower more predictable (no changes in Initiative for example - just turn taking).

At least this forum exists and there is a good community of players to tap as a resource. When I played Magic there were only whispers of an internet.

ktom said:

As one of those newbies I would say, that the attack options and saves to negate them are the most straightforward and thus primary focus in beginner games. Everything else is more subtle and needs some time to get used to.

By the way after only 3 games I have to admit that we made a mistake : I awarded power from the pool if there was none on the housecard in a powerchallenge and not only the undefended instance .

_lalo_ said:

Well something else to remember that alot of Magic players struggle with is that killing characters isn't always the easiest way to win. I know alot of my friends who are former Magic players put way too much emphasis in their play on Military challenges and killing at first, this can be a good strategy but it can also be fairly easily avoided by some decks.