So, we played our first game Friday night, and one of the items that the investigators discovered was the Axe. The axe says that it can be used as a weapon, or to destroy puzzle locks (paraphrasing, I don't have the card right in front of me). My question is, does the axe allow an investigator to break through a card with the lock on the back of it, or just obstacle locks (puzzles)? The reason I ask is because the Axe was the first item that the investigators found, we were playing The Fall of the House of Lynch, and I had chosen the objectives that puts the magical lock on the garden where the zombie chick is buried (and clue 1 is hidden). The garden room is one of the first rooms the investigators explored, but they couldn't get into the garden because of the locked door. Could they have hacked down the door using the axe, despite the magical lock?

I searched the forum and read back about 6 or more pages, but didn't see anything about this, so I wanted to check.

Thanks!

-Admiral

Only puzzle locks which are usually Obstacle cards, not the room lock cards (padlock card back).

The wording on the card (axe) says that it can be used to destroy a lock in your room.. so it would not work on one keeping you from entering a room.

Official answer/clarification from FFG was as the others said. It only applies to obstacle puzzle locks, and not door locks (as door locks are not technically in the investigator's room).

dvang said:

Technically it isn't just Obstacle puzzle locks, since there is at least one puzzle lock that is not an Obstacle card (or door lock card).

Ok, but it does have to be in your room? That to me indicates a puzzle lock because other locks prevent you from entering a room.

Thanks so much!

I'm pretty sure there is no situation where the puzzle lock will not be in your room. Door locks are the only thing that you deal with that aren't in your room, and since it doesn't affect those, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

Brine said:

I cannot recall any. As far as I know every lock is either an obstacle lock or a door lock. The front door lock that can appear, for example ... is a door lock, even if it wasn't spawned by a placed card.

dvang said:

That is what I was referring to. It is a puzzle lock, you are in the same room, and therefore it can be opened with the axe.

I just bought this game and ran through a practice game by myself...just so I can learn the rules. I was wondering if in the first story, can the Silver Key be used to open the Magical Lock? Or does the Magical Lock only open when the Magical Phrase is used?

Alchemist said:

MyNeighbourTrololo said:

Thank you so much. That makes much more sense now. That probably would have ruined our first game not knowing that.

Brine said:

I know its a bit old, but since the thread has been commented on ... this is not correct. The front door lock is not "in" the same room, and thus the axe may not be used to bust open the front door. Technically, door locks are "in" the room you are going TO, not the one you are currently in.