I have to hand it to my players, they keep pushing my knowledge of the rules.

My mage had a breath attack which he wanted to use to hit things down stairs. Reading the rules it says to treat all attacks as if the stairs were adjacent to each other I'm just wondering if something with a template like breath or bolt has any special changes to that.

Also, if I dark charm him can he do his breath attack against himself? I don't see how they could since I'd have to follow normal attack rules but it'd be funny if I could.

When it comes to dark charm and animate weapon when they roll their power dice are they allowed to choose 1 for range instead of the <3 for damage even if they are attacking themself or someone adjacent?

And no so much a question of rules but of principles, my warrior wanted to sit back and let the Spirit Wolf familiar fight the quest boss. The wolf ignores armor and as a familiar can't be attacked. I thought this was pretty cheap and wouldn't allow it but if he wanted to fight along side the wolf I saw no problem. Just wondering if I'm working this right.

Thanks for the help.

The answer to the breath template question should be in the old gathered questions thread: you can't use the breath template between stairs. Basically, the template is placed adjacent to the figure in question on the board, so it won't go through stairs

however, you can do a normal attack instead of a breath one with a breath weapon, so the player should be able to hit himself (but he'd hit no one else).

Galdred said:

Just curious: I thought ruling for Breathe only applied to monsters?

Neocount Maeth said:

The breath template must be placed abutting the figure using its rear end up against the figure. This means that the figure most definitely is unable to attack himself with the breath template (note however that Breath attacks are not forced to use the template - FAQ pg 2 ( Attacks with the Breath ability are not required to use the Breath template. The figure’s controller must make the decision before dice are rolled. If the monster or hero chooses not to use Breath, then the attack is resolved as a normal attack of its type. ).

Stairs are tricky. There is no way to tell which side of the other end of the stairs is 'connected', so no way to tell where the end of the breath template must abut. Therefore you can't place the breath template on the other level unfortunately (this apparently matches a clarification in an older forum, thanks Thundercles). The breath itself doesn't billow to the other level because the template doesn't cover the other level, even if it covers the stairs. Logically it should, but logic and Descent have never been close bedfellows. You would need some rules for how to work out what squares are affected, and there aren't any, so you can't do it.

I don't have the exact wording of Animate weapons at hand, but what is critical is who is in control of the attack, not who executes it. In Dark charm the OL is in charge of the attack even though the hero rolls the dice. FAQ pg 4

Q: When the overlord is controlling a hero through “Dark Charm,” who decides how to spend the surges and power dice? Can the overlord move the character and attack, or just make a single attack without moving?
A: The overlord controls the hero for that attack, includingthe hero’s use of surges and power dice. The overlord may also play cards such as “Aim” with the attack. However, the overlord player cannot move the character, or force the hero to spend fatigue to add to the attack .

Note the errata for Furr. FAQ pg 6

Furr the Spirit Wolf’s attack is a melee attack even though it rolls the white die. In addition, Furr can only attack when his owner has a clear line of sight to Furr and is within 5 spaces of him .

Apart from that, the player is well within his rights to let Furr fight the boss. At 0-3 damage per turn it will take a while though, and the whole time you are gaining threat and drawing cards...

All quotes from the FAQ:

Breath and stairs: " Breath attacks cannot be made through staircases ."

On choosing not to use breath: " Attacks with the Breath ability are not required to use the Breath template ." Doesn't seem to be restricted to monsters.

On Dark Charm: " The overlord controls the hero for that attack, including the use of surges and power dice. The overlord may also play cards such as 'Aim' with the attack. However, the overlord player cannot move the character, or force the hero to spend fatigue to add to the attack. "

On hiding while Furr the Spirit Wolf fights for you: " Furr can only attack when his owner has a clear line of sight to Furr and is within 5 spaces of him. "

EDIT: Seems I was ninja'd.

Antistone said:

Yep. Even using pdf+search I still managed to miss this when looking for it (should have searched stairs not breath), but it is there.

quick point about the breath template arguement. I'm sure they never specify this anywhere but RAW couldn't you put the rear end of the breath weapon on the edge of the figure's square with the breath template pointed toward the figure. I'd Imagine this as a wizard sticking his hands out and creating a cone of fire turning his hands around and laying them flat on his chest before casting.

Does this seem legit or does it word it in such a way that it says it HAS to be pointed away from the fig

Neostrider said:

It must be placed against the attacking figure, not 'on top of' the attacking figure, so no, that is ruled out. DJitD pg 22 (second line is from diagram text)

The template is placed against one side of the attacking figure

align it so that its rear end is flat against the base of the figure making the attack.

I really appreciate it. I'm sure they'll come up with something else again this weekend though XD