The controversy about the action during the third phase (Bad english)

By Korwus, in Arkham Horror Second Edition

Posted at

May the investigator take an encounter at the location with a gate that has explored counter?(before attempt to close/seal the gate or after attempt to close/seal the gate)

I think, no. But my friends have a different opinion and they are the majority. This causes problems.
Posted at

I did not think there was any controversy about this.

The rule says that a gate replaces the location. The fact there is an explored token does not change this, so you cannot have an encounter until the gate is closed/sealed. Aside, the explored token allows the investigator who returns from the OW to close and seal the gate, prevents him to be sucked back into it (as long he does not leave it), and gives a one turn grace for the combat with a monster that would be on the gate.

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In a related way, if an Arkham encounter were to send you to another location, as it happens sometimes, where there is a gate, you would not have an encounter at this new location but you would be sent to the OW (and delayed). That is what I remember from the rules clarifications. Although this is a different question than your original one, it shows again that a gate replaces the location.

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Rules in the Russian translation slightly inaccurate. Friends take a card from the deck when stay in a location with explored gates, because "they are usually take it at phase III ". When I try to explain that the algorithm "A,B" is disturbed in this way, they reply "in the rules are not written so that we can not do this". Their final argument is, that apparently the rules forced us to take a card, because game lose balance in other way.
I need confirmation from the community to prevent disagreement

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When there is a gate in a location, you can't use neither the ability of a location nor having an encounter.

That's it.

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As state in the rulebook, you cannot have encounters in a places with a portal in it, nor use the special abilty of that place(such as spendin trophies for clue token). And Closing/sealing the gate happens during the ''Encounter in Arkham'' phase. So no you cannot have encounter if a portal is opened at your location. Even with the ''explored'' token.

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As stated previously, the gate replaces the location. While there is a gate open at a location, that location does not exist. If an investigator has an explored marker, the ONLY action he can take during phase III is to close or seal the gate.

Phase III:
1. If there is no gate at your location, draw an encounter card from the location deck.
2. If there is a gate at your location, the investigator is drawn through to the Other World shown on the gate marker.
3. If there is a gate at your location, but the investigator has an explored marker, he is no longer drawn through the gate, but may attempt to close or seal the gate.

Note that being drawn through the gate and closing/sealing the gate is your phase III action while you are on a location with an open gate.