So, this particular Headline Mythos Card states, The first player chooses one investigator to become Blessed and another investigator to become Cursed . (If there is only on investigator, nothing happens.)

Playing with Wendy Adams, I played it as if the first player could not choose Wendy (who still had her Elder Sign and thus cannot be Cursed ), and simply ignore that part of the Headline ...

Thoughts?

Why? Because this would be a proper use of character ability?

Maybe you should additionally play as Mandy Thompson and never use her research ability? Or not reduce any stamina losses as Michael McGlenn?

"Steady-on MNT, we'll get you a drink and you can settle down there. No reason for fussin' about anything. Just trying to see what others think about my particular interpretation."

Well, this is a bit of a stretch, but when your options are "lose x items or go insane" and you have no items, you can't choose to lose 0. The null set becomes an invalid choice. Likewise, with Wendy, she can be seen as an invalid choice, because you're choosing for something to befall her that cannot befall her. Therefore, essentially, you can't choose her, because you would not be "choosing an investigator to be cursed."

Tibs, my friend, this is the great conundrum which includes so many of the 'rules' inquiries, as they don't necessarily follow a logic, it's completely open to interpretation, personal taste, or for the more sadistic out there...Arkham's Razor....

I'm actually somewhat tempted to give this one to the players. It'd be different if her taking a curse were a cost or prerequisite or could otherwise be read as some sort of requirement (e.g. as in Tibs' example, to not go insane). But since there's no "or else" result that kicks in, all we're left with is the general principle that people who are immune are invalid targets for player-selected effects. And I guess I have no general reason for rejecting that, except for vague appeals to slippery-slope concerns (can you not Lure immobile monsters, or Horrifying Sight someone with 2 Sanity, or Arrest-target someone with the makeup kit? (Well, actually, I dunno if any of those are entirely apropos. (Man, I changed my position like three times just while writing this post. I give up.)))

(I also started to comment on how nice it would be if her ability were more unambiguous, but then realized how hard it is to formulate it that way without some kind of circuitously Ithaquaesque "When something would cause Wendy to become Cursed or Arrested, that part of the effect does not take place," or maybe the slightly less unclear "Wendy is immune to/may ignore/etc")

(This has been a worthwhile contribution to the discussion. I'm being helpful! )

subochre,

You've touched on one of the key reasons why this forum exists ~ since FFG has not produced a quality FAQ for these types of questions, we're left to ponder the subtleties of ambiguously worded cards and the combination of cards and particular scenarios. While there are certain situations which demand a close read of the rules (as Dam, Avi, and Tibs have stated in the past: "Follow the Phase Order"), so many others are left to our own interpretation and the forum provides a ready-made arena for hashing-out those possibilities. Again, at the end of the day, it's a game . . . a great game, mind you, but a game nonetheless.

The Professor

Tibs said:

I would disagree. Wendy is perfectly capable of being Cursed without her Elder Sign, just as any Investigator who doesn't happen to be allied with Father Iwanicki. The Mythos asks you to choose an Investigator, not an Investigator "who doesn't happen to have a card to block the Curse." I love Arkham's Razor, too, but I don't think Mythos cards should be allowed to be THAT omniscient.

(Of course, much of this is dependent on the official operation of "being Cursed", which I'm not certain was ever absolutely nailed.)

And it's "Superstitions Abound", Professor. I swear, you play with the most paranoid Investigators...

jgt7771,

Thanks ~ great catch...I should not send threads after playing for several hours! (I'll write this 100 times in my copybook)