Good morning folks,

Our group would like to know if a character with zero strength can initiate a challenge alone? What happens to a character who is attacking alone whose strength becomes zero?

Also, can an "Any Phase:" ability be played during a time when a "Response:" ability could be played?

Cheers!

Kennakai said:

So far as I am aware, there's nothing in the rules which prevents a 0-STR character from initiating a challenge for which it is otherwise eligible alone. If the attacker's total STR is 0 at challenge resolution (for whatever reason), however, the attacker cannot win.

And, no, you cannot play Any Phase (or phase-restricted) actions in a Response window.

To add to that, when you initiate a challenge with any strength there is a player action window for "any phase" or "challenges" actions. Then stealth and defenders are declared. If you attacked with zero STR and if no defenders are declared, I don't think you reach the next player action window as there is zero strength on both sides of a challenge, the challenge immediately ends with no resolution. So if you don't buff your guy during the first player action, your opponent could declare no defenders and the challenge ends.

Please correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

Slothgodfather said:

A challenge only ends without resolution if it has no participating characters. That's very different from having participating characters with 0 STR.

If your attacker has 0 STR and no defenders are declared, you still go through resolution. It's just that at resolution, no one can win the challenge with 0 STR.

Ah so you still get to the second player action phase during the challenge. That's good. Gives you two opportunities to boost your character.