Checking up on the assassin

By Rigmaster, in Talisman Rules Questions

Hi there

We've always been playing old style assassin where he only can assassinate face-up enemies but yesterday we had a go at the new version. Not that it makes any difference on the situation I would like an oppinion on but it was interesting to try.

The assassin was roaming the highland and drew a monster (whose name escapes me) that threw a boulder at him before battle. The assassin took it in the face like a man. Now, I think this is like last time I asked a question and Warlock told me not to use logic. But can he really make a comeback and assassinate this enemy anyway? We played that he could because everything I've read about Talisman ruling tells me so. And this is just another of the mistakes with the assassin wording, as the dice problem. A problem they didn't suspect when the original game was released. I assume that any answer will go with any other enemy that does something before the battle, if the text on that card doesn't clearly state otherwise.

Btw, we drew horse thief as well and, don't tell me not to use logic on this one :) , we're not playing him as though he's in the entire land! Does anyone else do that?

Have a nice day!

//R

The assassin was roaming the highland and drew a monster (whose name escapes me) that threw a boulder at him before battle. The assassin took it in the face like a man. Now, I think this is like last time I asked a question and Warlock told me not to use logic. But can he really make a comeback and assassinate this enemy anyway? We played that he could because everything I've read about Talisman ruling tells me so. And this is just another of the mistakes with the assassin wording, as the dice problem. A problem they didn't suspect when the original game was released. I assume that any answer will go with any other enemy that does something before the battle, if the text on that card doesn't clearly state otherwise.

You did it right. Even though, thematically, the Skyfall Sentry has caught the Assassin off-guard and has thrown him a boulder, the ability to assassinate works as normal. This seems illogical, but if you want to imagine how this could happen in a pseudo-real situation, try to see a turn as a day's adventure and a combat not as a single blade/claw slash, but as a prolonged action with many events and pauses in between. For example: the Assassin was ambushed on a ridge and hit by rocks, then he fled, recovered his wits in hiding, then went back at twilight to track down his aggressor and sneak at his back, as usual.

Btw, we drew horse thief as well and, don't tell me not to use logic on this one :) , we're not playing him as though he's in the entire land! Does anyone else do that?

Have a nice day!

//R

Logic in this case helps playing it right :) .

It only affects the character who draws the Event; Events that affect all characters don't address the reader directly, but say "all characters" or something along those lines.

That's the scenario we imagined as well, or close enough at least. I always try to think in scenarios to get the wording on some card to work. Fountain of youth and magic stream for example. To make it work you'll have to think of it as itns already somewhere in the land waiting to be found. Otherwise it soundslike the next player to visit it will get the first marker.

As for the horse thief. You're right, of course. It depends on where you put the logic. I first figured it was on land, like blizzard, but now that you mention it - maybe all events that affects everybody got some kind of wording for it, not just that something happens in a certain region, or the land. I'll have to keep that in mind for future games, not that it really matters, as this is the first time I've had an oppinion on an event card. :)