Emerald Codex


Rules Questions and Gameplay Discussion


So, the second sentence on this card has me a bit stumped. I'm assuming that you have to decide whether to banish the codex (or bury it) before looking at the three spells, but the second sentence is making me wonder whether this is true. Would it be okay to look at the three spells before deciding what to do with the Codex?


The wording doesn't seem to suggest that that would be OK...


I can't remember the wording off the top of my head. Do you have the card so you could post the power text?

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Designer

Emerald Codex, per FAQ wrote:
Banish this card to add 3 random Divine spells from the box to your hand. You may instead bury this card to display the spells; you may banish any of these cards for its effect as though you had played it as a spell. Banish any that remain at the end of the scenario.

You have to make the choice of banishing or burying before you look at the spells.


Mike Selinker wrote:
Emerald Codex, per FAQ wrote:
Banish this card to add 3 random Divine spells from the box to your hand. You may instead bury this card to display the spells; you may banish any of these cards for its effect as though you had played it as a spell. Banish any that remain at the end of the scenario.
You have to make the choice of banishing or burying before you look at the spells.

Makes sense. If you did the banish option, it would look like this:

1. Put Emerald Codex back in the loot slot of the box.
2. Draw 3 divine spells.

You'd no longer have the card to bury it.

You also have no way to banish it from your buried pile.

So you'd have to decide which version of it's power to activate before you paid the price, because paying the price comes before getting the benefit.

Thanks for your help Mike. Always comforting to know the definitive answer.


Hawkmoon269 wrote:

Makes sense. If you did the banish option, it would look like this:

1. Put Emerald Codex back in the loot slot of the box.
2. Draw 3 divine spells.

You'd no longer have the card to bury it.

You also have no way to banish it from your buried pile.

So you'd have to decide which version of it's power to activate before you paid the price, because paying the price comes before getting the benefit.

Thanks for your help Mike. Always comforting to know the definitive answer.

I disagree. You place it in front of you as you play it, do what it says, and then bury or banish it. What if there was [condition] in the recharge box? It would be in "limbo," as you put it in another thread, when you grabbed the spells, not in the box.

Unless, of course, cards with populated recharge boxes behave totally different from those without, which would be pretty strange.

I mean, it's pretty much moot, but still.


The "limbo" rule only applies to boons that can be recharged, otherwise I think you have to perform the playing action when you play the card.


So adding a recharge ability totally changes how a card behaves? That just seems... bad. Consistancy is important, I think.


Orbis Orboros wrote:
So adding a recharge ability totally changes how a card behaves? That just seems... bad. Consistancy is important, I think.

Well, that is just my reading. I could be wrong. But I think so. The wording seems to say it only happens if you play a boon that may be able to be recharged.

Rulebook v3 p15 wrote:
If, while attempting another check, you play a boon that you may be able to recharge, resolve the current check before attempting to recharge the card. The boon is in play (and does not count as being in your hand, in your deck,in your discard pile, or elsewhere) during the intervening time.(This check applies only after you have played a card—when a card’s power directs you to recharge it as part of playing it, and does not specify a check, you don’t have to attempt a check to recharge it.)

That seems to me to say that only happens if you the boon has the possibility of a recharge check. If you are simply instructed to activate the power by recharging, it goes right to the bottom of your pile. If you activate it purely by discarding it, with no possible recharge check, it goes right to your discard pile.

Rulebook v3 p9 wrote:
Playing a card means activating that card’s power by revealing, displaying, discarding, recharging, burying, or banishing that card.

So the power doesn't activate until you do that thing.

So technically, during a check, you would do that action during "Play cards and use powers..." and remember what cards you played during "Assemble the dice", but I'm not so great at that, so I keep them all out and just remember that they have to go the appropriate place as soon as I roll.


Orbis Orboros wrote:
Hawkmoon269 wrote:

So you'd have to decide which version of it's power to activate before you paid the price, because paying the price comes before getting the benefit.

Thanks for your help Mike. Always comforting to know the definitive answer.

I disagree. You place it in front of you as you play it, do what it says, and then bury or banish it.

If you want to add the spells to your hand, you have to follow the instruction to "Banish this card to add 3 random Divine spells to your hand." So you banish the card, then draw the spells. At this point, you don't have the Codex anymore, so you may not instead choose to bury it.


csouth154 wrote:
Orbis Orboros wrote:
Hawkmoon269 wrote:

So you'd have to decide which version of it's power to activate before you paid the price, because paying the price comes before getting the benefit.

Thanks for your help Mike. Always comforting to know the definitive answer.

I disagree. You place it in front of you as you play it, do what it says, and then bury or banish it.

If you want to add the spells to your hand, you have to follow the instruction to "Banish this card to add 3 random Divine spells to your hand." So you banish the card, then draw the spells. At this point, you don't have the Codex anymore, so you may not instead choose to bury it.

I agree that you can't, but not for the reason you give. Pretend for a second that it had a recharge check. Your whole argument falls apart. (I don't mean that rudely)

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Designer

You have to follow the whole instruction: either pick banish or instead pick bury. Then do whatever it says.

There are times when the processing of the instruction gets delayed, but the action is already in the air. You have no information at the point you make the decision, and you have to live with the consequences of your decision.


Mike Selinker wrote:

You have to follow the whole instruction: either pick banish or instead pick bury. Then do whatever it says.

There are times when the processing of the instruction gets delayed, but the action is already in the air. You have no information at the point you make the decision, and you have to live with the consequences of your decision.

That's how I figured it went. :)

I love this card by the way, one of the coolest and most interesting cards in the game in my opinion. I couldn't wait to get it when I saw it. I'm glad it's a loot so that it can't be missed!

Scarab Sages

Orbis Orboros wrote:
I love this card by the way, one of the coolest and most interesting cards in the game in my opinion. I couldn't wait to get it when I saw it. I'm glad it's a loot so that it can't be missed!

Totally agree...gem-named loot like this is very cool. I really like the "banish or bury" choice...it provides a unique moment every scenario for the character where you have to choose whether or not to risk it.


Calthaer wrote:
Orbis Orboros wrote:
I love this card by the way, one of the coolest and most interesting cards in the game in my opinion. I couldn't wait to get it when I saw it. I'm glad it's a loot so that it can't be missed!
Totally agree...gem-named loot like this is very cool. I really like the "banish or bury" choice...it provides a unique moment every scenario for the character where you have to choose whether or not to risk it.

I can't see myself ever banishing it. It's too cool and useful working like a scroll...

Scarab Sages

Don't know the powers on cards yet to come, but it's certainly imaginable that you'll get a different item that is better, and decide to let the card go up in a glorious bout of banishment to "cash in the chips," since you intend to get rid of it at the end of the scenario anyways.


Calthaer wrote:
Don't know the powers on cards yet to come, but it's certainly imaginable that you'll get a different item that is better, and decide to let the card go up in a glorious bout of banishment to "cash in the chips," since you intend to get rid of it at the end of the scenario anyways.

Agreed, I was being hyperbolic. I did indeed consider this scenario, but I also think that it's unlikely that I'll want to replace this piece of hotness.


Why in the world would you ever banish it? Think about it. Unless you are playing with 3 Divine spellcasters (sure there are some crossover spells that would work for Arcane) AND you have a Card Feat at the end of that scenario, those 3 extra spells will be going bye-bye at the end of the scenario and you have an item slot now open. Plus, there just aren't that many amazing Divine spells out there that you don't have already by AP4S3 (Restoration is still 100% situational with a way too high recharge cost to be great as I'm beginning to think it is perfect only for Harsk who will never be able to recharge it or Lini who I can't keep enough Blessings in hand to really use it effectively). However, being able to pull Detect Evil, Augury, Detect Magic, or Strength/Speed freeing up your deck is a great way to go.

So, that new Item better be amazing, or AP5/6 better have amazing Divine spells to get me to part with that Codex. Plus, having a couple of Bury cards is going to get more and more important as our decks keep getting bigger and bigger and we can't find our best cards in it.


Yep, I don't see ever banishing it either. Even if there is a better item in a future pack, I don't see why you wouldn't keep the Codex AND the new item and just dump something else. I have a tough time imagining enough better items in the last 2 sets to where the Emerald Codex is the worst item in your deck.

It's also by far the most interesting loot card so far - after 3 copies of the exact same Medallion, it's a nice change.


Three chances to get Raise Dead in your hand might make a solid argument for banishment.... Maybe.


Does it really goes to the loot box when banned or the Item box ?

I understand it is a Loot card, but it is also an item. We used to keep the loot separated until earned then we put them in their card type pile if we don't take them. I guess it is a house rule but it make sense, no ?


It goes back in with the loot, not the items. If it were put with the items, it has no check to acquire, so if you encountered it, you would have a problem. There is also a comment in the rule book that the only way to acquire loot is as a reward.

But like you said, if you want to house rule it you can, though the codex is probably an example where doing so would be super powerful, giving you 3 spells whenever you banished it.


Here is part of the rulebook's description of loot.

Rulebook v3 p16 wrote:
The other boons can be found by exploring locations, but loot cards are only given out as rewards for completing scenarios.

If you mixed it with the other items, you would create a scenario where it could be found, which would be against the rules.

See Mike's comment here as well.


I banished it straight away!


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Troymk1 wrote:
I banished it straight away!

Well? Details! Was it worth it?


Maybe Amiri had it and used it for TP since in my world barbarians can't read.


Man this item is amazing for anyone, not just divine casters. having 3 spells sitting in front of you rocks. It's even good if you draw attack spells like holy light (take that shadow!). This was the only piece of loot that I've actively had to make an argument for with my 3 player group playing as Kyra.


Vrog Skyreaver wrote:
Man this item is amazing for anyone, not just divine casters.

Yup. Personally, I think the LEAST useful thing you could do is put it in the deck of a Divine caster. It really shines in the deck of someone who doesn't have the Divine skill. I love it in Merisiel's deck.


csouth154 wrote:
Troymk1 wrote:
I banished it straight away!
Well? Details! Was it worth it?

I thought so.

I have two Divine Casters and this seemed a good way of beefing their available spells

2/3 cards drawn went straight into Kyra's deck

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