0-4B DINOSAURS! Villain


Pathfinder Adventure Card Society


Is its check to defeat (Combat then Combat) or (Wisdom) or is it (Combat) then (Combat or Wisdom)? I only saw the card, so if there was clarification on the scenario I apologize.


The rulebook explains it.

S&S Rulebook p12 wrote:
“Or” takes priority over “then,” so if a card says “Wisdom 10 or Combat 13 then Combat 15,” you must first attempt either a Wisdom check with a difficulty of 10 or a Combat check with a difficulty of 13; after that, you must attempt a Combat check with a difficulty of 15.

So it is Combat for the first check, then your choice of Combat or Wisdom for the second.


The placement of the "or" at bottom of the villain is fairly confusing with that rules excerpt. If "or" takes priority, wouldn't you do (Combat or Wisdom) as the first check for the dinosaur? In most circumstances it would be functionally identical, but there could be situations where it could be important to have the distinction.

Sovereign Court

You have to imagine a mathematical formula.

Replace OR by * and Then by + and you won't be wrong anymore.


LudwigO wrote:

You have to imagine a mathematical formula.

Replace OR by * and Then by + and you won't be wrong anymore.

Huzzah! PEMDAS to the rescue!


If you are looking for a less "mathy" explanation, "Or takes priority over then" means that when you group the checks together, group the ORs together into bunches first first, then group the THENs.

So for your Combat then Combat or Wisdom, group the or bunch first to get

Combat then (Combat or Wisdom)

Just for kicks, this one:

Combat or Wisdom or Strength then Combat or Intelligence then Dexterity or Melee

We group the ORs into bunches with their neighbors to get:

(Combat or Wisdom or Strength) then (Combat or Intelligence) then (Dexterity or Melee)

* Contributor

Hawkmoon269 wrote:

Just for kicks, this one:

Combat or Wisdom or Strength then Combat or Intelligence then Dexterity or Melee

We group the ORs into bunches with their neighbors to get:

(Combat or Wisdom or Strength) then (Combat or Intelligence) then (Dexterity or Melee)

I want to see that card.

NPC: "You must undertake these three tests of might, mind, and quickness..."
Oloch: "I JUST BASH THEM ALL!!!"


Okay, it seemed the rulebook excerpt meant you check "or" before "then," not just group "or" before "then." It could be clearer, since it only says a flat "or" takes priority, so one would assume it meant checks as well.

Grand Lodge

Again, I think it is how you interpret things.

To me, the rulebook is clear how to group the checks. Or takes priority over then so I'm always going to group them in that fashion.

Check to Defeat:
Combat 22
then
Combat 22
or
Wisdom/Survival 15

becomes:

Combat then (Combat or Wisdom/Survival)

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