Helping in combat?

[Raymond Camden]

I'm a bit confused by something. From what I saw, an encounter is always supposed to be for *one* character. My son and I had our first game yesterday, and he played a character that had the ability to attack to another location. How exactly is that supposed to be used? My son and I thought that it could be used to gang up on one monster. In other words, while my char was there on location, he could help out in the fight. Is that not the case? If so, how would you *ever* use the ability to attack to another location? If I'm there and I fail to beat the monster, it gets shuffled back in, so it's not like it could wait for his turn.

[Andrew L Klein]

I assume you're referring to card like a bow, that says "Discard to add X to a Combat check at another location"?

During an encounter, each player is allowed to play one card of type, as long as it applies to that check.

[Hawkmoon269]

I'm assuming your son was playing Harsk from Rise of the Runelords or Lirianne from Skull and Shackles. I'll use Harsk for this example, but their powers are similar.

Harks wrote:

You may recharge a card to add 1d4 to a combat check at another location.

So, let's pretend you were playing Valeros. You were at the Woods, while Harsk was at the Waterfront. You encounter a monster that requires you to make a combat check. Valeros has a Longsword, so you play it. Harks wants to help you out, so he recharges a card (and it can be any card in his hand) to add 1d4 to your check. So now, when you go to roll for your check, you will roll the die from your skill, the dice the Longsword gave you, and also an extra 1d4.

This doesn't make the encounter Harsk's encounter or Harks's check. It is still only Valeros that is encountering the card and only Valeros is attempting the check. Harks can just add to Valeros' check. Likewise you can play blessings to help each other and lots of other cards. But you are correct, the encounter and the check belong only to Valeros.

You might find this guide helpful, particularly the part about playing cards.

Welcome to PACG and good luck on your adventure.