Brainwave's page

I agree this rule is far from obvious. Also, since several armors allow you specifically to play another armor on the check (I'm guessing that is then intended just to override the "one armor per source of damage rule") but to me that additionally muddles the issue because when I see cards like that it just confirms what I'd originally thought to be a hard and fast rule, namely that only one card of each type can normally be used on a check.

To be honest this is the perfect example of why I think PACG often overcomplicates *itself*. There's a lot of really twisty rules out there and oftentimes those rules end up being created because of situations like this - where a decision was made to make an exception to one of the core rules of the game (an exception that doesn't even really seem needed) and that causes additional rulings and FAQ entries to be created to explain this exception.

While I agree that it's possible that people might misinterpret the "While displayed, after you reset your hand, recharge a random card" wording, it doesn't really change the fact that this would be more of a correct wording for those who actually understand the game and follow the cards as written vs "what we think is meant" by the cards. Instead of trying to overthink which wording might be less likely to be read wrong, how about just use a wording that actually says what you want the cards to do?

The current wording as written would indeed have an exponential effect.

So, my friend and I are playing a 6 character game and one of my characters is Zadim and one of his is Damiel. I've noticed that they have some interesting synergy and conflict.

Damiel can recharge an alchemical card to add 1d4 and acid or poison to a combat check by a character (Zadim) at his location. Then Zadim can recharge a card to add his int skill to that check since it now invokes poison.

Zadim can discard a non 2-handed weapon to give Damiel a combat boost.

Damiel can heal Zadim (healing pot) to get back all the cards he invariably discards to give himself and Damiel combat boosts.

Zadim also carries an ally from deck 1 that can be used to give anyone at his location poison added to their combat check, which can benefit either himself or Damiel, who has a similar ability to add a d6 by recharging when his check invokes poison.

But... all good things must end, right? Then we start acquiring boons. This is how I imagine the conversations might go (in reality we have a much friendlier exchange of cards) :)

Zadim - This ally adds poison to a check!
Damiel - Go for it, it's a basic card anyway.
Zadim - ...

Zadim - (Finds a Poisoned Sand Tube) Oh look it's a poison weapon!
Damiel - Umm.. "alchemical"
Zadim- *sadface* (Hands it over)
(Later...)
Damiel - I guess I'll ditch this weapon, the damage to everyone when I use it is a bit much.
Zadim - (Casually grabs it and sticks it in his backpack) You've still got some healing potions, right?
Damiel - Great.

Damiel - What's that card you just picked up?
Zadim - Umm... nuthin.
Damiel - Let me see that. Hey! That's alchemical AND liquid. Gimme!
Zadim - But.. it added poison to combat checks on a reveal... *sigh*

Zadim - NO SCORPION WHIPS FOR YOU!
Damiel - *shrug* Have you seen this fire lance? It's like a fire weapon but not really fire. How often do you see that?
Zadim - Ok you got me there.

Just finished with Stone Giants and my Seoni never once fought a monster with anything but her power throughout the entire adventure. She has 2 Staffs of Minor Healing and Father Zantos at this point, so the discard isn't much of a cost anymore.

My team also has both Harsk and Lem, so she's pretty much always rolling at least 1d12+d6+d4+11 (including one of those bonuses). That's plenty to kill most regular monsters. Versus one of the new ~20 difficulty monsters or a Villain/henchman, throw in a blessing or two and she's still fine.

Also she has the Wand of Enervation (I rolled a 4 and made one of the Villains a trivial roll with it), a Charmed Red Dragon, a +1 Charisma item and more bonuses that I'm probably forgetting. Overall, she's ridiculous. She even killed the final Villain that makes you take -1 off each die when you have the fire trait, without breaking a sweat.

Is Valereos related to Mershiel?

I'm starting to wonder if there's a correlation between people who think the game is too easy and Seoni. After 2 skill feats and 2 power feats she rolls a d12+d6+6 for combat anytime she wants just for discarding a card by using her innate power. If you have a Harsk who's spent 2 feats in his helper ability, that's d12+d6+d4+8! for what I consider to be a fairly low cost and not dependent on having certain cards out. Now admittedly there isn't much else she can do except kill stuff and make charisma rolls but still... Wow.