Resolving damage for multiple players doing sequential checks

[InquisitiveCoder]

FAQ wrote:

In the case of a bane that requires sequential checks, any character at that location can attempt one or more of the checks, as long as the character who encountered the bane attempts at least one of them.

Am I correct in interpreting that each check in the sequence can only be attempted once? I.e. If the enemy requires two checks, then at most two players will make rolls (with one of them being the player who encountered the bane.)

Secondly, the text regarding taking damage seems ambiguous to me:

FAQ wrote:

If you fail to defeat a monster, you take damage (see Take Damage, If Necessary, below).

FAQ wrote:

If you fail a check to defeat a monster, it deals an amount of damage to you equal to the difference between the difficulty to defeat the monster and your check result.

Do players take damage for every failed check if the enemy requires more than one, or do you only take damage once for failing to defeat the bane? How is damage figured when other players pitch in?

Thanks.

[Firedale2002]

It's per-check, and each check is attempted once (and can only be attempted once, unless something says otherwise).

For the Then checks, the first check is attempted (and damage taken by the character making the check, if it was failed), and then the next check is attempted (and damage taken by the character making the check, if it was failed).

Keep in mind that both checks must be attempted in a 'then' circumstance if possible, even though failing the first check generally results in the monster not being defeated even if the second check is successful.

I can see where the confusion and question would come up because of the wording.

Generally, failing to defeat a monster is the result of a single check, so in those cases, the 'fail to defeat = damage' one makes sense. But then when you have a monster with multiple checks, that wording is misleading because it makes it sound like you'd only take damage because it wasn't defeated, that's where the second wording comes in.

Also, note that it is specifically monsters that you always take damage from if you fail a check against it, regardless of the check required (unless it says otherwise). All other banes have their own effects (which is sometimes taking damage and sometimes not) that are specified on their cards.

[TClifford]

Remember, no one else can make a check for the active person unless there is two attempts separated by a THEN. Also, you need to accept the outcome of your checks. If you fail a check, no one else can take the fail or try it again.

[Vic Wertz]

I've tweaked the wording in the FAQ, and will make the same revisions next time we update the rulebook.

(Page 11, towards end of first full paragraph, change "If you fail to defeat a monster, you take damage" to "If you fail a check to defeat a monster, you take damage".

Back page, under "Attempting a Check", change "Take damage if you lose a check against a monster" to "Take damage if you fail a check to defeat a monster.")

Also, this isn't worth adding a FAQ for, but the next update of the rulebook will also get this change:

Page 17, under "Check to Defeat," change "For villains, henchmen, and monsters, you normally take damage if you fail the check to defeat" to "You normally take damage if you fail a check to defeat a monster".

[InquisitiveCoder]

Thanks for the clarification!