I've got a few questions, mostly regarding how playing cards on another player's turn works, but I also have a few other questions too.
(1) Before gameplay begins, do I need to shuffle my character deck? Or do I organize my deck so that I may know the order in which I'll be drawing cards from it?
(2) Can a player at a different location play a card that affects my check during my turn? If so, can they use their character power or perform the check to recharge the card that they played on my turn?
(3) Can a character at my location or a different location play a card (armor, item, spell, etc.) that reduces the damage I'm taking while resolving my encounter? If so, can they use their character power or perform the check to recharge that card when they play it on my turn?
(4) When a card (for example, a weapon) says to reveal it to modify a check, and to additionally discard it to add even more to the check, do I need to make the decision to reveal and discard it before I attempt the check? Or can I just reveal the card, attempt the check, and then decide to discard it if I want to add more to my check?
(5) Is this correct?: On my turn, during an encounter, if a check requires sequential checks, players at the same location can attempt one of the checks for me using their appropriate skill die (and/or they can play cards to modify my/their checks) -- as long as I attempt one of the checks. However, If players are at a different location, the most they could do is play one card of each type that modifies the check; they can't attempt a check for me.
(6) Is this correct?: Before the attempt at the check, when it's time to play cards that will affect the check, ALL players must play their cards; there's no rolling the die, seeing the results, then another player decides to play a Blessing to give you an additional die to roll.
(7) Is this correct?: In theory, on a six player game. Every player could play a Blessing of the Gods and you would get six additional dies on your check?
I think most of these are in the FAQ, so be sure to check it out. This part in particular would be helpful: http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gk#v5748eaic9rb6
(1) Shuffle your deck than draw your hand size. Each character has a favorite card type on their card. If you didn't get that in your hand draw, set your hand aside and re-draw. Repeat that process until you have your hand size and your favorite card type. Once you do, the cards that are not in your hand to reform your deck. http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gk#v5748eaic9r4c
(2) They can't play the check for you, but they can add to your check. The cards will let you know. Some say "your check" meaning it can't help someone else. Some say "at your location" meaning only if they are at the same location as you. You can't do something that doesn't actually have an effect (like evade a bane when there is no bane to evade), but if the cards don't tell you otherwise and it would apply to the check or situation, you can do it. For example, Valeros has a power to recharge weapons instead of discarding them when he plays them. If you are Lem and are at another location and are engaged in a combat check and Valeros has a longbow that says discard to add 1d4 to a combat check at another location, Valeros can recharge it by applying his power to add 1d4 to Lem's combat check. If they were at the same location it wouldn't work. (But Lem would get Valeros' 1d4 combat bonus from his other power than.) http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gk#v5748eaic9r78
(3) If the card (character, item, armor, spell, whatever) says they can reduce damage to another character and has no limitation on it yes they can play it. But notice most (if not all) of those carsd say "to reduce damage dealt to you" meaning the person holding the card. Therefore they can't use it to help you. If the card or a character's power allows them to recharge or attempt to recharge the card, they may do so even when using it to help someone else. See Valero's above for an example with a box. A character with the arcane skill that plays a spell to help another character can still make the recharge attempt on the spell card, provided it has one.
(4) You need to make the decision before you roll. You assemble the dice as a step in the sequence of making a check. Another step is rolling them. You can't go back to the assembly step after rolling. Some weapons do have powers that allow you to re-roll if you fail, but they will be noted on the weapon. http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1gk#v5748eaic9ram
(5) That is correct. And they can take the first one and you can take the second one if you wish. Whoever take the check takes the damage if the check is failed, so even if you fail the first one you need to attempt the second one in case there is more damage. So decide who will take which check before either is attempted.
(6) That is correct. Accepting the consequences of your decisions is a key part of this game. See the first link I gave above.
(7) Correct. And some blessings add two dice, so in theory you could get 12 additional dice. But unless your sure its the final showdown with the villain, spending that much on a single check probably isn't advisable. In a 6 player game you'd probably need those blessing to explore.
Enjoy the game! It totally rocks.
I agree with Hawkmoon269 on all counts; I had written it up all myself but when i went to preview it I saw I'd been beaten to the punch.
Thank you so much!
I checked the FAQ before I posted but I still had some "But what if..." and "Can I or can't I" type questions that there weren't any concrete examples for -- or there were examples but they weren't specifically answering the question I had.
So your reply just helped me learn a lot of things really quickly. Thank you again.
Edit: I checked your first link and read very slowly and carefully, and yes, most of what I asked is answered there. I definitely need to slow down when reading the rules. Thanks again!
No problem. There are quite a few rules and I know I didn't grasp everything the first few times I played. The game is totally worth the efforts of learning the rules. Don't hesitate to ask if you need help.
(And First World Bard, sorry we posted nearly simultaneously and you felt the frustration of discovering your efforts were for naught. Next time just post anyway. Even if we are restating each other you might say it in a more clear way or in a way someone else will comprehend better than the way I phrase it.)
Bidmaron, in hindsight, I agree you are right. It doesn't look like you have to decide before the checks who will do each one. They are separate steps in the encounter sequence, each one triggering the attempting a check sequence, in which you determine what cards and skills you will play on the check. Plus the "finish one thing before you start another" rule would imply you decide as you come to each one.
So, as long as the encountering character does one of the checks, you are good. Of course that means if there are two checks and another character attempts the first one, the encountering character has already committed to the second one.