Incendiary Cloud Mechanics

[pearlmike]

Ezren just acquired Incendiary cloud and has a question about the mechanics of using it when you encounter a bane. Does Incendiary Cloud count as a spell card for a check preventing Ezren from playing another spell card for the 2 checks needed to defeat the villain? Example: Ezren encounters Barl Breakstone and plays Incendiary Cloud. Do I still have the ability to play a spell for the combat checks? Also does the Incendiary Cloud effect the second check too?

[csouth154]

Yes. Playing a spell when the encounter first happens is not playing one during the check. And yes, it stays active for all checks during the turn.

[fraserstanton]

Can you play two incendiary clouds on two different checks in the same turn? Do the stack?

[Hawkmoon269]

You can play it on 2 different encounters, or 2 different characters can each play 1 on the same encounter, but not by 1 character on 2 checks in the same encounter (i.e. not a 2 check villain). And they are in effect for the rest of the turn and they would "stack", the same way 2 blessings would stack, or two of the same allies.

Incendiary Cloud has to be played "When a character encounters a bane..." That comes well before the check is attempted.

Encountering a Card wrote:

Evade the card (optional).

Apply an effects that happen before the encounter, if needed.
Attempt the check.
Attempt the next check.
Apply an effects that happen after the encounter, if needed.
Resolve the encounter.

So you have to play Incendiary Cloud at the moment that sequence begins, i.e. before you even would evade.

For more info about the "cloud" spells see this thread, or this thread, or this thread.

[3Doubloons]

fraserstanton wrote:

Can you play two incendiary clouds on two different checks in the same turn? Do the stack?

You need two different encounters (or two characters with a cloud each), since you can only play the Clouds at the start of an encounter. If you do manage to play two, then they will both apply to each combat check against monsters

[fraserstanton]

So a villain that causes you to summon and fight another monster first, you could not play one on the first monster, then another one on the villain.
But if you explored a second time (e.g. blessing), you could play one on the second explore.
Got it. Thanks.

[Andrew K]

You could use it on the monster and villain. Both are separate encounters, and have their own set of steps.

[fraserstanton]

But the monster is part of the resolving the villain steps.

[Vic Wertz]

Rulebook: Summoning and Adding Cards wrote:

When a card summons a card for you to encounter, this starts a new encounter, triggering any “before the encounter” and “after the encounter” powers at the appropriate time... When you’re done encountering the summoned cards, continue resolving the original encounter.