question regarding Lem and actions before dice rolls

[wreckratz]

So I've played the game a couple of times (still learning) and last game, one of our players wondered about Lem's ability to, "Once per check, you may recharge a card to add 1d4 to a check attempted to another character at your location."

He felt that since "attempted" was in past tense, that that 1d4 could be added *after* the die roll.

From everything I've read and my interpretation, that may be a misleading word, but that all powers and cards have to be played *before* the die roll (unless affecting damage taken, etc.)

What's correct here?

[csouth154]

You are correct.

[Pixel Hunter]

I'm not an English major, but I don't think the "attempted" is in past tense. Much like the sentence "A check will be attempted." It's more obvious in that sentence that the check has not yet happened.

[wreckratz]

Quote from said friend:

" “attempted” is still past tense, you’d have to add other words to change that as in “before a check is attempted.” And isn’t the cardinal rule with any card game that text on the cards can override rules in the book?"

[csouth154]

Your friend is still wrong where it counts. All dice are rolled together. You can't add dice to the result of a roll.

[wreckratz]

This is getting slightly hilarious, but more quotes:

"The thing is that the word “attempted” is not needed there AT ALL if it wasn’t to indicate something happening in the past, ex: “Once per check, you may recharge a card to add 1d4 to a check to another character at your location.” The addition of the word would be significant imo."

[csouth154]

Your friend is getting hung up on a tense I'm not sure he understands. Ask him if he'd have a problem with this wording: "You may recharge a card to add 1d4 to a check MADE by another player at your location".

That is another way of saying "attempted by". It means the exact same thing in this context. If it said "made by" instead of "attempted by", would he still have an issue? If he says yes...that's one seriously stubborn (and incorrect) friend you've got there. :)

[Brian Campbell]

Hello! My name is Brian Campbell, and I'm one of the editors here at Paizo. I've been working on the next set for the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game.

wreckratz, here's the text of the power you mentioned:

"Once per check, you may recharge a card to add 1d4… to a check attempted by another character at your location.”

That verb isn't actually in past tense. It's in passive tense.

Another (clearer) way to write it would be like this:

"... you may recharge a card to add 1d4... to a check another character attempts at your location."

Lem still needs to add his d4 before the other character attempts her roll.

Hope that helps!

[Hawkmoon269]

Brian Campbell wrote:

Hello! My name is Brian Campbell, and I'm one of the editors here at Paizo. I've been working on the next set for the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game.

wreckratz, here's the text of the power you mentioned:

"Once per check, you may recharge a card to add 1d4… to a check attempted by another character at your location.”

That verb isn't actually in past tense. It's in passive tense.

Another (clearer) way to write it would be like this:

"... you may recharge a card to add 1d4... to a check another character attempts at your location."

Lem still needs to add his d4 before the other character attempts her roll.

Hope that helps!

Hi Brian. Thanks for your work in making PACG. It is appreciated.

[Brian Campbell]

You're welcome!

[Majuba]

Welcome to the boards Brian!

And very nice explanation, thank you, I was just about to start using Lem.

[wreckratz]

Thank you Brian - I appreciate that clarification!

[Mike Selinker]

Welcome Brian!

No, really, you should all welcome him before he tells me that last sentence should have a comma in it.

Mike