Alahazra's Deck-Scouting Ability

[Zhayne]

Are there any timing restrictions on this, or can I just go 'wait, let me look at that card' any time the mood strikes me (and I have an appropriate card to recharge, of course)?

[skizzerz]

You cannot use it during an encounter (since the only cards and powers you can play during an encounter must relate to the current step of the encounter), otherwise go nuts.

[mlvanbie]

We are currently waiting for resolution on how far you can go with 'relate to current step of the encounter'; one of my examples has Alahazra using her Stargazer power to scout and acquire a BotG to play on someone else's check.

[ThreeEyedSloth]

Mike already said you can't do that, because you can't perform a check inside of another check.

Even if the check to acquire/defeat says "None", that's still technically a check that you are resolving. So, no BotG.

[Ashram316]

Another issue with the BotG example is that her stagazer power only activates on her own turn. While there are definitely instances of players making checks on other players turns, I feel like, in most cases, Alahazra would have already added the blessing to her hand before encountering something that caused another player to make a check on her turn.

[mlvanbie]

There is no check for BotG -- you must acquire it if you encounter it, without making a check (thus the 'None').

[ThreeEyedSloth]

Right, but that still falls under the "Make your check" step of an encounter. Even if it's "None", it's still a check by the rules that is resolved. Thus, you can't do a check within a check.

[mlvanbie]

Every turn has a Move Step, but you only count as moving if you go to a different location. If 'Check to acquire: None' is not like that, what happens at locations such as the Hall of Champions where effects happen for successes and failures on checks? Perhaps 'the check neither succeeds nor fails, it just isn't'?

Anyway, there is no problem if there is a None-check:

Rules wrote:

If a card’s check section says “None” or “See

Below,” look at the card’s powers and immediately do whatever it
says there. ... If any cards played while attempting a
check include their own checks, resolve the current check in this step
and the new checks in subsequent steps.

BotG wrote:

When you encounter this card, you automatically acquire it.

So you would encounter the card, automatically acquire the BotG (the condition required to allow you to use your power), finish your original blessed check and then process the None-check. In most other cases you would be prevented from doing the encounter because you wouldn't have the card in time to use it because of the delayed check.

[Andrew L Klein]

What does the Stargazer power say? Unless it is 100% guaranteed to pull a BotG or something, you can't do it. If there's any chance of not getting a card you can play you couldn't use it and just say "whoops, can't play this one, oh well"

[mlvanbie]

The assumption is that you know the card is present. Alahazra knows all.

[Andrew L Klein]

I'd probably say no then. You can either use a power on a step or you can't. While I could see the argument that using a card or power to see the top card could make it legal, I'd personally err on the side of caution and say no.