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GeneralRulings

GeneralRulings
ActionContinuesAsIfUnblocked:
Ifaneffectcontinuesablockedaction"asifunblocked",thenallactionmodifiersandreactioncards,includingstealthand
DawnOperationorWakewithEvening'sFreshness,arestillineffect.[RTR19941109]
Anactioncannotcontinue"asifunblocked"afteracombatresultingfromasuccessfulaction.[RTR19970630]
Anyeffectthatstartsanewcombatafterthecombatthatwasendedby(orcontinuesthecombatthatwasendedby)a
"combatendsandtheactioncontinuesasifunblocked"willnullifythe"continueaction"part.ThisincludesPsyche
(superior),FastReaction,HiddenLurker,andTelepathicTracking.[LSJ19980109]
Performingdiablerie(viaAmaranth)attheendofthecombatthatisendedbya"combatendsandtheactioncontinuesas
ifunblocked"effectwillnullifythe"continueaction"part.[LSJ19980819]
"continueasifunblocked"inherentlymovestheactioncardfromtheashheap(whereitwentwhentheactionwasblocked)
tolimbo(whereitshouldbeiftheactionisnotblocked).Iftheactioncardisnotintheashheap,thentheactioncannotbe
continued(likeSwarmorReinforcements).[20070808]
ActionModifiers/Reactions:
ActionModifiersthatcanbeplayedbyminionsotherthantheactingminion(HiddenLurker,MaskofaThousandFaces,
superiorCloaktheGathering)canonlybeplayedbythecontrolleroftheactingminion.[LSJ19990425]
Actionmodifierscannotbeplayedbyavampireintorporunlessthatvampireistheactingminion.[RTR19970306]
Actions:
Betweenthetimetheactioncard(includingally,equipment,retainer,andpoliticalactioncards)isplayedandtheaction
completelyresolved,theactioncardisneitherinplaynorintheashheap.Whentheactionisresolved,thecardisburned
orputinplay,asappropriate.[LSJ20040623]
Ifaminioncannotpaytheentirecostofanactionwhentheactionresolves,whatcostcanbepaidispaid,andtheaction
continueswithnoeffect("fizzles").Itisconsideredsuccessful.[RTR20011007]
Ifaminioncannottakeamandatoryaction(forwhateverreason),theheisstuckandcantakenoaction.[LSJ20010810]
Anyactionwhichretrievesanequipmentcardandsaysto'equip'theactingminionwiththatcardisconsideredan'equip
action'.[TOM19960130]
IftheMethuselahlosescontroloftheactingminionbeforetheresolutionoftheaction,thentheactionends.[RTR
19970630]
Cardsandabilitiesthatareusableonlyafterasuccessfulactionareusedaftertheactioniscompleted,includingany
oustings.[RTR19970630]
Allies:
Ignoreall"burnblood"effectsentirely.[TOM19960326]
ThereisnolimittoanAlly'slife(ifsomeeffectgivesanAllymorelifethanitstartedwith,theexcessdoesnotdrain
off).[TOM19960604]
Anallythatplaysacard"asavampire"istreated"asavampire"forallpuposesoftheresolutionoftheplayofthatcard
includinganycontinuingeffects,butnotforeffectsthecardgeneratesforbeinginplay.[RTR20070707]
Blocking:
Ifthetargetofadirectedactionisreset,anew"chooseblockers"opportunityresults.[RTR19970630]
Combatoccursaspartoftheblocknotaftertheblock.(SoCats'GuidanceandFreakDriveareplayedafterthecombat,
notbefore).[RTR19980623]
Castingvotesorballotsandabstaining:
Ifaneffectcausesaminiontobeunabletocastvotesorballotsduringareferendumisplayed/used,thatminionisforced
toabstain,whetherheorshehadalreadycastvotesorballots.[PBE20141026]
Combat:
Bydefault,combatcardsonlyapplytotheroundinwhichtheyareplayed.Explicitcardtextisneededtoovercomethis
default.[RTR19980623]
Amaneuverorpressgainedbyacombatcardcanonlybeusedduringthecurrentroundofcombat.Amaneuverorpress
gainedbyanoncombatcard(e.g.,action,equipment)canbeusedinanyroundofthecombat.[TOM19960521]
Ifaneffect"sets"therangeofaround(andthereforeskipsthemaneuverphase),noothereffectcanbeusedtoresetthe
range.[RTR19970630]
AvampireburnedincombatdoesnotpassthroughTorpor.[RTR19941109]
CardswhicharenotusablebyvampiresgoingtoTorporarenotusablebyvampiresburnedincombat,either.[RTR
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19950622]
CardswhicharenotusablebyvampiresgoingtoTorporonlychecktoseeifthevampireiscurrentlygoingtotorpor,notif
thevampirewillbegoingtoTorporlater.E.g.,AvampirewithUndeadPersistencecanstillplaythesetypesofcards.[LSJ
19970304]
HandStrike:anynonranged,nonweaponstrikethatdealsdamagebasedonthestrikingminion'sstrength,oranyminion's
nonrangeddamagedealinginnatestrike.[LSJ19970224]
Ifthestrikedoessomethinginadditiontoendingcombat,thatsomethingtakesplacejustafterthecombatends,unlessit
isanuntapeffect,inwhichcaseittakesplacebeforetheendofcombat.[RTR19970630]
Ifastrikehasadditionaleffectslikeapress(e.g.,ThrownSewerLid,Kraken'sKiss,WindDance),andthatstrikeiscanceled
(e.g.,withPrimalInstinctsorwithTheJones),thentherestoftheeffectisalsocanceled.[RTR20040501]
Combateffectsplayedattheendofaround/combatcanbeplayedwhentheroundendsviaS:CEorsimilar.[RTR
20001020]
Youcanuseaneffectthatwillsteal/burnmoreblood(orlife)thanthetargetminionhasyousteal/burnwhathehas.The
effecttargetstheminion,notthecounters.[RTR20010710]
Onlymaneuveringwithaweaponcommitsyoutostrikingwiththatweapon.Othereffectscanbeusedwithoutstrikingwith
theweapon.[LSJ19971215]
Ifyouhaveanypending(additional)strikes,waituntilthosestrikesareresolvedbeforegainingfurtheradditionalstrikes(if
youareallowedtousemorethanoneadditionalstrikegainingeffectinaround).[LSJ20001206]
Youcangainadditionalstrikesevenifyoucannotstrike.Youstillcannotstrikewiththeadditionalstrike,however.[LSJ
19970821]
Thingsthatareplayed"attheendofround"(Disarm,TasteofVitae,Psyche!,etc.)areplayedafterallpressesforthe
roundarehandled(iftheroundmakesitthatfartheycanbeplayediftheroundendsprematurely,asnormal).[RTR
20030519]
Aneffectwhichwouldcause(anew)combatcannotbeusedifthereisalreadyapendingcombatqueued.[RTR20020501]
Contesting:
Uniquecardsoncontestedcardsareoutofthegameexceptwithrespecttobeingcontested.Theyarecontestedasnormal,
shouldtheneedarise.[RTR19951017]
Incomingcopiesofcontestedcardsdonotenterplaypriortobeingcontested.Anyeffectthenewcopyofthecontested
hasforbeinginplayisnotactivatedpriortothecontest.[RTR20030519]
Temporarycontroleffectsareendedifthevampireiscontested,asnormal,sothevampirewouldbeplacedfacedownin
frontofhisprevious(permanent)controller.[RTR20000501]
Ifanallywouldenterplayandcontest,andifallothercopiesareyielded,thatallyreturnsintoplayintheuncontrolled
areawherethatallywasplacedwhenenteringcontest.Thatallycan'tactonthatturn.[LSJ20050428]
ControlledCards:
Ifcontrolofacardisreturnedtoaplayerwhohasbeenousted,thecardisburned.[RTR19960221]
Acardwithaclansymbolonlyrequiresareadymemberofthatclan*whenplayed*.Youdon'tneedaclanmembertogain
controlofthecard(viaFarMastery,DisputedTerritory,etc.)onceit'sinplay.[TOM19960226]
Damage(Combat):
Damageisonlyconsideredtohavecomefromaminionifthedamageisfromastrikeorifaneffectspecificallystatesthat
thedamageisdealtbytheminion.Damagefromothereffectsisconsidered"environmental,"andhasnoparticular
source.[RTR19970630]
Resolvingmultiplepointsof(simultaneous)damageisdoneallatonceyoucannotinterrupttheprocesstoplaysome
othereffect(liketappingtheVagabondMystic).[LSJ20001111]
ThedamagemodifiermustbeplayedbeforetheendoftheChooseStrikephaseinordertoaffectthecurrentstrike.[RTR
19960112]
Ammocardsareplayedbeforeanystrikestakeeffectregardlessofwhetherthosestrikesdealdamageornot.Thus,ifa
vampirewhoisgettingshotwithDragon'sBreathRoundsistargetedbyRotschreck,thecombatwillendbeforeeitherstrike
doesanything.[RTR19960221]
Addingdamagetostrikeswhicharenotdamagedealingstrikeswillnotdealdamage(e.g.,usingLuckyBlowandchoosing
yourRowanRingmeleeweaponwon'tdealdamage)[RTR19960221]
Additionaldamageinheritsallofthepropertiesofthebasedamage(Sothe+1damagefromluckyblowisaggravatedfor
Basilia).[RTR]
Thebasedamagedoesnotinheritthepropertiesoftheadditionaldamage(SoaSaturdayNightSpecialwithDragon's
BreathRoundsdoes1normalplus2aggravateddamage).[RTR]
Effectsthatincreasethedamageprovidedbystrikecardsaffectthosecardsratherthanthestrikingminion(sotheadded
damageisthesametypeasthestrike'sdamage,notthebasedamage).[RTR19970630]
Effectsthatprevent"uptoX"orthatprevent"X"damagehavethesameeffecttheypreventasmuchdamageaspossible,
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uptothemaximimum(X)specified.[RTR20041202]
"Damagefromastrike"onlyincludesdamagedonetotheopposingtarget.Sideeffectdamageisnotcountedas"damage
fromastrike".Therefore,selfinflicteddamagefromZipGun,Grenade,BurstofSunlight,BodyofSun,etc.issideeffect
damageandisnotpreventableby"preventdamagefromastrike"effectslikeSkinofSteel,LeatherJacket,etc.[LSJ
19970108][]
Damagedonetoanuncontrolledvampireisignored.[RTR19991001]
Cardsthatpreventdamageareonlyusableatleastonenonunpreventabledamageremainsunprevented.
Acardcanpreventmoredamagethantheremainingunpreventeddamage.
DirectedActions:
Actionswhichtargetanotherplayer'shand,uncontrolledregion,crypt,orlibrary(orcardstherein)aredirectedatthat
player.(Actionswhichtargetanotherplayer'sashheapareundirectedbydefault).[LSJ20010924][LSJ20010926]
Anactionyoutakedirectedonlyatyourself(orsomethingyoucontrol)isanundirectedaction,eveniftheactionismarked
witha(D)symbol.[RTR19980707]
Equipment:
Equipmentisnotoptional,unlessindicatedbycardtext.Usingaweaponasastrikeisoptional.[RTR19980707][]
Equipmentonlyapplieswhileinpossession.Ifneededforanaction,theactionwillfizzleiftheactingminiondoesn't
possesstheequipmentwhentheactionresolves.[RTR19960221]
Aweapon's"currentdamage"istheamountofdamagethattheweaponwouldinflictifusedasastrikebybeareragainsta
genericopponent.(ThisaffectsMachineBlitz).[RTR19980623]
A"regularstrike"isunmodified,sowouldusethedefaultstrength[LSJ20020821]
EquipmentswhichareLocations(Loquipment):
Loquipmentdoesn'tcountasequipmentwhileitisinplay.[RTR19960112]
Loquipmentmaybeputonanyminionifmovedinanambiguousfashion(byDisputedTerritory,e.g.).Ifthenewcontroller
hasnominions,thelocquipmentisburned.(Note:currentlyallmovesareambiguousTOM).[RTR19960112]
TransferringLocquipmentviaDisputedTerritorytothe*same*Methuselahthatcurrentlycontrolsthelocquipmentresults
innoeffectthelocquipmentcannotbemovedtoadifferentminionofthesameMethuselah.[LSJ19971002]
Hunt:
Anyhuntmodification(Aaron'sRazor,Hesha,etc.)isallowedonspecialhunts(LegacyofCain,WeekofNightmares,etc.),
followingcardtext.NotethatcardtextonFestivodelloEstintoandInbaseDiscotekexplicitlymovetheadditionalblood
fromthebloodbank(ratherthanfromthenew,nondefault,targetofthehunt).[RTR20030519]
ImbuedPowers:
APower'sreactioneffectcanbeusedonlywhenreactionscanbeused.OntheQuiVivecanbeusedtoenableatapped
Imbuedtousethereactioneffect.Similarly,BlindSpotwouldpreventanImbuedfromusingthereactioneffect.[LSJ
20070403][LSJ20070413]
Infernal:
Havingothereffectsthatcausetheinfernalvampirenottountapasnormalduringtheuntapphaseareredundantwith
beinginfernal.Ifthevampiredoesn'tuntapbecauseofbeinginfernalandbecausehehasaSensoryDeprivation,for
example,hiscontrollermaystillburnapooltountapthevampire.[LSJ20050114]
Library/Hand/AshHeap:
Ifyouholdfewercardsinhandthanyourhandsizebecauseyourlibraryisemptyandthenoneormorecardsarereturned
toyourlibrary,immediatelydrawthecardsintoyourhand(stoppingifyourreachyourhandsize).[LSJ20001127]
Thecardsthatyouarecurrentlynotreplacingcountagainstyourhandsize.[LSJ19980803]
Cardsthatgointoanashheap,hand,orlibraryalwaysgointotheirowner'sashheap,hand,orlibrary.[RTR19970425]
Ifaneffectcausesyoutosearchyourlibraryorcrypt,shufflethatdeckafterward.[LSJ20040518]
MasterCards:
Changingthecontrollerofalocationhasnoothereffect,unlessspecifiedbycardtext.Exception:Alocation"on"another
controlledcardismovedontoanappropriatecardcontrolledbythenewcontrollerofthelocation.(soyoucanretargeta
TombofRamses,forexample,buttheamountofbloodonapowerbasedoesn'tchange).[RTR19980623]
TheeffectoftheMasterCardiscompletelydefinedwhenthecardisplayed(anytargetsmustbenamed).[LSJ19970630]
TheMaster:Disciplinecardincreasesthevampire'sleveloftheDisciplineby1whileitisonthevampire.Disciplinelevels:0
(none),1(normal),and2(superior).[LSJ20011227]
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Mergingadvancedvampires:
Anybloodcounters(orothercards,ifthevampirehadbeenBanished,forexample)ontheuncontrolledcardbeingmerged
areburned.Theydonottransfertothevampireinplay.Onlythecryptcardismovedtothevampireinplay.[LSJ
20030418][LSJ20030421]
Minioncards:
Whenplayed,asplitDisciplinecardcountsasrequiringtheDisciplinebeingused(foreffectsthatenhanceorrestrictcards
thatrequirecertainDisciplines).Inthehand(orlibraryorashheap),thecardcanbeconsideredtorequireeitherDiscipline
(foreffectsthatretrievecardsthatrequirecertainDisciplines).[LSJ20020510]
ADisciplinebasedcardthatisputintoplayisputintoplayateitherbasicorsuperiorlevel.Onceinplay,youcan'tchange
whichlevelitwasplayedat,evenifyougivethevampirethatplayeditabetterability.[TOM19960403]
PlayingCards:
Ifacardtargets(chooses,selects,isplayedon,etc.)sometarget,thenthecardcanonlybeplayedifanappropriatetarget
isavailable.Examples:Strike:Steal/DestroyEquipment/Weaponcannotbeusediftheopposingminiondoesn'thavea
suitableEquipment/Weapontobedestroyed/stolen.[RTR19980928][LSJ20030408]"Stealingblood"effectstargeta
minion,notitsblood(orlife)counters.
Youcannotplayacardwhosecostcannotbepaid.If,betweenthetimeaactioncardisplayed(oranactionisattempted)
andthetimethecostoftheactionispaid,younolongercanpaythecost,thenyoupayasmuchasyoucanandthecardis
burnedwithouteffect(ortheactionhasnoeffect).[TOM19960514][RTR20010710]
Acardcanbecanceled"asitisplayed"(withSuddenReversal,DirectIntervention,etc.)onlyasitisplayed.Theonlycards
thatcanbeplayed"as"anotheroneisplayedaretheonestheplayershaveintheirhandsatthetime.Youcannotusethe
Barrensafteramastercardisplayed,forexample,toattempttodrawintoaSuddenReversaltocancelit.[RTR20040501]
AneffectthatallowsaminiontoplayacardthatrequiresaDisciplinehedoesn'thave(e.g.,InfernalFamiliar,IanForestal)
canbeusedtomeetone(notboth)ofthenormalDisciplinerequirementsofamultiDisciplinecard.[LSJ20011217]
Priscus(PrisciBallots):
Prisciingeneralhavezerovotes(foreffectsthatoperatebasedonthenumberofvotesavampirehas).[RTR19970630]
IfaPriscusisforcedtoabstainortochangehisvotes,thenthisincludeshisballotsaswellashisvotes(ifany)inthemain
referendum.[LSJ19970224]
AnindividualPriscusisnottaintedbytheresultofthePriscisubreferendum.(ThisonlymattersforcardslikeBribesand
ScornofAdonisthatcarewhichwayindividualminionscasttheirvotes.)APriscusisconsideredtohavecastballots
(andvotes)"for"or"against"(ortohaveabstainedfrom)themainreferendumbasedonhowhecasthisballot(s)in
thesubreferendum(andinthemainreferendum),regardlessoftheresultofthatsubreferendum.[RTR20000501]
Retainers:
IfaretainerwhichrequiresaDisciplinetobeemployedisbroughtintoplaybyameansotherthan"EmployRetainer",treat
itasifitwerebroughtintoplaywiththebasicversionoftheDiscipline.[RTR19960221]
Anyreferencetotheemployingvampireshouldbeareferencetotheemployingminion,unlesstheretainer'sabilityclearly
onlyappliestoavampire(i.e.,unlesstheabilityaffectsblood,Disciplines,clan,sect,capacity,titles,orvotes).[RTR
19960530][RTR19990105]
Damagedonetoretainersisnot"unpreventable"nor"undodgable",althoughtherearefeweffectsthatallowaretainerto
preventdamageordodgestrikes.[LSJ20070820]
Terminology:
"DuringtimeperiodX,(youmay)doY"limitsYtoonceperphaseX.[LSJ19970625]
"Atthestartoftheuntapphase"isanotherwayofspecifying"duringtheuntapphase".Neitherphrasingspecifiesaperiod
oftimebeforetheother.[RTR19990105]
"Asplayed"(aphraseusedbymanycardcancelingeffects)comesafterthecardinquestionisfullyannouncedandbefore
theplayedcardisreplacedandbeforetheeffecttheplaygenerates.Ingeneral,nocardoreffectcanbeusedinthis
window.Theonlyonesthatcanbearetheeffectsthatsayso,andWakestyleeffectsthatenablesuchcardstobeplayed
("mayplayreactioncards"effects,not"untapself"orothereffects).[RTR]
"SameAction"means:1)Thesameinherent(cardless)actiontakenagainstthesametarget.2)Theactiontakenwiththe
samecardplayedfromhand,regardlessoftarget.3)Thesameactionprovidedbythesamecopyofacardinplay.(Each
actionprovidedbyacardinplayisadistinctaction(anddoesn'tcountasthe"sameaction").[RTR19950905]
Any"sameaction"isthe"sametypeofaction"soasuperiorGoverntheUnalignedisaGovernactiontypejustasainferior
GoverntheUnalignedis(andtheinferiorisalsoableedactiontype).[LSJ20001122]
Titles:
Bloodcapacitygainedbygainingatitlewillbelostifthetitleislost.[TOM19960210]

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TorporandDiablerie:
Onlyvampirescancommitdiablerie.Effectsthatwouldallowsomethingotherthanavampiretocommitdiablerieare
ignored.[RTR19970630]
Ifabloodhuntcannotbecalled(Muaziz,thediableristofMarchHalcyon,etc.),thennoreferendumtocalloneis
conducted.[LSJ20020715]
Onlyreadyvampirescancommitdiablerie.VampiresinTorporcannot.[RTR19980623]
Thestepsofdiablerie(section6.5.5oftherules)areindivisibleyoucannotinterruptthemtoplayothereffects
(exceptionsmadeforeffectsplayedwithinthereferendum,per6.5.6).Notably:effectsplayedwhenavampireisaboutto
beburnedareplayedbeforethewholethingandeffectsplayedwhenavampireisburned(meaning"hasbeen")oraftera
vampireisburnedareplayedafterthewholething.[LSJ20020311][LSJ20020411]
Ifaneventbothburnsandtorporizesavampire,thecontrollerdecideswhetherthevampirewillgointotorporbeforebeing
burned.[RTR19960708]
Vampires/Crypt/UncontrolledRegion:
Avampire'scapacitycanneverbereducedbelowone,evenbytheeffectsofVioletTremainorMindofaChild.[RTR
19990712]
IfaCaitiffcreatesanothervampire(viatheEmbrace,forexample),thecreatedisCaitiff(andclanless)bydefault(unless
cardtextsaysotherwise,ofcourse).[LSJ20011228][LSJ20020102]
Ifyoufilluptwouncontrolledscarcevampiresofthesameclan(seehttp://www.whitewolf.com/vtes/BLnag.html)during
yourinfluencephase,youmoveoneintothecontrolledregionandthentheotherburninganadditional3poolforthe
secondbecauseofthefirst.[LSJ20011018]
Ifyoucontestascarcevampire(seehttp://vekn.net/images/stories/cardlistsimages/bloodlines/blrulessheet.pdf),youpay
the3poolpersameclanpenaltywhenputtingthecardintoplay(beforecontestingbegins).[LSJ20011018]
Castingvotesandballots:
Thefirstthingthathappensduringareferendumisthesettingofterms.Alltheothereffectsareplayedduringthepolling
step.Thisincludescardsthatareused"beforevotesandballotsarecast".(Thisiserratato[6.3.2.1],makingthesettingof
termstheonlythingdoneinthatstep.)[RTR20040501]
Allvotesandballotsfromasinglesourcemustbecastinagreement.Asinglesourceisaminionorasinglenonminion
source(likeVentrueHQ).Allthevotesasinglevampirecastsmustbecastinagreement.Allthevotesandballotsfroma
givennonminionsourcemustbecastinagreement(youcannottaptheVentrueHQandcast2infavorand1against).[LSJ
20020126]
Ifareferendumwillpassautomatically(e.g.,CrypticRider,CharmingLobby,MalkavianRiderClause,DadelosMuertos),
thennocastingvotesorballotsoccursduringtheautomaticreferendum,andmost"duringapoliticalaction"and"duringa
referendum"effectscannotbeused.E.g.,DelayingTacticscannotbeusedtocancelthereferendum.Anyeffectsthat
operateonthenumberofvotesthatthereferendumpassedbyhavenoeffect.[LSJ19980107]
Aneffectthatcancelsareferendum(TelepathicVoteCounting,GangrelConspiracy,etc.)maybeplayedatanytimeduring
thevotingprocessbefore,during,oraftervotesandballotshavebeencast.[LSJ19980130]
Aneffectthatcancelsaminion'svotesand/orballots(TelepathicVoteCounting,PullingStrings,etc.)maybeplayedatany
timeduringthevotingprocessbeforeorafterthatminioncastshisvotesand/orballots.[RTR19950530][LSJ19990723]
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