David Gardner
United States
Washington
Dist of Columbia
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In the same rules section, the Sands of Al-Kalim rules state that (1) you may pick the order of your story die encounters, and (2) if you get a dunes symbol at night, you take a "Nighttime Ambush" whereby you "immediately" draw an adventure card and resolve it (with no reward other than the experience).
I'm really surprised that FFG left this ambiguity right there, and that I can't find a definite answer in FAQ form about this.
My tendency is to believe the ruling should be (thematically) that you immediately draw and resolve the ambush, and only then do you get the other symbols. The only thread I've found online -- which includes perusing the Geek and FFG forums -- is that a couple of you play it as you get to choose the order. I don't agree with this (as stated above), but I'm totally open to being told otherwise. I do think this is a fundamentally important question to playing the game properly (see my example story below) -- you get very different outcomes -- and therefore necessary strategies and plans -- depending on which way you play this ruling. Help me out, fellow Geeks, or FFG if you would kindly rule on this.
In the game I'm playing: My character is beat up and rolled the story die with a Lost City appearing and a nighttime ambush. If I can choose my order, I pick the City of Faith, fully heal up, and buy a few items -- and then take on the Ambush (and will easily win). If I have to do the Ambush first, I will very likely get knocked out, and it's even a Challenge where after getting knocked out, you lose another turn after that. Basically, my early-game momentum hangs in the balance -- for Runebound, this is quite a significant consideration.
So I'd love to hear something authoritative or definitive. Absent hearing anything back, I (a) curse FFG's name for writing the rules this way and then not bothering to FAQ this ruling for a few years now, and (b) will house-rule that you get ambushed immediately, since that's kinda the idea of ambushes (no?) AND one part of the text speaks to doing this "immediately."
Thanks in advance,
David
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the bits guy
United Kingdom
London
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I agree with your (b) house rule. That's how we play. Ambushes are meant to be sudden and dangerous!
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Posted Sun Aug 29, 2010 6:59 pm
