Official Tournament Rulings and Clarifications

Equipment

General Rulings

A Character may carry an unlimited amount of equipment (FAQ01/20/98)

A Character may not use more than one weapon per declared attack (FAQ01/20/98)

A Character may only gain benefit from a single item which provides Armor at a time. (Rbp51)

A Predator Main Character which drops an item of Predator Equipment must still fulfill its honor requirement (FAQ01/12/98)

Equipment may only be dropped during the Search or Movement rounds (FAQ01/20/98)

Predators can use any non-predator equipment for which he qualifies (i.e., no Military Arms) (FAQ03/23/98)

All weapons are equipment and therefore susceptible to Acid Splash (FAQ01/12/98)

Damage A card which is or becomes Damaged is treated as if its card text is blank (FAQ01/20/98)

Equipment which is Permanently Damaged is not discarded, it only means that its damage does not wear off over time; it must be repaired through the use of another card. (FAQ01/20/98)

Both Damaged and Permanently Damaged items can be repaired via other cards. (FAQ01/20/98)

Equipment which is Destroyed is discarded immediately (TEXT, Def: Destroyed)

Card-Specific Rulings

Battle Standard

The bonus only affects Marines at the same location as the Battle Standard. (APONE06/08/98)

The Penalty affects all Marines at all locations. (APONE06/08/98)

If the Standard is destroyed or damaged, then no penalties are inflicted. (APONE06/08/98)

The Battle Standard is considered Unique. (PESTY06/30/98)

Camouflage Suit

The camouflage suit provides +1 defense on its own whether or not the wearer is Hidden as long as it is undamaged (TEXT: Camouflage Suit)

Hidden movement may be used for any movement, not just during the Movement Round. (FAQ01/09/98)

** A Revealed Predator MUST actually move to regain hidden markers; thus a revealed Predator with a speed of 0 may not use hidden movement. (PESTY08/18/98)

** If the Camo suit becomes damaged, it no longer allows the Predator to begin using hidden movement; if the predator is already hidden, he is not automatically revealed if the Camouflage Suit is damaged; any hidden markers which are revealed are not replenished until the Suit is repaired. (APONE06/08/98)

Crude Explosives

Roll to hit each character in the target location at -1, dealing 8 damage to any character which is hit. (FAQ01/13/98)

Demolitions Charge

Must be played at the end of the Combat Round, not just after an attack. (APONE06/11/98)

Double Packed Ammo

Only one may be used at a time. (FAQ01/16/98)

Emergency Escape Vessel (EEV)

** The EEV evacuation is in all respects a 'normal' evacuation, and subject to all restrictions and timing thereof (See Evacuation, Event Clarifications.) (PESTY08/24/98)

** A Player may not play EEV if there are unhidden Enemy Main Characters in the same location. (PESTY08/24/98)

** Hidden Characters do not impede evacuation. (PESTY08/24/98)

Extra Ammo

Will only reload Human Weapons; Predator Weapons may not be reloaded (APONE06/09/98) Rotate the Character with the Extra Ammo. (APONE05/04/98)

Is not discarded when used. (APONE05/04/98)

May be used by multiple characters on multiple turns (APONE05/04/98)

Grenade Launcher

May be carried without a M41a Pulse Rifle, but may not be used. (FAQ03/20/98)

May be used with a Field Pack (TEXT: Field Pack)

Roll to hit each character in the target location, dealing 8 damage to any character which is hit. (FAQ01/13/98)

The Grenade Launcher attack only ever counts as a single attack, no matter how many characters are affected by that one attack. (PESTY06/18/98)

Hand Welder

The welder is held by the user until the second rotate action is completed. (TEXT:Hand Welder)

A location which is 'welded' is no longer adjacent, and therefore will stop explosions such as from the Heat Exchanger. (FAQ03/23/98)

If the character doing the welding is killed, the welding is labeled unsuccessful, and the hand welder may be picked up by another character. (APONE04/19/98)

The welding process can be voluntarily canceled before the second rotate. (APONE04/19/98)

If the welded locations are moved (via Tighten the Perimeter, for example),the weld stays in place; the two locations involved in the Welding action can never be adjacent, in the event another Tighten the Perimeter is played. (PESTY06/18/98)

Laser Sight

Use of the Laser Sight (and any equipment or weapon) is optional (APONE04/15/98)

M42A Scope Rifle

A Rotated Scope Rifle may not be used, not even for Free Attacks (FAQ01/30/98)

Makeshift Weapon

Makeshift Weapon 'acts like' the named weapon, and therefore may use all upgrades & event cards associated with that weapon (i.e., a Makeshift Shotgun may use Double Packed Ammo). (PESTY07/29/98)

Medikit

A Marine which goes to 0 power is dead, and cannot be healed (FAQ01/20/98)

Motion Scanner

Does not Reveal hidden counters,just allows the Marine player to view them. Therefore, the hidden character remains hidden and retains all of the benefits of being hidden. (FAQ01/16/98)

Naginata

The +1 Defense only applies if the incoming attack is in Close Combat, and the Predator has declared an attack with the Naginata (FAQ01/27/98)

If the defense bonus is used, then the Predator may not declare an attack with any other weapon; he is required to use the Naginata. (FAQ01/27/98)

Personal Data Locator

Text should read as follows: 'Discard this item. Search your deck for the first Supporting Character which can be found at the present location. Shuffle your deck'. (FAQ01/23/98)

Predator Mask

Predator Mask does not protect against all Environmental Damage, only Environmental Gas Damage (CN-20 Nerve Gas).(FAQ01/09/98)

Predator Medikit

Counts as a 'Medikit' for purposes of Medical Assistance and Infirmary. (APONE04/15/98)

Does not reveal a hidden predator. (APONE04/15/98)

Powerloader

Should read 'Owner's close combat Damage and resistance increase to 8'. (APONE06/08/98)

Counts as Armor and Weapons, an therefore cannot be further modified (Combat Knife, Body Armor, etc. ). (APONE06/08/98)

Scattergun

Currently cannot be reloaded; Extra Ammo does not affect non-human equipment. (APONE04/19/98)

Sentry Gun

The following is the updated revision of Sentry Gun. All previous rulings (knock down, etc.) are rescinded. Sentry Gun is restricted to 3 per deck in tournament settings.

Sentry Gun ONLY fires upon Non-human Characters or Hidden Markers which enter its location, including Synthetics & Pets.

** An ACTIVATED Sentry Gun can (only) be affected by Malfunction, Disarmament and Empty; its defense is zero (0) if it is the target of Disarmament. (PESTY06/30/98)

Sentry Gun Control

Should read as follows: 'Owner with an M42A Scope Rifle may rotate one UA571C Sentry Gun within 2 locations during combat. That UA571C Sentry Gun may attack one valid target of this character's choice.' (PESTY07/01/98)

** The Scope Rifle need not be ready (unrotated) to use the Sentry Gun Control (PESTY08/26/987)

The operator of the Control must be no more than 2 locations away from the Sentry Gun. (Text Clarification)

Sentry Gun Control may be used on multiple Sentry Guns in one turn (PESTY07/14/98)

Events

General Questions

As long as all restrictions for a card are satisfied, it may be played on any Main Character or Supporting Character (even if uncontrolled), regardless of the controller (FAQ01/12/98)

Players must allow the other players an opportunity to play events in reaction to any event card which is played, using the standard RMPA order (FAQ03/19/98)

Formations

May only be played by the Marine Player; this is a contradiction to Golden Rule I (APONE04/27/98)

Use of Attribute Bonuses (to hit, defense, damage) granted by a Formation is optional;

A player is not forced to use the Attribute bonuses of a Formation if an event card in hand can provide a better benefit.

Example: A player may choose to use a Dodge card to give +2 defense from a ranged attack to a Marine even if the Marine Player has a Loose Formation (+1 defense at long range) in play. (APONE05/04/98)

Card-Specific Rulings

2x2 Formation

See Formations, Above

Access Tunnel

The Access tunnel grants a character the ability to move through two additional locations. These are normal moves, and the character must be able to move (not speed = 0) but need not spend his own movement (i.e., it gives two movement points) (FAQ03/13/98)

Allows safe passage past all enemy characters, event cards, etc. in the two locations. Thus, a character would be safe from Sentry Gun, Hull Breach, could travel past a Hand Welder, and would not reduce movement for being outnumbered (PESTY07/01/98)

Acid Splash

** Is played at the end of the resolve attacks phase in which the Alien was killed, BEFORE any Acid Sprays. (PESTY08/22/98)

Multiples may be played on a single killed alien; however, each is played and resolved individually; i.e., deal 6 damage, resolve, deal 6 damage, resolve, etc. Other players get a chance to play events between Acid Splashes in this case. (PESTY04/24/98)

May be played along with Acid Spray (FAQ01/20/98)

Counts as Acid Damage with respect to Chemical Base and Acid Resistant Claws (FAQ01/14/98)

Damage is not Environmental Damage, and therefore does not bypass Armor and Resistance (FAQ01/13/98)

Damage may not be increased by cards such as If It Bleeds (FAQ02/12/98)

Acid Spray

** Is played at the very end of the combat round, AFTER any Acid Splashes (PESTY08/22/98)

** Multiples may be played on a single killed alien; however, each is played and resolved individually; i.e., deal 1 Environmental damage, resolve, deal 1 Environmental damage, resolve, etc. Other players get a chance to play events between Acid Sprays in this case. (PESTY04/24/98)

May be played along with Acid Splash (FAQ01/20/98)

Counts as Acid Damage with respect to Chemical Base and Acid Resistant Claws (FAQ01/14/98)

Damage may not be increased by cards such as If It Bleeds (FAQ02/12/98)

Activate Self Destruct

The Predator's Speed must be 0, not just movement (FAQ01/12/98)

May only be played by the Predator Player; this is a contradiction of Golden Rule I (APONE04/27/98)

Alien Birth

Represents a pre-impregnated Supporting Character, and therefore does not require an Alien Warrior in the same location to play (FAQ03/15/98)

Any equipment carried by the 'Birthed' Supporting Character is dropped where he the event card is played, not carried with him to the breeding chamber; this is an exception to the normal rules for equipment on captured characters (APONE04/15/98)

Alien Wave

The Alien which declares the initial attack has not had its To-Hit attribute modified, and therefore may use another card to modify it (APONE04/19/98)

Alien Pursuit

The movement is taken at the end of the movement ROUND, after Aliens Mature (PESTY04/27/98

Burst Pipe

Damage from this card is applied at the same time as all ranged damage, and thus does not affect hit rolls for further ranged attacks but does affect Close Combat Attacks. (APONE04/19/98)

Captured

Characters which are captured retain all of their equipment and bring all of it to the Breeding Chamber (FAQ03/19/98)

Said Equipment is dropped in the Breeding Chamber when the Main Character turns into a Chestburster Token (FAQ03/19/98)

Carpe Corpus

** Any character controlled by the Player who found the Supporting Character may make the free attack. (PRECEDENCE08/21/98)

Cover Formation

See Formations, Above

Counter

May be used to cancel a Malfunction which is played on an Unlucky character (APONE04/19/98)

Crazed Civilian

Only attacks Characters which move into his location; Does not attack characters which are in his location when the event was played, or remain in his location (FAQ03/12/98)

Critical Hit

The player who plays the Critical Hit decides which Resource is lost, however, the following resources may not be chosen:

Alien
Synthetic
Animal
Predator (APONE06/08/98)

Dead End

When played on a Hidden Character, the character's card is rotated, not the hidden counter (TEXT)

** Dead End may target any card which rotates as a part of an effect, action or ability. Dead End does not cause the card to activate when it rotates the chosen card. (PESTY08/26/98)

Defend the Hive

May be played at any time (DEF: Event)

Disarmament

May be played against a deployed Sentry Gun. The Sentry Gun has a defense of 0 (Zero). (FAQ03/05/98)

Dishonor

Honor is lost any time a character rotates in the location, no matter what the rotation is for; i.e., a character rotating to attack or search will trigger the dishonor (APONE05/29/98)

A Character may simply rotate to activate the Dishonor; In addition, rotating to search or attack also triggers this effect. (PESTY07/01/98)

Display of Skill

** May not reduce the Predator's Honor Requirement below the Predator Character's built-in honor requirement. Example: Sharp Eye may not use Display of Skill if it will reduce his honor requirement to below 12. (PESTY08/31/98)

Dwindling Options

The victim of this card may not play events before this card comes into effect, unless they will counter or cancel the Dwindling Options. (Golden Rule II)

Eat Vacuum

The Predator's Mask does not protect against Eat Vacuum (Def: Environmental Gas Damage). The Event causes damage only during the next round, and then is discarded. (FAQ01/12/98)

Emergency Escape Vessel

May only be used during the Movement Round. (FAQ01/30/98)

Counts in all ways as a normal evacuation. (FAQ01/30/98)

Empty

Only affects a single ranged weapon. (FAQ03/19/98)

The weapon need not have been fired that round or ever. (FAQ03/19/98)

The card is played on the Weapon, not the character. (FAQ03/19/98)

Will NOT work on characters with built-in ranged attacks (e.g., Security Guard). (PESTY07/01/98)

Will affect Sentry Guns (PESTY06/30/98)

See Definition of 'Out of Ammo' below

End of the Line

Cancels only event cards which have the word 'Permanent' in their text, and only once they are in play; does not affect cards as they are played (see Not So Fast). (APONE06/08/98)

Extremely Agitated

A player can force the Alien player to target a Hidden Counter (FAQ03/19/98)

Facehugger Attack

Bonus to-hit cards may be played to increase the chance to hit on this attack; they must follow the standard restrictions. (APONE04/25/98)

Fire Alarm

Should read as follows: 'Rotate any non-Alien character at the beginning of movement. Any hidden Predator markers at or moving through this location are revealed. If a non-decoy marker is revealed, the Camouflage Suit is damaged for the rest of the turn. If a decoy is revealed, there is no effect.' (FAQ01/16/98)

Fortify

Multiple Fortifies at a single location are not cumulative (FAQ01/12/98)

Found 'Em

If the first location which you come to is already in play on your side it is discarded out of play; If the first location you come to is illegal (e.g., non-hive location next to a Breeding Chamber), the location is discarded (goes to the discard pile). If the first location you draw is illegal or already in play, you do not continue to draw; your draw is wasted on the duplicate/illegal location (APONE06/30/98)

Frenzy

Attacks are Free Attacks, and therefore are usable at any time during the Turn. (FAQ03/12/98)

Ghost Image

The added Hidden marker stays until the end of the turn in which the Ghost Image was played. (PESTY07/20/98)

Got It

Should read as follows: 'Rotate a character and name an Item. Search your deck until you find the named item. Discard all other cards seen. (If the searching character is Scout, shuffle your deck instead.' (APONE04/29/98)

May only be used in the Search Round (FAQ03/16/98)

The restrictions of the item found must still be satisfied by the Location's resources (PESTY07/21/98)

Have Me Some Fun

Only playable by the controller of the character causing the hit (i.e., cannot be played to reduce the amount of damage your character is about to take) (FAQ03/12/98)

Hive Construction

Should read as follows: 'Reduce the requirement to hive this location to two aliens.' (FAQ02/10/98)

Hull Breach

The Predator does not gain honor for any characters killed by a Hull Breach (APONE04/13/98)

May be played at any time, including during another player's movement (FAQ01/20/98)

The location deals the damage, not the Hull Breach. (PESTY06/30/98)

It's Just the Cat

Should read as follows: 'Play when a Hidden Marker you control is targeted by and about to be revealed by an event card. The character remains unrevealed. If used when hit in combat, all attacks which hit are nullified.' (PESTY06/30/98)

Only playable when an EVENT targets and reveals the token; Hull Breach and Fire Alarm both target the LOCATION, and thus are immune to It's just the Cat. Nullifies the attack which hit, and all further attacks that round (PESTY04/29/98)

Juggernaut

Effects are not permanent. (APONE04/19/98)

Kill and Kill Again

May attack a different target with the free attack (FAQ03/23/98)

Know Your Enemy

May be played at any time, before or after the Starting location has been visited (APONE04/15/98)

Loose Formation

See Formations, Above

Long Range Shot

Only affects a single attack. (FAQ03/12/98)

May not use multiple Long Range Shots on a single attack. (FAQ03/12/98)

Loss of Command

The hand size reduction is in addition to losing the leader (APONE04/15/98)

Malfunction

If played on the Camouflage Suit, in-play hidden markers are not automatically revealed; the Predator does not replenish any hidden counters which were revealed as long as the suit is damaged. (Def. Damaged, Hidden Counters) The Damage is permanent if the character is unlucky when Malfunction is played; if the character subsequently loses his unlucky status, the item is still permanently damaged. (PESTY04/29/98)

Marine Short Course

Is played on the character receiving the benefits, not the Marine (APONE04/19/98)

Marines, We Are Leaving

Cannot be played unless the Docking bay is both in play and reachable (FAQ01/12/98) The Marine player MUST move to the Docking Bay and MUST evacuate as soon as possible, even if he or she does not have sufficient Supporting Characters to win the game (PESTY06/30/98)

** If there are enemy main characters in the Docking Bay, the Marine Characters MUST evacuate as soon as they are alone in the Docking Bay (PESTY08/24/98)

Meditation

Does not reveal a hidden character. (APONE04/13/98)

Not So Fast

** Should read as follows:'Cancel any Permanent Event card as it is played. Costs two Combat Pool.'(APONE06/08/98)

Will affect cards only as it they are being played; cards in play are not affected (See End of the Line) (APONE06/08/98)

Observe the Prey

May be played after attacks are declared but before attacks are resolved (APONE04/15/98)

On the Move

Grants Additional Moves, which are affected by Outnumbering (See Additional Moves, Above) (FAQ01/22/98)

May be used even if you have not declared an attack (APONE04/19/98)

Overconfidence

Only natural, unmodified sixes count for this card (FAQ03/12/98)

Affects all main characters, even those not belonging to the player who played Overconfidence (FAQ03/12/98)

Modified hit rolls which beat the Predator's Defense still hit as normal. (PESTY07/01/98)

Overwatch

Character does not rotate to play Overwatch, but must rotate to make the attack as normal (FAQ03/12/98)

** May be played at any time during the Movement Phase (FAQ03/12/98)

May be used to attack an unhidden character before it gains any Hidden Movement Counters if played before that character moves (i.e., Marines may use this card on an unhidden Predator during their movement, before the Predator gains its Hidden counters). (FAQ01/22/98)

If the character playing Overwatch has Tactics, this counts against the limit of 1 Event card to modify an attribute (to hit). (FAQ01/13/98)

Using the attack granted by overwatch is a separate and distinct action from playing overwatch; if a player plays overwatch and wishes to immediately use the free attack, other players are allowed a chance to play event cards before the attack is resolved. (APONE06/08/98)

Perfect Organism

There is no restriction on which character makes the kill or which character is killed (i.e., an alien getting killed will satisfy the requirements of the card) (FAQ02/10/98)

** If played during an attack, may not be played until after any damage resolution phase. (PESTY08/31/98)

Personal Data Locator

Finds the first Supporting Character which may be found at the location (APONE04/19/98)

Ransack

** The restriction of 'Equipment, Weaponry, Military Arms or Predator Item' refers to the location in which it can be played; i.e., only a location with one of those resources may be Ransacked. (PESTY08/20/98)

Regroup

The card chosen must be one which is (or was) in your deck. (FAQ01/22/98)

The Named card cannot be one which is already in play, and cannot make a player's deck illegal (i.e., Operations may not be called). (APONE05/04/98)

Retreat

If played after declaring an attack (via Somebody Wake Up Hicks, etc.), the attack will fizzle unless it has sufficient range to reach the declared target (PESTY07/01/98)

Example: Hudson declares an attack against Fast Claw with his pulse rifle. Hicks then uses his ability to unrotate Hudson. Hudson then plays retreat to move into an adjacent location. Since Hudson's Attack is long-ranged (Pulse Rifle), his attack can still reach Fast Claw. If her were armed with Small Arms (Short Range), his attack would fizzle.

Snapshot

May be played on an opponent's character (FAQ03/19/98)

Somebody Wake Up Hicks

** May be used to declare multiple attacks or search actions; however, the attacks or searches must still be declared, and Somebody Wake Up Hicks must be played, during the 'Declare' step of the Combat or Search round as appropriate. (APONE05/04/98)

Study the Enemy

** The card placed under the Main Character must be used in the next Combat Sequence which involves the Predator as either an attacker or defender (PESTY08/31/98)

Success Breeds Success

Should read as follows: 'Unique. Permanent. Gain 1 combat pool every time you rescue (Evacuate) a Supporting Character.' (FAQ01/22/98)

Sweep The Area

** You may *declare* two (or more) Sweep The Area actions on a single location, but as soon as any one Sweep is successful (i.e., the character moves to the newly-placed location), the rest fizzle as your character is no longer in the location where the Sweep(s) were declared. If the Sweep The Area turns up a location which is already in play or illegal, then subsequent Sweeps may go through, as your character has not changed locations (PESTY09/01/98)

If the first location which you come to is already in play on your side it is discarded out of play; If the first location you come to is illegal (e.g., non-hive location next to a Breeding Chamber), the location is discarded (goes to the discard pile). If the first location you draw is illegal or already in play, you do not continue to draw; your draw is wasted on the duplicate/illegal location (APONE06/30/98)

Rotates the character (APONE07/14/98)

Is a Search Action, and therefore must be used during the search Phase (APONE07/14/98)

There's Something In Here

Hidden Counters do count as an Opponent (FAQ03/15/98)

May target only a single Opponent when played (FAQ03/15/98)

Any location with the 'Hive' resource, including your opponent's locations, count for this card. (APONE06/08/98)

The Area is Secure

A Character who plays this event must reveal itself (FAQ03/05/98)

Cannot be played if there are enemy Hidden Markers in the location (PESTY07/01/98)

The Hunt

If 'The Hunt' is called on an Alien Queen, and that Alien Queen subsequently becomes a Warrior Queen, The Hunt is nullified and does not apply towards the Warrior Queen. Any 'transformation' like this (I.e., Young Queen to Alien Queen, etc.)will also nullify a 'The Hunt' called upon the original Character. (PESTY07/30/98)

Tight Formation

See Formations above

Tighten the Perimeter

The location and all of its contents (Characters, Equipment, etc.) are moved in the swap. (FAQ03/12/98)

Location restrictions must be adhered to (FAQ03/12/98)

The player who plays the event must pay the Combat Pool for all characters at the location, friendly or not (PESTY07/01/98)

Twice as Deadly

May find any number of supporting characters (PESTY07/20/98)

Where There's One

May target only a single captured supporting character when played (FAQ03/12/98)