I think this again demonstrates just how urgently we need a proper constantly updated Living FAQ!
Firstly, the Arcanus ruling (in the "Mind Control" rules thread) was simply:
Mind control cannot be revealed during an Action Phase of a creature. We had to do this because it can create a weird anomaly when control changes hands while acting.
Sometime later, I made this statement...
BETWEEN ACTIONS
What constitutes "between actions" (e.g. Charm, Mind Control).
I have interpreted it to mean "not during an action's steps" rather than the literal between 2 actions in the same turn.
So, in the Lord of Fire example above, if Player B had a hidden Charm on him, could he simply reveal the Charm when Lord of Fire is activated (before taking any actions), even though this will be the first action of the round?
My interpretation at the time was based on the following logic. In my Rulebook (version 2 though it doesn't say so, add version control), on page 19 sidebar "When can you reveal an Enchantment?", there are 5 bullet points detailing when you can reveal a normal enchantment. My interpretation at the time was that Mind Control could be revealed during the first 2 instances only:
(1) at the end of any Phase
(2) when a creature is activated, before it chooses its action
The other 3 instances when enchantments can be revealed are all explicitly during a creature's Action Phase. In that thread, Shad0w and Kharhaz posted after me and did not refute my statement (but they shied away from the topic entirely so no endorsement either).
However, I have now changed my position. Here are 2 examples why.
Example 1: Opponent has Initiative and I have 10 mana in my Forcemaster's mana pool (so not telegraphed). In my last delayed action (opponent has 1 action after me if he has overlap, probable as I am the Forcemaster), my mage moves 1 to be adjacent to Beastmaster's buffed Grizzly and casts Mordok's Obelisk (paying 8 ) in an eligible safe adjacent zone. In the Final Quickcast phase, as the last spell possible, I cast Mind Control (paying 2) on the Grizzly who is within range 1. Next round, I Channel 10 and at the end of the Reset phase, I reveal Mind Control (paying 8 ) so the Grizzly has a Stun marker and choosing the order of upkeep effects, I don't pay its Obelisk upkeep and it is destroyed before I have to pay Mind Control upkeep.
Example 2: Opponent has Initiative and I have Wand of Healing (cost 2), crucial for Forcemaster removing conditions on her. In the Final Quickcast phase, as the last spell possible, I cast Mind Control (paying 2) on a buffed Grizzly who is within range 1 of me and in the same zone as the Beastmaster. Next round, I have Initiative. At end of Deployment Phase, I reveal Mind Control (paying 8 ) so the Grizzly has a Stun marker on him. As the first action of this round, I activate the Grizzly but before its action phase, I Quickcast Cleansing Light from my Wand of Healing to remove the Stun (paying 4). I then full action attack the Beastmaster with my Bear Strength Grizzly for 9 dice piercing 1.
In both examples, the opponent has no defence (not even a psychic "I picked Dispel" or I have Dispel on a Mage Wand). I hence contend Mind Control's restrictions (between action phases while within 1 and Stunned when control changes) were designed to prevent this.
On all game rulings, I now believe in this Meta Rule:
In the absence of a ruling in a FAQ (or a Rules thread here), you follow the card Read As Written (RAW) and not Read As Intended (RAI) as the latter method is entirely subjective.
Here are examples where verbatim interpretations must be used:
* The Druid may place Vine Markers in zones not in LOS (not cited) but targeting with vines spells requires LOS from casting source.
* Teleport Trap and Enchantment Transfusion do not require LOS because the effect does not cite it.
* You may reveal Enchantment Transfusion when Seeking Dispel is cast on another enchantment on that creature (to move the target frozen-hidden enchantment to the same attached location so as to counter the Seeking Dispel as per the FAQ ruling page 3).
Following the Rulebook's sidebar which lists all opportunities for revealing, I believe only the second opportunity listed applies (when a creature is activated, before it chooses its actions) as it must apply to at least 1 of them. Also, as cards can impose superseding rules, Mind Control (and Charm) must be revealed "between Actions". So my answer now is:
Mind Control can only be revealed when a creature is activated, before it chooses actions, but not on the first activation of a round.
Please highlight any random prior thread where this literal interpretation has been contradicted.
Please please please Arcane Wonders, can we have some clarity on the huge growing list of card wordings and interactions and rules ambiguities (such as all those points in my "House Rules and some clarifications" thread of sometime ago)? It does not look good to have customers making up their own interpretations because enquiries on this Rules section are left unanswered. A large proportion of games players are sticklers for rules (not me, I'm happy to House Rule) and this hurts your appeal to them. I can't remember how many times I've confidently asserted "it's in the FAQ that this is how the card works", totally fibbing to win them over to the game because I know that newbie player would not be impressed by rules with all these grey areas.
A Living FAQ, constantly updated with a version reference. Please? You are harming the product without it.
