couple rules questions - newbie

[mindarch]

Hello,

I am so glad I found the IDC and this board.  Back in the day I had purchases a bunch of the TCG but we never played much.  A friend and I have started playing and enjoying it.  We haven't gotten into the new expansions offered here though.

I do have a couple basic newbie questions that just aren't clear or making sense to us.  I looked in the rules, but that didn't help make it clearer.  I also did a search on the board but couldn't find any threads already with these on it.  If there is a spot in the rules or another thread, please point that out. 

1 - retreat - what's the reason to do this?  The WOTC rulebook says you tap and retreat and the card can't attack or be attacked and can't use abilities.  The IDC rulebook seemed to indicate you could retreat tapped units.  I just don't see why you would retreat something other than to save it before it's actually attacked.  But I don't think you can remove damage from a retreated unit, so I still don't understand.

2 - control arena - you control an arena if you have units there and opponent does not.  So once you control an arena, no one can deploy any more units to that arena?  my friend has asked what he should do with all the cards in his hand for that arena then?  is he just stuck with them?  also, do you still go through that arena on subsequent turns?  if I control space and have a space unit that can bombard, can I still use that card's ability but just can't add more units to space arena?

thanks for any assistance and maybe see you on lackey.  

[toonylux]

on 2, both side can deploy units in the controled arena then, the controling side will lose control...

[trentmccrow]

Jan 23, 2016 9:33:15 GMT -5 mindarch said:

Hello,

I am so glad I found the IDC and this board.  Back in the day I had purchases a bunch of the TCG but we never played much.  A friend and I have started playing and enjoying it.  We haven't gotten into the new expansions offered here though.

I do have a couple basic newbie questions that just aren't clear or making sense to us.  I looked in the rules, but that didn't help make it clearer.  I also did a search on the board but couldn't find any threads already with these on it.  If there is a spot in the rules or another thread, please point that out. 

1 - retreat - what's the reason to do this?  The WOTC rulebook says you tap and retreat and the card can't attack or be attacked and can't use abilities.  The IDC rulebook seemed to indicate you could retreat tapped units.  I just don't see why you would retreat something other than to save it before it's actually attacked.  But I don't think you can remove damage from a retreated unit, so I still don't understand.

2 - control arena - you control an arena if you have units there and opponent does not.  So once you control an arena, no one can deploy any more units to that arena?  my friend has asked what he should do with all the cards in his hand for that arena then?  is he just stuck with them?  also, do you still go through that arena on subsequent turns?  if I control space and have a space unit that can bombard, can I still use that card's ability but just can't add more units to space arena?

thanks for any assistance and maybe see you on lackey.  

Hello and thanks for your questions. Hopefully the following answers can clear things up for you:

1 - Retreating units can be a great way to save your units to fight another day. Your right that the main method of retreating units is to tap and retreat them during the proper step in the Command Phase, however there are other cards and effects that will allow a unit to retreat. You might think that 'running away' puts you at a disadvantage by 'giving control' of an arena to your opponent, but there are many situations that having a unit retreated brings you ultimate victory. o the second part of your question. Once a unit has been completed or 'deployed' it will always stay a unit until it is put in the discard pile, put in your hand, or sent out of play. Because of this, cards and effects that allow you to remove damage counters from a unit will also apply to units that are in the build zone.

2 - Control of an arena is usually only checked at the end of each round of the game when the check for win condition is made. By controlling an arena you have no advantage over your opponent until you meet the game win condition. Both players are still able to deploy units and complete locations regardless of who controls the arena or if it is still contested. Obviously this means that a player may still be able to use the cards in their hand. Each round of the game you will still complete the Space, Ground, and Character arena battles (even if there are no units in that arena), as each player has the opportunity to deploy units with the Hidden Cost ability, as well as make cross arena attacks like the use of Bombard or Ion Cannon.

In closing I'd like to thank you for taking the time to ask the questions and in the future I have to have a simplified rulebook available for the beginner rather than only providing our comprehensive rulebook.

[ascent]

1 - Don't forget the ability, "Reserves", which allows you to use abilities while retreated. Also, don't forget that your unit untaps during the untap phase while retreated, so it can be used for tap costs if the tap cost specifies the build zone. Units in the build zone can play a significant role in the game. Yoda (E) and (G) have always been good cards.

2 - Some card effects give you control of an arena even if your opponent has units in it. Other effects on your own units don't allow you to control an arena though it still counts as a unit in that arena. Other cards provide an automatic win condition or other benefit if you control an arena. Cross-arena attacks can be fun. Whole decks have been made around that tactic.

Though as a design note, it would be interesting to have a card that blocks your opponent from entering an arena unless they pay some cost, if there isn't already one that isn't coming to mind.