Seamus, Trail of Fear scope

[Buhallin]

Noticed something interesting about Trail of Fear today:

:aura 12 Living models receive -2 Wp until the End Closing Phase.

The combination of an aura effect with a listed duration is interesting. Would this mean that a model that moves into the aura of the effect picks up the -2 Wp, and it stays until the end of the turn even if they move farther away from Seamus (or vice versa)?

[Dark Alleycat]

I would say,if they are in the radius they get the -2 wp. The aura lasts till the end closing phase. At least,thats what would make sense to me.

[marshimartian]

Yes, the aura lasts until the end closing phase, as opposed to abilities without listed durations which end in the resolve effects step

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

It's an aura so once the model is out of the aura then they are no longer affected by the aura. End of closing phase is there to define when the aura fizzled.

That is the way I read it.

[Murphy'sLawyer]

I would agree with my twin here but the wording is definitely a bugger. I see why you are asking because auras end when a model leaves it but this one does say "until the end closing phase", which could mean that only the aura lasts till the closing phase not the effect on the model. But the RAW would suggest the effect stays on the model till the end closing phase.

I searched it and came up with nothing. Surprised this doesn't come up often.

[Hookers]

i think it hasn't come up because people assume that once you leave the aura the effect stops. the extra wording is unnecessary but i don't think it was intended to actually change anything

i agree that the way that is written should mean that once models are affected by the aura they receive the penalty until the end closing phase whether they leave the aura or not.

however, given that none of us have ever played it that way, i think the intent is pretty clear.

[Buhallin]

I don't have my book handy at the moment and forgot to check when I did... Did the wording change with the v2 cards?

It seems like everyone (including me) has played it like this:

Until the End Closing Phase, models receive -2 Wp

But that's pretty clearly not what it actually says. If you had a directed ability which said "Model receives -2 Wp until the End Closing Phase" you wouldn't expect that to end if the model moved out of range.

So not necessarily arguing that it's intended, but the wording does seem straightforward. Honestly, even the name hints to me that it should stick around, as it leaves the "Fear" in his "Trail".

:dontknow:

[Hookers]

you make a point, but with it being an aura rather than a pulse i think the implication is that you have to still be in range.

perhaps not though. maybe you are just supposed to use the (0) action and then run around real quick and make sure everyone gets in the aura at some point.

i have always played it that at the time i'm affecting the model's wp i check for range to see if it is currently within 12" of seamus.

[Murphy'sLawyer]

I don't have my book handy at the moment and forgot to check when I did... Did the wording change with the v2 cards?

It seems like everyone (including me) has played it like this:

Until the End Closing Phase, models receive -2 Wp

But that's pretty clearly not what it actually says. If you had a directed ability which said "Model receives -2 Wp until the End Closing Phase" you wouldn't expect that to end if the model moved out of range.

So not necessarily arguing that it's intended, but the wording does seem straightforward. Honestly, even the name hints to me that it should stick around, as it leaves the "Fear" in his "Trail".

:dontknow:as Hookers said, the issue is that it is an aura and not a pulse. If the effect stays on the model till the closing phase despite where it was then it would be the first aura that does it to my knowledge.

But I can see it also being the other way too, hence the wait for a marshal to clear this up.

[Buhallin]

<nod> That's how we've played it too, but I'm not sure that we weren't just making assumptions based on how auras typically work.

Models in an aura are affected as long as they're in range. If they leave range, they're no longer affected. If either the source of the aura or a model moves so that a model enters into the area, it gets covered by the effect.

But what's the effect? -2Wp until the End Closing Phase.

It's certainly different from our standard understanding of how auras are used, but it does work within the rules. And (IMHO) it does it to create a pretty cool effect.

After a quick look, the wording isn't limited to Seamus though. Looking at other aura abilities, Sonnia's Nullify Magic uses the same pattern, so does the Death Marshal's Finish the Job and the Witchling's Disrupt Magic. But it's not consistent - Ramos' Arcing Screen is "Until the Start Closing Phase, friendly Constructs..." and Disruption Field, which is nearly identical in purpose to Disrupt Magic, is "Until the Closing Phase, Casting Flips receive :-fate".

So I honestly don't know - there definitely seems to be a difference there, but I'm not at all sure if it's intentional or not.

[Keltheos]

Ultimately it's about how auras work. When you move into the aura you gain the effect, when you leave the aura you lose the effect.

So while in the aura the model receives -2 Wp until the ECP. Once it leaves the aura the model reverts to normal Wp.

[Buhallin]

So while in the aura the model receives -2 Wp until the ECP. Once it leaves the aura the model reverts to normal Wp.
These sentences hurt my brain a little, but I see what you're saying. Thanks for clearing it up.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Yay that is what I hope it was like.

[Murphy'sLawyer]

Figured, but still nice to get it clarified.