Official Rulings - September 17, 2003
Section 3: Specific Cards - N

Q. Does a MYSTIC SHIELDED piece set off a MAN-TRAP? A NEUTRAL one? A PACIFIST?

A. MYSTIC SHIELD only protects a piece on the turn after it moves -- so if it landed on the MAN-TRAP, it would be captured before the next turn. A NEUTRAL piece has no inherent protection from being captured, and is affected by cards which affect enemy pieces, so it would also be captured byt the MAN-TRAP. A PACIFIST is immune from capture, and thus from the MAN-TRAP. Like a King, it also would not set off the MAN-TRAP.

Q. If the CONFABULATED piece had PACIFISM (or NEUTRALITY... or both) on it, and the CONFABULATION was removed by PEACE TALKS, do one, both, or neither remain PACIFIED (or NEUTRAL)?

A. Neither. PACIFISM (or whatever) was played on the CONFABULATED piece, and has nothing to affect once CONFABULATION is gone. On the other hand, if PACIFISM had been played on a piece which was subsequently CONFABULATED, the CONFABULATION would be affected by PACIFISM, and if the CONFABULATION was PEACE TALKED away, the original target of PACIFISM would still be PACIFIED. [The distinction exists because when CONFABULATION is undone there is a piece that is clearly gone. When CONFABULATION comes into play, there are two pieces that merge, and are not so clearly gone.]

Q. Can I capture my own piece if it has had NEUTRALITY played on it?

A. Yes.

Q. If I NEUTRALIZE one of my opponents pieces and then put it into the DUNGEON at the end of one of my subsequent turns, how long does the piece stay trapped for? Can I move it on my very next turn, just after my opponent has been unable to move it or is it trapped during my turn as well? Also, does a piece in the DUNGEON count as being able to give check during that trapped time?

A. The piece is not actually trapped; it simply cannot be moved by your opponent on his following turn. You can move it whenever you like, and it can give check to your opponent's King (since you can move it) but not to yours (since he can't).

Q. Which direction(s) can a NEUTRAL Pawn move?

A. Only away from its owner's home row.

Q. In a situation where DOOMSAYER is in play, what happens if I play NEUTRALITY on his Knight and during my opponent's turn I say Knight (thus triggering DOOMSAYER) if I have no Knights of my own? Do I remove the NEUTRAL Knight?

A. Yes, you remove the NEUTRAL Knight.

Q. Can NEUTRAL pieces be BRIBED?

A. Yes, although NEUTRALITY will still be in effect on it.

Q. White moves a NEUTRALIZED White Rook so that it checks Black and then plays PEACE TALKS to remove NEUTRALITY from the White Rook, making the situation checkmate. Is this disallowed by the Checkmate Rule because PEACE TALKS is a "regular" card?

A. Yes.

Q. Can you play COUP on a NEUTRAL or PACIFIST piece? My best guess is that you can, but that NEUTRALITY and/or PACIFISM would be suspended, since neither can be played on a King.

A. Right.

Q. This would mean that you cannot COUP a NEUTRAL piece of the opposite color, because suspending NEUTRALITY would mean your King just surrendered, right?

A. Since COUP is a Continuing Effect, the Checkmate Rule does not apply. You can indeed surrender your King this way, but it's not a good idea.

Q. If COUP makes a Pawn into a King, can it promote? It seems OK to become a Knight or Bishop, but maybe not a Rook or Queen because of the text on the COUP card.

A. It can promote to any piece, but if it promotes to a Rook or Queen, COUP is suspended (and the previously suspended PACIFISM and NEUTRALITY would kick back in for a Rook, just PACIFISM for a Queen).

Q. If your opponent moves a NEUTRAL piece, can you use your turn to move it back to the same square?

A. Yes.

Q. NEW TACTICS switches regular and capturing moves for Pawns. What happens when this card interacts with other Pawn cards (like DARK MIRROR, ANNEXATION, and FANATIC)? Is it correct to interpret "Forward" as diagonally forward and "Diagonally backward" as backward (while NEW TACTICS is in play).

A. No, NEW TACTICS does not change the instructions on other cards. DARK MIRROR, FANATIC, and ANNEXATION will have the same effect whether or not NEW TACTICS is in play.

Q. Can a King be captured without first being put into check (for example, NEW TACTICS is in play and the opponent moves his King diagonal from my Pawn. Can I play DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY on NEW TACTICS and capture the King)?

A. No, by extension of the Checkmate Rule.