Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules (
More info?)
Isochron Scepter
Oct 4, 2004 - If the imprinted card is a split card, you can choose which
side to play at the time you play the copy.
Oct 4, 2004 - When the activated ability is resolving, you play the copy
onto the stack.
Oct 4, 2004 - You do not pay the spell's mana cost and any X in that cost is
zero. You do still pay any additional costs that might apply, and may pay
any optional costs such as Kicker or Buyback that apply.
Oct 4, 2004 - If the imprinted card leaves the removed-from-game zone while
the ability to make a copy is on the stack, then no copy will be made.
Oct 4, 2004 - If this card leaves play while the ability to make a copy is
on the stack, the ability will still make a copy using
last-known-information rule.
Oct 4, 2004 - You can't play the copy if an effect would prevent it from
being played from your hand.
Dec 1, 2004 - Isochron Scepter's second ability creates a copy of the
imprinted card in the removed-from-game zone (that's where the imprinted
instant card is), then allows you to play it without paying its mana cost.
Dec 1, 2004 - You play the copy while this ability is resolving, and still
on the stack. Normally, you're not allowed to play spells and abilities at
this time. Isochron Scepter's ability breaks this rule.
Dec 1, 2004 - You don't pay the spell's mana cost. If the spell has X in its
mana cost, X is 0. You do pay any additional costs for that spell. You can't
use any alternative costs.
Dec 1, 2004 - If the copied card is a split card, you may choose to play
either side of the split card, but not both. (The split cards Fire/Ice,
Illusion/Reality, Night/Day, Stand/Deliver, and Wax/Wane all have at least
one side with converted mana cost 2 or less.)
Dec 1, 2004 - You can't play the copy if an effect prevents you from playing
instants or from playing that particular instant.
Dec 1, 2004 - You can't play the copy unless all of its targets can be
chosen.
Dec 1, 2004 - If you don't want to play the copy, you can choose not to; the
copy ceases to exist the next time state-based effects are checked.
Jonathan
88725184
"Zoe Stephenson" <zrs1@uk.ac.york.reversed> wrote in message
news:csm0bb$8nh$1@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Chris Mattern <matternc@comcast.net> sent:
> Kevin wrote:
>> I have a question about X, as well. If I imprint, say, a Condescend onto
>> an Isochron Scepter, when I activate the scepter, can I then chose to
>> make
>> X
>> whatever I want, as the copy is being played? Or is X locked in at 0,
>> and
>> I
>> don't get to counter anything? (but still get to scry)
> X is locked in at zero. The card itself is never played, never put on the
> stack, and when the card is not on the stack, X is 0. Which is why
> you're able to imprint it in the first place, since that makes the CMC 1.
Small nitpick. While the card itself isn't played, and its CMC is
indeed 1 while it's not being played, the ability on the Scepter does
let you play a copy of the spell, and the copy of the spell does go
on the stack in the usual way. Ordinarily, then, you'd get to pick
a value for X at the appropriate time. What actually stops you is
the rule for X-values:
X
If a cost has an "X" in it, the value of X must be announced as part
of playing the spell or ability. (See rule 409, "Playing Spells and
Activated Abilities.") While the spell or ability is on the stack,
the {X} in its mana cost equals the amount announced as part of
playing the spell or ability. If a card in any other zone has {X} in
its mana cost, the amount is treated as 0. If you're playing a spell
that has X in its mana cost and an effect lets you play it without
paying any cost that includes X, the only legal choice for X is 0.
This does not apply to effects that only reduce a cost, even if they
reduce it to zero. See rule 409, "Playing Spells and Activated
Abilities."
The Scepter lets you play the spell, but you don't pay the mana cost.
Since you're not paying a cost that includes X, the value of X must
be 0, as per the fourth sentence of the glossary rule above.
The controller of the spell that you target may choose whether or not
to pay the {0}, and regardless of that, you'll get to Scry for 2.
For extra strategy value, note that your own spells are perfectly
legal targets for a Condescend. But then, you may find that a Magma
Jet does just as well - but that's probably more an issue for the
..strategy group.
--
-- zoe
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