Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules (
More info?)
NazMan <cnazario@cinci.rr.com> sent:
> Hi all,
> I need some clarification on a couple of points.
> I am playing a Red/Plains and my opponent is playing a Green/Plains.
As others have noted, it's unusual to mix names of basic land and names
of colours to describe a deck. One would typically describe a deck in
this way by mentioning its colours only - especially as there are more
ways to make mana than just the basic lands.
> As permanants out on the field of I have
> Lightning Elemental
> Spikeshot Goblin
Some red creatures.
> and in my hand I have
> Sudden Impact
> Blaze
> Pyrotechnics
A red instant and two red sorceries, all of which deal damage; Sudden
Impact only to players, Blaze to one creature or player, Pyrotechnics
to up to 4 creatures/players.
> On my opponents next turn he plays
> Circle of Protection Red
OK, once that gets into play, it has an activated ability that prevents
damage from a red source:
Circle of Protection: Red {1}{W} Enchantment
{1}: The next time a red source of your choice would deal damage to
you this turn, prevent that damage.
> So my questions are:
> What can I play that cannot be stopped by CoP?
Once the CoP: Red is in play, your opponent will be able to prevent
damage from as many red sources as he has mana to spend.
> Can my opponent tap his CoP multiple times to "build up" an immunity?
He can't tap the CoP for any particular effect. What he can do is
announce its activated ability (the '{1}: The next time...' one) and
pay for it using mana that is obtained by playing a mana ability of
a land, and paying for that ability requires him to tap that land.
The CoP's ability will go on the stack and wait there to resolve, just
like any spell would.
When the activated ability resolves, your opponent chooses a source to
prevent the damage from. This can be a permanent (e.g. one of your
creatures) a spell or ability already on the stack (so if you play the
Blaze, he can respond by using the CoP ability), or something referred
to by a spell or ability on the stack. As long as a legal source was
chosen, then the next time that source would damage him this turn,
the damage is instead prevented.
> (He said that since he had 4 Plains he could tap each one in succession,
> same turn, and stop the "next 4" sources of damage - this does not seem
> right to me)
He would have to name sources that were legal to name when each of the
CoP abilities resolves. If he indeed does so, naming (for example)
a number of creatures in play, then you are free to hit him on the
head with your Blaze. Typically, a player will wait until the last
possible moment to use an ability like CoP, i.e. when the next thing
that would otherwise happen would be the spell, ability or combat
damage that they want to prevent damage from.
> Can someone explain what CoP can do?
> Also, in regards to Spikeshot Goblin:
> (Text: M,T: Spikeshot Goblin deals damage equal to its power to
> target creature or player)
Spikeshot Goblin {2}{R} Creature -- Goblin Shaman 1/2
{R}, {T}: Spikeshot Goblin deals damage equal to its power to target
creature or player.
There is a standard set of abbreviations for the representation of
mana symbols in text - R, B, U, G, W for red, black, blue, green and
white. I copied the above text from the Oracle card listings at
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dci/oracle
> What does this mean? It has 1/2 and I assume that if I equipe it or modify
> it in any way - I would get to play it with the "added" stuff. So why would
> I pay 1M and tap it?
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by 'play it' here - it sounds like
you mean 'attack with it', so I'll explain on that basis.
Normally you would use a creature during combat to attack or block,
and it would deal damage equal to its power to opponent or to blocking
creatures. If it were blocked, the blocker would also deal damage to
the Spikeshot Goblin, so there is a risk that just sending it into
combat would kill it. But, the Spikeshot Goblin also has an activated
ability. You can announce this ability, select a creature or player,
pay the cost of {R} and tap, and when the ability resolves, damage
equal to the Spikeshot Goblin's power will be dealt, like a little
missile, to the target you selected. The Spikeshot Goblin won't be
at risk of being killed by a blocking creature this way. Also, you
can wait until after combat, or until an opponent is attacking you,
before using this ability.
--
-- zoe
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