Epic Munchkin orc ability

[podwarrior1]

So I was playing a game last night and this situation occurred. Player A was a level 19 orc. He flipped over two door cards. One was a level 1 monster, the other was a level 8 monster. The epic orc ability allows for the level 1 monster to be immediately eaten, then the other monster must be fought by itself before winning the game.

Player B played "Out to Lunch", attempting to make both monsters disappear. However, the Epic Munchkin rules sate:

"Orc (Munchkin 2): Munchkin Munch. When you
turn over (or Look For Trouble and find) a monster of
Level 1, you may simply EAT it. Your foes cannot play
any cards to stop this . . . it’s a Level 1 monster, you eat
it, any bonuses applied to the monster are discarded, yum
yum, that’s that. You go up a level for the hot meal, and
since this is a kill, you can win this way."

By playing a card to stop the fight altogether, does this count as playing any card to stop the eating of the level 1 monster?

[snarky]

There is no "combat" to stop - the Epic Orc's ability is triggered instantly when the 1st-level monster is turned over.

Related question, may have been covered before - would Annihilation be playable at this point, since it's not directed at the "combat" but at the card itself (the 1st-level monster)?

Edit: Nevermind, it specifically says, "your foes cannot play any cards to stop this." Presumably, this prevents Annihilation as well.

[MunchkinMan]

Originally Posted by podwarrior1

By playing a card to stop the fight altogether, does this count as playing any card to stop the eating of the level 1 monster?

No. You could extend the fight (with a Wandering Monster), and possibly prevent him from winning the combat that way.

[podwarrior1]

Yeah, if it was just the level 1 by itself I don't think that anyone can interfere. But, since there is another monster to be fought before taking the level from eating the monster (and winning in this case) can they interfere with THAT monster, because if the higher level monster, is not defeated, no bonuses are received (levels/treasure) from the level 1 monster.

MunchkinMan, I posted just after you...so forget what I ask in this post I guess.

[uttwich]

So the Orc would not get the level for simply eating the level 1 monster after Out to Lunch is played on the second monster? Asking for clarification since the epic rules state that you "go up a level for the hot meal".

I'm assuming, then, that this works much the same way as the Wizard's charm ability where the Munchkin gets nothing until combat is resolved completely?

[ComBAT]

Pretend that the epic Orc ability is like the Bat Bat against Bat monsters from Munchkin Bites.
All it does is automatically kill the level 1 or 2 monster and remove them from the combat. It isn't an automatic combat win.

Also, keep in mind that level 1 and 2 monsters wandered in do not apply to the epic ability according to the conditions of the monster entering battle. I've never played Epic munchkin before, however it sounds like the monster must have entered the combat via kicking down the door or looking for trouble.

[MunchkinMan]

Level 1, and only Level 1, Monsters way be killed with Monster Munch (the Orc's epic ability).

[ComBAT]

Originally Posted by MunchkinMan

Level 1, and only Level 1, Monsters way be killed with Monster Munch (the Orc's epic ability).

Sorry about that.

[Kirt]

Originally Posted by snarky

There is no "combat" to stop - the Epic Orc's ability is triggered instantly when the 1st-level monster is turned over.

Actually, since the ability is optional ("may" not "must") the ability is triggered the instant the Orc player SAYS he is using it. The Orc can choose to fight the level 1 normally by NOT announcing a Munch. It IS a combat, even if the Munch is used, since other players may Wander in monsters.

Originally Posted by snarky

Related question, may have been covered before - would Annihilation be playable at this point, since it's not directed at the "combat" but at the card itself (the 1st-level monster)?

Edit: Nevermind, it specifically says, "your foes cannot play any cards to stop this." Presumably, this prevents Annihilation as well.

Actually, I don't think this has been officially decided.

In this thread (Jan 2010), Andrew says he thinks Annihilation would not be allowed and MM says he thinks it would, but they both indicate that this is their respective opinions, not an official answer, and that a discussion needs to proceed a ruling.

More recently (June 2010), Rev. Pee Kitty said Annihilation could be used so long as it was before the Orc announced the Munch. MM posted in the thread but neither confirmed nor denied Rev. Pee Kitty's statement as official.

[snarky]

Originally Posted by Kirt

Actually, since the ability is optional ("may" not "must") the ability is triggered the instant the Orc player SAYS he is using it. The Orc can choose to fight the level 1 normally by NOT announcing a Munch. It IS a combat, even if the Munch is used, since other players may Wander in monsters.

However, similar to other cards and abilities, the combat doesn't actually begin until the Orc decides to fight rather than use Munch. This ability must be triggered or not before "combat" begins.

At least that's how I'd play it.