GUAL cards turning combat into winning level

[Stanith]

Hi,

An interesting winning situation occurred the last time I played that I'd like some clarification on! I think it was probably valid, but a lot of people argued that it wasn't so it's probably worth asking about :)

- Player A is in combat, currently level 7.
- Player A asks Player B to help them (for a share of the treasure).
- Player B agrees, and combined they defeat the monster (which gives one level).
- Player A then pulls out two GUAL cards (claiming they're being used before the end of the combat), therefore causing the combat to give them the winning level.

Was this legal? In the end I couldn't find a reason why not so I allowed them to win. Others were arguing that they were being used to gain the winning level because the combat was over, and others were arguing that they should have been able to withdraw their help.

Thanks in advance! :)

[MunchkinMan]

First off, once a player has agreed to help and has joined the combat, he can't leave on his own. That's not even an option. Also, once the combat situation changes, the player in combat has to give the other players an opportunity to stop him. If the player claimed that he won the combat, then played the GUAL cards, that's a problem. At most, he could play GUALs to get to Level 9, but that's it. However, if he got a helper, played the cards, then said, "Try to stop me," that's fine. Every other player in the game (even the one helping) could then play cards to help the Monster(s), or even to remove the helper (there are cards that would do this).

I want to address the helper leaving issue one last time: If the main combatant used an ability to compel a helper, and that ability says it can't be used for the winning Level, then, of course, the helper can (and should) leave, but if there's a player that wants to help, there's nothing stopping the main player from getting a new helper, just not through an ability that compels someone and can't be used for the winning Level. The only other situations where a helper can leave or is removed is by the arrival of a Monster that can only be fought alone, or by cards which specifically say they remove/replace a helper.

[Stanith]

So assuming the player didn't explicitly say they won the combat (I don't think they did in this situation), but did decide to use the GUAL cards while in combat and after accepting help, it's then perfectly legal even if that's the winning level?

Personally I couldn't see a problem with it, but I was taken aback as I'd never seen them used that way before! :) It seems to me like it's perhaps the easiest way to win, just save all your GUAL cards, face a monster, accept help from someone with a high combat level... job done if no one has any cards to end the fight prematurely (remove monsters, etc).

[MunchkinMan]

Originally Posted by Stanith

So assuming the player didn't explicitly say they won the combat (I don't think they did in this situation), but did decide to use the GUAL cards while in combat and after accepting help, it's then perfectly legal even if that's the winning level?

Yes.

Personally I couldn't see a problem with it, but I was taken aback as I'd never seen them used that way before! :) It seems to me like it's perhaps the easiest way to win, just save all your GUAL cards, face a monster, accept help from someone with a high combat level... job done if no one has any cards to end the fight prematurely (remove monsters, etc).

Bear in mind, "sneaky" behavior by a player, can be rewarding, at first. But, eventually that player will not be trusted, and people will be wary of helping him at risky times.