Baby Oil?
 

me and my friends were playing a few nights ago and i was about to win by defeating a monster, my friend then played the card baby oil saying that it was forcing me to escape that monster automatically. i then read the card and saw that it said "This potion makes Running Away automatically successful for one or two characters" i argued that although it makes running away automatically successful, it was not forcing me to run away so i chose to fight the monster anyway and win. although we both continued to argue about it for a while and never came down to a final answer. what do you guys think?

Re: Baby Oil?
 

Your argument is exactly correct. If you want to Run Away, Baby Oil makes it automatically succeed - but just because it gives you that ability, that doesn't mean you must use it. You were winning, so there was no running away, so the Baby Oil was a pointless play.

Re: Baby Oil?
 

thannnnnnnnnnk you if anyone else wants to agree or dissagree that would be great because i would like a lot of people on my side for this one, cause we literal argued this for about 40 min.

Re: Baby Oil?
 

You're right. Only a few cards that 'force' you to run away force you to run away. Just letting you escape doesn't cut it.

There are only a few of those cards, and they are explicitly clear that that's what they do.

Re: Baby Oil?
 

we also had the same argument over the card instant wall which says "Allows automatic escape" which he argued was forcing me to run away

Re: Baby Oil?
 

Only a card that says "You must try to Run Away even if you are winning the combat" forces you to try to Run Away even if you are winning the combat. If a card does not say that, then it cannot be played to force you to try to Run Away even if you are winning the combat.

Is that clear enough for your dirty cheating friends?

Re: Baby Oil?
 

no it wasen't, he kept going on about how the word make in the baby oil card is saying that it MAKES you run away, clearly he doesn't know what he's talking about, but thank you guys for helping clear this up.

Re: Baby Oil?
 

I came looking because my wife and I had the same argument with a friend of ours.

A few years ago, our core player group of friends came to the mutual conclusion that seeing as the card says that it makes escape automatically successful, that it effectively forces a successful run away attempt. We play ruthlessly, and unmercifully by the strict, and exacting verbage on the cards.

So, for us, this is effectively a house rule - however, there has got to be merit in the fact that the card says it makes running away automatically successful, if one is successful at running away, then they have already fled (you can't successfully run away, and still fight the monster - crazy cards discluded.)

That's my take, and I'll simply have to inform my friend (who wanted me to go to the forums to look it up) that despite the general consensus of the forums, that it will still be our house rule.

Re: Baby Oil?
 

Well, technically, it simply makes running away successful. Whether or not you were running away, or planning to run away you've already done so successful. You can't continue combat after successfully running away. That is the direct logic.

It does not say that it ALLOWS automatic/successful escape, it says it makes running away automatically successfully, whether or not you were trying in the first place, it's done, you've successfully run away.

That's a completely reasonable variable interpretation of the card. I'd like to see Steve Jackson himself tackle that one.

Edit: To clarify the distinction... Instant wall "allows" automatic escape, if you so wish. Baby Oil makes no such provision of "allowing".

Re: Baby Oil?
 

I really need to start closing these threads sooner. We have a house rule sticky thread sitting at the top of this forum so house rule discussions don't overtake the official rulings. I'd also prefer that if you're going to challenge an official ruling, you challenge it with, "Oh, but over here, you said this," rather than get pelted with wacky theories or challenges based on intentionally misconstrued interpretations. . .