Question about the Minions in a 3-4 Players Game

[kwojtasz]

Copy/Pasted from consimworld forum:

David Gómez Relloso - Jul 14, 2008 3:29 pm

Hello!

We have some questions about the use of Minions in a multi-player game. The rulebook says that the Sauron player controls the Witch King and the Mouth of Sauron. So:

- Can the other player (Saruman/Southern and Easter Men) move those Minions when he moves Nazgûls?

- What happens if those Minions are in the same space as an army controlled by the other player? Can he move or attack with the entire army including the Minion/s?

I have not found an answer in the rules or FAQ, but perhaps I am blind. Thank you very much.

David

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My answer:
Kevin Wojtaszczyk - Jul 18, 2008 8:36 pm (#3540 Total: 3541)


Only the Sauron player can move the Witch King and Mouth individually. Both players can move the other Nazgul.

For the 2nd part, if an Isengard controlled mixed army has the Witch King or Mouth in it, they could be moved along and attack with the army, if the Sauron player allows it. Only with both sides agreeing does an army become mixed, and the whole thing moved as one by the larger controlling faction. (ie. a lesser controlling faction can't lead it per se and you are still restricted on the normal political track needs) Lastly, it would probably be true that the Saruman player needs to us an Army die result to move a mixed army that only contains the WK or Mouth as a leader in it.

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David's reply and wish for clarification:
David Gómez Relloso - Jul 22, 2008 2:44 pm

Kevin, thanks for your answer. Basically I agree with you. The first question is quite clear. For the second one, I would like to hear the designer's opinion to clarify our doubt.

I think that perhaps it would be too good for the Shadow Team to allow such an easy use of the Witch King and the Mouth by the Saruman player. I mean that perhaps those Minions could move, but NOT ATTACK with an army NOT controlled by the Sauron Player. And this is important!

Any other opinion? Thanks.

David

[Krieghund]

I agree on the first question. I'm don't completely agree on the second.

Once the two Armies are melded into a mixed Army (either by choice or from being attacked), any Minions within the Region will be part of that Army, per the standard rules. This means that they will be under the control of the player controlling the Army, as regards to their functions as part of an Army, until they are removed from it. Of course, all that means is that they will move and attack with the Army as the controlling player wills, since he doesn't have the power to separate the Minion(s) from the Army in any manner other than leaving them behind while moving.

This situation will exist until either the controlling player releases the Minions from the mixed Army by moving the Army and leaving them behind, or the owning player disengages the Minions from the mixed Army by moving his Minions out of the Region, either alone or with his/her Army.

The upshot of all this is that if the Witch-King is in an Army that is controlled by Isengard (whether or not it's a mixed Army), the use of the Witch-King is divided amongst the players as follows:

• The Sauron player may use a Character die to move the Witch-King out of the Region and Army.
  
• If it's a mixed Army, the Sauron player may use a Character or Army die to split his/her Army, including the Witch-King, out of the Region and Army. (Of course, the Sauron player may also move his/her Army away and leave the Witch-King behind in the Isengard Army.)
  
• The Isengard player may use a Character or Army die to move or attack with the Army, in whole or in part. However, if a Character die is used, a Minion or Leader must accompany the Army, and the Witch-King can fulfill this requirement. He/she does not need the permission of the Sauron player to do this.

All of this is based on the Mixed Army rules and the following FAQ question:

Q When a Character (Companion or Minion) is in a Region with a friendly army, this Character automatically becomes a Leader of that army?

A Yes, the Character automatically becomes a Leader of the friendly Army.