Event cards removing army units having a political effect

[hendriks65]

Hi Krieghund, have 1 more question on a statement in the rule book for second edition.

If an event card you play would result in any enemy army units being lost for the opponent, there is the same kind of political implication as when there is an attack on those army units.

Does this mean i.e. when I play faramirs rangers, and Sauron is not at war yet, this card brings him at war?

If the shadow plays a similar card on i.e. gondor, does it mean that if gondor loses an army unit, it's activated and moves 1 step down on the political track?

Thanks!!

[Krieghund]

No, that's not how it works. A Nation advances on the Political Track if it has an Event card played against it that initiates an attack by an Army (also Ent cards and "Dead Men of Dunharrow"). It doesn't matter whether any actual casualties are inflicted, and cards that inflict casualties that don't result from attacks by Armies don't advance the Nation on the Political Track.

"Faramir's Rangers" does not initiate an attack by an Army, so it never advances Sauron on the Political Track. "The Ringwraiths Are Abroad" can initiate an attack by an Army, so it would advance the target Nation on the Political Track if the attack option is chosen, regardless of whether or not the attack results in casualties.

[hendriks65]

When playing The Ringwraiths Are Abroad, must the nation that is using the attack part of the card be at war?

[Krieghund]

Yes, as the card does not explicitly break that rule.