Shadowrun-TCG FAQ

INTRODUCTION
This document contains frequently asked questions regarding Shadowrun: the Trading Card Game and their answers as given to the (now defunct) SRCard mailing list members by the SRTCG's designers.

These are a combination of the OFFICIAL rulings from FASA's (former) website and UNOFFICIAL answers from Official FASA sources. Considering the current status of the game and its parent company, there seemed little point in keeping the two FAQ's segregated. Besides, the answers presented here are only meant as a guide.

The questions and their answers are grouped by card type and where they might overlap, they are listed in both sections. The last section, Miscellaneous, pertains to situations that do not directly correspond to a specific type of card.

My thanks to Tony Glinka (Porthos@cox.net) for collecting and compiling the Unofficial portions of this FAQ, all those years ago.
More SRTCG resources can be found at Tony's SRTCG Site and at The Big Knobi Klub.

Questions or comments? Email: Fenris@BigKnobiKlub.virtualAve.net

CHALLENGES

GENERAL

Can you play cards that increase a Challenge's Threat Rating on a Challenge that doesn't have a Threat Rating?

No.
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Can I really play as many Challenge cards as I want on Objectives during my turn?

Yes, up to the maximum number of Challenges allowed. The maximum Challenges allowed per Objective is determined by how many people are playing the game, as explained in the rulebook. (See: Play Challenges on the Playing the Game page.)

Damage Determination
Does the running player always determine where damage from challenges is applied, unless the challenge specifically states that its owner decides where its dealt?

Yes.
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Some cards say: 'Target runner takes X damage,' 'One of the runners present takes X damage,' and 'Trash a runner who is present' (Booby Trap). Does target runner mean that the challenge's owner decides how to distribute the damage, while One of the runners... and Trash a runner... mean that the running player gets to decide? How should these be dealt?

Correct in all cases. You're doing it right!

Pumpable Challenges
Am I able to pump an amount of nuyen into a challenge like Ancients Turf (1¥: +2/-2 until the end of turn) that would make its Body negative? Say I put 6¥ into it, making its effective total 19/-8 ?

You aren't permitted to pump a challenge to a negative Body value. It can go to zero, and then it dealt its damage and is trashed. (See: Pumpable Cards on the About the Cards page.)

Your Own Challenges
What happens to Challenges that are left on an Objective when a player takes that Objective?

Any Challenges remaining on an Objective when it is taken are trashed.
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Do I have to face My OWN challenges on my opponent's Objective?

No. You never face your own challenges, unless forced by a card. If you succeed in taking an opponent's Objective, your challenges go to your trash pile, without being faced.
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What about when you take YOUR OWN objective? Do your own challenges return to your trash pile or do they hang around until your next objective?

They go to the trash pile.

SPECIFIC CHALLENGES

ANCIENTS TURF
See Pumpable Challenges, above.

BARNEY PHYFFE
What happens to Barney Phyffe at the end of the shadowrun?

Barney Phyffe is trashed.

BASILISK
The damage inflicted by Basilisk (which has a Threat rating of 6/5) must be applied to a single Runner, but the rulebook says that you can't assign an amount of damage to a Runner higher than the Runner's current body. If my Runner has a Body of 5 or less, what do I do with the extra damage?

Nothing. Cards like Basilisk are an exception to the rule. Hellhound, Manticore and Killer Drone work the same way.

BOOBY TRAP
If the alarm is triggered by a previous challenge, does this card immediately trash a runner? Or can someone with demolition still defuse (sleaze) the bomb?

It automatically goes off! KABOOM!!!!!!
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Which player chooses the Runner to be trashed?

The shadowrunning player. When the owner of the Challenge is allowed to choose the card to be trashed, the card says, 'trash target Runner' rather than 'trash a Runner.'

CUSTOM SYSTEM
If a Decker using Recon discovers the Custom System Challenge, is Custom System placed face up at this time?

Yes. Normally, looking at a Challenge using the Recon special trait does not reveal that Challenge, but this is an exception.

ELECTRIFIED FENCE
Which player assigns the 3 damage caused by Electrified Fence?

The owner of Electrified Fence. Whenever a Challenge says 'target Runner' that means that the owner of the Challenge assigns the damage.

FLOCK of GEESE
Normally, Flock of Geese automatically triggers the alarm; however, it also contains the Keyword 'Awakened.' Couldn't something like the proper spell get past the challenge before the alarm was triggered?

Yes. Invisibility and Sleep spells may be used to sleaze Flock of Geese.

GUT CHECK!
The card text on Gut Check! reads, '4+: Gut Check is sleazed.' What if the alarm is already triggered or another card (like Motion Detectors) prohibits sleazing?

This card provides only two options: either the shadowrun is over or Gut Check is sleazed. If the alarm is triggered, or if sleazing is prohibited, Gut Check is trashed on a roll of 4+ and the shadowrun continues.

HALLOWEENER HELL
What's up with Halloweener Hell? Shouldn't it have a Threat rating?

Yes, Halloweener Hell should have a Threat Rating of 6/4.

HIT AND RUN
Does each runner take damage equal to '2 minus his or her own Athletics' or damage equal to '2 minus the group's total Athletics?'

It's '2 minus his or her own Athletics.' Each runner is attempting to dodge the Hit and Run separately.
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Shouldn't 'Hit And Run' and 'Sabotaged Controls' be trashed after they've inflicted damage?

Yes.

LONE STAR K9 UNIT
Can you make the damage armor-piercing without paying the first fee?

No. That's why the word 'additional' was used. :(

LONE STAR UNDERCOVER
When this card is played, which Threat rating is added to the challenge: the chosen Runner's printed rating or the current threat rating, as modified by gear and wounds?

The current Threat rating is added to the challenge.
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If an opponent fails to sleaze a personnel or Lone Star challenge that doesn't have a threat rating to add to (LS Beat Cops, Scatter Brain Raid, ...) is it still legal to play LS Undercover to at least trash a Runner?

No. If the challenge doesn't have a Threat, there's nothing to add the Threat rating of the Undercover LS cop to.

MAFIA GOONS
What happens to Mafia Goons after my Runners have faced it?

Mafia Goons is trashed.

MAGLOCKS
Maglocks was intended to stop a shadowrun if not sleazed. However, the card text doesn't accurately reflect this. We are going to change the card so that it works as it was originally intended to. The revised card text appears below. We strongly encourage you to use the card as it was intended to be used.

Revised Text for Maglocks:

The owner of Maglocks must choose a number from 1 to 6 and place a D6 under his hand showing that number. The shadowrunning player must guess the number on the D6. He may make X + 1 guesses. X = Technical rating of the shadowrunning team. If the shadowrunning player guesses the number, the shadowrun continues and Maglocks is trashed. If the shadowrunnning player does not guess the number, the shadowrun is over.

MINE FIELD
If my Runners take damage from Mine Field is the alarm triggered?

Yes.
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What happens to Mine Field after it deals damage?

It is trashed.

NETS
As long as a member of the team gets past them, are Nets useless against Red Widow? (Thinking that she would go back to the safehouse unturned and could just turn again to rejoin the team, 'on the other side' of the net.) Is this correct?

Yes.

POISON GAS TRAP
What happens to Poison Gas Trap after I've rolled for each of my Runners?

If one or more Runners rolls a 4+ and continues the shadowrun, trash Poison Gas Trap. If all of the Runners roll 1-3 and are forced to return to the safehouse, then the shadowrun is over and Poison Gas Trap remains in play.

RUNNERS ON RETAINER
Does Runners on Retainer get trashed if the Running team doesn't beat the 'Retainer' team?

No, it does not get trashed.

SABOTAGED CONTROLS
Shouldn't 'Hit and Run' and 'Sabotaged Controls' be trashed after they've inflicted damage?

Yes.

SECURITY CAMERA
If a card (like Security Consultant or Blindsided) forces me to face my own Security Camera, what happens?

Security Camera returns to your hand and the owner of the card that forced the situation may play a Challenge from his hand. If your opponent had no challenge to put down, you'd 'luck out' and continue the shadowrun.

SECURITY CONSULTANT
What if Security Consultant forces a player to face his own Challenge and it's a card like Maglocks?

The owner of Security Consultant would choose the number on Maglocks and the shadowrunning player would have to guess.

SIM SENSATION
What happens to Sim Sensation after I've rolled for each of my Runners?

Trash Sim Sensation after rolling for each Runner.
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Can Sim Sensation trigger the alarm?

No.

STREET SCUM
Street Scum reads, '...trash a randomly determined gear card...' Does this include all Gear, i.e.. Cyber, Magic, Matrix, etc.? Or only Weapons, Armor, Miscellaneous, and drones? For simplicity's sake I can understand ALL GEAR, but it doesn't seem right to rip out Cyber and Magic like that.

It's all Gear. It seems weird fictionally, but it works in terms of game mechanics.

TIME-DELAYED BOMB
What are the Sleaze requirements on Time-Delayed Bomb?

A team of Runners needs either 'Athletics plus Technical 2' -OR- they need just 'Demolition' to sleaze this Challenge.
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This card seems inferior to Booby Trap in every way! What is the advantage to this card? It is easier to sleaze, it does not necessarily kill anyone when it detonates, and it may not happen. Does it end the run or something?

The important thing to remember about this card is that if it's revealed 'after' the alarm has been triggered, it moves into the running player's safehouse UNTIL it explodes, where it will likely damage (and possibly kill) at least one runner. This is a very good card for a 2-3 player game, as a second challenge, preferably placed after a one that's automatically raises the alarm or that is VERY difficult to sleaze.

WIDOW'S TRAP
What is meant by the term 'encounter' on this card? Does it mean that this card must eventually be faced? Or is it 'trashed after it's revealed?' It is obviously an extremely harsh card to confront, thus the design that the team can opt to pull out.

The word 'encounter' means the first time it's turned over, read, and addresses by a shadowrunning team. It is then trashed, whether or not it takes a runner with it.

CONTACTS

GENERAL
When can you use contacts and locations? It says during the legwork phase, whose legwork phase and how many times per turn?

SPECIFIC CONTACTS

BOUNTY HUNTER
Can you use Bounty Hunter whenever a runner leaves a run, for whatever reason? Barney Phyffe, Green Apples, falling into Nets, or even Maglocks?

Yes, whenever a runner pulls out of the run, for whatever reason, before taking the objective.
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Can you use Bounty Hunter on multiple characters pulling out at the same time?

Yes.
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The Bounty Hunter card reads: 'X = Body of target Runner'. Does that mean the Body of the Runner as it is printed on the card or the current Body of the Runner (taking damage, etc. into account)?

Use the current Body of the Runner and take damage, Dermal Plating, etc. into account.

HUMANIS POLICLUB GANGER
In the case of Even Steven, when would a Humanis Policlub Ganger be considered 'used?' (i.e. At all times? When he's deployed and targets a meta-race? When he has hindered the deployment of a Runner by costing an extra nuyen and bringing them in turned?)

Once the Humanis Policlub Ganger is in play, and its owner has declared which race the card is hindering ,the HPG may be targeted by Even Steven.

MEDIA CHICK
Can Media Chick be used more than once per turn?

Yes.
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Can you spend 5¥ on her to risk +/-50 rep points?

She has a limit of 3¥ for +/-30 points.

MR. BLACK, MR. JOHNSON, and TALISMONGER
Can I decide to NOT put a card into play for free (i.e. if I roll a 6 when using Mr. Black)?

No. If you don't want to put a card into play for free, then the card you drew as a result of using the contact is trashed.

GEAR CARDS

GENERAL
Can you play Cyberware on another player's Runner?

Definitely not!
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Can you exchange any amount of gear between Runners?

When two Runners turn to exchange gear, they may exchange any amount of gear. Remember that a Runner may not hold Gear that he does not have the skills to use.

AMMO
Normally, only one type of ammo may be used per combat (unless the runner has an Extended Clip), but what about Flatline, since he uses two different pistols, couldn't each one use a different type of ammo?

Yes.

DRONES and SPIRITS
Who can use Gear/Drones?

Only runners designated as Riggers.
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Can runners with Piloting (like Redline and Turbo) use them?

No, they aren't riggers.
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Who can use Gear/Spirits?

Any runner with the Conjure skill.
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Can Riggers/Shamans swap Drones/Spirits like other gear? How about swapping spells between Mages?

Yes, to all of the above.
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If my Rigger/Shaman is attacked by an opponent with a Wanted or a Bar Fight, can I activate a drone/spirit and have it participate in the combat (with that runner's attack value reduced to zero)?

Yes, unless your Rigger/Shaman had already activated his 'allotment' of drones/spirits for the turn (i.e. a number equal to his Piloting/Conjuring skill).
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There have been a number of questions about Drones and Spirits. Nearly all of these questions stem from an unfortunate choice of words in the rulebook. On p. 34 of the rulebook it says, 'When used on shadowruns, a Drone is treated as a Runner and may attack and take damage.'

This is extremely misleading! Drones and Spirits are NEVER literally to be treated as Runners. They cannot be fragged in place of a Runner. They cannot be damaged by cards that specifically designate Runners as targets. Cards like Rough Night and Wanted cannot be played on Drones or Spirits. Drones and Spirits simply function the same way as Runners do in combat (i.e.: they inflict and receive damage in the same way as Runners).

We apologize for the confusion this text has caused.
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Once a Rigger (or Shaman) on a shadowrun has declared that he is using a Drone (or Spirit), must he use it until the end of the shadowrun or is it possible for him to fight using his own Threat Rating?

A Rigger or Shaman can choose to fight using his own Threat Rating instead of the Gear card's Threat Rating. For example, if a Shaman uses a Spirit to fight the first Challenge on an Objective, then continues on the shadowrun, he may choose to fight the next Challenge using his own Threat Rating rather than the Spirit's Threat Rating.

Examples of Drone Usage: (applies to Spirits, too)
Roadrash goes on a run with 5 other runners. Can he still activate a drone?

Yes. Drones are only treated as Runners for the purposes of combat.
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Roadrash (Piloting 2) goes on a run by himself. If he activates both drones on the first challenge, do they stay active throughout the whole run?

Yes.
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Roadrash (Piloting 2) has two drones activated, but one gets destroyed by the first challenge. Can he activate that third drone that he brought along 'just in case'?

No. He may only activate a number of drones equal to his (adjusted, if applicable) Piloting rank per turn. This includes any drones used for Recon, during that turn's legwork phase.
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Does this 'per turn' mean the Full Turn (as printed on Yoshimo Chang's card) or just during and to the end of the player's Turn? Could Roadrash activate two Crawler Drones during his legwork phase, and then two Hunter drones in defense, when attacked during an opponent's turn?

Per Full Turn, i.e. until the player's next Refresh Phase. This rule also applies to Spirits, Spells, and Matrix programs. In the situation above, Roadrash would be stuck with the two Crawlers for defense against his opponent.
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Can Roadrash frag a drone in response to a Booby Trap challenge, if the drone is already activated?

No. As above, drones aren't literally treated as runners.

FRAGGED RUNNERS (And Their Gear)
If a runner is fragged, is his gear fragged as well or just trashed?

The gear would be trashed, unless the card states that the gear is also fragged.

MAGIC CARDS
If my mage has Sorcery 2 and has two spells like Fireball, can I use both during a single combat?

No. A mage with Sorcery 2 cannot use two spells whose effect is to replace the mage's Attack Rating with the Attack Rating of the spell. For example, if a mage has two Fireball spells, he could not use them both in a single combat and add together the Attack Ratings of both spells. He could, however, use the Armor spell and the Fireball spell in the same combat. The mage must declare which spell(s) he is using at the beginning of the combat.
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If a Runner has Sorcery 2 but only one spell, can I cast that same spell twice?

No. Unless the runner possesses a 'Spell Lock' gear card, each spell may only be used once per turn. For an example of how this works, see Spell Lock, below.

MATRIX CARDS
Can damage inflicted by Matrix/Gear cards be blocked by Gear (Armor) cards like Heavy Armor?

No.
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Can a decker use a Program such as Black Hammer during another player's turn?

Yes. In fact, right now the only Matrix/Gear card that can't be used during another player's turn is 'Sticky Fingers.'

SPECIFIC GEAR

ACID MIST and POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP
When cyberware is destroyed by either of these cards, does the runner get back the spent Essence?

Not exactly. If the runner had lost 2 Essence by installing a Chipjack 2, then he would still be at Essence = 4, after Poor Craftmanship had trashed the Chipjack (for purposes of magical healing, etc.). However, he could then install another Chipjack 2 or a pair of Hand Razors (-1 Essence each) with no additional Essence loss. Any further cyberware in excess of this first 2, would result in normal Essence loss.

ALLY SPIRIT
Since it doesn't have to be turned to be used, does the Ally Spirit count towards a Shaman's limit of spirits per turn?

Yes, they still count, because even though they don't turn, they ARE used.
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Are Ally Spirits cumulative with other spirits?

Yes.

ASTRAL SENSE, HEAL, FORETELLING, and WATCHER SPIRITS
Can Astral Sense be used during another player's turn?

Yes. So can cards like Heal, Foretelling and Watcher Spirit.

AUTOMATED PATROL VEHICLE
Is the Automated Patrol Vehicle considered a Vehicle card?

No. Only cards specifically designated 'Gear (Vehicle)' are Vehicle cards. The APV is designated 'Gear (Drone).'

BLACK HAMMER
Can a decker use a Program such as Black Hammer during another player's turn?

Yes. In fact, right now the only Matrix/Gear card that can't be used during another player's turn is 'Sticky Fingers.'

BOLT OF POWER, FIREBALL, and HELLBLAST
Do you activate the spell at the beginning of the shadowrun or when combat is triggered? Is the spell in effect for the entire run or does it only affect the first combat?

You activate it after the challenge has been revealed. Each spell is only in effect for the combat it is activated for.

BROWSE
Why is Browse so cheap? Similar cards either cost something (3¥ for Corp Security, or turning the runner for recon, etc.) or are Specials.

It's cheaper because it requires multiple cards (i.e. a decker and the program).
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Can a Browse be used on an Objective targeted by a Red Alert?

Yes.

BULLDOG VAN
What is the purpose of the Bulldog Stepvan's (A+1) while runners are in the safehouse?

It can protect from cards like Drive-By, Riots, etc.
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Does the first run of a team have to be successful (i.e. meeting all of the Objective's requirements), for me to be able to use the Bulldog Van's 'send on another run' ability?

No. It doesn't matter if the team only got through one challenge, or if they took the Objective, the Van works either way.

BULLET BARRIER
Can the Bullet Barrier spell be used against opponents (challenges or other runners) who don't use firearms?

Yes.

CESKA VZ/120
If a Runner holding a Ceska VZ/120 is killed by a Challenge, can I trash the Ceska VZ/120 to add 1¥ to my Credstick?

No. Once the Runner dies, his Gear is trashed. The Ceska VZ/120 would have to be trashed when the Challenge was revealed, and before combat.
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Can I discard the Ceska VZ/120 from my hand to get 1¥?

No. The Ceska VZ/120 must be trashed from play in order to get 1¥.

CHIPJACKS and SKILLSOFTS
Can I slot more than one skillsoft into a Chipjack 1?

No. It can only hold one skillsoft. A Chipjack 2 can only hold 2 skillsofts, etc.
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How many skillsofts can a runner with a chipjack have in his possession?

It depends on the which chipjack. A runner with a Chipjack 1 could have a single skillsoft, while one with a Chipjack 3 could have a maximum of three 'softs.
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Are Chipjacks cumulative? What about skillsofts, are they cumulative? Can I put a pair of Chipjack 2's on a single runner, then load him up with a total of Melee+4 ?

Yes. It's okay to do this in SRTCG, even though it would be against the rules in Shadowrun the roleplaying game.
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Can Skillsofts be removed and replaced?

Yes. Skillsofts may be traded just like any other gear.
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Are skillsofts similar to ammo for pistols? Could you have as many as you wanted, but only use a number up to the Chipjack's rating?

No, we tried that but it only caused confusion during playtesting, so it was decided that a runner can only have a number of skill softs equal to his chipjack(s) rating(s).

CRAWLER PATROL DRONE
Does this drone allow a player to 'Recon for the rest of the turn.' Does this mean that he can look at ALL of the challenges in play? Or just one stack? Or just a single challenge?

It gives the drone the Recon special trait (normally reserved for runners). The drone can be used to look at ONE challenge card in play.

DEFIANCE SHOTGUN
Can Defiance Shotgun be used against two consecutive Challenges if they are encountered during two different shadowruns on two different turns?

Yes. The Defiance Shotgun cannot be used on two consecutive Challenges on the SAME shadowrun because the Defiance is a pump-action shotgun: the Runner must 'pump' the shotgun to eject the empty shell and put a new round in the chamber. In any case where the Runner used the Defiance Shotgun to fight the last Challenge on one shadowrun, and then wants to use the Defiance against the first Challenge on a subsequent shadowrun, the Challenges are not considered consecutive because they are encountered on two different shadowruns.
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During the same shadowrun, can Defiance Shotgun be used against a Challenge and then against an Objective with a Threat Rating?

Yes.

FIREBALL
See, Bolt of Power, above.

FORETELLING
See Astral Sense, above.

GREATER ELEMENTAL
When does the owning shaman roll to take damage from this card?

Roll for damage after using the Elemental (usually after combat).

HAND RAZORS
If a Runner is holding two Hand Razors does he add his Melee to his Attack value twice?

Yes.

HAND-TO-HAND and SILENCED WEAPONS (Gear Keywords)
Are Hand-to-Hand weapons considered to be Silenced weapons?

No.
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A team of 6 runners fail to sleaze a challenge, so the alarm is raised. If only two of them are carrying silent weapons (assume the rest have big noisy guns!) and the pair do enough damage by themselves to defeat the challenge, is the alarm reset?

Yes.

HEAL
Can a mage use a spell like Heal during another player's turn?

Yes. So can cards like Astral Sense, Foretelling and Watcher Spirits.
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Can a mage in the safehouse Heal a Runner on a shadowrun?

No. The mage must be present with the Runner being healed.

HEAVY ARMOR (Full)
Let's say a runner 6/7 (A1), with a suit of Full Heavy Armor (A+2) encounters a Gaurdain Dracoform 12/10 (A3). Is it possible for the runner to take ALL the damage from a single source, then trash the armor? Thus, could he absorb all 12 points from the dragon and survive?

It's correct--at least as the card is currently phrased. In the above example, as it's intended, Heavy Armor (Full) would allow the runner to take 10 damage from the dracoform and the other 2 points would hove to go on another runner. The developers are undecided on where to go with this one. The way the card is phrased, might make it too powerful.

HECKLER SPIRIT
When the Heckler Spirit leaves play, do the accumulated Insanity tokens remain on the runer?

Yes.

HELLBLAST
See, Bolt of Power, above.

INDIRECT FIRE (Gear Keyword)
If a Runner is assisting a shadowrun from the safehouse using Indirect Fire, should he be turned when the shadowrun is declared?

No. He is turned when he begins using Indirect Fire.

INVISIBILITY, SLEEP, and STUN GLOVES
Can you use these types of cards on challenges that have been modified by Objectives like Cermak Blast, which change all challenges into awakened spirits challenges?

Yes.
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Similarly, several Objectives, such as Critter Hunt, also require combat with an awakened creature. Will these cards affect this objective creature?

No. Those cards can only affect challenges. The Critter Hunt critter is an Objective.
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Can a Runner use Invisibility to sleaze past an Awakened, Street or Personnel Challenge if the alarm is already triggered?

Yes.
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Is it possible for a pair of mages, each using an Invisibility spell, to simultaneously sleaze a Challenge? Or would one of the mages still have to return to the safehouse?

They can both sleaze the Challenge.

KATANA
Is a Katana considered a Silenced Weapon?

No. Only cards that have Silenced Weapon printed on them are considered Silenced.
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Does a runner with Ambidexterity and two Katanas add the value in twice?

Yes.

LASER SCOPE
Can a runner use both a Laser Scope and a Smartgun Link at the same time?

Yes.

LONE STAR DRONE
Can any Lone Star runner use this gear card, or only Lone Star Riggers?

Any Lone Star Runner can use the drone, even if they don't have Piloting skill.

LUCKY WABBIT'S FOOT
Can this card's ability (to trash a Special card just played or after a die roll was just made) be used like a stinger?

Yes. Once in play, you can use the LWF's ability at any time, like a Stinger.

PRC-44B YELLOWJACKET
A player with the Yellowjacket can't use gear cards. Does this include cyberware?

Yes. Cyberware cards are Gear cards.
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In the above example, how does muscle replacement suddenly 'not get used'?

If it helps, pretend that you don't know what cyberware is and think in terms of game mechanics. Muscle Replacement is simply a gear card that costs 3¥ and gives the user +2/+1 & Athletics+1 (which would be all but useless while piloting a helicopter, as would a Vindicator Minigun). SRTCG can't reflect the fiction as completely as the roleplaying game without becoming nearly as complex.
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Could a player with Skillsofts of Piloting 2 use a Yellowjacket? Could a player with a Yellowjacket use a skillsoft like Streetwise?

No and no. Gear cards cannot be used in conjunction with the Yellowjacket.

RANGER ARMS SM-3
Is this combo legal: A ranger Arms SM-3 with an Extended Clip, Flechette Rounds and Armor Piercing ammo (which would cause 12 damage for indirect fire and ignore armor!)?

Yes, it's legal, if you can pull it off. Ouch!

SHRIEK 1000 and THE BRAIN
Shouldn't these gear cards both have 0/1 Threat ratings?

No.

SILENCED WEAPONS (Gear keyword)
See Hand-to-Hand, above.

SKILLSOFTS
See Chipjacks, above.

SMARTGUN LINK
See Laser Scope, above.

SLEEP
See Invisibility, above.

SPIRIT CARDS
See Drones and Spirits above.

SPELL LOCK
What's the cost for deploying a Spell Lock?

This card is missing the ¥ cost. It should be 2¥.
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Let's say I have Wildfire (Sorcery 3) and he's geared up with three spells, Sleep, Jinx & Fireball and a Spell Lock on Sleep. During the course of a run on Haunted Highrise, I cast Sleep twice (thanks to the lock) and use Jinx on a maglock. Now facing the objective, am I correct that I could not use the Fireball since, even though I only turned two of my spells, I have actually 'used' Wildfire's allotted three spells for this turn?

Yes.

STIM PATCH
Can I use a Stim Patch to 'revive' a Runner that just died in combat?

Yes. A Stim Patch heals 2 damage so if a Runner's Body was just reduced to -1, it can be healed to 1. Two Stim Patches could bring a Runner from -3 to 1. Note that negative Body is for Stim Patch calculation purposes only. The rules state that runners normally can't take damage in excess of their Body--a runner with a 2/3 Threat rating could only take 3 damage before dying, which could then be healed back to 2 with a Stim Patch. However, if this same runner fought a Manticore (8/9, all damage inflicted on a single runner), he would be at an effective -5 Body afterwards & VERY dead (i.e. not able to be healed from 0 Body up to 2 by a single Stim Patch, as the no excess damage rule would indicate).
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Can Stim Patch be used to heal a Runner that is not present with the Runner holding Stim Patch?

No.

STUN GLOVES
When is the roll for trashing the Challenge made? Before or after the alarm is triggered? Can Stun Gloves be used as a sort of auto-sleaze, (assuming the roll is made before the alarm goes off) or are they just another weapons--used when the actual combat occurs after the alarm is triggered?

The Stun Gloves' auto-sleaze ability was intended to be used before combat started. It's worth mentioning that if a runner fails to use the Stun Gloves effectively against a challenge, he cannot participate in the following combat. This is because he has already done his part by trying to use the gloves.
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If Stun Gloves are rolled for during combat, that means even if the challenge is trashed, it still deals its damage. Right?

See above.
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Can you use the Stun Gloves, Sleep, or Invisibility, etc., on challenges that have been modified by Objectives like Cermak Blast, which change all challenges into awakened spirits challenges?

Yes.
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Similarly, several Objectives, such as Critter Hunt, also require combat with an awakened creature. Will these cards affect this objective creature?

No. Those cards can only affect challenges. The Critter Hunt critter is an objective.

THE BRAIN
See Shriek 1000.

WALTHER PALM PISTOL
How do I use the Walther as a Stinger? Do I play it during a combat to add +1 to a runner's attack value?

Yes.
—————
Can the WPP be played as a Stinger on a runner who is already using a weapon in combat?

No.
—————
Can accessories, like APDS ammo, be played on the Walther as it comes out as a Stinger?

Not unless it comes out during your legwork phase. The accessories can't be played as Stingers and con only be attached to a weapon during legwork.
—————
Could a 'Luck of the Irish' cancel a WPP coming out as a Stinger?

No. A Walther is a Gear card, not a Special.

WATCHER SPIRITS
See Astral Sense, above.

WIND SPIRIT
Can the Wind Spirit be used during combat, before the damage is dealt?

No. You can't use it during combat, but you can use it after a challenge is revealed & before the combat begins.

YAMAHA RAPIER
Can I use the Yamaha Rapier to have someone join a shadowrunning team of 6 Runners?

No. You may never have more than 6 Runners participate in a shadowrun.
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Can turned runners be added to a shadowrun by discarding the Yamaha Rapier?

No.
—————
Can the Yamaha Rapier be used to join an opponent's shadowrun in-progress?

Yes. However, the shadowrunning player still receives any Reputation points gained on the shadowrun and still chooses where to allocate damage. You'd just be 'helping' him out.

LOCATIONS

GENERAL
When can you use contacts and locations? It says during the legwork phase, whose legwork phase and how many times per turn?

You use them during your own legwork phase (unless the card says otherwise). You can use them any number of times (unless the card states otherwise), as limited by nuyen, unturned runners, cards in play, etc..
—————
Can anybody's Runners visit a Location in play, or only the owner's Runners?

Unless the Location card says otherwise, only the Location owner's Runners can use the Location.
—————
Most of the locations specify that a visiting runner must be turned. What about cards, like The Iron Lung, which just say 'visit'?

Locations that a runner visits require the visiting runner be turned.

SPECIFIC LOCATIONS

AZTECHNOLOGY
Can I frag a Runner during my opponent's turn to roll D6 on Aztechnology during my turn?

No. You must frag the Runner and roll D6 during the Legwork phase of your turn.

COFFIN HOTEL
Why would you want to use the Coffin Hotel, instead of Club Vortex or Shadowland?

Read it again, your runners can stay at the Coffin Hotel--safely. Like bombs going off in your safehouse? If not, this may be the card for you.

CLONED RUNNERS
See Genetics Lab, below.

CLUB VORTEX
I intercept a shadowrun with a single Runner who has Drug tokens from Club Vortex. I decide to use a Drug token and it kills my Runner. Is the shadowrun intercepted?

No. You must state which gear a Runner is using before he fights. If you decide to use a Drug token on your Runner and it kills him, that event takes place before combat (and before he has successfully intercepted the shadowrun).

FUCHI INDUSTRIES
Can I send, say, 4 Statics to Fuchi together and add all of their decking together, thus automatically getting the biggest prize?

Yes, at least until your opponent wises up and plays a Tempest or something else to 'waks' those Statics.
—————
Can the 4 Statics go to Fuchi and then Hatchetman, Scorpio, and Skidz go on a shadowrun during the same turn?

No. The phrasing on the card is bad. A visit (by one or more deckers) takes the place of a shadowrun. The card makes it sound as though the deckers are the only ones who can miss the run, but the intent is that a visit to Fuchi is done instead of a shadowrun.
—————
Can you send more than one group on runners to Fuchi in the same turn, for example 4 Statics, then 4 Ice Queens in another group, & 4 Moles in the final group?

Because Fuchi takes the place of a shadowrun, you can only go once per turn.
—————
When do runners visit Fuchi Industries (during their legwork phase or shadowrun phase)?

During the shadowrun phase, BUT! this is not actually a shadowrun, so cards that effect shadowruns cannot be played as normal.

GENETICS LAB
If I defeat a runner clone as a result of a Wanted card, do I still gain his reputation?

No. A clone is not worth any reputation.

LEO'S PAWN SHOP
Can the Leo's Pawn Shop buy gear for more than its deployment cost? The Leo/Passkey (0¥ deployment) could be rather abusive...

The card is rather self-explanatory. You sell a Gear card and receive D6-3 ¥ in return, even if that turns out to be more than the Deployment cost of the Gear card.

LONE STAR LOCK-UP
What happens to runners in the Lock-Up if that location is destroyed, by Cherry Bomb or The Ghost Dance, for example?

Boom! Bad things...trash the location and all cards on it/attached to it.

SAEDER-KRUPP
Can Saeder-Krupp win the game?

Yes. Lofwyr the dragon, owner of Saeder-Krupp, can in fact steal victory from you mere mortals.

SHADOWLAND
Do Runners have to turn to visit Shadowland?

Yes. The word 'visits' on Shadowland was intended to indicate that Runners had to turn to use this card. This will be clarified in the next printing.
—————
Since it is designated as 'Location (Matrix)' are deckers the only ones that may visit Shadowland?

No.

THE HIDEAWAY and THE WAREHOUSE
Should cards attached to these locations be played face-up or face-down?

The intent of these cards was that they would be face-down, BUT technically they have to be placed face-up if an opponent wishes it so.

THE IRON LUNG
Do Runners have to turn to visit The Iron Lung?

Yes. The word 'visits' on The Iron Lung was intended to indicate that Runners had to turn to use this card. This will be clarified in the next printing.

THE WAREHOUSE
See The Hideaway, above.

Z-ZONE
The Z-Zone has a nuyen symbol in the lower right corner, but no white deployment cost number. What is the cost of this card?

Ahhh, you must have the demo only version of the card, because that was fixed in the 1^st printing. Its cost should be 6¥.
—————
How does the Z-Zone work? Does the player using it have to choose unturned runners? Can the opposing player choose a turned runner? Does the opposing player have to choose all of his runners or just a sacrificial lamb?

Both players must use only unturned runners. The 'defending' player must use all of his unturned runners.
—————
Can more than 6 runners go to the Z-Zone in order to battle on opponent?

No.

OBJECTIVES

GENERAL
How many Objectives can be in a legal deck? And if it's not exactly 6, why not?

Six is the minimum. Sucker Runs don't count towards this minimum number. You can have as many Objectives as you want in your pile (but no more than 4 of each).
—————
Can you intercept a shadowrun on an Objective after all of the Challenges have been cleared?

No. You cannot intercept a shadowrun in-progress after all Challenges have been cleared.
—————
Can I look at my Objective before I put it into play face down?

No. If you accidentally see the Objective that you are putting into play, shuffle it back into the rest of your Objectives and choose another.
—————
Some Objectives are too tough; when they come into play no one can take them. How can I avoid this?

Make sure that you build your deck to include Objectives that your Runners can achieve.
—————
If my Runners are all killed while defeating an Objective with a Threat Rating, do I still get the Reputation points?

No. At least one Runner must survive the shadowrun in order for you to earn the Rep points. Please note that 'surviving' the shadowrun means surviving the Shadowrun phase. If a pumpable Runner (like Tin Man) achieves an Objective and then dies at the end of your turn, you still earn the Rep points.

Your Own Challenges & Objectives
What happens to Challenges that are left on an Objective when a player takes that Objective?

Any Challenges remaining on an Objective when it is taken are trashed.
—————
Do I have to face My OWN challenges on my opponent's Objective?

They go to the trash pile.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

AMAZONIAN HUNT and CRITTER HUNT
Is the Awakened critter from Critter/Amazonian Hunt re-rolled every time a Runner or team faces it?

Yes.

ASSASSINATION
Is a Decker who has been participating in a shadowrun from the safehouse considered present at the end of a shadowrun against this Objective?

No. See the definition of Present, below and on the Overview page.

CAKE WALK
The text, 'Treat Challenges with more than one skill listed as a sleaze requirement as if they had only one skill' has caused some confusion. Let's say a Manticore (sleaze: Stealth 2, Athletics 1) is revealed on a run against a Cake Walk. Does this mean that I now need either Stealth 2 or Athletics 1 to sleaze it, OR that I need either Stealth 1 or Athletics 1?

Your runners would need to have either Stealth 2 or Athletics 1 to get past it without a fight.

CERMAK BLAST, CLEANSE THE HIVE, and URBAN BRAWL
Do bluffs count as Challenges on the Objectives Cermak Blast/Cleanse the Hive/Urban Brawl?

No. Once revealed, they're discarded. By definition of the word bluff, a shadowrunning player does not face any bluffs placed as Challenges.
—————
Can you use the Stun Gloves, Sleep, or Invisibility, etc., on challenges that have been modified by Objectives like Cermak Blast, which change all challenges into awakened spirits challenges?

Yes.
—————
Why is the Cermak Blast (which has three different insect spirits) worth only 25 Rep points, while the less deadly Urban Brawl (with two teams and a discard challenge option) is worth 35?

It's an oversight on our part and it'll be corrected to 35 in the reprint, until then just keep using it as printed.

CLEANSE THE HIVE
See Cermak Blast, above.

COURIER RUN
Do you keep the identity of the 'courier' runner a secret or must you draw a bullseye on his back? Writing the name on a scrap of paper seems to make this Objective more interesting.

As it stands, you have to announce it, but I REALLY dig your idea! =) Maybe it'll get that included in the reprint. Hmmmmm...

CRIME WAVE
Crime Wave reads, 'No Corporate or Lone Star Challenges.' It's easy to figure out which ones are Lone Star (LS Patrol, LS Beat Cops, LS K9 Unit, etc.), but what about the Corporate challenges? Are there any card with a 'Corporate' keyword listed on them? Are Security Guards, Elite Security Guards, or Mage Strike Force considered as Corporate Challenges?

No. Challenges are Corporate only if they have the 'Corporate' keyword printed on them. Let's just say it's a portent of things to come. [The next expansion set to SRTCG was to be called 'Corp War.' It was never released.]

CRITTER HUNT
See Amazonian Hunt, above.

DRAGON HUNT
Why is the dragon on the Dragon Hunt card so weak compared to other dragons in the game?

It's a very young dragon. No shadowrun team would be crazy enough to hunt down a full-grown dragon.

HARLEQUIN'S GAME
Does this card's runner Requirement (Mage/Shaman, Rigger/Decker) have to survive the shadowrun or merely be a part of the team when the run begins? Other Objectives with specific runner-type Requirements specifically say they 'must be present to win.'

The Required runner type must be present at the end.

MILK RUN
When this card modifies challenges (-2/-2) to zero or less Body, are they considered as bluffs when revealed?

No. If this reduces the challenge's threat rating to zero (there is no negative Body--see Stim Patch for more info), then once revealed, it would still deal damage if it were able to, before being trashed. But it wouldn't be considered a bluff because it's still a challenge.

OPERATION COTTONMOUTH
This card says that only its owner may add the +2/+2(A+1) to a single challenge. Does this mean that the owner (or the owner's team) need never worry about it (because he'd never play it on himself)?

Yes.

OPERATION UP & OVER
Are Spirits considered 'magic' on shadowruns against Operation Up & Over? If so, what happens on a 4+ when the 'magic fails'?

Spirits are considered 'magic' on shadowruns against Operation Up & Over. If the 'magic fails' the Runner holding the Spirit must use his own Threat Rating in combat instead of the Spirit's.

STEAL WIZ SOFTS
Is a Decker who has been participating in a shadowrun from the safehouse considered present at the end of a shadowrun against this Objective?

No. See the definition of 'Present,' below and on the Overview page.

THE GHOST DANCE
Do the Requirements still come before scoring the objective, thus making The Ghost Dance turn face-down (and unscorable)?

It's a little confusing, but the card works as follows: Rolling the D6 is the requirement. Once you have rolled, you take The Ghost Dance objective. If you rolled 7+, any remaining, revealed objectives (except The Ghost Dance, which has already been taken) are turned face-down and all locations in play are trashed.

URBAN BRAWL
See Cermak Blast, above.

RUNNER CARDS

GENERAL
Can you deploy a Gear card onto a turned Runner?

No.

How Many Runners...
If I have 6 runners active on a run, can I still use Sniper's Roost to assist the team from the safehouse? What about assistance from multiple runners with indirect firing weapons (like the FN-Har)?

No and no. No more than 6 runners can participate in a shadowrun.
—————
If I declare 6 runners to form a shadowrunning team and 1 runner drops out/turns back from Bad Lunch/Private Sec Mage/Green Apples/death/etc, can I turn Red Widow or a runner with a Yamaha Rapier to take his place? What about team members--can someone else send in a similar runner?

No and No (see above).
—————
Can I have more than one Runner with the same name in play?

Yes. You can have up to four in play (unless the card states that the runner is 'Unique' in which case you could have only put one copy of it into your deck).

...Prime Runners
Can my opponent have the same Prime Runner in play as I do?

No. Only one of each Prime Runner may be in play at any given time.

...Unique Runners
Do 'Unique' Runners also have this 'there can be only one' limitation?

Not really. Initially that was the intention, but it created problems when dealing with unique challenges, so it was decided that it just meant 'a limit of one per deck.' Note that Hatchetman 2057 is a Unique Prime Runner, so you can only have one per deck AND one in play at a time.

CLONED RUNNERS
See Genetics Lab, above.

DECKERS
A decker counts for being on a shadowrun (against the maximum of 6 runners), but is not present. Does this mean that he or she cannot be targeted by challenges?

That is correct.
—————
Can I turn my decker to assist another runner team other than my own (i.e. an ally team mate)?

Yes, as long as the addition of your decker isn't in violation of the '6 runner maximum' rule.
—————
If the decker is assisting a run from the safehouse, as above, is his group hampered by his 'Anti-Social' trait (assuming he has one)?

No. The key word in the description of Anti-Social is 'present.' The decker is not present on the run, if he's in the safehouse (but he still counts against the 6 maximum participants).

FRAGGED RUNNERS (And Their Gear)
See Fragged Runners, above.

MAGES and SHAMANS
Are the terms, Shaman and Street Shaman, completely interchangeable (for cards like the Toxic Spirit challenge or the Haunted Highrise)?

Yes.
—————
Are the terms, Mage and Street Mage, completely interchangeable with Shaman (for cards like the Toxic Spirit challenge or the Haunted Highrise)?

No. Why would you think this?

RUNNER SPECIAL ABILITIES
Can a runner with a special ability be turned to use it like a Stinger, in other words, at any time? For example, can Archie McDeven's 3¥ to turn an unturned Runner or Tempest's ability to damage all runners?

Yes, Yes. =)

RUNNER TRAITS
ANTI-SOCIAL
Say that Foxy Roxy and Gore Tusk are together on a run when they hit the Security Guard challenge, which takes precedence: Foxy's auto-sleaze ability or Gore Tusk's auto-alarm triggering Anti-Social trait?

In the above situation, you'd have to roll a D6 to see who takes precedence. Sorry there is no hard fast rule. This question was one of the first that came up during early playtesting.

BIOTECH
If my Hawkwind (has Biotech) is turned, can she still use her Biotech ability on one of my runners affected by Riots, Wanted, or Drive-By? Same question for Guard.

No, she's turned. The rules are very clear on this point: 'A runner using Biotech during a shadowrun need not turn to use the trait; at all other times he is required to turn.' The same rule applies to Guard.
—————
Say I play Snake Totem on Hawkwind, is the Biotech cumulative (i.e. giving her Biotech 2)? Knee-jerk reaction would be yes.

Mine would be no. I'll double-check with Mike on this one, but I think I'm right.

FAME
Does a Runner with the Fame special trait generate the extra ¥ from that trait when he chooses to fill his hand up to seven cards rather than taking ¥ during the Refresh phase?

No. Fame generates ¥ during the Credstick phase, and filling your hand to seven cards replaces the opportunity to draw any nuyen during the Credstick phase.
—————
Does a runner with the Fame trait need to be unturned to earn the extra nuyen of your Credstick Phase? For example, say I send Thrash to the Iron Lung on a given turn. My following Credstick Phase, he'll still be turned. Can I still pull in the extra nuyen he normally gives me?

A runner with Fame doesn't need to be unturned for you to get the ¥ from his 'Fame' ability.

GUARD
When using a runner with Guard, I have the option of whether or not the Guard runner takes the damage, or the original runner, right?

Yes, you decide when you want to use the guard ability.
—————
Does a Runner with Guard choose how much damage he will take when using that trait or does he have to take it all?

He must take all the damage. Any excess damage is applied to the original target of the attack.
—————
Can a Runner with Guard take damage directed at more than one Runner at the same time (for example,after a Riots has been played or when a Highway Showdown isn't sleazed)?

No.
—————
Can a Runner with Guard take damage directed at a single Runner from multiple sources?

Yes.
—————
Also, what happens if I have 2 runners with Guard? Can I divide the damage between them, or does one take all he can and the other takes the rest, with any left over going to the original target?

Your second idea is correct.
—————
Is it safe to assume that the Guard ability can't be used to take damage for a decker that has originated in the matrix.

Yes.
—————
Can a runner with Guard turn to protect against undirected damage (Riots, Highway Showdown, etc.), as well as directed damage (Drive-By, damage from Fusion Gate, normal challenge damage, etc.)?

Yes.
—————
If my Knuckles (has Guard) is turned, can he still use his Guard ability on one of my runners affected by Riots, Wanted, or Drive-By? Same question for Biotech.

No, he's turned. The rules are very clear on this point: 'A runner using Guard during a shadowrun need not turn to use the trait; at all other times he is required to turn.' The same rule applies to Biotech.
—————
The rulebook reads (paraphrasing) that a runner with the Guard trait has to turn during the Legwork phase, but during a shadowrun, does not have to. This unfortunately, seems to swing both ways...it's allowing the runner to use the trait despite being turned (but only once); or it allows the runner to use the trait once per challenge. Which is correct?

The runner is allowed to use Guard once per turn (rather than per challenge). BTW, I'm not sure where the 'during the Legwork Phase' part of your comment came from. It's not in the rulebook. that's what you get for paraphrasing. :)

SPECIFIC RUNNERS

ARCHIE MCDEVEN
How does one use Archie? It says at the bottom that for 3¥ turn him to turn an unturned runner.

When you spend 3¥ and turn him, you can turn another player's runner. For example, say your opponent is making a run against your stack of challenges and you know that you put in one with a Technical sleaze. You could use Archie and declare that your opponent's only runner with Technical is now turned (and since only unturned runners can go on a run, you know that your opponent's group must now face it). Note that you would need to declare your use of Archie before your opponent announced who was going on the run & turned their cards, say during his nuyen/card draw or legwork phase. This ability is not a meant to be used like a Stinger. Another use for this ability would be to turn your opponent's final unturned runner so that he couldn't intercept your shadowrunners.
—————
Can you use Archie's or anyone's special abilities during your opponent's turn, or just during your own?

Sure you can use them during an opponent's turn. As in the example above, I would advise using Archie's ability during one of your opponent's 'pre-legwork' phases, so that the timing can't be contested (i.e. he wants to use Moonlighting on a runner and you want to turn that same runner with Archie).

BAM BAM
How many times per turn can I use Bam Bam's special ability (1¥: May add Melee to Attack value)?

Only once. We'll make this clearer when the card is reprinted.
—————
Why the pumpability differences on some runners, i.e. only one pump for Bam-Bam, but unlimited for Stiletto or Tin Man? Isn't this inconsistent?

Not really. Bam-Bam is not pumpable. He has a special ability with a cost (1¥: May add Melee to attack Value). If he were pumpable, his card would read 1¥: +1/+0 instead.

BUZZ
Buzz's card says that he has a Cranial Cyberdeck. Does this mean that he can't use a second cyberdeck with it, thus adding their bonuses together? Or can he choose to use one over the other? What about their bonus to his Decking skill?

Buzz is stuck with his (literally) built-in deck and can't use bonuses from another one. His skill (Decking 3) has been enhanced by his deck's +1 bonus--it's already figured in.

CHERRY BOMB
What happens to runners in the Lone Star Lock-Up if that location is destroyed, by Cherry Bomb?

Boom! Bad things...trash the location and all cards on it/attached to it.

DAIN
How does Dain's visiting ability work?

He's got connections, ya know? ... You would use his ability during your legwork phase (unless the card he wants to visit, says otherwise). He could, for example, turn to visit an opponent's Iron Lung, or visit an opponent's Mr. Black before deploying a Gear card. He could even pay 3¥ & roll D6 on opponent's Corporate Secretary to view a challenge (or to try to get her fired!) or he could just declare that he was using his opponent's Tir Tairngire card and roll a D6 to give his elves a bonus.
—————
Can he visit any location or contact?

Provided that he meets the visitation requirements on the card (i.e. he can't visit the Hermetic Library, since he's not a Mage or a Shaman) or pays the nuyen necessary to use them, Dain is able to visit or use nearly any location or contact in play. (Elven Hitman, Lone Star Sergeant, Mr. Johnson, Aztechnology, Chop Shop, Shadowland, Sniper's Roost, and The Hideaway are a few examples of usable cards. Whereas, his ability wouldn't work for Humanis Policlub Ganger, Shady Manager, Troll Bouncer, Ares Macrotech, Lone Star HQ, and the like. -- Don't get hung up on the word, visit, here. It's for flavor. If you, yourself, had deployed the contact/location in question and could legally use it during your turn, then it's probably usable through Dain. Read the text on the cards and use common sense.)
—————
Can he use his ability more than one per turn?

Unless you have to turn him to make the visit (as is frequently the case with locations), you can use his ability any number of times, as limited by your credstick balance, the text on the visited card, the number of cards in play, his current Body score, etc. In other words, the normal visitation rules apply here.
—————
What about locations/contacts that hold Gear cards, like Leo's Pawn Shop, The Warehouse or the Shopping Cart Lady?

Dain's player can take any Gear cards as per normal visitation rules (by rolling a D6, paying the purchase price, etc.). He can then either choose to use the piece of Gear, if he legally can (i.e. he could use a pistol, but not a drone) or send it to the owner's trash pile. Dain's owner could also place or sell Gear cards into a location, but then the location's owner would be able to take or buy them during his own turn. Note: return any 'borrowed' Gear cards at the end of the game.

DODGER
Dodger's card text says, 'Dodger treats closed systems as normal systems.' I haven't come across anything referred to as a 'closed' system. Does this ability mean 'custom' system, as in the challenge?

The Impossible Mission objective is a closed system. It's not a device we've used much in the game. We will though...

DOMINO
If I have 3 Domino's in play, and make a run, does that mean: All other Dwarves on the Shadowrun get +3/+0, and each Domino gets +2/+0 -OR- All Dwarves on the run get +1/+0 and the Domino's get nothing.

Domino doesn't modify himself. So, each Domino, above, would get +2/+0 and each other dwarf would get +3/+0.

DR. APOCALYPSE
Okay, his card reads, 'Add +2 to damage Dr. A. inflicts with spells.' And Hellblast contains the following text, 'Hellblast inflicts 2 armor piercing damage on all runners present.' So, does this mean that the good Dr. does 4 damage to all runners present when he uses this spell?

That's right! It's my favorite combo!

FASTJACK
When Fastjack pays 4¥ for his ability to look at and decide the order of all challenges on an objective, does that automatically mean he's taking part in the shadowrun?

No. (Think of this ability as a 'Recon' which may be used outside of the legwork phase, plus you don't have to turn him to use it.)
—————
Would this also apply if he used it for another player, while they were on THEIR shadowrun? And would he count towards their 6 runner maximum?

Yes, he could use his ability in this situation, but No, he wouldn't count as part of their team. Also, the other player would then choose which order to face the challenges in.
—————
Can Fastjack use this ability against a closed system?

Yes.
—————
Must he be 'present' on the run to JUST use his ability?

No, as long as he limits his assistance to his special ability, he won't count against the 6 runner maximum. But if you plan to use him in a more 'active' roll (i.e. to help sleaze some of the challenges), then he will need to turn with the runners & join in the run.
—————
Can Fastjack turn to assist another runner team other than his own (i.e. an ally team mate)?

Yes. Any decker can do this, as long as they aren't in violation of the '6 runner maximum' rule.

FENRIS
His card says that he may not be given additional cyberware. Is this because his essence is already maxed out at 6?

Yes. (Sort of makes him a prime candidate for Cyber-psychosis, doesn't it.)

FLATLINE
Normally, only one type of ammo may be used per combat (unless the runner has an Extended Clip), but what about Flatline? Since he uses two different pistols, couldn't each one use a different type of ammo?

Yes.

FOXY ROXY and GORE TUSK
Say that Foxy Roxy and Gore Tusk are together on a run when they hit the Security Guard challenge, which takes precedence: Foxy's auto-sleaze ability or Gore Tusk's auto-alarm triggering Anti-Social trait?

In the above situation, you'd have to roll a D6 to see who takes precedence. Sorry there is no hard fast rule. This question was one of the first that came up during early playtesting.

GHOST WHO WALKS
Ghost's card says that he may not be targeted by Specials, but can his owner play Ambidextrous or Bar Fight on him?

No.

GORE TUSK
See Foxy Roxy, above.

HATCHETMAN
Is Hatchetman a Prime Runner or not? The write-up says he is, but he has no upkeep cost.

There are two Hatchetman cards--a 'normal' Runner and a Prime Runner version (Hatchetman 2057).

HATCHETMAN 2057
Isn't Hatchetman 2057, the Prime Runner, also Unique? What does this combination mean?

Yes. It means that: a) because he's Prime, only one of him may be in play at a time, and b) because he's Unique, there may only be a single copy of him in a deck.
—————
His ability says, that he ignores essence loss, but Cyber-psychosis says, that you add +1 to the roll for each point of essence lost. So does H-2057 still add to the Cyber-psychosis die roll for his essence loss even though it is supposed to be ignored?

Yes. It's not exactly what we intended, but because Hatchetman 'ignores' essence loss, he still experiences it--and that means it gets added to the die roll on Cyber-psychosis.

HAWKWIND
Say I play Snake Totem on Hawkwind, is the Biotech cumulative (i.e. giving her Biotech 2)? Knee-jerk reaction would be yes.

Mine would be no. I'll double-check with Mike on this one, but I think I'm right.

KNUCKLES
If my Knuckles (has Guard) is turned, can he still use his Guard ability on one of my runners affected by Riots, Wanted, or Drive-By? Same question for Biotech.

LARUE
Can I use LaRue's Battleaxe on challenges that have been modified by Objectives like Cermak Blast, which change all challenges into awakened spirits?

Yes.
—————
Similarly, several Objectives, such as Critter Hunt, also require combat with an awakened creature. Will his axe affect these creatures?

No, the Critter Hunt critter is an Objective. The axe can only affect Challenges. So carry a back-up spell & nuke 'em from a distance--it's the only way to be sure!
—————
Can LaRue (Gator Shaman) have a different Totem played on him and now become an Owl Shaman?

Yes.

LORD TORGO
Lord Torgo's special ability is 'Turn and pay X¥ to trash a number of Elves in play equal to the amount of nuyen paid.' Don't you think this just a tiny bit overpowered for the game?

Yes. The card has been revised for 2^nd Run. The new text will read: 'Turn Lord Torgo to inflict 3 armor piercing damage to all elves in play.'
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Since Torgo is already a Gang Leader (GL) is he still a valid target for Leader of the pack (LotP)?

No.
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'A player may not have more than one Ganger Leader in play at a time.' So if I have Torgo on the table, does this keep me from playing LotP on Redline as I would end up with two GL's?

Yes.
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How about if I have Redline and I LotP her, would this mean that I can't deploy Torgo as that would also result in two GL's?

Yes.

LOUIE DA' BRUISER
How does his special ability work? Is he basically A3 to start with (if he's not using any gear/armor)?

Yes...and Gear armor cards can't be added to that A3. They aren't 'cumulative' with it.

RAVAGE
Can I play Wired Reflexes on Ravage?

No. A Runner cannot inflict damage a second time twice.

RAZORBACK
Can Razorback use his special ability to sleaze a Personnel Challenge after the alarm has been triggered?

Yes. This is how Razorback was intended to work. His special ability is being changed to read, 'Trash Razorback to trash a Personnel Challenge.'

RED WIDOW
Can Red Widow join a shadowrun-in-progress during combat?

Yes, as long as no more than 6 Runners total participate in the shadowrun.
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Is there any specific timing as to when Red Widow can be turned to join a shadowrun in progress? As soon as a challenge is revealed? Before the next challenge is revealed? When facing damage in a fight?

Whenever you want.

SCARECROW
Scarecrow's special ability reads, 'Trash one of Scarecrow's Spells to give him Street until end of turn'. What is Street?

A typo. It should say Streetwise, not Street. Viper has the same typo.

SCATTER
What happens with Runners that are already designated with a Totem (i.e. Scatter - Rat Shaman)? Would Scatter be assumed to have the abilities of the Rat Totem?

No.
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Can Scatter have a different Totem played on her and now become an Owl Shaman?

Yes.

SISKO
A player buys Heavy Armor (partial) at the Black Market discount and gives it to Sisko. He then rolls the D6 per Black market and comes up with a 5, meaning he is getting arrested. Now Sisko's special reads, 'turn Sisko to prevent target runner from being arrested.' In such an instance, can he be turned to prevent himself from being arrested?

Yes.

SKITZ
Does his ability effectively negate Wild Goose Chase played on a shadowrunning team he is in?

Yes!
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Could you elaborate on Skitz's special ability--does it cancel the entire effect of a card which would send the entire party (or several runners) home, e.g. Wild Goose Chase or Nets?

Yes. However, in the case of Nets, it would only cancel the effect on Skitz, since you roll independently for each runner.

SKWRAAAAAARK!
According to his description, Skwraaaaaark! can only use gear/cyberware. Does this mean he can have a Chipjack, but he can't put anything in it (Skillsofts are listed as Gear/misc.)?

That is correct. A chipjack on Skwraaaaaark! would be useless.

STILETTO
How many times per turn can I use Stiletto's special ability (2¥: Give target Runner Stealth until end of turn)?

As many times as you can afford.

TEMPEST
Does Tempest's ability to cause one point of armor piercing damage affect your own runners?

Yes. It affects ALL runners in play, including your own.

TIN MAN
If I pump Tin Man (normally 5/5) to 8/8 and he takes 6 damage, what happens?

Tin Man's stats will return to normal during the End phase of the turn. This would give him 6 damage against a Body of 5, and so Tin Man would be trashed. On the positive side, he did come through the run 'alive,' so he would count towards that Objective's Requirements (he just died 'during the ride back home'). Also, application of a Stim Patch after combat, but before the End Phase, would bring him back to 4 damage.

VIPER
See Scarecrow, above.

VIXEN
How long does it take to heal Vixen completely? A flat 2 turns or do I divide her damage into smaller and smaller halves each turn?

A flat two turns (unless she's wounded again, which would add another turn). For simplicity, just remove half of Vixen's Body score (modified for cyberware or gear and rounded up) worth of counters each turn that she heals or is healed. With 5 Body this would work out to 3 per turn. If she had Dermal Plating this amount would increase to 4 counters.
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Would a Stim Patch or Heal spell help?

Yes. A Stim Patch, which normally heals 2 damage, would immediately give Vixen back 1 point. If she had 4 points of damage on her, applying a Stim Patch, followed by a turn of healing would put her back to full health. A Heal spell would also only be half as effective (round up) as normal on her.
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What about using a Biotech (or Biotech 2) on her? How about a combination of Biotech and normal healing?

*Sigh* It's not supposed to be this complicated--her card states that she heals at '1/2 the normal rate,' rounded up. This is because the bioware implants that give an increased Body score, plus Stamina, take longer to recover from the effects of trauma. Since Biotech heals a runner 'up to full Body' in one turn, she would still only gain half of hers back. Biotech 2 doesn't heal twice as fast or twice as well, it heals twice as many. The intent here is that a runner with Biotech 2 is able to handle more patients per turn (i.e. doubly faster) than a runner with Biotech 1. All of which, though fascinating, still has no bearing on Vixen's slow-healing body. Ditto on turning her to heal normally in conjunction with Biotech, but nice try.

SPECIALS & STINGERS

GENERAL

Totems
What happens with Runners that are already designated with a Totem (i.e. Scatter - Rat Shaman)? Would Scatter be assumed to have the abilities of the Rat Totem?

No.
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Can Scatter have a different Totem played on her and now become an Owl Shaman?

Yes.
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Say I play Snake Totem on Hawkwind, is the Biotech cumulative (i.e. giving her Biotech 2)? Knee-jerk reaction would be yes.

Mine would be no. I'll double-check with Mike on this one, but I think I'm right.

Trashing Specials and Stingers
Are Special cards trashed after they are deployed?

After a Special card has taken effect, it is trashed.
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What about Sudden Goblinization, does it get trashed (thus allowing recycling of the card) or does it stay on the runner, thus allowing it to have Luck of the Irish played on it?

SPECIFIC SPECIALS

ABDUCTED
Since Abducted makes the character 'fragged,' does he lose all of his gear, like a normally fragged character?

No. Think of it as if it said, 'treat runner as if he were 'out of play' until...'
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Let's say my opponent has a Prime Runner in play and I Abduct him, so he's considered fragged until the end of the turn. He's out of play, non-existent so to speak, so I now play my own copy of the same Prime Runner. What happens at the end of the turn?

The Abducted Runner is fragged when he returns.

AMBIDEXTROUS
Does a Runner with the Ambidextrous card get 2 attacks?

No. The Runner gets to add the bonuses from two weapons (the two weapons he is using for the attack) to a single attack.
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Now that Hand Razors each add Melee skill to Attack value, does a runner with Ambidexterity and two Katanas add the value in twice?

Yes.
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A runner may either use two pistols OR two hand-to-hand weapons, but what about a combo (i.e. a Katana and a Beretta)?

You can use a combo of the two types if you like.
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Say Lord Torgo has Ambidexterity and I equip him with a Katana and Stun Gloves. He and his friends encounter a Guardian Dracoform and we go to duke it out. Would I roll for my Stun Gloves, and if they don't trash the challenge, then figure the 14 damage I do with the Katana in with the rest of the group's attack?

No, it's either..or. See Stun Gloves, above.

BAD LUNCH

Does Bad Lunch apply when a runner is intercepting a shadowrun?

Bad Lunch does not affect you, when you are intercepting.

BAR FIGHT
Do I have to turn the Runner I choose to participate in a Bar Fight? Does my opponent have to use an unturned Runner?

Yes. Only unturned Runners can participate in a Bar Fight.
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If all of my runners are turned and my opponent play a Bar Fight, is it discarded then?

Yes. (But you'd be foolish to play the card, if all of your opponent's runners were turned).
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If your opponent attacks with your Rigger/Shaman with a Bar Fight or a Wanted, can you activate your drone/spirit and have it participate in the combat (with that runner's attack value reduced to zero)?

Yes, unless your Rigger/Shaman had already activated his 'allotment' of drones/spirits for the turn (i.e. a number equal to his Piloting/Conjuring skill).
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Can you activate your spirit earlier in the turn in case of the above situation, and THEN use it in a 'Bar Fight' or against a 'Wanted' ?

No.
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Can Bad Reputation be used after a Bar Fight?

Yes.

BLOCK PARTY
Block Party read, 'X¥: No players may attempt a shadowrun for the duration of Block Party. The Party lasts 1 turn for every 5¥ spent.' Is this player turns, or does it loop back around to the owner of Block Party and that's one round?

It 'loops around.'

CEMENT SHOES
Situation: Imagine a two-player game between Tony and me. I currently have 15¥ and it's my turn. Turning Loki, I play a Cement Shoes on the Skwraaaaaark! that Tony sent on a run last turn. In an attempt to save the big brute, Tony throws out a State of Confusion and redirects the Cement Shoes at my Redline (one of four out and she has a Leader of the Pack on her :o ). The text on State of Confusion reads, 'You may choose a new, legal target for a Special card just played.'

My own Redline would be a valid target, as I easily have the 4¥ it would take to sink her. Must I pay the nuyen and frag my own runner? Can I choose not to do so, even though I had every intention of pumping 10¥ into the Special in the first place? Since Tony is redirecting Cement Shoes, can he pay the 4¥ to frag Redline?

We still aren't ready to make a final ruling on this, but I can tell you what we're leaning toward, which is: If Player 1 plays Cement Shoes (and spends X¥ to do so) and Player 2 responds by playing State of Confusion, the 'new legal target' of Cement Shoes must cost X¥ or less. In this case, Player 1 would have already 'paid 10¥ to frag his own 4¥-runner.'

COVER UP
If I have already intercepted one shadowrun against an Objective that I have in play and Cover Up is played on that Objective, can I intercept a shadowrun against that Objective when it is revealed again?

No.

CYBER-PSYCHOSIS
Does Cyber-psychosis stick around for more than one turn? Or is it a one shot deal? For example, it is played on Skwraaaaaark! and he ends up drooling for a turn. Next turn is it gone or am I facing the fact that he might be trashed?

Cyber-psychosis sticks around for more than one turn.

DRIVE-BY, RIOTS, and WANTED
Can a turned runner be the target of a Drive-By/Riots/Wanted card?

Yes. Why not?

KNOCK-KNOCK
If someone Knock-Knocks one of my deckers, can I have a runner with the Guard trait absorb the damage meant for him?

No, because the runner with Guard would not be present for the fight.

LEADER OF THE PACK
See Lord Torgo, above.

NERPS
When I use a Nerps! card to copy another Gear card, do I have to pay the additional deployment cost of the new card? For example, if I pay 3¥ to Nerps! a copy of a Bulldog Van, now can I just give it Red Widow or do I have to pay the normal 4¥ deployment cost for a Bulldog wan to give it to her?

The only cost you pay is the 3¥ to deploy Nerps!
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The text on Nerps! says to 'treat it as an exact duplicate of that card.' If I Nerps! a Bulldog Van, is Nerps! now a Gear/Vehicle card? Or is it still a Special? In other words, two turns later could my opponent now try to get rid of the Nerps! Bulldog via Luck of the Irish or a Wabbit's Foot?

Yes. It's still a Special--which is treated as a copy of a Gear card, not as a Gear card.
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Can you change the target Gear that a Nerps! already in play is duplicating (i.e. you Nerps! yourself a copy of a Beretta, then someone whips out a Defiance Shotgun, can I now change the Nerps! into a Defiance)?

No. Once it's in play, Nerps! is treated as a copy of the card that it duplicated when deployed.

POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP
See Acid Mist, above.

RED ALERT
Can a Browse be used on an objective targeted by a Red Alert?

Yes.

RIOTS
See Drive-By, above.

SNAKE TOTEM
See Hawkwind, above.

TEST OF HONOR
Can Test of Honor be Bad Reputation'd?

Yes.

WANTED
Do you attack the Wanted character during a) the Wanted character's legwork phase -or- b) during the legwork phase of each opponent (the attacking player)?

The attacking player turns his runner to attack the Wanted runner during the attacking player's legwork phase.
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If my Runner attacks a 'Wanted' Runner, and both Runners are trashed, does my Runner still get the Reputation points?

Yes. YOU get the Reputation points. Wanted should read 'Player whose Runner defeats Wanted Runner earns Reputation equal to deployment cost of Wanted Runner'.
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If your opponent attacks with your Rigger/Shaman with a Bar Fight or a Wanted, can you activate your drone/spirit and have it participate in the combat (with that runner's attack value reduced to zero)?

No.
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Can a turned runner use a Wanted card to attack an opponent's runner?

Absolutely not. That's addressed on the Wanted card: 'opponents may turn one runner to attack target runner'.
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Can a turned runner be the target of a Drive-By/Riots/Wanted?

Yes. Why not?
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If I defeat a runner clone (created through the use of the Genetics Lab) as a result of a Wanted card, do I still gain his reputation?

No. A clone is not worth any reputation.

SPECIFIC STINGERS

911
Does 911 take effect before combat is resolved or after?

After.

BAD REPUTATION
Can Test of Honor be Bad Reputation'd?

Yes.
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What about using one after a Bar Fight?

Yes.

BLINDSIDED
When Blindsided is played, does the shadowrun team first face their own challenges, or does the objective's owner choose which challenge stack to be encountered first?

The Objective's owner chooses.

D�J� VU
If someone modifies my dice roll with a Loaded Dice, and then I play D�j� Vu, causing a re-roll, does the Loaded Dice still apply, modifying the new roll, or was it applied to the first roll and now gone?

It was applied to the first roll and is now gone.

FALSE MENTOR
If my opponent uses False Mentor to steal Reputation points that I just earned, can I then play False Mentor on him and take the Rep points back?

Yes.

GREEN APPLE QUICKSTEPS
Situation: Say I send an unarmed Skwraaaaaark! and Nightshade (who has an Astral Sense spell) on a run. The first challenge is Yak Attack. the alarm is automatically triggered by Skwraaaaaark!'s Anti-Social trait. But I know that I'll still clean up in combat with Skwraaaaaark! Realizing this, my opponent plays a Green Apple Quicksteps (GAQS) on Skwraaaaaark!, which sends him back to the safehouse and more than likely kills off my mage. Questions on timing:

Is it okay for him to throw out the GAQS at this time? Must a Stinger like this come out as soon as the challenge is turned over, or at any time while figuring out sleaze or combat?

It's okay. He played after the alarm was triggered and before combat began. It just can't be used in the middle of combat.
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If GAQS sent Skwraaaaaark! home, is the alarm still triggered from his Anti-Social trait?

Yes--if it's played after the alarm is triggered.
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I've used GAQS to send home runners that have the necessary skills sleaze a challenge, thus triggering the alarm, but I was wondering how the same applies to sending home a runner who's about to trigger the alarm (i.e. a Stealthy runner facing an Eyekiller, or Anti-Social Skwraaaaaark!, above)?

If you play the GAQS when the challenge is revealed and before the alarm is triggered (i.e. during the time you're evaluating the card for its sleaze requirements), it's okay. People think WAY too hard about timing on this card. It takes effect when it's played--it's that simple. The reason you can't use it to 'interrupt' a combat is that once begun, it's instantaneous & all damage is dealt simultaneously, so it can't be interrupted. See Timing, below.
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My opponent decides to go an a run, leaving an unturned Decker behind in the safehouse. During a critical non-combat moment, I realize that I have just enough nuyen to play a GAQS on him and I decaler it so. He responds by turning his decker, and saying 'alright, I use my Sticky Fingers program to steal one of your nuyen, which cancels out your GAQS.' Is this really what happens?

No. Cards take place in the order in which they're played. When you paid to deploy the GAQS, it become too late for the decker's Sticky Fingers program to 'counter' it. He can't take the nuyen you've already spent. More on Stinger-vs-Stinger in Timing, below.
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If I intercept a shadowrun with a single Runner and my opponent plays Green Apple Quicksteps, is the shadowrun intercepted?

No. The Runner was sent back before combat ensued so he never intercepted the shadowrun.

LOADED DICE
Must you specify the Loaded Dice's plus 1 or negative 1 to the die roll prior to rolling?

Yes.
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If someone modifies my dice roll with a Loaded Dice, and then I play D�j� Vu, causing a re-roll, does the Loaded Dice still apply, modifying the new roll, or was it applied to the first roll and now gone?

It was applied to the first roll and is now gone.

LOFWYR'S SCHEMES
If I play Lofwyr's Schemes and the next Objective is Sucker Run, do I get to reveal another Objective?

No. If Sucker Run is revealed in this way, the runner team earns no Reputation points. Sucker Run is then fragged.
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If I play Lofwyr's Schemes and the next Objective is Courier Run (or Urban Brawl), does the shadowrunning player get the Reputation points even though he hasn't chosen a courier (or ball-carrier)?

Yes.

LUCK OF THE IRISH
When do you LotI someone else's LotI? Is it declared before or after the first LotI is rolled?

Before the first one takes effect. (Otherwise, what's the point?) LotI reads: 'Roll a D6. On a 4+, trash either a Special card just played or one already in play.' Because of the way it's phrased, you aren't actually canceling an effect at all, you are trashing a card. Thus, to counter another LotI, you have to play yours before the die roll is made on the first one. If you wait, the first one will have taken effect before you've even trashed it. However, this is not intended to lead to 'speed rolling.'

MOONLIGHTING
Does Moonlighting stay in effect for more than one turn?

No, it is trashed after taking effect.
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Can more than one runner use a single Moonlighting?

NO WAY OUT
Can this be played on a group of runners, after a card (say a challenge) sent the runners home to force them to continue the run?

Yes.
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The card states that the runners may sleaze the challenge like normal. If the alarm is already set, the challenge may not be sleazed, correct?

Yes.

REINFORCEMENTS
Can this card be played on a team that has already passed all the challenges on an Objective, so that you could lay down a whole other set of challenges that they would have to face on the current shadowrun?

Yes.

STATE OF CONFUSING
Some questions on State of Confusion (SoC): Tony goes to Nerps! a copy of his Hatchetman's Muscle Replacement for his Skwraaaaaark! only to find Nerps! is a copy of his Glitz's Walther Palm Pistol instead.

Fine so far. This would be a legal use for SoC.
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Now here's a twist. Let's say Tony is again Nerps!ing the H-man's Muscle Rep. I toss out SoC and instead target it to duplicate my Ice Queen's 'Redirect Datarail.' Tony doesn't have any Deckers out. Can he tuck the Nerps!ed Redirect Datarail back in his hand for when he can get Caesar out? Does it stay a copy of RD in that case?

Now we have problems. You can't use SoC that way. As it states on SoC: 'You may choose a new, legal target for a Special card just played.' In other words, if Tony plays Nerps! on Hatchetman, you can't play SoC and change Nerps! into Redirect Datarail because the Redirect Datarail is not a legal target (Hatchetman can't hold it).
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Same type of scenario except I know Tony doesn't have any mages in the deck, so I play SoC & re-target Nerps! on my Tempest's 'Combat Fetishes.' Does Tony just discard the Nerps! in this case, as he has no practical way to use the CF copy?

Same problems here. See answer, above.

SUDDEN GOBLINIZATION
If I use Sudden Goblinization on a human mage Runner holding magical Gear and transform that Runner into a troll, what happens to the Gear?

Because the Runner will lose all his Skills, any Gear he was carrying that had a Skill requirement would be trashed. (Ouch!)
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Does Sudden Goblinization get trashed after it's played (thus allowing recycling of the card) or does it stay on the runner, thus allowing it to have Luck of the Irish played on it?

Sudden Goblinization would be trashed after it's taken effect. The runner is transformed into an Ork or Troll and SG is outta there. All Stingers should work this way (can't think of an exception off the top of my head). Many Specials do too (there's no need for Wanted to remain in play after the runners have fought), although there are exceptions. It should be evident from the from the card text if the card needs to stay or go (Bad Lunch & Cyber-Psychosis stay; Bar Fight & Riots go, etc.).
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Tony is wanting to beef up his Turbo a bit, and tosses out Sudden Goblinization while saying that Turbo is monkeying-out and becoming on ork. I think it'd be more interesting a different way, so I toss out State of Confusion on his SG. Can I target his Hatchetman instead and make him a troll (thus taking away his skills)? Is the choice of race part of the targeting of the card, or since Tony had already said it was to make Turbo into an ork as the card is coming out, is the race already locked in? (Potential speed/slap-fest issue.)

The race is already 'locked-in.' SoC can change the target of Sudden Goblinization, but it still changes the Runner into whatever the owner of SG declared.

WHOOPS
Does Whoops remove an entire skill or just one level of a skill rating?

It removes an entire skill.

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
What's the first expansion called? When is it going to be released?

The first expansion is called 'Underworld,' and it's going to focus on the Yakuza, Mafia, Lone Star and specific gangs like the Halloweeners, Ancients, and others. In addition, there will be more Spells, Spirits, Drones and so on. The release date is currently January 1998.
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Will FASA offer tournament rules for the Shadowrun TCG?

Yes, there are currently three variants, one for multi-play called, 'Brawl in the Sprawl,' another for a one-on-one, round-robin is called, 'The Duel,' and finally, from Origins Con, a one-on-one called, 'Showdown.' See the Optional Rules page for descriptions of each.
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Are there any single-player rules for SRTCG?

Yes. _______________ has come up with a workable set of solitaire rules. See the Optional Rules page for descriptions them.
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If two cards come into conflict, how do I resolve the dispute?

The player whose turn it currently is plays his card first; otherwise, both you and your opponent should roll D6. The card of the player with the higher roll takes effect this turn.
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Can I have 6 Runners on a shadowrun and also use a Runner in the Sniper Roost and/or have a Runner use Indirect Fire?

No. The maximum number of Runners that may participate in a shadowrun is 6. This maximum includes Deckers.
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If a Decker is assisting a shadowrun from the safehouse, can his skills be used to help the shadowrunning team sleaze Challenges?

No. A Runner must be present for his skills to count toward sleazing Challenges. He can still assist the runners by using programs (like, Crash, Redirect Datarail, & Sleaze, against Electrical Challenges, etc.).

CARD REVISIONS
How should cards be handled when they're changed by a subsequent release? The main example is Lord Torgo. His special is being rewritten in 2^nd Run as turning to do 3 AP damage to all elves in play. When Torgo II hits the shelves, is old Torgo from 1^st print assumed then to function as if his card text read the same as in 2^nd Run? Or does old Torgo function as his card actually reads, and thus as a separate and individual Prime Runner card from the revised Torgo II?

In tournaments, all cards will probably be assumed to function as they do in Second Run. (I say probably because, to be honest, I haven't discussed it with Mike yet--if he feels differently we'll let you know.) In tournament play, I don't think it would be wise in Tourney play to allow different versions of a card to be used. We'll make an official decision and let you know.

Otherwise the decision to play with the card's new (2^nd Run) text or to simply use the text on the card will probably be up to the players. There will be a lot of cards in Second Run with revised text (although, usually the revision is just to clarify how the card works--there aren't a lot of rules changes, a la Torgo).

In situations other than Tournament play, our official position should be as follows:

In any SRTCG game, if one of the players owns the newer version of a card (a revised Torgo, for example), then the players should abide by the new card text, not the old. As long as the players have access to the revised version, the revised version should be used. This seems reasonable enough, although players are certainly capable of deciding how they want to handle it in their own games.

Anyways, that's going to be our official POV on the subject.

CARD TYPES
We have received a number of questions regarding card types that can all be answered with the general guidelines provided below. Rather than include all of these questions in the FAQ, we offer the following clarification, which should make the game easier for everyone.

A general example of the questions we receive regarding card types is as follows, 'The Gear (Spell) card Sleep says that its user can sleaze Awakened and Personnel Challenges on a D6 roll of 4+. Can it be used to sleaze an Awakened creature on an Objective card (like Critter Hunt)?'

The answer is no, and here's why: an Objective card and a Challenge card are two different card types. The Sleep card states specifically that it can be used against Awakened and Personnel Challenges. The card text does not say the card can be used against Objectives, so it cannot be used against an Objective.

In other words, the card text will tell you what the card CAN do, not what it CAN'T do. If a card says it works against Runners, then it only works against Runners, not Challenges. If a card says it works against Challenges, then it works only against Challenges, not Objectives or Runners. When a card works against multiple card types, it will say so.

This guideline also holds true for Keywords. If a Challenge is an Indoor Challenge, it will say so. If a Gear (Weapon) card is a Silenced Weapon, the card will say so.

A few examples:

The Gear card Walther Palm Pistol may be used as a Stinger. This means that it may be played at any time, like a Stinger card. It DOES NOT mean that it should be treated as a Stinger/Special card. Cards like Luck o' the Irish that effect Special cards will not work against the Walther Palm Pistol because it is a Gear card, not a Special card.
The Gear card Automated Patrol Vehicle has the word vehicle in its name, but it is NOT a Gear (Vehicle) card-the card text clearly labels it as a Gear (Drone) card.
The damage inflicted by the Challenge cards Killer Drone and Hellhound must be applied to a single Runner. Runners are a card type, and so that damage cannot be assigned to a Drone, Spirit or other Gear card. It must be applied to a Runner.

CLOSED SYSTEMS
Can a decker use Recon on a closed system?

No. When a decker uses Recon it should be considered a matrix action.
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Can a Crawler drone with Recon use it on a closed system (such as Impossible Mission)?

Yes. Because in this case, there's no decker involved. It's assumed that the Recon represents scouting around 'in the real world' and actually getting a looksie.

COMBAT BETWEEN RUNNERS
On page 68 of the rules, under 'Three or More Runners,' in says that runners are to 'pair up' into individual conflicts. Can you define 'pairing up?' Is this mandatory (i.e. each defender must be engaged in a 1:1 battle??)? But what about the rest of my attackers? For example, I have 6 runners to his 3. Must I set up three 2:1's? -OR- Can I do this: 1:1 1:1 4:1 (against Skwraaaaaark!, no doubt!)

See p. 69. After pairing-up, your extra Runners can join whichever combat you want (in other words, gang up and kick Skwraaaaaark!'s metallic butt!)

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
There is one question that has been running around the newsgroup, as well as around the local gaming groups -- damage assignment. They say how can you kill a 1 Body character, if he has 1 armor? Since only 1 point of damage can be assigned to him (per the rules) the armor soaks it up, and they live.

Actually, that's incorrect. 2 points of damage will kill a Runner with 1 Body and A1. The armor blocks 1 point and the other point gets through. The rules are pretty clear on this. Are people confused because it says, You may not allocate on amount of damage to a Runner, Spirit, or Drone higher than it's current Body? If so, they should pay more attention to the context that the sentence appears in. The next sentence clarifies: In other words, a card may not take more damage than is needed to 'kill' it.

That sentence says what your suggestion said, 'Characters cannot be assigned more damage than would bring their Body to 0.' That's why I don't like rules lawyers. They have a tendency to jump all over a word without looking at the context it appears in.

DAMAGE DETERMINATION
Does the running player always determine where damage from challenges is applied, unless the challenge specifically states that the owner of the challenge decides where it is dealt? Some cards say: 'Target runner takes X damage.' Others say: 'One of the runners present takes X damage.' And still others say things like, 'trash a runner who is present.'(Booby Trap) We have been saying that 'target runner' allows the challenge's owner to distribute the damage, while 'One of the runners...' allows the running player to distribute damage, and 'Trash a runner...' allows the running player to choose one of his runners to be sacrificed. How should these be dealt with?

You're doing it right.

DIFFERENT CARD VERSIONS
Are there going to be any marking differentiating Second Run from the First Run? How about Underworld?

Yes and yes. Underworld will have a 'U' before the Copyright, and 2^nd Run will have a (gasp) '2' before its Copyright line. =)

DRUG and INFO TOKENS
Can a runner pick up multiple drug and info tokens, and can the runner use more than one info token on the same challenge (say if the first one doesn't work) or more than one drug token at the same time (to increase stats even farther)?

Sure, although the latter is a little risky...as far as picking up multiple drug or info tokens goes, it takes multiple visits but you can do it. You just can't acquire them at a rate faster than once per visit to Club Vortex or Shadowland.
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There's currently discussion on SRCard as to whether tokens (i.e. gotten from Club Vortex or Shadowland) can be traded from runner to runner. This, of course, lead to whether tokens should be regarded as gear (thus stocking up on them to make it less likely Street Scum would steal your Panther Assault Cannon, etc.)

Tokens cannot be traded from runner to runner. They should not be looked upon as Gear (although there are similarities).

FATIGUE
Does Fatigue apply to damage a Runner has just received from a card that 'attacks first'?

Yes.
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Does Fatigue affect both the Attack Value and Body Value of a Runner, as it says on page 64 of the rulebook? If so, what happens when the effects of Fatigue are doubled by a card like Fugitive Run?

The rulebook describes Fatigue incorrectly-we apologize for that mistake. Fatigue ONLY effects the Attack Value of a Runner. However, because Fatigue is caused by unhealed damage, most of the time Fatigue and unhealed damage are the same. When the effects of Fatigue are changed, as on Fugitive Run, only the Runner's Attack Value is affected. We hope these general guidelines help clear up all questions of this nature.

GERMAN PROMO CARDS
Comments: I think we have the translations of those cards lying around somewhere here at the office. I'll try to dig 'em up for you when I get a chance. Those cards are not actually 'official' cards in my opinion, due to the fact that the first time I saw them was 2 or 3 months AFTER they had already been printed! It wouldn't be that bad except a couple of the cards are really bad in my opinion. In particular, the Matrix AI card is very damaging to the game. (Sigh!) Oh-well, there isn't much I can do about it now I suppose.
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I've heard that the German Promo Challenge card, K�nstliche Intelligenz (lit. 'Artificial Intelligence'), had been errata'd from Matrix Challenge to Electrical Challenge. Is this true?

I have no idea! That card is FanPro's. I wouldn't be surprised if the rumor were true. We were upset that they created a 'Matrix Challenge' because the keyword isn't in the rulebook. We advised a change to 'Electrical,' so apparently they took our advice. that's all I know...

INFO TOKENS
See Drug Tokens, above.

INTERCEPTING A RUN
Situation: Page 71 of the rulebook says, 'only one Shadowrun on each revealed Objective may be intercepted per game.' I just want some clarification on this.

Let's say in a two-player game an objective is out and neither of us have any challenges in place to protect it. My opponent makes a shadowrun on the objective and I intercept it with a couple of my runners. One shadowrun has now been intercepted on this objective this game. Does this mean that if he draws badly and cannot get any challenges in place on his turn that he cannot intercept my run on that same objective?

Yes. That's what it means.
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How about during a multi-player game? Let's say Bull, Dvixen, and I are playing a game after buying our cards at GenCon. :o) An objective is out and unprotected. Dvixen makes a run against it and since I am the owned, I intercept. Since Dvixen wasn't able to get any challenges during her turn, the objective is still unprotected. One shadowrun has now been intercepted on this objective this game. Does this mean that neither I nor Dvixen may intercept Bull?

Yes. That's what it means.
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How about during the same three-player game, where Dvixen and I have challenges down and Bull does not. If I make a run on that objective, is Bull able to intercept me or is he at the mercy of Dvixen's challenges, hoping they can stop me?

The Objective must be undefended against the shadowrunning player. Bull has to hope Dvixen's challenges stop you.
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Can you intercept with more than 6 runners?

No.

NEGATIVE REPUTATION POINTS
Can you go negative rep points and how many times, or how negative can you go? Say I went negative once, and got positive, again. Can I go negative now?

Yes. There's no set to limit on how low your Reputation can go, although in practice it's rarely less than -5 or -10 (unless you tend to get careless whenever the Media Chick's around ;-). This is primarily because once your Rep becomes negative, any further negative Points are ignored until, as in your example, you reach positive territory, again. Then you can bounce back and forth, as much as you want.

NON-SKILL SLEAZE REQUIREMENTS
Is there a difference between the skill requirement for sleazing a challenge and alternative choices to 'sleaze' as listed in the card text (i.e. Gut Check of Feeding Ghouls)? If not then a combination like a triggered Motion Detector (or a Red Alert) and then a Gut Check could effectively form a deadlock with very few options to get past it.

Once Motion Detectors and Red Alert are played, challenges cannot be sleazed. However, Feeding Ghouls and Gut Check! are, indeed, exceptions to this. As you point out, not being able to get past Gut Check! on a successful roll makes no sense (and we are counting on people like you to use some common sense in such situations. We don't want the game to become as convoluted as Magic can be.) A Sleep spell, btw, would also work against Objectives defended by Red Alert and Motion Detectors.

RUNNERS "PRESENT"
We seem to have a lot of questions on the list regarding turned runners and the definition of 'present.' Could you expand on what present means?

Concerning present: I recently saw an interesting re-wording of 'present' on the SRCard list. I think it was posted by Matb. It's a good working definition that we may hone further (my thanks to him for posting it):

On a shadowrun: All runners and revealed challenges are considered present to each other.
In Runner-on-Runner combat: All attacking and defending runners on both sides are present to each other. Note: I would add to this that no other runners are present in this situation. Only the combatants are present. It's implied already, but I want to be clear.
At a location or contact: Multiple runners who visit the same location are present with each other. Runners are present at the last location or contact they visit on a turn. Runners 'return' from the location during their owner's next Refresh Phase (i.e. when they unturn).
In the safehouse: This includes all turned and unturned runners not present elsewhere.

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Is a Decker who has been participating in a shadowrun from the safehouse considered present at the end of a shadowrun against this Objective?

No. He is considered to be on the Shadowrun as far as the '6 Runner Maximum' rule is concerned (i.e. he's performing a 'matrix overwatch' of the group), but he is Present in the safehouse, and thus, won't be able to use his Skills for sleazing challenges, nor will he count for Requirement purposes on Objective cards like Assassination or Steal Wiz Softs. From an overwatch, the decker can use programs like, Crash, Redirect Datarail, & Sleaze to help the team. But if his owner plans to directly use, say, his Decking or Technical Skills, he'd have to declare him as 'actively participating' and therefore, present on the run.

TIMING
Is there a 'phase' to play cards right after the last challenge is passed, but before the objective is checked? (So that I can play Wild Goose Chase or some other nastiness!)

Yes.
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As with any game, we ask that you keep the spirit of the game in mind when playing, and use cards as you think they were intended to be used. We wanted to keep the timing in the Shadowrun TCG as straightforward as possible, and so we made the timing and phrasing as simple as possible. We hope the following guidelines will provide you with sufficient information to resolve any timing issues in your own games. If you have a dispute about the timing of cards being played, we encourage you to roll a D6-dice it off. Let the card of the person who rolls highest take effect first, and then continue playing-don't get bogged down arguing. It's just a game!

Most of the timing questions we've received regard the use of Stinger cards or involve combat situations.

In the Shadowrun TCG, cards take effect in the sequence they are played. This holds true for most of the cards in the game.

For example:
Cannonball (a 5/6 Dwarf Runner with Stamina, Firearms skill and Gunnery skill) attempts a shadowrun against the Objective Courier Run. Cannonball is equipped with a single Gear card, the Ceska VZ/120 (Ranged Weapon/Medium Pistol. +2/+0 to user. 'Trash Ceska VZ/120 to add 1¥ to your credstick.'). The opponent turns reveals the first Challenge Cannonball has to face: it's the Hellhound (Awakened. 6/6. Sleaze requirement: Stealth 2. 'The damage Hellhound inflicts must be applied to a single Runner. This damage is armor-piercing.').

Here's how the timing works:

) the shadowrun is declared.
) the Challenge is revealed.
) the Runner attempts to sleaze the Challenge (he fails).
) the alarm is triggered.
) combat ensues and is resolved. All damage is inflicted instantly and simultaneously.

Cannonball is able to inflict 7 damage (5 + 2 from the Ceska) on the Hellhound, killing it. The Hellhound inflicts 6 damage and kills Cannonball. Both cards are trashed.

Since Cannonball's owner knew as soon as he saw the Hellhound Challenge that Cannonball was going to be defeated by the Hellhound, he may have wanted to trash the Ceska to receive 1¥ before Cannonball died.

He could have trashed the Ceska during steps 2, 3 or 4 (or at any moment between the time the Challenge was revealed and the time the alarm was triggered). Once combat ensued, the damage was dealt immediately and Cannonball died. Because a Runner's Gear is trashed when he dies in combat, the Ceska would also be trashed and the owner could not trash it voluntarily for 1¥.
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Stinger cards throw a proverbial wrench into the timing system because they can be played at any time. Some Stingers, like Change of Plans ('Play when a player announces a shadowrun. You may choose the Objective of that shadowrun.'), give you a specific time when they must be played. Others, like Green Apple Quicksteps, can be played at any time, just as stated in the rulebook.

The Green Apple Quicksteps card ('Target Runner must immediately return to safehouse.') is an excellent example of how the timing in the SRTCG works. In the example above, Cannonball's owner could have played Green Apple Quicksteps at any time before combat ensued and sent Cannonball back to the safehouse. However, as explained above, combat takes place instantly and simultaneously, and so cannot be interrupted by a Stinger card like Green Apple Quicksteps. Once the combat began, the Hellhound killed Cannonball and Cannonball could no longer be sent back to the safehouse.

To further clarify the example, above:
According to the rules of the SRTCG, when a Challenge is revealed, the owner of the Challenge reads the sleaze requirements aloud and the shadowrunning player looks to see if his Runners can sleaze the Challenge. At this point, there is a natural pause during which players can assess the situation and play Stinger cards. If it helps you to understand the timing of the game, think of this as a short 'phase' when Stingers can be played. Because players can assess the situation at this point, Green Apple Quicksteps can be used to send a Runner back and prevent the Challenge from being sleazed. Players also have time to see if the alarm is going to be triggered and play Green Apple Quicksteps to 'set up' the remaining Runners for a nasty combat. If the alarm IS triggered, there is another natural pause before players start comparing Threat Ratings or assigning damage. This is the other 'phase' during which it's okay to play a Stinger. Having already had an opportunity to consider playing Green Apple Quicksteps, it is easy for a player to 'jump in' after the alarm is triggered and play Green Apple Quicksteps before combat begins.

Another example of timing:
Your opponent declares a shadowrun against an undefended Objective and you choose to intercept with a single Runner. Your opponent spends 2¥ and plays Green Apple Quicksteps to send your Runner back to the safehouse. Was the shadowrun intercepted? No. When Green Apple Quicksteps was played, it stopped your attempt to intercept the shadowrun and sent your Runner back to the safehouse.

Suppose you had played the Stinger card Luck o' the Irish ('Roll D6. On 4+, trash either a Special card just played or one already in play.') when your opponent played Green Apple Quicksteps? Luck o' the Irish would cancel out Green Apple Quicksteps on a roll of 4+. If the roll was successful, Green Apple Quicksteps would be canceled and the Runner targeted by Green Apple Quicksteps would successfully intercept the shadowrun. The shadowrunning player might then play the Stinger card Bad Reputation (Target player who just attacked an opponent's Runners loses 10 Reputation.).

As the examples above illustrates, when more than one Stinger card is played, they take effect in the order in which they were played. As stated in the rulebook, Stingers can be played at ANY time. The only time that a Stinger card cannot be played is during combat. Combat takes place and is resolved instantly, leaving no 'window' during which a Stinger card can be played.

VIRUS TOKENS
When may runners remove virus tokens? Are damaged runners ever able to remove them (even after they're healed)? Looking at the picture on the Bio-Lab Raid, I'm not sure if they can.

Virus tokens represent an additional kind of damage and require an extra turn of healing. So, a damaged runner with virus tokens would have to spend two turns healing: one for his normal damage and another to 'cure' the virus. Healing spells, Stim Patches, or Biotech could be used to speed up the process by removing all of the normal damage, but the runner would still have to be turned during the following Refresh Phase to remove the virus tokens.
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Can virus tokens kill runners with their -1/-1 ?

Yes, and their effect is cumulative with normal damage.

WHO IS THE ATTACKER
Who is the Attacker and who is the Defender when Player A goes on a shadowrun and Player B, who has Runners On Retainer, substitutes a team of runners for the challenge?

Player B is the Attacker.
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What about when Player A runs against an undefended Objective and Player B intercepts him?

Player B is the Attacker.

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