Altered Glossary

3.2.8 Limbo

3.2.8.a Limbo is a shared, visible zone.

Remark. Limbo is usually not represented as a specific physical space in a game: it is a transitory zone, which only contains cards when they are played and short-lived Emblems.

1.2.3 Zones

1.2.3.a Zones are the game board of Altered. They are sets of cards or objects.

1.2.3.b There are ten kind of zones (Adventure, Deck, Discard pile, Expedition zone, Hand, Hero zone, Landmark zone, Limbo, Mana zone, Reserve)

1.2.3.c Three zones are shared: Adventure, Expedition zone, Limbo. There is only one of each in a game of Altered.

1.2.3.d The seven other zones are private. Each player has their own Deck, Discard pile, Hand, Hero zone, Landmark zone, Mana zone, and Reserve.

1.2.3.e Seven zones are visible: Adventure, Discard pile, Expedition zone, Hero zone, Landmark zone, Limbo and Reserve. They contain objects; players can know the number and characteristics of all objects in these zones at all times.

1.2.3.f Three zones are hidden: Deck, Hand, and Mana zone. They contain cards; players can know the number of cards in each of these zones at all times.

1.2.4 Abilities

1.2.4.a Each line in the textbox of an object is a separate ability.

1.2.4.b Some abilitys are represented by keywords. Several keywords, representing different abilitys, may appear the same line.

1.2.4.c There are four types of abilitys:

• Quick actions are written "Cost: Effect". Players may play any number of quick actions in their turn before playing a card or passing.
• Reactions are written "Trigger - Effect" or "Effect after trigger". When an event matches the trigger, the Effect resolves.
• Passive abilitys are written as statements. Passive abilitys may modify rules, events, or the characteristics of objects.
• Effects are written as changes to the game state. When an effect resolves, these changes are applied.

• Support abilitys () only work in Reserve;
• Abilitys of Emblems only work in Limbo;
• Abilitys of an object that say that it can be played from a specific zone work in that zone.
• Abilitys of an object that change the way it may be played, including its cost, work in any zone from which that object can be played.

2.1 Objects

2.1.a Objects exist in every visible zone. Each object belongs to a single zone at any given time.

2.1.b Objects can be represented in different ways: Altered cards, tokens, Adventure cards, halves of Tumult cards, and emblems.

2.1.c Objects never change zones. When a cost or an effect "moves" an object, it moves the item representing that object, which becomes a new object with a new timestamp if it ends up in a visible zone. Effects relating to the old object do not apply to the new one (see Rule 2.1.e).

Example. Lithium has Haven, Bravos Bastion and plays Kuwat, the Dissenter from Reserve. This triggers the two reactions of Kuwat, its native " Sacrifice a Character" and the one granted by Haven " I gain 1 boost". If Lithium decide to play the reaction first and to sacrifice Kuwat, then the reaction will not boost Kuwat in the Discard pile as it is not the same object as Kuwat in the Expedition zone which triggered the reaction.

2.1.d If a token would leave the Expedition zone, it ceases to exist immediately after joining its new zone. This is an additive event-modifying rule.

2.1.e If an ability refers to a card or an object moving from any zone to a visible zone (as part of a cost, a trigger, or an effect), that ability can find the new object in its destination zone. This is an exception to Rule 2.1.c .

++Example. Moonlight Jellyfish has the reaction "When I'm sacrificed, if I'm not Fleeting — Put me in Reserve".

• If Moonlight Jellyfish is sacrificed, its reaction triggers and is able to find it in the Discard pile even though it is a different object than the one whose reaction just triggered.++

Example. Coppélia has the reaction "When I go to Reserve from your Handl You may play me for free and I gain Asleep" . Coppélia in Reserve, Coppélia in Limbo, and Coppélia in the Expedition zone are three different objects, but the effect of Coppélia's reaction in Reserve can act on the two other Coppélias as it is that effect that moved the card from Reserve to Limbo and to the Expedition zone.

2.2.1 Type

2.2.1.a A type is one of the following: Character, Emblem, Hero, Permanent, Region, Spell.

2.2.1.b Each object has a single type.

2.2.1.c The type of a card is written on the type line, just below the name of the card. It is the first word of the type line, before the dash.

2.2.1.d The type of a token is Character.

Remark. The tokens printed by Equinox have the word "Token" in their type line. This is for clarity and has no rules implications.

2.2.1.e The type of an object represented by an Adventure card or half a Tumult card is Region.

2.2.1.f The type of an object represented by a face-down card in the Mana zone is Mana Orb.

2.2.1.g The type of an emblem is Emblem.

Remark. The type Emblem does not appear on cards. It is reserved for temporary objects in Limbo created by reactions or effects whose impact on the game lasts longer than their own resolution.

2.2.1.h When a cost or an effect refers to "a [type]", it refers to an object in play with the appropriate type, unless it specifies a specific zone.

Example. Banishing Gate has the effect "Discard target Character or Permanent". When that Spell is played, its controller must choose a Character or Permanent in play. They cannot choose a Character or Permanent from another zone, such as the Reserve.

2.2.1.i When a cost or an effect checks whether a specific card or object is "a [type]", it checks whether that card or that object has the appropriate type, regardless of its location.

Example. Ada Lovelace has the reaction " You may put a card from your hand in Reserve. If it's a Permanent, draw a card". If a player choses to put a Permanent card in Reserve during the resolution of this reaction, they draw a card.

2.2.2 Subtypes

2.2.2.a Characters, Spells, Permanents, Regions, and Emblems may have sub-types.

2.2.2.b Heroes have no sub-types.

2.2.2.c An object may have any number of sub-types.

2.2.2.d The list of character sub-types is: Adventurer, Animal, Apprentice, Artist, Bureaucrat, Citizen, Companion, Deity, Dragon, Druid, Elemental, Engineer, Fairy, Leviathan, Mage, Messenger, Noble, Plant, Robot, Soldier, Scholar, Spirit, Titan, Trainer.

2.2.2.e The list of permanent sub-types is: Landmark.

2.2.2.f The list of region sub-types is: Forest (), Mountain (), Water ().

2.2.2.g The list of spell sub-types is: Boon, Conjuration, Disruption, Maneuver, Song.

2.2.2.h The list of emblem sub-types is: Reaction, Ongoing.

2.2.2.i The sub-types of a card are written on the type line, just below the name of the card. They are to the right of the dash; if there is more than one sub-type, they are separated by commas.

2.2.2.j The sub-types of a token are defined by the effect that creates it. They are written after the statistics of the token, separated by commas.

Example. Foundry Armorer has the reaction " Create a Brassbug 2/2/2 Robot token in target Expedition". The sub-type of the token created when this reaction resolves is "Robot".

2.2.2.k The sub-types of the hero region, companion region, and the arena are Forest (), Mountain (), and Water ().

Remark. Regions represented by face-down Tumult cards have no sub-types.

2.2.2.l The sub-types of regions represented face-up Tumult cards are described by symbols on the side of the regions.

2.2.2.m The sub-type of an emblem created as a reaction triggers is Reaction. The sub-type of an emblem created by an effect that lasts longer than its own resolution is Ongoing.

Example. Aloe Vera has the reaction "At Noonl Resupply". As the Noon phase begins, Aloe Vera's controller creates an Emblem-Reaction in Limbo with the text "Resupply". When that Reaction is played, its effect resolves, then it ceases to exist.

Example. Celebration Day has the effect "Expeditions can´t move forward this Day". When that effect resolves, an Emblem-Ongoing is created in Limbo with the passive ability "Expeditions can't move forward" and the duration "this Day".

2.2.2.n When a cost or an effect refers to "a sub-type", it refers to an object in play with the appropriate sub-type.

Example. Three Little Pigs has the reaction " If you control two or more Landmarks, I gain 1 boost". When that Reaction resolves, it only counts the Landmarks in the Landmark zone, not those in Reserve or in the Discard pile.

2.2.2.o When a cost or an effect checks whether a specific card or object is "a [sub-type]", it checks whether that card or that object has the appropriate sub-type, regardless of its location.

2.2.2.p Some effects have objects gain or lose types. These effects actually mean gaining or losing sub-types.

Example. The Kraken has the ability "All regions are and lose their other types". When the Kraken is in play, regions keep the type Region and lose the and sub-types.

2.2.13 Duration

2.2.13.a A duration is either "this Turn", "this Afternoon", or "this Day".

2.2.13.b Only Ongoing Emblems have a duration.

2.2.13.c The duration of an Ongoing Emblem is defined by the event that created it.

Example. Twinkle Twinkle has the support ability ": The next card you play this turn costs less". When its effect resolves, its controller creates an Ongoing Emblem in Limbo with the passive ability "The next card you play costs less" and the duration "this turn". When the current turn ends, this Ongoing Emblem ceases to exist, whether its controller has played a card or not.

2.4.6 Fleeting

2.4.6.a When a Character is played from Reserve, it gains Fleeting as it enters Limbo.

2.4.6.b When a Fleeting Character in Limbo resolves, it gains Fleeting as it enters the Expedition zone.

2.4.6.c If a Fleeting Character would go to the Reserve from the Expedition zone, it goes to the Discard pile instead.

2.4.6.d When a Spell is played from Reserve, it gains Fleeting as it enters Limbo.

2.4.6.e Some spells have Fleeting as an ability. When such a spell is played from anywhere, it gains the status Fleeting as it enters Limbo.

2.4.6.f When a Fleeting Spell in Limbo is done resolving, it goes to the Discard pile instead of the Reserve.

2.5 Counters

2.5.a Objects may have counters on them.

2.5.b Counters have names.

2.5.c Counters with the same name on the same object are indistinguishable.

2.5.d Some Heroes start the game with counters. Such counters are on the Hero from the moment it is revealed and placed in the Hero zone.

2.5.e Some steps have an object "gain [X] [name] counters". After the resolution of such a step, that object has [X] more [name] counters than before.

2.5.f Some steps "remove [X] [name] counters". After the resolution of such a step, if that object had [X] or less [name] counters, it has now zero [name] counters; if it had more than [X] [name] counters, that object has now [X] less [name] counters than before.

2.5.g Some objects have quick actions whose costs include "spending [X] of their [name] counters". In order to pay such costs, the object in question must have at least [X] [name] counters. Once the cost is paid, it has [X] less [name] counters.

2.5.h Most counters have no intrinsic impact on the game.

2.5.i When an object leaves the Expedition zone or the Landmark zone, it loses all its counters.

2.5.j When an object leaves the Discard pile, the Reserve, or the Limbo, it keeps its counters.

3.1.1 Zone

3.1.1.a A zone is a set of objects or cards.

3.1.1.b Zones always exist, even if they are empty.

3.1.1.c There are ten kind of zones: Adventure, Deck, Discard pile, Expedition zone, Hand, Hero zone, Landmark zone, Limbo, Mana zone, and Reserve.

Remark. At the beginning of the game, all zones are empty, except from the Adventure, the Hero zones, and the Decks.

3.1.2 Shared or private

3.1.2.a Some zones are shared: there is only one instance of each shared zone in the game.

Remark. Expedition zone, Adventure and Limbo are shared zones.

3.1.2.b Some zones are private: each player has one instance of each private zone.

Remark. Deck, Hand, Hero zone, Landmark zone, Mana zone, Reserve and Discard pile are private zones.

3.1.2.c If a card or an object would go to a private zone that does not belong to its owner, it goes to the corresponding zone of its owner instead.

3.1.3 Visible or hidden

3.1.3.a Some zones are visible: they contain objects.

Remark. Adventure, Discard pile, Expedition zone, Hero zone, Landmark zone, Limbo, Reserve are visible zones.

3.1.3.b All players know the number and characteristics of objects in all visible zones.

3.1.3.c Some objects in visible zones are represented by face-down cards. These objects have no base characteristics.

3.1.3.d Some zones are hidden: they contain cards.

Remark. Deck, Hand, and Mana zone are hidden zones.

3.1.3.e All players know the number of cards in all hidden zones.

3.1.3.f Players cannot look at cards in hidden zones unless a rule, effect, or passive ability allows them to do so.

Remark. Costs and effects that use the characteristics of a card in a hidden zone reveal that card beforehand.

4.2 Day structure

4.2.a A day contains five phases: Morning, Noon, Afternoon, Dusk, and Night.

4.2.b At the beginning of each phase, Reactions are checked.

Remark. Only reactions that trigger "at [that phase]" should exist in Limbo at that moment.

4.2.c During Morning, Dusk, and Night, some daily effects resolve.

4.2.d After each daily effect, Reactions are checked.

Remark. After a daily effect, both reactions that triggered during this effect and reactions that trigger "after [that daily effect]" exist in Limbo. They can be played in any order, as described in Section 4.4.

4.2.e Once there are no more Reactions in Limbo, the next daily effect is resolved; if there are no more daily effects in this phase, the next phase starts.

4.2.f During Afternoon, the players take turns in succession, until all players have passed.

4.4 Checking reactions

4.4.a At several points during the day, players are instructed to "check reactions":
1. at the beginning of each phase;
2. after each step;
3. after a player plays a card, a quick action, or passes.
4. after a player plays a Reaction.

Remark. Reactions are not checked after an internal action is played. Reactions created by an internal action will only be played after the end of the effect containing that internal action.

4.4.b When that happens, if there is an Emblem-Reaction in Limbo, the first player in initiative order who controls a reaction in Limbo chooses one of them and plays it.

4.4.c Once that Reaction has been played, Reactions are checked again.

Remark. If more than one player has Reactions to play in Limbo, the player with initiative plays all their Reaction before the next players play their own. If new Reactions are created during this process, they may be chosen by their controller just like already existing Reactions.

5.1.1 Timing

5.1.1.a At certain times during the day, players have the possibility to "play" cards, quick actions, internal actions, or reactions.

5.1.1.b During their turn, a player may play a card or a quick action.

5.1.1.c When a player resolves an effect containing a internal action, they can play that internal action.

5.1.1.d When Reactions are checked, the first player in initiative order who owns a Reaction in Limbo must play a Reaction.

5.2.1 Playing a Character

5.2.1.a During the declaration of intent, the player must choose in which of their Expedition they play their Character card.

5.2.1.b When a Character card is moved to Limbo, if it was played from Reserve, it gains Fleeting .

5.2.1.c During the resolution of a Character card, the Character enters the chosen Expedition. If it had Fleeting in Limbo, it gains Fleeting .

5.2.3 Playing a Spell card

5.2.3.a Depending on its effect, playing a Spell card may require choices during the declaration of intent.

5.2.3.b Some effects have targets. During the declaration of intent, a suitable object, zone, or player must be chosen for each target in the effect. Each object, zone, or player may only be chosen once for each occurrence of the word "target" in the effect. If there are several occurrences of the word "target" in the effect, the same object, zone, or player may be chosen for more than one occurrence.

5.2.3.c Some Spells are modal: their effect contain the words "Choose one" followed by several lines starting with •. This choice is made during the declaration of intent.

5.2.3.d When choosing targets for a modal Spell, consider only the chosen mode.

5.2.3.e Some Spells have optional steps: they contain a sentence of the form "You may do [step]". The choice is made during resolution. If the step has a target, that target must be chosen during the declaration of the Spell, even if player does not intend to do that optional step.

5.2.3.f Some Spells have conditional steps: they contain a sentence of the form "If [condition] do [step]" or "Do [step] unless [condition]". The condition is evaluated during resolution. In particular, if the step has a target, that target must be chosen during the declaration of the Spell, even if the condition is not currently met.

5.2.3.g Some Spells have internal actions: they contain a sentence of the form "You may pay [cost] to do [effect]". The internal action is played during the resolution of the Spell. If the internal action's effect has a target, that target is not chosen until the Spell resolves. Note that internal actions are always optional.

5.2.3.h When a Spell card is moved to Limbo, if it was played from Reserve, it gains Fleeting .

5.2.3.i Some Spells have Fleeting as a passive ability in their text box. When such a Spell is played from anywhere, it gains the status Fleeting .

5.2.3.j When a non-Fleeting Spell's resolution is done, that Spell moves to Reserve. When a Fleeting Spell's resolution is done, that Spell moves to the Discard pile.

6.3 Reactions

6.3.a Some abilitys are Reactions. They are written "Triggerl Effect".

6.3.b Reactions are additive modifiers which apply to events matching their trigger and add the atomic action "Create an Emblem-Reaction in Limbo with the effect of that reaction".

6.3.c A Reaction that modified an event has been "activated" by that event.

6.3.d A reaction has to exist before the event that triggers it, except if it is a reaction of an object that triggers specifically on that object entering a visible zone.

Example. Régis plays Mind Apotheosis and puts Asmodeus in play while resolving Mind Apotheosis' effect. The reaction of Asmodeus triggers, even though it did not exist before the event that triggered it.

6.3.e A reaction does not need to exist after the event that triggers it.

Example. Bob plays Mana Reaping on Alice's Armored Jammer. As Mana Reaping resolves, Armored Jammer's reaction "When I leave your Landmark zone - Sabotage" triggers, even though it does not exist anymore after the event.

6.3.f A given Reaction cannot be activated more than 100 times in a single day. If a Reaction would be activated a 101st time, the event that would activate it stays unmodified.

7.3.2 After you

7.3.2.a "After you" means "End the turn once there are no Reactions in Limbo".

7.3.2.b "After you" is not passing.

Example. [ Alice] have the support ability ": After You". If a player plays this action, the next player in initiative order gets the initiative as soon as there are no reactions in Limbo. Alice's owner has not passed, and they will be able to play actions and cards in this afternoon.