A question about the Monster Challenge

[StormKnight]

Just ran into a question the other night, and wondered if anyone knew exactly how this is supposed to work.

Hypothetically speaking, lets say Toxicor stomps the 20th place and starts the monster challenge. None of the other monsters make it to a challenge site. However, before Toxicor's turn comes up again, the military attacks and takes Toxy down to 0 health.

Now, the rulebook says that in this case "the first monster to reach a challenge site becomes the challenger". The implication is that you would then keep taking turns normally until a monster reached a challenge site. But this brings up a few questions.

1) Could you do things OTHER than get to a challenge site in those extra turns? Maybe mutate some more, or do some more stomping?

2) If so, can you stomp in those turns even though you may be out of stomp markers?

3) Now for more wierdness. Let's say Toxicor starts the challenge. Going next, Kronk gets to a challenge site and becomes the new challenger. Then Megaclaw gets to a challenge site and is the challenger. Then, on Zeeorb's turn, Zeeorb does NOT reach a challenge site, but sends the military and knocks out Megaclaw.
Megaclaw was supposed to the challenger, so by the rules the "first monster to reach a challenge site" will be the new challenger. But Kronk is already on a challenge site. Does the challenge begin immediately since another monster is already there, or would the monster actually need to take a turn and end the turn on a challenge site to start the challenge? (Potentially letting Toxicor get to a challenge site or KO Kronk).?

Any thoughts or ideas on these?

[solarius]

Well, here are my answers:

1) Unlikely, seeing how the challenger gets a HUGE advantage, I'm sure everyone will be racing for the challenge sites. But, they do give you 3 extra stomp markers to continue stomping after the 20th, so I'd say you could keep going until you physically run out of Stomp markers.

2) No, see above ;)

3) This is in the rules. As soon as someone gets to a Challenge Site, the challenge starts right then, no one gets any more turns.

[StormKnight]

Solarius - thanks for the advice. We had been misplaying the Challenge sites apparently, since we missed that bit about ending on one starting the challenge right away. Whoops! That removes the multi-monster issue, which was the most complicated. In fact, that generally simplifies things.

You know, while I consider going first very helpful, I don't think going for the challenge site its a sure choice. We have never yet had the monster that is the first challenger actually win the game, and I had once when deciding to get a mutation card rather than go to the challenge site won the game for me, getting me a very powerful mutation.

[boylermaker]

1. I would say that if someone gets to the stomp site, you start the challenge, otherwise, as soon as Toxicor gets out of Hollywood the Challenge begins.

2. Sure, why not?

[DocD]

Suppose monster A hits monster B in the monster challenge in the first round of combat, and Monster B's health drop to 0. Does Monster B get to attack back at all or is that the end of combat and Monster A wins?

[boylermaker]

I think that B is done; he can't counterattack. Whether or not he could use "Berserk" then, though. . . . I must look into that.

[mk31bolo]

"The monsters keep fighting until one is knocked down to 0 health." This is from page 15. It would imply that the fight is over when monster B reached 0 health, so no chance to fight back for it.

Looking at all combat in this game, none of it is simutaneous. Monsters attack mil units and casualties are removed before getting an attack, so I see no reason why it would change for the monster challenge.

[Eramos]

Well, here are my answers:

1) Unlikely, seeing how the challenger gets a HUGE advantage, I'm sure everyone will be racing for the challenge sites. But, they do give you 3 extra stomp markers to continue stomping after the 20th, so I'd say you could keep going until you physically run out of Stomp markers.

2) No, see above ;)


Where did you see the rule that states the challenge starts on the 20th stomp. I have scowered my rules and can only find a statment saying that the challenge begins when the last stomp marker has been stomped. :confused:

[solarius]

At the setup part of the rules it tells you how many Stomp markers to have in regards to how many people are playing; 14 for 2, 17 for 3 and 20 for 4.