Buried Expert Sleuth

[CiDevant]

If Papa Loco is buried with the Expert Sleuth upgrade, can I discard it for the initiative boost?

Edited September 10, 2015 by CiDevant

[solkan]

The argument for "You can't do that while buried" has to hinge on one of two factors:

• A requirement to be in play to do something.
• A requirement based on distance

According to the rules for being buried, that "in play" requirement is supposed to be explicit.

Because what Buried says is:

Some Actions will bury a model. When a model is buried it is removed from play (usually set on its stat card as a reminder). The model is not counted as killed or sacrificed when it is buried.

Buried models cannot Activate. In addition, buried models are never considered to be in LoS or within range of effects. These models do not count as "in play" for the purposes of other rules that reference whether or not a model is in play.

and Abilities are defined:

ABILITIES

Models have special Abilities that change how they interact with the rules, such as making the model difficult to damage, or giving it strange ways of moving. A model’s Abilities are considered to be active during an Encounter unless otherwise indicated in their description. All Abilities are capitalized.

 That buried model is still in the game, but it's in a zombie half-in-play state.

Otherwise, Expert Sleuth is the rule that "says what you can do":

This model gains the following Ability:

Small Favor: Before flipping for Initiative, this model may discard this Upgrade to add +2 to this Crew's Initiative flip. 

I remember Justin posting something about there being an implicit "in play" expectation on several things, but I also remember there being a "Justin's not supposed to be making that sort of statement outside the FAQ any more" follow up...

 

[Dirial]

As the model is not in play, I'd go with no. But it's an iffy one, and I couldn't find a solution on the fly. I'll think about it again.

[AoS]

I don't remember any rule which says that you can't, so... why not?

Buried models cannot use abilities which are resolved in the model's death, but I think that you can use the rest of your abilities.

[santaclaws01]

It don't remember any rule which says that you can't, so... why not?

Buried models cannot use abilities which are resolved in the model's death, but I think that you can use the rest of your abilities.

The rules usually say what you can do, not what you can't do.