When is a (0) ability used?

[Samsson]

When do miniatures actually pay AP for their abilities? Is it as soon as they declare an action or once they start resolving them?

When is a miniature's "once per activation" (0) ability considered used? Is it when I declare it or once I start resolving it? So is declaring a (0) action grounds enough for that miniature not to be able to try to active another (0) again?

Here is why I am asking. If the Brewmaster has started up his Drinking Contest and my miniature wants to do a (0) ability within that aura, but he fails the Wp test, he will take a (1) On the House instead. My miniature will not have to pay any AP for that, correct? But have I used up that miniature's chance to activate a (0) action? I took the On the House INSTEAD of my (0) action. The rule book says "A model may take only one of these "free" actions per activation." I never took it, but rather I took a (1) On the House instead.

Sorry for the nit-picking, but I come from a Magic the Gathering background where every rules is written as if for a computer to understand.

[lusciousmccabe]

Main rulebook page 37

Resolving actions

1. Declare action and Spend AP

2. Perform Duels

3. Resolve results

You spend your (0) AP at step 1, which you can only do once per turn. 

Edited December 6, 2015 by lusciousmccabe

[solkan]

Sorry for the nit-picking, but I come from a Magic the Gathering background where every rules is written as if for a computer to understand.

For perspective adjustment, see this blog post by one of Wyrd's designers about the language used in Malifaux 2nd edition:  http://justindrawingdead.com/?p=286

Read through the comments section of the blog post, as well, since there's a discussion about Magic style rules language.

Edited December 6, 2015 by solkan

[SleepingYeti]

What does Instead mean than? If you use it instead of the 0 action than the 0 action wasn't used? 

 

[SleepingYeti]

In this case it seems that you will loose your zero action and also 1ap. This will also apply if you want to flurry for 2ap and fail your wp test. You will only get 1ap worth of actions.  Not very clear but I'm sure people will argue it even with page 37 because of the use of the word Instead. 

[Bengt]

7 hours ago, SleepingYeti said:

In this case it seems that you will loose your zero action and also 1ap. This will also apply if you want to flurry for 2ap and fail your wp test. You will only get 1ap worth of actions.  Not very clear but I'm sure people will argue it even with page 37 because of the use of the word Instead. 

You don't lose 1 AP, only your (0) opportunity. So if you start your activation by trying to use a (0) and fail your Wp duel you'll still have 2 AP to try different stuff with.

[lusciousmccabe]

I think you're being confused by the (1) in on the house. It's not saying you have to spend one ap, that's just part of the action's name. You spend whatever ap is required for the action you declar but instead get on the house if you fail the duel.

[SleepingYeti]

Ok got it- So the only way you would loose an ap is if you tried to do flurry or something that cost 2ap and failed a wp check.