Versatile and Take this Action Again Triggers

[Gwise]

So, simply put this came up while trying to figure out if actions generated from abilities are able to generate more actions via triggers or the like, specifically in the case of The Frenzy's ability.

The Versatile ability on so many Asset cards specifies that you can use the actions on the card Once per Activation, however, in the case of the Alpha Crawler's Multi-limbed Asset card, the Clawed Hands action has the "Reckless Assault" trigger, which is to discard a reinforcement token to take the action again. The Versatile ability effectively makes this trigger impossible to put into effect, as you can only take the action Once per Activation.

There are no rules for triggers that let them ignore the "Once per" wording on page 22.

More Examples are the Massive Furnace Asset for the Dreadnought, and the Gatling Machine Gun Asset for the King's Hand.

I assume it wasn't intended to give actions impossible triggers, so I would suggest that the errata that will eventually come out changes the Versatile ability's first line to "Actions on this card may only be taken once during a unit's activation, unless generated by triggers." or some such wording as this would still leave the action's triggers effected by the "Additional Actions" box on page 23.

Unless I'm missing something... am I missing something?

[DocSchlock]

While the intent for the triggers to take the additional Actions is clear, you're right. There's no exception for "Once Per" actions generating from Triggers.

Hopefully that'll get cleared up in the first wave of errata.

[Flib Jib]

I wonder if this was future proofing for additional assets?

[Flib Jib]

It’s interesting that the TOS rules don’t have the Malifaux rule clause, “ if two rule sets conflict, the more specific rule set supercells”

So is it a lack of specificity? There are many excamples of units breaking specific rules.  Like with the Electricutionrs have the, “Technophiles: Fireteams in this unit do not need to discard a card to use Actions on Prototype Assets.” Which gets around the, “This Action may only be taken by discarding a card.”

On 11/8/2018 at 12:56 PM, Gwise said:

"Actions on this card may only be taken once during a unit's activation, unless generated by triggers." 

This might be an elligant way to fix this problem as a catch-all but it might preserve the original intention if individual units had specific rule breaker text like electricutionists.

[solkan]

It is a problem of lack of specificity in the trigger.  Because having the more specific rule win, in the absence of veto-proof rules, is pretty much how this sort of rule system has to be written.  You have a rule, and then another rule carves out an exception (or an elaboration) to it.  It’s nicer when the rulebook says that’s what it’s doing, but it’s demonstrable after the fact without that.

This feels like the Warmachine Mk2 Assault rules problem—a rule designed to get into a situation where it can’t be used due to a rule it didn’t explicitly address.  That generated the expected amount of shouting.  😕