Untying the Knot Zone

Today I complete the English translation of the Devacurse core set rules by explaining the Knot Zone.  Unlike the other zones in Devacurse, this zone isn’t a physical space on the table, but rather a mental space for resolving Event card and Skill / Ability-based flashes and reactions.  Sounds confusing?  It’s actually dead simple.  For experienced CCG / TCG players, the Knot Zone will be second nature.  For new ones, it’s as easy as counting backwards.  

In Devacurse, basic set-up and combat generally proceed according to “order”, with a clear linear sequence between which player goes first, and which goes second.  But when players start using Skills, Abilities, or Events to influence the outcome of combat, things start to become more complicated.  The Knot Zone is all about resolving such interactions in a straightforward manner.  The basic rule is very simple:  The last card played is resolved first, and so on proceeding backwards until all cards are accounted for and the outcome is determined.  This is called the “Knot Zone” because, like a series of knots tied in a rope, the last knot has to be untangled first, and so on in reverse order before the rope can be completely untangled.

Let’s consider this example from the Devacurse website.  Player 1 plays the Event card Chatugungo, summoning a fiery Vampire bat to attack Player 2’s Soldier unit, Vane, a human Taminn archer.

     

Chatugungo deals 2 points of damage to its target, and Vane has a weak defense of 1.  Since 1 is less than 2, Chatugungo should destroy Vane and send her to her owner’s Cenotaph.

However, Player 2 now plays his own Event card, Niyateti:

Niyateti grants a target soldier +1 AT / and +2 DF.  With Niyateti, Player 2 can raise Vane’s DF from 1 to 3.  Since Vane’s new DF of 3 > than Chatugungo’s attack of 2, Vane would now survive.

So, which event is resolved first?  Chatugungo (meaning Vane would die) or Niyateti (meaning Vane would live?)

Niyateti.  Remember, the basic rule of the Knot Zone is that the last effect played is resolved first, and so on in reverse order.  Therefore Player 2’s defensive spell protects Vane BEFORE Chatugungo’s attack hits her, and she survives this time.  

Easy, yes?

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