Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin · Board game rules
When does the "At the start of Encounter" effect trigger?
Quick answer
"At the start of Encounter" effects trigger during the setup phase of the Encounter, immediately after the Encounter card is drawn and before the first turn begins.
Details
Trigger Timing
Effects that specify "At the start of Encounter" resolve during the initial setup of the Encounter. This occurs after the Encounter card is revealed but before the first Activation or Turn begins. For both Combat and Diplomacy:
-
Setup Phase: After drawing the Encounter card and placing it in the play area, players check for Traits or effects that activate at the start.
- [p.24 — Starting Combat]
- [p.29 — Starting Diplomacy]
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Trait Resolution: If the Encounter has Traits (e.g., Entrapment in Combat or Greedy in Diplomacy), these effects are resolved immediately during setup.
- [p.26 — Combat Traits]
- [p.31 — Diplomacy Traits]
Examples:
- Entrapment (Combat): "At the start of the Encounter, each Party member discards 1 card from their hand or loses 1 Energy."
- Greedy (Diplomacy): "At the start of Diplomacy, pay 1 Wealth or gain 1 Insanity."
Watch out:
Ensure all "At the start of Encounter" effects are resolved before proceeding to the first Activation. Failing to do so may alter the Encounter’s progression or miss critical setup adjustments.