Battlefields

Attacking a Battlefield represents a skirmish with opposing groups that are not individually notable enough to warrant a character’s notice. Afterall, a Garou can cut down a large number of Wyrm tainted humans with little to no difficulty. They are individually no threat. As a group however…

Attacking the Battlefield

• Battlefields can only be attacked as an Alpha action. They can be attacked from either side of the Gauntlet.
• To attack a Battlefield, your Alpha must match the requirements for the Attacker (including the maximum renown listed). He may bring along pack members, as long as the attackers' Renown is no more than the Maximum Attacker Renown listed. Where there is more than one attacker option that fits, you may choose which option to use.
• Once the attackers are declared, any Alpha who fits the Defender requirements may defend the Battlefield (Alphas accept or decline in the same order as Alpha actions). He may bring along pack members, as long as the defenders' Renown is no more than the Maximum Defender Renown listed. Where there is more than one defender option that fits, you may choose which option to use.
• If no Alpha defends for the Battlefield, it's own natural defenders defend for it. They have Rage, Gnosis and Health equal to the Battlefield's Renown. The other players choose one of themselves to be the Defending Player - the player who will play Combat Actions for the Battlefield.

Alpha Defence

• As soon as the Attacker and Defender are decided, both players draw Combat Cards equal to the numbers listed. Other abilities which allow you to draw extra cards work normally.
• Treat the combat as normal combat except:
  1. Attacking/Defending a Battlefield is a restricted form of pack action. You cannot use other abilities to bring more creatures into the pack action unless they specifically mention Battlefields (e.g. Reinforcements is fine, First Team #21 is not - although the latter would benefit from T.F.MacNeil's card drawing).
  2. Creatures attacking or defending a Battlefield are away from their pack, as if they were stepping in for a prey creature. However, they are together so it is possible to use cards like Taking the Death Blow on each other (but not on a pack member outside the combat).
• The Battlefield is not worth any Victory Points in this combat and remains in play afterwards regardless of the outcome.

Battlefield Defence

• Once the Defending Player is announced, the Attacker and Defending Player draw combat cards equal to the numbers listed. Other abilities which allow you to draw extra cards work normally.
• Points 1 and 2 above apply to the Attacker.
• The Battlefield has Rage, Gnosis and Health equal to its Renown. The Defending Player may reduce this by purchasing Keywords (see below). Keywords are purchased in the Declaration step.
• The Battlefield defenders are considered a Prey creature that only exists during Battlefield Defence. Destroying the Battlefield defenders (e.g. with Exorcism) does not destroy the Battlefield.
• Only the Defending Player may play Combat Actions for the Battlefield defenders. Other players may play Gifts for the defenders.
• If the Battlefield defenders die in combat, the Battlefield is placed in the Attacker's Victory Pile.
• Otherwise, at the end of combat remove all damage cards on the Battlefield and it remains in play. Other cards attached to the Battlefield defenders remain in play and are still considered attached to the Battlefield defenders when the Battlefield is next attacked.

Keywords

In Battlefield Defence, the Battlefield defenders can be given Keywords (enabling them to use Gifts and Combat Actions it would otherwise be unable to use or gain full benefit from). These Keywords represent the wide variety of defenders available.

• Automatic Keywords: The Battlefield defenders automatically get any Keywords listed on the Defender requirements. If Gaia or Wyrm is not listed they may also pick one of them for free.
• The Defending Player may also buy additional Keywords: each Keyword bought reduces the defenders' stats by 1.
• Some Keywords have built-in effects, eg. Garou or Monster will enable the Battlefield to play Crinos form Combat Actions, while Spirit will put it in both worlds. Other Keywords include: Black Fury, Ahroun, Bastet, Homid, Human, Kailindo, Firearm, Klaive.
• You cannot give Battlefield defenders the following Keywords: Fast Striking, Unique, Restricted, Constrained.
• Killing the Battlefield defenders counts as killing a creature with the Keywords given it, and bonuses for killing such creatures are added to the Battlefield Victory Points. Once in the Victory Pile a Battlefield loses its keywords (this does not reduce any bonuses already awarded).

Battlefields across the Gauntlet

Battlefields can be attacked from either side of the Gauntlet (unless otherwise indicated), but as soon as an attack is declared they move to the same side(s) of the Gauntlet as the attacker until the end of combat. They can only be defended from the same side of the Gauntlet, and in Battlefield Defence the defenders are assumed to start on that side of the Gauntlet (if the Battlefield is attacked by a Spirit, and the defenders are not given the Spirit Keyword, the player playing for the Battlefield chooses which side of the Gauntlet the combat starts on).

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Example 1:

Bob attacks the Battle of Screaming Mud. It’s a 10 Renown Battlefield defended by Black Spiral Dancers. Steve will be defending. Ed is not involved. After a consultation with Ed, Steve selects the Kailindo and Spirit Keyword.

The Battlefield now has 8 Rage, 8 Gnosis, and 8 Health and is a Wyrm, Black Spiral Dancer, Spirit, Kailindo Battlefield.

Bob looks worried.

Bob draws 4 combat cards. His characters act at 1/2 Rage and can’t withdraw. Steve draws 3 extra cards.

Example 2:

Bob attacks Den of Rorth, Son of Bast. It’s a Renown 5 Battlefield with split defenders. Steve will be playing again. Ed is sitting out again. Steve buys it the Kailindo Keyword, and Ed suggests, what the heck, lets give it the Firearm Keyword.

Bob is attacking with (Gaia) Garou, so only gets to draw 3 cards (if he’d been Wyrm, he would have got 4). The Battlefield is Rage 3, Gnosis 3, Health 3 and is a Bastet, Kailindo, Firearm Battlefield.

FAQ

Can I buy the Vampire Keyword for a Battlefield so I can play Ghouling?

You sure can, you sneaky bastard.

Is "Umbral" a Keyword? Can I immediately end combat that way?

No. If you'd like it to be Umbrariffic (to keep Umbral Escapers in the fight) buy the Spirit Keyword.

How about Undodgeable? Or Unblockable?

Also not Keywords.

The defender chose "Spirit" as a Keyword. Can I Exorcise it?

Yes, but as always it will not give you Victory Points. Gaia doesn't reward cheats.

Den of Rorth, Son of Bast lists "other" as a possible defender, but the defender text for "other" says only "Gaia" Alpha. Can I defend if I'm Wyrm? Do I get cards?

Assume it has errata saying that "other" draws 2, regardless of affliation

Den of Rorth, Son of Bast lists "Bastet" as a defender. Can I have my Hellcat defend despite the attacker being Wyrm?

Yes, you can get hot Wyrm-on-Wyrm action that way. Since you're defending as a Bastet rather than "other" you get 4 cards.

Can I buy multiple conflicting Keywords? Can my Battlefield be a Animal, Human, Garou, Fomori, Wyrm, Gaia Battlefield? What the heck form is it in then?

Yes, you may. Remember, the construction of a Battlefield represents a FORCE of creatures. If something requires you to be in Crinos and you also have things that put you in Homid, Animal AND Crinos, you may still use it. If the item requires you NOT to be X, then you can't use it. For example, something that says you can't be in Homid form can't be used if you bought the Human Keyword, even if you also bought something that puts you in Crinos.

If the Battlefield defenders have multiple Keywords, does this mean I'm fighting multiple creatures? Do I target them individually? Can I use Gang Beating?

No, despite multiple Keywords, when fighting a Battlefield defenders you are assumed to be only fighting ONE creature.

What happens if the Battlefield escapes combat with something like Run Like Hell?

It escapes combat. You get no points and it loses all its creature classes and Keywords. Remove all damage.