Sidisi, Undead Vizier and Torpor Orb
Asked by suneater 9 years ago
Is exploit a replacement effect like Clone? Does Torpor Orb prevent Exploit from triggering?
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #2
Reminder text is actually rules. It is specifically a rules summary for the keyword ability or ability word it applies to.
207.2a Reminder text is italicized text within parentheses that summarizes a rule that applies to that card.
As Boza said triggered abilities usually begin with at, when, or whenever. This is further reinforced by the specific rule that applies to Exploit.
702.109a Exploit is a triggered ability. Exploit means When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.
April 2, 2015 9:09 a.m.
Okay I figured that was the case. I was just hoping try to cheat around the orb. Thanks for the quick responses.
April 2, 2015 9:21 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
Reminder text is not rules text, but it's written in a way that conforms to the most important standards for rules text. If a block of reminder text is written out as a triggered ability (i.e. starts with "when/whenever/at") then whatever it's describing is a triggered ability.
April 2, 2015 9:23 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
"Reminder text" IS rules
"Reminder text" ISN'T "rules text"
"Rules text" is a specific thing that is interacted with within the game. Spectral Shift changes rules text and as such could change Elephant Grass to say "Blue creatures can't attack you". However it can not change Avatar of Woe's fear ability to be "This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or blue creatures". However that does not mean that the reminder text is not rules that apply to the game, because it is.
I would have had no issue if the original statement had been "reminder text is not rules text" because that is true. However "reminder text is not rules" is false.
April 2, 2015 10:21 a.m.
Well, if we have to be pedantic about it, summarized rules such as reminder text are not rules, but a summary version of it.
If I want a ruling on any card, I would not consult its reminder text, but rather the comprehensive rules. Reminder text is short summary generally put on the card to remind people of what newly introduced or more complex mechanics, which exploit certainly is. It is regularly seen on simple commons as well - like Akrasan Squire. IMO, it is entirely unneeded IMO, but that is another story.
April 2, 2015 10:51 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #7
Believe it or not, my intent was not to be pedantic. My intent was to clarify that reminder text is a summary version of the relevant rules. It can therefore be used to clarify many of the most common questions about how an ability works. I only made the pedantic distinction between rules and rules text once it was pointed out that reminder text isn't rules text.
April 2, 2015 11:15 a.m.
@Boza The point of reminder text like that is so people who are exposed to an ability for the first time don't have to go consult the comprehensive rules to know what it does. That's not "needed" per se, but it is certainly helpful and stops games from bogging down when new players need explanations of the abilities. It also makes the game much less intimidating to those new players, which lowers the barrier to entry, which is absolutely needed.
Boza says... #1
Even though reminder text does not equal rules, it will help here: When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature .
Triggered abilities are usually abilities that start with "At, When, Whenever". Orb prevents ETB triggered abilities, exactly like exploit.
April 2, 2015 2:54 a.m.