Ok, to get the ball rolling... (long post alert)
Starting with the 3 short-events, ACM, WHCtK and TRT. Currently with the exception of Old Road, short-events without phase restrictions can be played at any time during one’s turn, presuming the card is able to be played in accordance with its own text. ACM and WHCtK do not have phase restrictions on the card, whereas TRT clearly mandates that the RW followers have to be played during the org phase. Does not stating a phase mean that basic character rules stipulating the org phase can be superseded by a short-event (or any other card for that matter). Well, rulings by ICE and NetReps to date suggest this is the case, but for Old Road and faction playing outside of the site phase, an exception has been made.
First step would be to decide if the current rulings allowing ACM and WHCtK to be played outside of the org phase are not going to be under further scrutiny. If these cards continue to supersede the org phase requirement, then perhaps this has ramifications for the other ‘miscellaneous’ character playing cards and perhaps Old Road. (Can Old Road be played during any phase, but the faction still has to be played during site phase?)
Both ACM and WHCtK obviously supersede the basic rules’ site restrictions of haven or homesite. No discrepancies there. ACM is also clear about circumventing the playability restrictions as noted on Hobbits, so in this case ACM clearly trumps the Hobbit text. Nothing is mentioned about Fram Framson, but that was never going to happen because he was introduced in a later set. Can we assume it would have been ICE’s intention for these to supersede restrictions noted on characters? Strictly speaking simply from the card texts, there’s nothing to substantiate whether ACM and WHCtK innately supersede Fram’s restriction and whether WHCtK does the same for Hobbits. In fact the only reference I could find in the crf regarding cards superseding other cards was under the ‘Attack’ section of the entry for ‘Movement/Hazard Phase’:
crf wrote:There are three levels of cards which reassign strikes. Alatar is the top level, and overrides any other conflicting card which changes the assignment of strikes. Cards which say they "always" or "in all cases" change the assignment of strikes are the next level, and override any other conflicting effects except Alatar. Cards which say they change the assignment of strikes "regardless of..." certain factors are the third level, and are overridden by all other effects from conflicting cards. If two effects on the same level conflict, the resource overrides the hazard.
Underline mine.
Not ideal I know, since it’s only pertaining to strike assignment! I couldn’t find anything on how to deal with a situation where the effects of one resource are in direct conflict with another resource (e.g. Fram), a site (e.g. Carn Dum) or even a hazard (e.g. Mask Torn). To date, rulings have been in favour of ACM and WHCtK. (This is also fairly similar to Nature’s Revenge and the text on Wizardhavens which has been ruled both ways.)
Is there any reason why playability conditions on short-events should work any differently from similar text written on characters, allies or non-short events? Reading the text on Helm of Her Secrecy would imply there isn’t, since otherwise the playing of Eowyn with the company would have to wait to an available org phase (crazy). If there isn’t a good reason then should the same rules governing how ACM and WHCtK work also be applicable to the others? You may find that this small but crucial aspect ends up being the most defining point.
Just as an example, Khamul, The Witch-king, Uvatha, and Thrall of the Voice all clearly stipulate the org phase as a requirement on the card text. Meanwhile Black Horse, Strider, Open to the Summons, and Helm of Her Secrecy do not. Following the lead of ACM and WHCtK, not defining an org phase requirement should mean the effects can be applied in any phase as long as any other restrictions are met. If, however, not defining a phase still means the character playing rules have to be followed (as faction playing rules are for Old Road), then this would mean all being restricted to the org phase by default.
So,
This is an example of where everything is based on the current rules for ACM and WHCtK and, with the exception of the org phase restriction being superseded, the standard rules are only overridden where clearly stated on the card or by a mechanism of the card’s effect (this still conflicts with Old Road, and as you'll see several other CoE digest rulings!):
- Which rules are overridden by ACM: Homesite/haven, one per turn, org phase
Which rules are overridden by WHCtK: Homesite/haven, one per turn, org phase
Which rules are overridden by TRT: Homesite, one per turn
The following is on the assumption that no difference can be reasonably justified between short-events and other resources.
- Which rules are overridden by Khamul: One per turn
Which rules are overridden by The Witch-king: One per turn
Which rules are overridden by Uvatha: One per turn, homesite/haven?
Which rules are overridden by Strider: Homesite/haven (even being at a site), one per turn, org phase (strictly speaking it’s a replacement and could happen during the m/h phase)
Which rules are overridden by Black Horse: One per turn (as many as you have free BHs), org phase
Which rules are overridden by Helm of Her Secrecy: All it would seem (since playability is based on when an attack occurs)
Which rules are overridden by Thrall of the Voice: Mind restriction, agents (strictly speaking there's no reference to orcs/trolls. Orcs and trolls require Bad Company)
Which rules are overridden by Open to the Summons: One per turn, org phase, homesite
Which rules are overridden by Bad Company: Orcs/trolls
If the org phase restriction wasn’t as a matter of course being obviated for ACM and WHCtK, then many of these would naturally see much more standard playing conditions in line with standard rules. BH and OttS would then need org phase. Helm of Her Secrecy and Strider are both special cases. One is dependent on an attack and one is a replacement, although whether that in itself is enough to justify a different interpretation, I’m not sure. If a reasonable justification can be found as to why short-events should be any different then many of the above would also change, this time potentially including Strider and Helm of Her Secrecy.
NB: I believe these override one per turn, simply because you could play a character in the org phase as per normal rules, then apply the card’s effect (e.g. play ACM, use Khamul, play Uvatha, use BH). I believe Bad Company is required for orcs/trolls and that Thrall of the Voice on its own doesn’t circumvent this requirement. Strictly speaking the card’s text only obviates the inability to play agent characters.
- Which card texts are overridden by ACM: Hobbits
Which card texts are overridden by WHCtK: None
Which card texts are overridden by TRT: Card Dum
Which card texts are overridden by Khamul, Uvatha and The Witch-king: None
These are based on the assumption that cards don’t intrinsically have the ability to trump other cards. However, I could see a case for the playability restrictions being superseded by the above, just as long as whatever is ruled is consistent. Because ToTV just enables a character with a higher mind to be played instead of a normal character (up to 5 mind), I couldn’t see how it would override Mask Torn.
The crf already clarifies that Bad Company, Thrall of the Voice and Open to the Summons can’t override playing characters in the starting company which can’t be part of a starting company. This, for me, also backs up the belief that Thrall of the Voice on its own isn’t enough to be used to play an orc or troll. It needs Bad Company.
I’m aware that some of the above contradicts current CoE digests. That may well be unavoidable as you strive for a conclusion. I did try to stick within the confines of the crf. ACM was ruled about in an ICE digest, Old Road in a CoE digest. As they’re conflicting, one could and maybe should be overturned.