Alvaro “Mordakai” sent a series of questions about Vile Fumes to the Rules Committee e-mail address, so for this post we’ll use a different format, alternating questions and answers.
For reference, here is the text of the card:
Q: If I "discard" (as the card says) Vile Fumes in a (B) or (S) to turn it into (R) and change its automatic attack, the "discarded" card will stay with the site card until that particular copy of the site is discarded or returned to the location deck (so it's not really "discarded", I suppose). That's all well and good, but: do I still receive the 1MP while my Vile Fumes card is with the card site? I'd say yes, and the card is still on the table, but you never know.Technology. Playable at a tapped or untapped Shadow-hold, Dark-hold, or a site with a Dwarf automatic-attack. Discard during the site phase at a Border-hold or Shadow-hold to make all versions of the site Ruins & Lairs . Its normal automatic-attacks are replaced with: Gas—each character faces 1 strike with 7 prowess (cannot be canceled). Keep Vile Fumes with the site until the site is discarded or returned to its location deck.
A: After a reasonable amount of deliberation and research on the topic, this committee has decided to rule that Vile Fumes has a special mechanic that allows it to be discarded but then kept with the site as a reminder of its effect as long as the site is in play. However, it HAS been discarded, which means that it’s not technically “in play” for the purposes of MPs. As a side note, this also means that you can’t retrieve it with Weigh all Things to a Nicety (or any other effect that retrieves cards from the discard pile), because even though it has been discarded, it’s not technically in the discard pile.
Q: Vile Fumes "discarded" on Minion-Non-Balrog Moria: I suppose Balrog Moria turns into (R) and keeps its canceling ability (addressed on CoE Rulings Digest #118)
A: Yes, CoE Rulings Digest #118 Q5 is correct. Vile Fumes specifically affects all versions of the site, so it would affect the Balrog version even if it was discarded at the minion version. Further, the attack-canceling ability of the Balrog version of Moria is an effect of the card itself and not dependent on the site type, so even if the site type changes, any attacks against your company will still be canceled.
Q: Vile Fumes "discarded" on Minion-Non-Balrog The Under-gates: the same situation as above.
A: Yes, for the same reason as Moria.
Q: Vile Fumes "discarded" on The Worthy Hills after Hold Rebuilt and Repaired was played on it: What happens? As far as I know, a permanent event played on something is permanently targeting it, so... do I change (S) Worthy Hills to (R) Worthy Hills but Hold Built and Repaired is not discarded, because the site is still (R)? Do I discard Hold Rebuilt and Repaired? Other outcome?
A: Hold Rebuilt and Repaired constantly targets the site upon which it is played, but its active conditions are only checked for legality when it is played in the first place. This means that if the site type changes later in the game, Hold Rebuilt and Repaired will not be discarded.
Concerning the specific interaction between Hold Rebuilt and Repaired and Vile Fumes applied on the same site: both cards resolve once and only once, meaning that the outcome will depend on the order that they resolve. Here, we have two possible scenarios:
Scenario A: A company enters The Worthy Hills and plays Hold Rebuilt and Repaired, which turns the site into a Shadow-hold and causes the Men automatic-attack to become detainment (i.e. regardless of whether the company is covert). Later in the game, Vile Fumes is discarded at The Worthy Hills, which causes it to turn back into a Ruins & Lairs and replaces the Men automatic-attack with the Gas automatic-attack (which is not detainment).
Scenario B: A company enters Sarn Goriwing and discards Vile Fumes, which turns the site into a Ruins & Lairs and replaces the normal Orc automatic-attack with the Gas automatic-attack. Later in the game, Hold Rebuilt and Repaired is played at Sarn Goriwing, which turns it back into a Shadow-hold and causes the Gas automatic-attack to become detainment.
Q: Similar situation but with Hidden Haven played by a FW. What happens? Is the Hidden Haven discarded? Or would you like me to achieve nothing, as Hidden Haven will still target a (R) site? Other outcome?
A: Again, the active conditions to play a card are only checked when the card is initially declared and resolved, not later while it is already in play, so Hidden Haven doesn’t get discarded in this case.
Q: This one I think I have it right, but just to check: Mischief in a Mean Way would be discarded if I "discard" my Vile Fumes on it, as the target will no longer be valid, right?
A: No, this would be the same case as Hidden Haven: the active condition of the site being a Border-hold is only checked when MiaMW is initially played.
Thanks a lot for your time and effort.
You are welcome!