It's not turn-based, but if you go first, you DO place your pieces first. The 2014 rules specifically state this. This is one major issue with the way her trait is worded, and why it's creating so much confusion

For real.

Also, how were we supposed to gather that you actually physically swap characters from the power description? Whatever.

He still doesn't quite answer the problem though. "Both Copycats resolve before placing characters" So the player that won the map roll gets to resolve first? And if he takes the opposing Copycat? What then, does he get to Copycat again since he hasn't placed characters yet and he now has a friendly Copycat?

Yeah, the physical swapping of the figures is implied (also in the other ability where it refers to the figure that Copycat "exchanged" with), but it shouldn't be implied. It should be explicit.

It honestly sucks, how confusing this piece is. It's a very big idea, with too little design-time applied to it, it seems. Reading her trait as-is still conflicts with rules, in my opinion. But that's the biggest issue, it's in my opinion due to the massive amount of assumptions I have to make. Even if I agreed, I would still be piling implications to reach a point (like the fact that it takes place when revealing your force which is only technically before your place pieces).

You do realize that the rules people aren't connected with this website right? What happens if they never post here again, which I wouldn't blame them if they did? Where do you expect to find answers?

I've been beating this drum for awhile....

I would actually prefer if the rules team was not primarily located on this site and the Facebook group. I would very much so prefer that Wizkids/NECA have their own website with a rules Forum for people to go to and ask their questions and for the only official responses to come from that forum by the Arbiter and his Deputies.

Trying to use Email is a faulty method from the start. It is too easily manipulated by those who are less tech savvy than I am, and I can barely turn on a PC.

I personally would never trust a "ruling" that someone tried to show me on a printed or digital copy of an email. They are way to easy to manipulate if someone wished to do so.

Sending an e-mail is creating so much work, especially when 10 people more then likely have the same question. Why send 10 e-mails out with the same thing when you can post once for everyone to read. I wouldn't trust someone else's e-mail either. I have had a judge say to me, I don't care what other people post about rulings, till it's in Orange I'm not going by that. As we all know judges at venues aren't always right (no offense) there's a lot of rules. This whole e-mail thing seems like leaving rulings in the judges hands more and less of an actual Orange ruling.

Everyone is free to email the rules team at [email protected]. If a person does not believe the ruling from an email they claim is from us, they can send an email to us themselves or have the Judge of the event email us.

We get repeat questions all the time. None of us mind answering the emails, so people should not let that be a concern. Please send us as many emails as you like, but be aware that we only will respond to emails with actual rules questions.

Thank you very much.

That's fine that you don't mind answering them, Chris. But it would make a world of difference if the Final Word could be expanded. Or a system like MTG's Oracle/Gatherer could be set up. If someone could look at the pieces in a set before release and proactively answer and post answers before the questions are even asked.

I'm happy that you can answer as many questions as you guys get, but that doesn't help at 7pm in the middle of a tournament when you can do a search on here and get an Orange answer. I'm also sure replies aren't right away when I would e-mail you after 7pm.

Stupid question perhaps, but does Copycat's trait do anything if she's placed in the starting area at a later point in the game, say as a reinforcement character when playing with Yugioh rules for instance, and there are still characters in opposing starting areas?

No. Her trait is only activated at the start of the game before any characters are placed in the starting areas.

My wish was granted.... but how has it worked out....

You really should have left that damn Monkey's Paw well enough alone!