does it say the markers have to be placed one at a time? It appears that Terman8er's argument holds merit. I know we have always played it that they always had to be connected but I don't see where it says you have to place the first one, then the second, then the third, etc. It simply says you can place four and that each one must be adjacent to another.

Go back a few posts...normalview quotes the new Songbird's power, which sort of lays out the process.

:edit: Post #35

...
PUNCH THROUGH!: Songbird can use Barrier. Each time Songbird places a blocking terrain marker and before she places her next, remove all blocking terrain markers placed by other characters adjacent to the marker she just placed.
...

so a new figures special power is being used to "sort of" clarify a regular power that has been around for 6 or 7 years. That's kind of weak. I am not saying that that's not how it is supposed to work, and that's how it has always been played, I am just saying that the way the power reads it seems as if Terman8er's makes sense.

And I'm not disagreeing with you. There used to be an entry in the FAQ that clarified that all the barrier tokens had to be placed in a single group of 4. They tried to fix it with the language so that an errata wasn't necessary but Terman8er's point is a good one, despite how shaky Harpua thinks it is. The primary reference resource for how a power works should be on the PAC, not on a character's character card on her special power.

I get it and if someone asked at my venue if they could do what Terman8er proposed, or claimed that Barrier couldn't be used because the first square to be lain doesn't meet the conditions set by the power, I'd enforce the "don't be a dink" rule. As it is, it does need tweaking so that how it works is spelled out in the description accurately.

Exactly. I think a simple addition of "All barrier tokens placed after the first must be adjacent to each other" would clear things up.

I think this is a case where anyone who has played any length of time, especially if they've been exposed to any significant level of events (such as regionals or conventions) or spent time on the rules forums etc knows that Barrier is placed one block at a time with the first in LOF and with each new block contacting at least one previously laid block. When UniqueLoginNamor says "The PAC Say each marker has to be adjacent to another marker. People believe that this means all four have to be together", he's right: we believe that because it's been clarified to mean that, we've been taught that way, and it's been ruled that way by the RA, for so long that it's intriniscally understood.

Read cold, with no context provided by experience, the conclusion UniqueLoginNamor came to is not unreasonable and from the text alone can't be decisively refuted. All we can say is "no, that's not how it works." Which is undeniably true. But the why isn't so clear, except that Design clarified it that way eons ago.

Continuing on what necrodog said...

I think saying "clear things up" is a stretch.

It was perfectly clear to everyone. What was not clear was the interpretation that you could split the Barrier.

Here's a little axiom.

IF YOU NEED TO REFER TO SOMETHING AS A SECRET WAY TO USE SOMETHING, THEN WHATEVER IT IS IS CLEARLY A LOOPHOLE.

Agreed. i never said it was fair. Fun discussing it. Peace

Agreed. So in this case, "clear things up" = "close the loophole".

Yes just like the loophole on Clown Prince could be closed witha simple errata. But I've caused enough havok for one thread.

So which "loophole" is this?

Are you saying that the insert of "he breaks away automatically" applies beyond where it is inserted? (It doesn't, hence why it is an insert.)

Are you saying that Jokerfish stay on the board after the power has been countered? (They are removed, too, because of the ruling where ongoing effects like that and Doppleganger also cease when that happens.)

his "He's Escaped Again" trait need to have "this trait can't be ignored" an 11 click figure and CP both on their last click get Quaked. first guy clicks one and because he has KO doesn't click the second one but is defeated instead. CP clicks one and shows the Arkham symbol. Because this is not a KO he according to the rules would not be ko'd and continue on with taking the second click (bringing him to the start of the next dial) This does not happen because his trait specifically says otherwise, that as soon as it shows take him away and give out his token. Now same scenerio except with Pulse Wave. Everything is good and well except Pulse Wave now ignores traits (thanks a lot Ben Grimm) A 2 damage pulse wave would knock him passed his Arkham click as though it were just another click of life and Wa'la! A full dial again without loosing a token.

Also, that trait says if he knocks himself on it from pushing the token goes to the last opponent to damage him. That means if i ko my own CP with EE or by a critical miss, or special power, I get the token.

That can't possibly be right. But if it is, I'm using him in every game from now on.
However, I do think that common sense says that when you get to a click without any combat values, you stop turning the dial, even it has the little Arkham symbol instead of a KO.

Only if you are your own opponent...Sorry, dude, you should have quit while you were ahead...This one is just silly.

Actually,the precise wording is "the last player to damage him gets the
Arkham Asylum token." according to the card and the player's guide. His paraphrase hurt his point a lot more than it helped it.