I'm building for a 2,000-point game this weekend and I'd like to foil Ziran as much as is feasible. As such, I have a few question I didn't see come up that I thought could use some clarification.

1) I assume that "the beginning of the game" means the beginning of Player 1's first turn? This is mainly because I'm wondering how it would interact with me choosing a herald. Example: I have four Unique characters I've paid for as part of my build. I choose Namor (with a Unique ring) as my Herald. If I'm right, because he is part of my force after forces are revealed but before the beginning of the first turn, my force satisfies test #8.

2) Again, I'm guessing the answer is "yes" but based on the definition of a Unique character now including the gold and bronze rings, old LEs would satisfy the Unique test, right?

3) For test #6, I assume "different" team abilities equates to functionally different, rather than simply a difference in team affiliation/symbol? For instance, Superman Ally and Avengers Initiative are different team symbols, but identical abilities. I know they're considered the same for wildcard purposes, but what about testing?

The beginning of the game is actually before player 1's first turn.

Yeah

They are different team abilities. I'm not sure what you mean by different for WC purposes. They aren't.

So do the tests evaluate before or after I choose my Herald? Is it done immediately after revealing teams? After the choice of who goes first is made? After all the setup but immediately before Player 1 begins his turn?

No, I was saying they're the same for WC purposes. For instance, a Mystic wildcard can't copy Arachnos because that would be copying an identical game effect. However, I was mainly making sure that if, for instance, I had both JSA and Defenders on my team both would count for test #6, and you seem to be saying they do.

The beginning of the game is right before player 1's first turn. Think about what has to happen before player 1 takes their first turn, and Zirans testing happens after all that, but right before the first turn.

That's my thought. I just wanted to make sure that's what Harpua meant. After all, I'm sort of building Team No Child Left Behind, assuming I'm going to at least see a Ziran in action at the tournament.

I love it.

Ugh minus DKP for mentioning No Child Left Behind. I'm so glad my state got rid of that dribble.