I had a player send me a link to the comment below concerning him playing a game with Ghost Rider and a couple Johnny Blazes.

He wanted to know if his GR was KO'd could he use that GR (He only owns one) as a replacement character for a Johnny Blaze should his special power trigger.

THE BLOOD OF INNOCENTS: When an opposing character within Johnny Blaze's line of fire KO's another friendly character, you may remove all action tokens from Johnny Blaze and replace him with ASM #046 Ghost Rider on its orange starting line.

I ruled that he could not due to the following (from the rule book):


The bold portion above is the relevant part.

So, I get a message directing me to normalview's post here:

So my question is if the rule book states that replacement characters must be identified when assembling your force how can an active figure be a replacement figure at the same time?

Or have I just missed something? <--- odds are in favor of this

The portion you highlighted in bold under Replacement Characters means that when you build your force you need to identify which characters will be the replacements. That way, when you bring 600 points worth of figures to a 300 point game, you should be able to tell your opponent which of the extra 300 points of figures you brought with you are the replacement characters and which ones are the ones that you begin the game with.

You are allowed to use your own KOed characters as replacement characters for things like Alter Ego.

So then, technically, if your opponent does not establish before the game begins, or on the army sheet if paperwork is used, that he/she will be using GR, when KO'd, as a replacement character he/she can't later on.

Right? (as pertaining to this particular situation)

The replacement characters need to be identified before the match begins. This does not mean that you couldn't start with a character that would also be a replacement character later.

Ghost Rider could begin the game on your force and still be used as a replacement character if he were KO'd.

Perhaps a line in the rules or PG that says that would be a good idea.

"Any figure can begin the game on your force and still be used as a replacement character if he were KO'd."

Because, IMO, that idea is not clear, currently, in any set of rules (that I am aware of).

I'll look into it.

The Intent as I know it is that characters that start the game on you Sideline need to be identified.

Characters that start the game on your Build Force and are then KO'd are now in your sideline and can be used accordingly. They do not need to be listed/identified under Sideline since they are have been under force. This is why characters can switch Back and Forth with Merge/Split and not listed in sideline.

Your Sideline total characters is only checked during force construction. After the game begins your total characters can go over the limit as characters are added. Again otherwise this would be a problem with Split/merge.

This, honestly, is what I was trying to say, but I went about it poorly. Thanks Id.

Long story short...a character that is KO'd can be used as a replacement and doesn't need to be listed on a build sheet. The part I got wrong was about needing to list it. Looks like that's not required.

THAT'S IT!! I've had it with all this wishy washy crud! I come in here expecting professionalism and all I get is this???

I've had it!

Would that work better if I actually stomped my feet and flailed about with closed fists?

Thanks guys for clearing this up, for me at least.

Your question is invalid as there is no such thing as a sideboard in Heroclix.

I'm sidebored with this thread now.

Your joke is invalid because it lacks humor.

Maybe if we merge our jokes, they'll be better?

OK...did that. Better?

Not really, you've put my words in his mouth.