Can I activate Boris, and then respond by adding a "return to hand" effect to Boris and still get the card. I know in the Magic rules his was definitely possible, but the Vs. System rulebook is either unclear, or not deep enough for me to understand some things.

Thanks in advance anyone willing to take a crack at this question.

While there is a possibility that you might be able to do this, i'd have to at this point say no. Boris is being exchanged for the Plot Twist in the Deck, if you are unable to put Boris in the Deck, you cannot search for a Plot Twist.

I see it as a 1 for 1 trade, if you don not have one or the other, the effect cannot be completed at all.

`{nova}

But Boris doesn't say that him going back into the deck s a nessesity for getting the plot twist, it's merely a second effect of the ability. If an ability has two parts, it does not require both parts to resolve without problems. I.E. a card might say something like "Gain three endurance, then any players with a Doom character lose 3" If Nobody has any Doom, then the second part would just do nothing, but you would still get the three.

It seems right so far like, Exhaust Boris, Effect goes on Chain, Play a return spell, now First In Last Out, Resolve return twist, get plot twist from deck, Boris's Return to deck ability fizzles.

Does anyone else have any opinions on this??

Interesting concept, and on its face, you may be on to something. Question though, what card would you use to return Boris to your hand?

There's Reign Of Terror which requires Doom, or the other one which you can only do to your characters.

EDIT: Swift Escape

The chain if possible would look something like this:

CL 1: Boris (exhaust, search for Plot Twist)
CL 2: Swift Escape (Target -> Boris)

resolving...

CL 2: Swift Escape (Boris returned to Hand)
CL 1: Boris (Plot Twist put in Hand)

It might very well be possible.

`{nova}

Here is the text for those who aren't familiar with Boris:

Activate -> Search your deck for a plot twist card. Reveal that card and put it into your hand. Shuffle Boris into your deck. Use this power only if you control Dr. Doom.

To me, it depends if 'Shuffle Boris into your deck.' is a cost. It doesn't follow the usual cost structure where it would be:

Activate, shuffle Boris into your hand -> Search...

But, if it is a cost, then from my conversations, costs can not be interrupted so Boris goes back to the deck.

However, I feel they did structure the ability this way so it can be pre-empted this way so you could use Reign of Terror which is Doom-centric like Boris.

Using a Magic-esque mentality (which so far seems relatively compatible with this system), it would stand to reason that you could bounce Boris back to your hand after chaining his ability, assuming "shuffle Boris into your deck" is not a part of the cost to tutor for a plot twist. Since it comes after the arrow, it doesn't seem like a cost, but rather a part of the effect itself.

It's a nice little trick ... might be errata-worthy later on.

yes, the card may really need to read:

Activate, shuffle Boris into your deck -> Search your deck for a plot twist card. Reveal that card and put it into your hand. Use this power only if you control Dr. Doom.

My belief and understanding is that if Boris activates his ability, when the ability resolves you do whatever parts of his ability you can and don't do the parts you can't. So, if you can chain an effect to Boris to get him back into your hand, I don't believe you'd have to shuffle him back into your deck since he's not on the field. I could be wrong, but until the Comprehensive Rules Document comes out, that's my guess.

I think you would still have to put him in your deck. Cause I recall a question that if boris was attack could you active him and in turn save him. The answer was yes, if you active him you have to put him in your deck.


Is there some way to get an offical ruling?>

In that case Boris would still be in play, so of course you'd have to put him back in your deck. If he left play before his ability resolves, there is no way he's gonna be forced to go to your deck.

After re-reading this thread, I do think that Boris can be bounced back if you have the PT to do it. Because it is after the '->', it is not a cost.

Boris becomes a target of his own effect, if something removes him from play, that portion of the effect just "fizzles" (hehe... nova).

But say some trys to attack and you return them to there owners hand the attack does not go throw. in the rule book it states that if anything is removed for combat that it is treated as if it never was in that attack. Same with this! if Boris is returned to your hand then his ability is never actived so in turn never happens.