Are the "start of combat phase" and "attack step" different phases ?

If I have an apocalypse and the resource I KO, just happens to be a face down fast ball special, can he still use it before the effect resolves ? or is the "attack step" not here yet, because its still "start of combat phase" ?

Yes... if you said you used it at the start of Combat Phase before the controller of FastBall Special started their attack step.

The start of the Combat Phase is separate and distinct from an Attack Step.

So no, your opponent could not use the Fastball Special since it may only be played during its controller's attack step.

hmmmm... did they redefine this??

i thought the combat PHASE was a compilation of all the attack steps for the turn...

i think i know what you're trying to say, but the Combat Phase and the Attack Step are not two distinct seperate Phase in the game.

at this time i thought there were only.. what.. 4 phases to the game... Draw, Build, Combat, Recovery...

Each phase/step has a distinct "beginning of" step with the initiative player receiving priority. This is where cards like Political Pressure, Medical Attention, Micro-Sentinels kick in.

The beginning of the Combat Phase is indeed separate and distinct from all the Attack Steps it contains. This is not be construed as another phase.

This does mean, however, that even if you have initiative, your opponent can generate effects before each attack declaration as each Attack Step has a "beginning of Attack Step" step.

Draw and Recovery have only the one opening at the very start of the phase since all steps in either occur immediately without anyone getting priority.

And yes, this applies to the Build Phase as well with each step it contains and every action within those steps giving your opponent a chance to play something.

And I'm here to tell you: it gets mighty annoying getting a double pass on an empty chain at all these points.

But dem's da rules.

heck, we've been playing like this in Magic for years...

unless the opponent really wants to do something, the game still goes quite smooth... the rules noted are only in place to assist the judges in those 1 in 100 times that things DO occur that the judge needs some concrete resource (the comprehensive rules) to justify the ruling.

Well, even with or without a comprehensive rulebook, a judge never has to justify his ruling. The only "apeals" process in place is to appeal to the Head Judge, and the Head Judge's ruling is final. While I'm sure you can report a wrong decieson to UDE, it will have no bearing on the outcome. I'm sure UDE will have a procedure in place to remove a Judge that has a history of making wrong rulings.

While I would prefer to have a comprehensive rulebook in place, I think I will be able to do fine without if it is not released in time for the first PCQ.

ah, well, along that same line.... if a HJ doesn't know what he's doing, continually rules what he 'thinks' is correct, and has players hammering at him all day long, i don't think he'll be a HJ for a future event down the line...

what you say is correct... to a point. if the player comes up after the round, and questions the ruling further, the HJ should have something to fall back on if there is something to fall back on.

otherwise, the HJ better have the respect of the players before the event, and if he does make a bad ruling the players don't crucify him later... or not return to any events he is ruling over.

in the end, the players don't need to contact UDE (although it may expedite the replacement of a judge), their voices are well heard and get back to the boys in the office... trust me on this one...

Without a defined, comprehensive rulebook out right now, Head Judges simply have to make the calls that they see as right. There *isn't* anything to fall back on right now, so as long as everyone plays it the same, then that'll have to do for now.