Possible Bug?

[janaka42]

Either I don't understand the rules correctly or I think I have encountered a bug?

I played two Fedaykin Death Commando cards in the same round. They have Fremen Bond (which gives me 3 strength each). As I understand the rules playing two Fremen cards in the same round I should receive the Fremen bond benefit, for a total of 6 additional strength (to add to the strength I already have committed to the conflict from deploying troops)- but I received none at all.

Is it me or should I have received the Fremen bond benefits?

[Atlas]

Fremen bond implies you have an alliance with the Fremen. Meaning at least rep 4 and no one has surpassed you.

This would be more clear if instead they called it an alliance with the Fremen.

*Edit: I'm mistaken, I now believe Fremen Bond just means that you are leading on the Fremen reputation track.

[spike2071]

You can have zero influence and be dead last with the Fremen and still get the bond bonus if you have multiple Fremen cards in play.

My understanding is that if you played both cards during the round, you won't get any of the bond bonuses. Those bonuses are listed as part of the Reveal turn. If you had played one card during the agent turn and Revealed another, you would have received 3 strength/swords. If you had Revealed both cards, you would have received 6 strength.

Hopefully that makes sense. I might be wrong, but that's how I play them and I don't recall missing any strength.

[janaka42]

Thanks for the replies.

Under Icon Guide and Additional Terms, the actual rules state this:

Fremen Bond — You may use this effect if you have one or more
other Fremen cards in play. Two cards with Fremen Bond can
activate one another, regardless of order played. (See In Play.)

In Play — Cards you play on Agent turns and reveal during your
Reveal turn remain face up and “in play” until you clean up at the
end of your Reveal turn (unless they are trashed first)

The In Play rule implies it doesn't matter whether you play them or reveal them to gain the Fremen Bond benefits.

So by playing two copies of Fedaykin Death Commando I should indeed have received the Fremen Bond benefits of both. I wonder if there is a bug involved here around the fact that the two cards I played are the same? Because I'm pretty sure I've received Fremen Bond benefits in other games where I've played Fremen Bond cards - but this is the first instance of playing two copies of the same titled card.

[spike2071]

You're not the first to have this question, and the wording can be confusing.

Check out this quote from this post[boardgamegeek.com] from the creator of the board game:

A card that you played in an earlier agent turn will never have its reveal box activate during the reveal turn.

...

You play Fedaykin Death Commando on your first agent turn this round, trashing another card.
You reveal Arrakis Liaison during your reveal turn.
Result: No Fremen Bond abilities activate because you didn’t reveal any cards with Fremen Bond in their reveal boxes.

[janaka42]

Hi Spike,

I was just coming back to post that I suddenly realised my error. I was thinking I'd get the Fremen Bond benefits because I've triggered them by playing the cards - but you're right they are reveal abilities. I should have kept them in my hand and revealed them to gain the benefits.

You even wrote it clear enough in your first post above - and I still wasn't registering it right.

Thanks for posting. At least I know I'm not going mad now.

[spike2071]

Hah, you're welcome. :)