VtES Rules: "Enkil Cog" Q&A

Lately a number of questions came up regarding Enkil Cog, so here’s a short “Questions and Answers” summary for the card. Most of the information is taken from the Usenet newsgroup “rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad“:

Q: Does the vampire has to be untapped to use “Enkil Cog” to take an action?
A: Yes. By default a vampire needs to be untapped to take an action. Exceptions are those (action) cards that say otherwise like “Force of Will” or “Movement of the Slow Body“.

Q: Can I use “Freak Drive” (or any other means to untap the vampire with “Enkil Cog“) to take multiple actions in another player’s turn.
A: No, that vampire can’t, as you need to tap “Enkil Cog” for attempting to take an action. Since “Enkil Cog” is already tapped, after you played “Freak Drive” the vampire is not able to take another action. On the other hand, if you find a way to untap “Enkil Cog“, e.g. via “House of Sorrows“, you can use “Enkil Cog” a second time in this or another player’s turn.

Q: After a vampire with an “Enkil Cog” has attemped an action in another player’s turn, and the action card played that vampire is canceled (via “Direct Intervention“), and the vampir still attempt an action (even if “Enkil Cog” is already tapped?
A: Yes, the vampire can still take an action (with or without using an action card). Although “Enkil Cog” is already tapped, the vampire hasn’t yet attempted an action, because the canceled action card isn’t an attempted action. Alternatively, you may also decide not take an action with that vampire, “Enkil Cog” is still tapped though.

Q: What is the order of action when a vampire I control wants to take an action in another player’s turn?
A: The answer to this question does not only apply to “Enkil Cog“, but also to “Madness Network“. In general the acting player can act as normal in his minion phase. As he declines to take further actions, the second player (controlling the vampire with the “Enkil Cog” can take an action, and after resolving that action, the first player is free act again. This repeated after all players have declined to act. An example turn could look like this:

• Player A whose minion phase it is.
• Player B has a vampire with “Enkil Cog“.
• The opportunity to play an effect or pass: impulse.

• A’s Minion Phase:
• A has the impulse.
• A has minion S take an action.
• …
• Action resolves.

 

• A has the impulse.
• A has minion T take an action.
• …
• Action resolves.

 

 

• (repeat until A passes the opportunity to declare the next action).

 

 

• B has the impulse.
• B has minion X take an action.
• …
• Action resolves.
• Between-action (e.g. “Heidelberg Castle”)

 

 

• A has the impulse.
• …
• And so on until “all pass”, ending A’s minion phase.