A couple of random things came up this week.

[dahcmai]

Ok, I had a couple of good ones come up.


1st. Probably simple enough, but I can't find this one for the life of me and I tend to need the relevant section to prove anything around here.

Casting 2 Elesh Norns. Do the critters get -4/-4 for a short second while the state based effects are checked for the Legend rule?

I had to go with "No" off the top of my head since I couldn't remember that one for the life of me. Plus, I think I would have abused the shit out of that somewhere before if you could.



2. Counterbalance is out. Bonfire of the Damned is miracled off the top for 4 mana into X.

So what's the casting cost while it's on the stack for counterbalance purposes? I get that it's been cast using an alternate casting cost, but X is normally how much mana you put into the spell while it's on the stack. I have to assume it's 0 in this case since you technically didn't pay that cost in the upper right hand corner. It just seemed weird countering a spell for 1 when 5 was paid.



3. Next up is using Karn's ultimate to reset the game. How does this affect the actual clock? Is extra time given or are you forced into hurrying it up. I heard something about getting a reset on your clock also. I really hope that's not actually a rule.


4. And one last one, though I think I found this one.

If you cast Time Warp during the " 5 extra turns" after time has been called, you really do take up another one for yourself? That just seems mean.

[Koby]

1st.
Casting 2 Elesh Norns. Do the critters get -4/-4 for a short second while the state based effects are checked for the Legend rule?


Both Elesh Norns would be on the battlefield briefly before State Based Actions check for duplicate Legends and bin both. Creatures the appropriate player controls get hit by both Elesh Norn's continuous effect.



2. Counterbalance is out. Bonfire of the Damned is miracled off the top for 4 mana into X.

So what's the casting cost while it's on the stack for counterbalance purposes? I get that it's been cast using an alternate casting cost, but X is normally how much mana you put into the spell while it's on the stack. I have to assume it's 0 in this case since you technically didn't pay that cost in the upper right hand corner. It just seemed weird countering a spell for 1 when 5 was paid.


Bonfire has an alternative casting method, however it doesn't change the spell's mana cost on the stack (XXR). Bonfire via Miracle for X=3 would be :r::3::3: or 7 mana converted. You would need to reveal a card with converted mana cost 7 to counter Bonfire via Miracle for 3.



3. Next up is using Karn's ultimate to reset the game. How does this affect the actual clock? Is extra time given or are you forced into hurrying it up. I heard something about getting a reset on your clock also. I really hope that's not actually a rule.

The entire match needs to be completed in 50 minutes (or 40 or 45 depending on TO, set at the beginning of the tournament). The only exception provided is when a judge ruling takes a significant amount of time, and a time extension is provided by the Judge. Examples where a 4th or 5th game is started, or Karn "resets" the game do not qualify for time extensions.



4.
If you cast Time Warp during the " 5 extra turns" after time has been called, you really do take up another one for yourself? That just seems mean.

The 5 extra turns are not tied to any particular player. Player A can take 4 out of those 5 turns with cards like Time Warp.

[cdr]

Good answers by Koby.

As a further clarification to (1), SBAs are checked simultaneously - creatures with 0 or less toughness are checked at the same time as multiple legends with the same name, etc - and then all SBAs found are resolved all at once. [704.3]

[Malchar]

For #2 remember that all instances of "X" on the card will be the same value.

[cdr]

For #2 remember that all instances of "X" on the card will be the same value.

I think his confusion was with paying an alternate cost that includes X.

X is not what you paid for the spell, as dahcmai assumed, but rather the value chosen for X. If you're paying an alternate cost that includes X, you had to choose a value for X and thus the X in the mana cost of the spell (what's printed on the card) is defined.