Playing Cards during the Free Council

[Wacho]

Free to Choose would definitely be playable since it would reduce the number of corruption points a character has. New Friendship and such would also be playable because these type of cards directly affect the corruption check. Twilight is not playable because it doesn't directly affect the corruption check or corruption point total. (It has nothing to do with it being a hazard or a resource)

As far as The Cock Crows, I'm not so sure you couldn't play it assuming of course you were removing a corruption cards. My first thought was the same as yours, Brian, but the rule specifically allows for cards to be played that prevent a character from being discarded. Since these cards are considered to directly affect the corruption check I think playing a card that directly removed a corruption card would be fall into the category of cards that reduce a character's corruption point total.

I think in general for a card to be considered playable under this criteria (reducing a character's corruption point total) it must target a source of corruption for the character and reduce or remove that source. So for example The Cock Crows targeting Lure of Nature would be playable, however targeting Scorba at Home (which gives each major item an additional corruption point) would not be allowed, since Scorba at Home is not a direct source of corruption.

[Konrad Klar]

And nowhere is written that cards that reduces Corruption Points Total must target Corruption Points Total (AFAIK such card does not exist*), or specifically mention corruption.

*) Similarly cards that modify prowess are never "playable on prowess".

[Bandobras Took]

Only resources that directly affect corruption checks may be played during the Free Council. This includes cards that reduce a character's corruption point total or prevent a character from being discarded.

Twilight is not playable because it is not a resource card per METW rules.

Cock Crows is playable on a corruption because it is a resource that will reduce a corruption point total per CRF rules. However, unless Gates of Morning was already in play, it wouldn't work. Gates of Morning would have to reduce a corruption point total itself to be played.

[Konrad Klar]

[collateral]

Twilight is not playable because it is not a resource card per METW rules.

I would agree with your argumentation if text you are quoting would be:
"This includes resource cards that reduce a character's corruption point total or prevent a character from being discarded."

Can you play resource not playing card at the same time?
Each time you are playing resource, you are playing card. If you are playing Twilight as resource, you are playing resource and hazard card (at the same time).
[/collateral]

[Bandobras Took]

Hazard cards may not be played.

I'm quoting two different rules because there are two different issues being discussed. This is the rule that prevents Twilight from being played. The other is the rule that enables Cock Crows.

[Sauron]

Only resources that directly affect corruption checks may be played during the Free Council. This includes cards that reduce a character's corruption point total or prevent a character from being discarded.

Twilight is not playable because it is not a resource card per METW rules.

Cock Crows is playable on a corruption because it is a resource that will reduce a corruption point total per CRF rules. However, unless Gates of Morning was already in play, it wouldn't work. Gates of Morning would have to reduce a corruption point total itself to be played.

Again no. Cock Crows does not remove corruption. It removes a a hazard perm event. The side effect being lowering corruption. In your scenario I would be able to MTs Itangast at home, Scorba at home, balance of things, etc because they would in the end reduce corruption. You are not applying the word DIRECTLY. Cock Crows does not DIRECTLY remove corruption. It's a side effect of remove the Hazard Perm event.

[Bandobras Took]

I'm reading the inclusion as cards that may be played.

I believe you're reading it the other way -- that the inclusion refers to having to directly affect things.

In other words, "This" is unclear.

I believe that my reading is correct because preventing a character from being discarded never directly affects a corruption check itself -- it can only affect the normal result of a failed check.

So I believe reducing a character's corruption point total or preventing them from being discarded are included in the list of cards that may be played during the Free Council and have nothing to do with the first phrase, which only refers to directly affecting corruption checks.

[Konrad Klar]

It removes a a hazard perm event. The side effect being lowering corruption.

By the same logic even Free To Choose should not be allowed. If removing one of source corruption does not reduce character's corruption point total, lowering number of CP that source of corruption gives is not better in any way. Free To Choose only reduce CPs that one of items gives and lowering character's corruption point total is side effect.
I agree with argumentation of Bandobras Took here.

[Sauron]

It removes a a hazard perm event. The side effect being lowering corruption.

By the same logic even Free To Choose should not be allowed. If removing one of source corruption does not reduce character's corruption point total, lowering number of CP that source of corruption gives is not better in any way. Free To Choose only reduce CPs that one of items gives and lowering character's corruption point total is side effect.
I agree with argumentation of Bandobras Took here.

No it's not the same logic.

Free to choose directly effects corruption. It lowers the corruption points.

Cock Crows removes a hazard perm event, passively reducing corruption.

[Bandobras Took]

On the other hand, Free to Choose does not directly affect the corruption check (i.e. the roll) itself. It only affects the number against which you compare the corruption check.

Corruption Check: A dice roll a character makes if called for.

[Konrad Klar]

No it's not the same logic.

Free to choose directly effects corruption. It lowers the corruption points.

Cock Crows removes a hazard perm event, passively reducing corruption.

However still neither Free to Choose or The Cock Crows refer to the character's corruption points total (CCPT).
Free to Choose reduces CP of item that is only fraction of CCPT.
The Cock Crows removes such fraction completely.

[Sauron]

Playable on an item that normally gives 3 corruption points or more. Target item gives 2 fewer corruption points (3 fewer if Gates of Morning is in play). Discard after its bearer makes a corruption check. Cannot be duplicated on a given item. Frodo...free to choose... He took the Ring off his finger.-LotRII

Only resources that directly affect corruption checks may be played during the Free Council. This includes cards that reduce a character's corruption point total or prevent a character from being discarded.

Free to Choose is a resource that directly effects the character's corruption point total. By lowering corruption points directly

Cock Crows is a resource that directly removes a hazard perm event. Indirectly the corruption point total lowers.

I don't see what isn't clear here.

[Bandobras Took]

An item's corruption point total does not equal a character's corruption point total. Therefore, lowering an item's total corruption points does not directly lower a character's corruption point total. It only indirectly lowers it if the character happens to bear the item in question. I think that's the point Konrad is making, but you might want to double-check with him.

[Konrad Klar]

Therefore, lowering an item's total corruption points does not directly lower a character's corruption point total. It only indirectly lowers it if the character happens to bear the item in question.

Yes.
And removing the permanent-event lowers a character's corruption point total if the permanent-event is corruption card on that charcter.
Unlike prowess or body, a character's corruption point total is not character's attribute. It always comes from external sources. And unlike prowess or body, there is no card that modify that value in other way that adding its own CP or removing (reducing CP of) character's sources of corruption.
Card that directly reduces CCPT would be counterpart of Free To Choose - playable on character and reducing its CP total. Such card does not exist AFAIK.

But why it must be "directly"? As Bandobras Took noticed word "directly" occurs in that part:
"Only resources that directly affect corruption checks may be played during the Free Council."
That part:
"This includes cards that reduce a character's corruption point total or prevent a character from being discarded."
does not contain it.

P.S.

A player may play resource cards that can affect his characters’ corruption
checks made prior to the Free Council. Hazard cards may not be played.

Underlines mine, cursive original.

Unless it is inprecisely written (i.e "cards" is needlesly used) Tookish Blood may not be played. It may be played as resource but it still remains hazard card. Which other resources that prevent a character from being discarded are playable at Council?

[Bandobras Took]

Theoretically, elf-song. But that's another can of worms.

There is also the effect of Magical Harp.