<p>I believe anyone can play Political Prowess before a location-based skill check, not just the current player. If not, the card doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Why would anyone activate a location and then use this card to fail the skill check? Even if the player were a Cylon, is there any location in the game which has a negative consequence for failing the check?</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-21T13:45:23.053Z
Offhand, the only skill check locations on the board are for 1) Vote in new president.  2) Brig target player.  3) Execute target player.  4) Escape the brig.  In each of these, the consequence for failure is "no effect".  So I can't imagine many situations where someone would activate a location with intent of triggering a failure;  it'd be better for you to just do something else (barring some meta-goal of forcing the other players to waste cards on a check, but Political Prowess would prevent that as well...)
GWLlosa
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-21T16:47:25.377Z
@GWLlosa Right, so the ability to force your own check to fail seems rather pointless. So either the intent was to allow it to work on anyone's skill check, or the author's were just being complete to account for future locations that might have a negative consequence. I'd go with the former.
Todd
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-22T15:50:47.800Z
Interesting point.  Maybe this does work on any location-based skill check, then.
lilserf
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-23T00:37:28.900Z
@GWLosa's logic is flawless.  On the other hand, the card is hardly weak if that ability *is* useless...
Tynam
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-20T23:12:40.197Z
2011-02-22T14:37:33.610Z
2011-02-22T14:37:33.610Z
Todd
<p>The core question here seems to be: does "make a skill check" refer only to yourself, or just refer to executing a skill check regardless of who triggered it?</p>

<p>My gut feeling is that this phrasing usually means you can only use this on skill checks YOU triggered at a location.  The person taking the action is "making the skill check".</p>

<p>For one thing, this card would be extremely powerful (for cases like the one you describe) if it could be used on anybody's skill check any time.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-20T14:46:57.890Z
The counterpoint to that is that since a skill check involves all players at the table, then each player can be said to be "making that skill check", thereby creating an opening for playing the card....
GWLlosa
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-20T20:44:35.187Z
That's definitely true... I'm like 60% confident in my interpretation but totally see where you're coming from.
lilserf
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-23T00:35:56.797Z
I can see both sides.  We've played it lilserf's way so far; seeing as it can definitely auto-force success at Brig, Admiral's or Airlock, it's hardly a weak card.
Tynam
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-23T05:09:30.863Z
True, the "or failure" could be purely for completeness' sake, with the power coming from the forced success.
lilserf
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-02-20T05:26:14.593Z
2011-02-20T05:26:14.593Z
lilserf
<p><strong>Political Prowess</strong> is not an <strong>Action</strong> card, what means that it can be used at any moment. You can use it in the Brig situation described in your question. Likely, you can use this card to:</p>

<ul>
<li>Brig someone automatically in the Admiral Quarters location.</li>
<li>Change the President title in the Administration location.</li>
</ul>

<p>This can be a powerful card if used at the right moment (for humans or unrevelead cylons). Not least, this card have strentgh 6.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-14T15:10:35.467Z
2015-10-14T15:10:35.467Z
Bruno Estrazulas
<p>In Battlestar Galactica, there is a card (Political Prowess) whose text reads thusly:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Play before making a skill check triggered by a location.  Do not make the skill check; instead, it automatically passes or fails (your choice).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Another player is in the Brig.  He wishes to escape, so he attempts to activate the location.   Can I use this card to force him to autofail the check and remain in captivity?</p>

<battlestar-galactica><exodus>
Political Prowess someone else's activation?
GWLlosa
# Political Prowess someone else's activation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-02-19)

In Battlestar Galactica, there is a card (Political Prowess) whose text reads thusly:

> Play before making a skill check triggered by a location. Do not make the skill check; instead, it automatically passes or fails (your choice).

Another player is in the Brig. He wishes to escape, so he attempts to activate the location. Can I use this card to force him to autofail the check and remain in captivity?

**Tags:** battlestar-galactica, exodus


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-02-20. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I believe anyone can play Political Prowess before a location-based skill check, not just the current player. If not, the card doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Why would anyone activate a location and then use this card to fail the skill check? Even if the player were a Cylon, is there any location in the game which has a negative consequence for failing the check?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Offhand, the only skill check locations on the board are for 1) Vote in new president.  2) Brig target player.  3) Execute target player.  4) Escape the brig.  In each of these, the consequence for failure is "no effect".  So I can't imagine many situations where someone would activate a location with intent of triggering a failure;  it'd be better for you to just do something else (barring some meta-goal of forcing the other players to waste cards on a check, but Political Prowess would prevent that as well...)  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Right, so the ability to force your own check to fail seems rather pointless. So either the intent was to allow it to work on anyone's skill check, or the author's were just being complete to account for future locations that might have a negative consequence. I'd go with the former.  
> **username_2**: Interesting point.  Maybe this does work on any location-based skill check, then.  
> **username_3**: @GWLosa's logic is flawless.  On the other hand, the card is hardly weak if that ability *is* useless...  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2011-02-20. Score: 3

The core question here seems to be: does "make a skill check" refer only to yourself, or just refer to executing a skill check regardless of who triggered it?

My gut feeling is that this phrasing usually means you can only use this on skill checks YOU triggered at a location. The person taking the action is "making the skill check".

For one thing, this card would be extremely powerful (for cases like the one you describe) if it could be used on anybody's skill check any time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The counterpoint to that is that since a skill check involves all players at the table, then each player can be said to be "making that skill check", thereby creating an opening for playing the card....  
> **username_2**: That's definitely true... I'm like 60% confident in my interpretation but totally see where you're coming from.  
> **username_3**: I can see both sides.  We've played it username_2's way so far; seeing as it can definitely auto-force success at Brig, Admiral's or Airlock, it's hardly a weak card.  
> **username_2**: True, the "or failure" could be purely for completeness' sake, with the power coming from the forced success.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-10-14. Score: 1

**Political Prowess** is not an **Action** card, what means that it can be used at any moment. You can use it in the Brig situation described in your question. Likely, you can use this card to:

* Brig someone automatically in the Admiral Quarters location.
* Change the President title in the Administration location.

This can be a powerful card if used at the right moment (for humans or unrevelead cylons). Not least, this card have strentgh 6.


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