Q: Hi! First I want to thank you and StarCityGames for doing the whole "Ask The Judge" thing and posting the questions and answers. Great Idea! Now there's something to read when the articles don't really interest me. (There are days when the articles don't INTEREST you? - A Horrified Ferrett, who is apparently not doing his job) Second, I have a question about "comes into play" abilities and an example scenario to run by you:

What is the difference between "As <this card> comes into play, do <this action>" and "When <this card> comes into play, do <this action>"?

Now, I know that comes into play abilities go on the stack and can be altered/stopped, but the wording difference suggests that "As" abilities would be more of an innate ability and "When" would be more of a stack ability... If I'm making sense.

Here's an example:
I play "Voice of all" ("As ~this~ comes into play, choose a color. ~this~ has protection from the chosen color.") and name Black. Does ~this~ getting protection from black go on the stack or does ~this~ have the ability when it enters play meaning my opponent can't respond with, say, a Snuff Out or something else black?

If there's an article you or someone else has already done that addresses this question, you can just point me to it if you want to. Thanks in advance!

- Paul

A: Paul,

Thanks for the great feedback. Hopefully, we'll produce more articles that interest you! (Yeah, I hope - The Ferrett)

The difference is that the "As this comes into play..." happens just as the creature is about to get into play, it can't be responded to, and it doesn't use the stack. The creature is already affected by whatever ability (like the Voice getting Protection). "When this card..." is a standard coming-into-play triggered ability. This ability uses the stack, and can be responded to.

So obviously, you made sense!
Sheldon

Q: I was wandering how Ghitu Fire is affected by familiars. Say I have four Thornscape Familiars and a Mountain in play (don't ask me how), and the Ghitu Fire in my hand --
Could I play it to deal four damage just for one red mana and declare X as four? Tap mountain, and presto?

Thanks for the help,
Israel

A: Israel,
You have it perfectly. You announce how you're going to play it, choosing the value of X, before costs are paid (409). Familiars help you pay the cost.
- Sheldon

Q: Hi, my name is Ian and a friend of mine have had this argument over Circles of Protection and color-changing effects like Distorting Lens. Here's the situation: We were playing in a tournament; he was with a Void deck and I was with U/W control. I had out a CoP: Red out with plenty of mana to use it, and he had out two Blazing Specters and two Distorting Lens. If he attacks with his Specters and I prevent the damage with the CoP:Red, he changes the color of them with Distorting Lens once the initial CoP is on the stack, and then I use the CoP again once the Distorting Lens is on the stack, what will happen?

Thanks,
- Ian

A: You choose the source when the CoP ability resolves (419.7c), but the damage must still be red when it's going to be dealt in order for the Circle to prevent it. There is no targeting restriction on the CoP (meaning the source doesn't have to be red when you activate the CoP: Red), but it will only be prevented if it's of the appropriate color. Unfortunately, you're going to end up discarding some cards.

Sheldon