This knowledge file contains explorations of various types of Effects in Rule Masters.
It will first describe considerations for an effect, followed by multiple examples of Objections and rulings. 
The rulings are broken into Sections where all the examples in the section are related to a specific mechanic.
When making rulings do NOT refer to examples here, just use them in your decision.
The players don't get to see this document so won't know what you're talking about.

Section 0. Built-in Effects

Summary: There are a collection of predefined and built-in actions with established costs that players can take.
These are always valid, and should be allowed.

Objection: My opponent just activated their Old Man Thyme to move it from the Castle to the Beach.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just placed 1 runestone on their Dire Wallaby at the beginning of combat to power it up for that fight without paying the out-of-turn fee.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just payed a runestone to let them invoke a card during my turn.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just payed a runestone to let them invoke a card during my turn.
Objection Overruled.

Section 1. Card Draw:

Summary:

Card Draw is a very powerful effect in Rule Masters, due to the fact that players can Invoke as many times as they have cards.
This means that positive Card Draw can easily get out of control, especially if players chain together multiple effects.
Card Draw effects should be limited, and expensive.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Credit Card to draw 3 cards.
Objection Upheld

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked A Treasure Chest to draw 2 cards.
Objection Overruled

Objection: My opponent just Invoked Office to draw 2 cards.
Objection upheld

Objection: My opponent just Invoked Treasure Map to draw 1 card.
Objection overruled

Objection: My opponent just activated Factory to draw 1 card.
Objection upheld

Objection: My opponent just activated Factory and paid 2 runestones to draw 1 card.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just activated Ominous Shovel to Draw a Card, then discard a card.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Charity to make us both draw 3 cards.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Bestowal to make me draw 5 cards.
Objection upheld.

Objection: My opponent just Fueled Factory with 1 Runestone to draw 1 card.
Objection upheld.


Section 2. Card Destruction:

Summary:
Destroying cards directly is a relatively powerful effect, especially if the target of destruction is a Unit, as these are the barrier protecting an Avatar from destruction.
Destroy a single card at a time is a reasonable effect, but effects that destroy multiple targets at once should be met with extreme caution.
This is because a surprise destruction of multiple cards at once could quickly rob an Avatar of defenses and leave it open to a potentially lethal attack. 
Card destruction shouldn't be allowed with runestones alone either, unless it's a serious amount of runestones, and instead should usually be paired with activation, card sacrifice, or something else.
Be extra careful about allowing Runestone only payments for Destruction on Fuel effects.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Fireball to destroy my Rap Scallion
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Arcane bolt, and activated Cheese Wizard to destroy all my units!
Objection upheld.

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Calamity to destroy all my item cards!
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just Invoked Vine Vow to destroy my Fat Dragon in the castle.
Objection upheld.

Objection: My opponent just Invoked Pocket Dimmension to suck up all the Units in play, destroying them all.
Objection upheld.

Objection: My opponent just Activated Cat Knight to destroy my exhausted Fat Dragon.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just activated Seagull Hit Squad to destroy my Gorilla Warlord.
Objection upheld.

Objection: My opponent just Fueled Shark Boxer with 1 runestone to use its combat capabilities to destroy my Seagull Hitsquad.
Objection upheld.

Objection: My opponent just activated awakened garden gnomes and spent 2 runestones to use their engineering capabilities to destroy my clockwork komodo.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just spent 2 runestones to Fuel Fat Dragon to use its Fire Breathing capabilities to destroy my Dino Samurai
Objection upheld.


Section 3. Forced Exhaustion

Summary:
Forced exhaustion of cards is just an average strength effect.
This is because in response to being targeted with forced exhaustion, units can Activate to mitigate the impact of the effect.

Examples

Objection: My opponent just claimed that Penguin Police as an entry effect can Fuel with 1 runestone to arrest my Clockwork Komodo, forcing it to Exhaust.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just claimed that they could Activate their Canine Cleric equipped with Spear of Just Ice to freeze my Old Man Thyme, exhausting him and causing him to skip his next ready step.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just claimed that they could Invoke Bog to exhaust all my units.
Objection upheld.


Section 4. Movement

Summary: Movement is a strategically useful ability, but not as impactful as many other effects.
This is because location is highly context dependent. Sometimes it doesn't do much, other times it makes a huge difference.
Generally movement should be allowed if there is a thematic or intuitive fit. 
Additionally, all units have the ability to Activate to move to a different Location or Zone under their player's control.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just invoked Dire Wallaby to carry their Dino Samurai in its pouch to the Castle.
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just Ultra Invoked Zephyr to Move all my units in the Castle to the Battlefield
Objection overruled.

Objection: My opponent just Invoked Renegade Ghost Cart to move their Avatar from the archipelago to the castle in response to being attacked, thus dodging the attack.
Objection overruled.


Section 5. Damage

Summary: Effects which cause damage to units must follow the guidelines for damage values listed in the core rules.
Since the amount of damage a unit has matters, you should be strict about the values of damage you allow effects to create.
Since damage is permanent, Invoke effects can cause more damage than Activation effects for the same cost.
Healing should follow similar guidelines for amounts.
1 damage is the standard amount of damage for effects.
2 damage leans higher.
3 damage is a powerful effect.
>3 damage is exceptional.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just invoked Fireball to deal 5 damage to my Mole Rat.
Objection Upheld.

Objection: My opponent just activated Ninja Stars to deal 1 Damage to my Seagull Hit Squad
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just activated Really Big Gun to deal 2 damage to my Fat Dragon
Objection Upheld.

Objection: My opponent just invoked Wrath to deal 2 damage to my Welding Wolf
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just invoked Calamity to deal 1 damage to all Units in play
Objection Overruled

Section 6. Other Counters

Summary: Effects which create named counters should follow similar guidlines to Damage, in terms of how many counters should be allowed to be put on cards and where. 
Temporary counters are cheaper effects to make. 
Additionally, assess the approximate impact level of the counter based on its name when ruling.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just activated Cheese Wizard to put "distracted by cheese" counters on all my units until end of turn.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just activated Elder Kobold Smellomancer to put "poison" counters on all my units.
Objection Upheld.

Objection: My opponent just invoked Fat Dragon to put "Burn" counters on all my units.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just invoked Might to put 1 strength counter on the enchanted unit.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just invoked Holy Light to put 1 blessed counter on all their units.
Objection Upheld.


Section 7. Fast Binding

Summary: Effects which allow you to Bind cards when it is not your turn are quite powerful, because they can take your opponent by surprise.
Because of this, Fast Binding should be restricted to cards that have specific thematic ideas related to speed, surprise, trickery etc. Either or Both of the cards in question should have this thematic tie.
If there is a time limit applied to the card being Bound, this can also make this effect more reasonable.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just spent a runestone to Special Bind Fat Dragon during my turn.
Objection Upheld.

Objection: My opponent just activated Factory to Special Bind a vehicle card to play Renegade Ghost Cart during my turn.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just spent a runestone to Special Bind Toast Surfer during my turn, provided Toast Surfer returns to their hand at the end of turn.
Objection Overruled.


Section 8. Special Binding

Summary: Effects which allow you to Special Bind cards are quite strong due to them letting you get past the standard 1 Bind per turn limit.
This means Special Binding should only be allowed when there is a good theme fit. 
Weaker seeming Item cards should be cheaper to Special Bind.
Fast Special Binding is an extra powerful effect, which should be restricted to reasonable cost, specific trigger, and great thematic fit.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just activated Beach to Special Bind a nautical card to Bind Shark Boxer.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just activated Beach to Special Bind Cheese Wizard.
Objection Upheld.

Objection: My opponent just paid a rune stone to Special Bind a Location to Bind Factory during my turn.
Objection Upheld.

Objection: My Opponent just invoked Assemble to Special Bind a machine card to Bind Robot Chef
Objection Overruled.

Section 9. Revealing Cards

Summary: Effects which reveal cards are not as powerful as they might be in other cards games.
This is due to the fact that cards can have a potentially unlimited number of uses, so knowing the 
specific cards doesn't provide that much actionable info.

Examples:

Objection: My opponent just invoked All-Seeing Eye to reveal all the cards in my hand.
Objection Overruled.

Objection: My opponent just activated tacticool goggles to look at the cards in my deck, then shuffle my deck afterwards.
Objection Overruled.

