Tom Bombadil

[hrcho]

Let's say Rallying call is in play => threats cannot be removed by Free Peoples cards
If I as a Free Peoples player have 2 threats and no burdens, can I play Tom Bombadil?

Tom Bombadil is a Free Peoples card, so you're probably thinking why the #$&*@! am I even asking that question...

well... what confuses me is the fact that removing the threats is not an effect of Tom Bombadil, but the cost of playing him and that is, to my knowledge, the only Free Peoples card that has removing burdens or threats as a cost.

So, can I play him?

[Thranduil]

No you can't.

Rallying Call doesn't care whether you're removing threats as a cost, effect or anything in between - you can't remove threats with Free Peoples cards period. Trying to play Tom Bombadil in that situation is exactly the same as trying to play Elrond, Lord of Rivendell without an Elf or Gandalf, ie. you can't.

Thranduil

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

I second Thraunduil's interpretation. Removing 2 threats (or 2 burdens) is the cost of playing Tom Bombadil, you can't remove 2 threats or burdens, so you can't play Tom Bombadil. It's the same as if you have no threats or burdens. If you really want to be sure you can play Tom Bombadil, use a ring that lets you add burdens.

[putridbreath]

or bid two burdens to start play

[ket_the_jet]

or bid two burdens to start play

Watch out for (or other, of course) cards that remove burdens, though.
-wtk

[hrcho]

No you can't.

Rallying Call doesn't care whether you're removing threats as a cost, effect or anything in between - you can't remove threats with Free Peoples cards period. Trying to play Tom Bombadil in that situation is exactly the same as trying to play Elrond, Lord of Rivendell without an Elf or Gandalf, ie. you can't.

Thranduil

Thank you. I thought as much, although it confused me whether Tom Bombadil is really the source of threat removal, but now when I think about it, what else could be the source.

[Thranduil]

No you can't.

Rallying Call doesn't care whether you're removing threats as a cost, effect or anything in between - you can't remove threats with Free Peoples cards period. Trying to play Tom Bombadil in that situation is exactly the same as trying to play Elrond, Lord of Rivendell without an Elf or Gandalf, ie. you can't.

Thranduil

Thank you. I thought as much, although it confused me whether Tom Bombadil is really the source of threat removal, but now when I think about it, what else could be the source.

The source of anything is the card on which it is printed. That's the general rule, which should hopefully make sense for the future.

Thranduil