Legolas, Fearless Marksman question

[daisukeman]

Also, this initiative stuff reminds me of a serious issue I have with Legolas, Fearless Marksman because I've understood (later on) from the CRD that you cannot get the card's effects that say "if you have initiative" if at the moment of playing/discarding the card, it's your fourth card in hand.
This means his ability has to be played with 8 or more cards.. !!!

I still can't/won't believe this legolas (a rare, big-expansion card and a film main character) is such a waste and has a sucky sucky sucky ability.
If this is true, my theory is that this card was made by the watchman of decipher who boldly invented that card getting past any suppervision or edition whatsoever. I say this also because it has the aragorn signet duplicated as Legolas, Elven Stalwart has it too. (case unseen in any other character and expansion).

Pheww, rest my case

[TheJord]

Legolas, Fearless Marksman cost is to

1st) Check you have initiative
2nd) Discard 4 cards

You dont check if you have initiative after each discarded card.

[daisukeman]

hmm...
I was following this explanation (playing a card from CRD)
"
playing a card
Following is a detailed procedure for playing a non-site card. This was prompted by questions about playing events that require initiative, but the procedure applies to other cards as well. We refer to the card you are playing as "The Card."
1. Reveal The Card from your hand, and it enters the void (not in your hand, not in your discard pile, not in play). You cannot count The Card for initiative. You cannot discard The Card to pay a cost. Effects that respond to The Card leaving your hand, like cards that trigger when you lose initiative, happen later (see below). Each player may examine the card at this point.
2. Meet requirements to play The Card. If you are the Free Peoples player and initiative is a requirement for playing The Card, you must have four cards in your hand not counting The Card.
...
"
So I will assume this only applies to events mainly. At least what you state does improve playability..

[TheJord]

Yes actions and playing cards are quite different. To activate his ablity you must have initiative and then discard your 4 cards

[daisukeman]

OK, nice!
Can I conclude too that this abilities' actions send the discarded-from-hand cards directly right into the discard pile; and the whoaaaa "VOID" zone just applies to events and playing cards?

[TheJord]

The void only applies to cards being played from hand, discard or draw deck, not costs of an ability