Modifying Strength

[hrcho]

This the case:

A minion with strength 10 is skirmishing a companion. That minion is bearing Fifth Level and 12 fortifications can be spotted. That minion strength is now 0 (it cannot be lower than that).

If Shadow player plays an event to raise that minions strength for 3, what is the sum?

1)  Minion's generic strength + event - fortification = 10 + 3 - 12 = 1

2) Minion's generic strength - fortification = 10 - 12 = 0 ; Minion's current strength + event - fortification = 0 +3 - 12 = 0

I was thinking to compare this to Cirdan, but it's not the same. His is one time effect and fortification is permanent.

Let's take the above mentioned example, but with Cirdan instead of Fifth Level. 12 events can be counted in discard pile. When Cirdan uses his text to make a minion str -12, that minion is now str 0 and any event played would raise his strength.

To me, case 1) makes the most sense, but I'd like to hear your opinions (or factual rules for that matter).

[Gil-Estel]

He is at a constant -12, where cirdan makes him less strong for that instant. So would say case 1.

[Tbiesty]

Case 1 is correct.

[mardukra]

From the Comprehensive Rules:

Each time a value is used, all applicable modifiers to that value are reapplied. If the result at that point is then less than zero, that result is changed to zero. (Numbers can go below zero until the final check is made.)

ex. - Frodo (strength 3) bears The One Ring, The Ruling Ring (strength +1). His strength is 4. During a skirmish, Enduring Evil is played ("Skirmish: Spot X burdens to make a character skirmishing a ? Orc strength –X."), spotting 6 burdens on Frodo. Frodo's strength is 3 + 1 – 6 = –2. This is reset to zero. Hobbit Intuition is played ("Skirmish: ...make a Hobbit strength +3.") All applicable modifiers are reapplied to Frodo's strength. He has strength 3 (Frodo) +1 (Ring) – 6 (Enduring Evil) + 3 (Intuition) = 1.

The order of modifiers doesn't matter, since every applicable modifier is reapplied each time a value is used.
Modifiers are not recalculated when they are reapplied. The same modifiers are just applied again.