Augment is an un-set, silver-bordered ability only. Silver-bordered cards are not governed by the Comprehensive Rules (the "official game rules"), so the ability doesn't appear in the comprehensive rules document, but reminder text on other augment cards (e.g. Bat-) and silver-bordered-specific sources tell us that the keyword ability Augment has "can only be activated any time you could cast a sorcery" as part of if its standard definition. So Ninja does need that text to clarify that it goes against that definition.
I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
The comprehensive rules do not define an augment keyword. That matter is ultimately up to the players in the game.
In general, in a game allowing "silver-bordered" cards such as those in Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable, the players in the game can agree on modifications to the comprehensive rules ("house rules") to accommodate situations, such as this one, that the comprehensive rules neither regulate nor answer and that are unique to such cards (see also C.R. 100.7). Although Mark Rosewater issues "rulings" on how certain game situations unique to such cards play out, such advice is no more or less valid than the "house rules" agreed to by the players (that is, such players can agree whether to adopt such "rulings" or not).
The comprehensive rules do not define an augment keyword. That matter is ultimately up to the players in the game.
In general, in a game allowing "silver-bordered" cards such as those in Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable, the players in the game can agree on modifications to the comprehensive rules ("house rules") to accommodate situations, such as this one, that the comprehensive rules neither regulate nor answer and that are unique to such cards (see also C.R. 100.7). Although Mark Rosewater issues "rulings" on how certain game situations unique to such cards play out, such advice is no more or less valid than the "house rules" agreed to by the players (that is, such players can agree whether to adopt such "rulings" or not).
Is this really necessary? The answer was provided 10-15 minutes before your comment so it sounds like you are just here to tell people that silver bordered cards don't have rules.
The suggestion that they can simply ignore what is written on the cards is ridiculous. Yes, they don't exist in the CR but who cares. That is their whole shtick but players still want the cards to function via a set of rules. In the case of Silver Border it is just doing what the card says. Which applies to a lot of black bordered cards to be honest so not being in the CR doesn't really change anything about being able to answer questions. And if the card isn't super clear, Gatherer rulings still offer clarity.
I have seen you make this comment before and it is unhelpful. You seem to have a ready to go comment you copy/paste each time something silver bordered comes. You don't seem to care much about MaRo's rulings or the fact that the cards don't have CR entries for silver bordered cards. Then just don't answer the questions and let the rest of the players have their fun.
There are certainly times when "make up your own rules" is a valid response but it doesn't make sense here and you seem to have no desire to base that response on any sort of context. Some of us enjoy answering these off the wall questions and players still want a reasonable answer that is more than just "I don't know; do what you want".
It's not exactly the case that "silver-bordered" cards are entirely beyond the scope of the comprehensive rules. For example, in general:
- A card's text takes precedence over the rules in case of conflict (C.R. 101.1).
- To cast a "silver-bordered" spell, its mana cost and any other costs have to be paid, just like other spells (C.R. 601.2h); thus, Grusilda, Monster Masher, a "silver-bordered" creature spell, generally costs 3BR to cast.
- To activate an ability of a "silver-bordered" permanent, its activation cost and any other costs have to be paid, just like other activated abilities (C.R. 602.2b, 601.2h).
In the case of augment, the comprehensive rules don't define the augment keyword, but players can still agree on how augment works in their games (that allow "silver-bordered" cards). In this sense, the reminder text of cards with augment as well as Mark Rosewater's "rulings" can serve as inspiration for the rules those players adopt for the augment keyword, which is not to say that that text and those "rulings" have to be followed exactly if the players find an alternative approach more entertaining.
I'm going to stop the "debate" here and lock this, guys. The question has been answered and the principles guiding the way we answer questions about silver-bordered cards have been laid out in great detail. I'd say both of you make valid points.
I believe that that ready-to-go comment peteroupc pastes in threads about silver-bodered cards is something that's very important to make players aware of, that's why I usually don't mind it. It does usually come with a more direct answer to the question asked, one based as much as possible on the logic of the rules we do have. But a direct answer wasn't needed here given the previous posts, so peteroupc's post is pretty much only his ready-to-go comment, which does feel more spammy than usual. On the other hand, WizardMN's rant would also be spam in the context of this forum. I'm not going to issue warnings, as I believe this exchange is education enough.
I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
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But isn't Augment already an activated ability that you can activate anytime you could cast an instant, just like any other activated ability?
Multi-Headed
In general, in a game allowing "silver-bordered" cards such as those in Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable, the players in the game can agree on modifications to the comprehensive rules ("house rules") to accommodate situations, such as this one, that the comprehensive rules neither regulate nor answer and that are unique to such cards (see also C.R. 100.7). Although Mark Rosewater issues "rulings" on how certain game situations unique to such cards play out, such advice is no more or less valid than the "house rules" agreed to by the players (that is, such players can agree whether to adopt such "rulings" or not).
The suggestion that they can simply ignore what is written on the cards is ridiculous. Yes, they don't exist in the CR but who cares. That is their whole shtick but players still want the cards to function via a set of rules. In the case of Silver Border it is just doing what the card says. Which applies to a lot of black bordered cards to be honest so not being in the CR doesn't really change anything about being able to answer questions. And if the card isn't super clear, Gatherer rulings still offer clarity.
I have seen you make this comment before and it is unhelpful. You seem to have a ready to go comment you copy/paste each time something silver bordered comes. You don't seem to care much about MaRo's rulings or the fact that the cards don't have CR entries for silver bordered cards. Then just don't answer the questions and let the rest of the players have their fun.
There are certainly times when "make up your own rules" is a valid response but it doesn't make sense here and you seem to have no desire to base that response on any sort of context. Some of us enjoy answering these off the wall questions and players still want a reasonable answer that is more than just "I don't know; do what you want".
- A card's text takes precedence over the rules in case of conflict (C.R. 101.1).
- To cast a "silver-bordered" spell, its mana cost and any other costs have to be paid, just like other spells (C.R. 601.2h); thus, Grusilda, Monster Masher, a "silver-bordered" creature spell, generally costs 3BR to cast.
- To activate an ability of a "silver-bordered" permanent, its activation cost and any other costs have to be paid, just like other activated abilities (C.R. 602.2b, 601.2h).
In the case of augment, the comprehensive rules don't define the augment keyword, but players can still agree on how augment works in their games (that allow "silver-bordered" cards). In this sense, the reminder text of cards with augment as well as Mark Rosewater's "rulings" can serve as inspiration for the rules those players adopt for the augment keyword, which is not to say that that text and those "rulings" have to be followed exactly if the players find an alternative approach more entertaining.
I believe that that ready-to-go comment peteroupc pastes in threads about silver-bodered cards is something that's very important to make players aware of, that's why I usually don't mind it. It does usually come with a more direct answer to the question asked, one based as much as possible on the logic of the rules we do have. But a direct answer wasn't needed here given the previous posts, so peteroupc's post is pretty much only his ready-to-go comment, which does feel more spammy than usual. On the other hand, WizardMN's rant would also be spam in the context of this forum. I'm not going to issue warnings, as I believe this exchange is education enough.