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How does the interaction between Thalia, Heretic Cathar and Castle Embereth resolve?

I am interested in the interaction between Thalia, Heretic Cathar which is already on the battlefield and Castle Embereth, a non-basic land that is being played by an opponent and now enters the battlefield.

The two cards conflict with each other on what will happen. There is a ruling from 2016 which states that the effect of Thalia "wins", so that Castle Embereth enters the battlefield tapped.

I would like to know which rules in the Comprehensive Rules explain this result. Both cards create continuous effects that are also replacement effects. If one applies rule 613.9, the timestamp criterion determines that Castle Embereth would "win", which is obviously not the case.

Does it perhaps have something to do with the fact Castle Embereth says: "This land enters tapped unless you control a mountain." The word "unless" is perhaps less specific in its consequences then if it had said "except if" or "but not if".

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05/05/2025

A Universal Time Trello and Discord Links – Roblox [4.7]

A Universal Time (AUT) is an action/adventure game that blends elements from various popular shows, games, and anime, with strong inspiration from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The game offers a deep and evolving combat system that rewards exploration and mastery. Follow along with our A Universal Time Trello and Discord guide to explore guides, item locations, and stand information.

A Universal Time Trello and Discord Guide

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Funny Valentine from the A Universal Time Roblox Experience — Run for your life.

Here are all the A Universal Time links you need to start fighting in the big leagues:

I’d recommend starting with the A Universal Time Trello since it works like a wiki filled with helpful content. There you can find details on:

All Game Mechanics
All Economy Guides
All Stands
All Abilities
All NPCs
All Quests
All Bosses
All Updates
All Skins
All Upcoming Updates
All Original/Universal Powers and Abilities
All Sub-Powers

The A Universal Time Discord server is a great place to begin if you’re looking for more direct help. You can ask specific questions in the Questions channel and hear from Testers and experienced players. It’s also a good spot to share fun moments in the Media channel and chat with the community. Here’s what you can find on the Discord:

General Game Information
Popular Builds
Gameplay Guides
Community Insights
All Event NPC Locations
Community Rankings
Developer Notes
Direct Assistance

The A Universal Time Discord is also a good place to stay updated on the game’s development. The announcements channel shares news about updates, and the sneak peeks offer a look at upcoming content. You’ll also see occasional updates directly from Universe Time Studio. Plus, it’s the easiest way to find the latest codes.

That is all for our A Universal Time Trello and Discord guide. Check out our Roblox-related articles on our Roblox Page.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

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05/05/2025

New automation sandbox game Icaria fuses Minecraft and Factorio together

Back in the early heyday of Minecraft, what really kept me coming back were the mods that dramatically opened up the sandbox game’s building potential. Tekkit, and later Feed the Beast, introduced me to a world of pipe networks and automation long before I ever got into the likes of Satisfactory and Factorio. Now, new indie game Icaria combines the iconic blocky look of Minecraft with the ability to lay out intricate factory networks and program helpers to handle all your tasks, and it’s out now on Steam with a playable demo.

Much like Minecraft, starting a new game of Icaria drops you into a small section of a procedurally generated alien world, although developer Blindsight Games’ creations are more alien in nature than those of Mojang. From your initial spawn, you’ll gradually explore outwards, building out a radio network to give you a better perspective of the world around you.

Like all the best sandbox games, you must gather materials to start constructing, upgrading, and expanding your base, but your labor is just the beginning. Described by Blindsight as a “single-player colony builder,” Icaria really comes into its own as you learn to automate your factories and program robotic helpers. Anything you can do yourself can also be accomplished by your workers, and the bigger your base grows, the more important that becomes.

Using a clean set of visual tools to make programming approachable to anyone, and ways to quickly share your scripts with other players, you’ll be able to set up your workers and facilities to act exactly how you wish. Terraform the landscape, lay down power networks, assign trucks to transport materials across your ever-expanding colony, and unlock more ways to engage with the world.

Icaria is out now on Steam in early access, with a 15% launch discount meaning you’ll pay $21.24 / £17.84 if you buy it by Monday May 12. There’s also a free demo you can download and try before you commit. Blindsight Games is aiming for the early access period to last for “around a year,” but says it will extend that “if that seems like the best way to deliver a satisfying and complete game.”

Can’t get enough construction in your day? Here are the best building games on PC. If it’s the organization aspects that appeal most, we’ve picked out the best management games to play in 2025 as well.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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04/05/2025

HoYoverse finally announces Honkai Star Rail x Fate release date with 5-star Archer and 5-star Saber – plus Archer is free

HoYoverse finally announced the Honkai Star Rail x Fate collaboration release date during the second HSR concert, including details about which characters will join the space game’s roster. HSR x Fate kicks off on July 11, 2025, in an event called Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail, and it adds two new 5-star characters from the Fate series to HSR’s list of playable characters.

One of them is Saber, a 5-star Destruction character with wind as her element. Saber, aka Artoria Pendragon, is one of Fate’s main characters and first debuted in 2004’s Fate/Stay Night. Saber will run for the usual length of time in a limited event banner. The second Fate character in HSR is Archer, another long-time favorite. Archer is a 5-star Hunt character with quantum as his element, and anyone who logs into Honkai Star Rail during Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail will get him for free.

Archer from Honkai Star Rail x Fate — Get your very own free man for a limited time | Image credit: HoYoverse

HoYoverse said the free Archer giveaway will last through the end of Honkai Star Rail 3.6. Based on the game’s current update calendar, that’d be sometime in November 2025. Assuming the free Archer event is like the time HoYoverse gave Dr Ratio away, you’ll probably only need to be at the story’s beginning, at the point where you unlock the warp function.

Saber will have “exciting” interactions with the Trailblaze crew during the event’s associated story missions. Fate writer Kinoko Nasu penned the crossover event’s story, and artist Takashi Takeuchi created the Honkai Star Rail versions of Archer and Saber.

HoYoverse also teased a new Honkai game during the concert, though had no further information to share at the time.

If you’re just tuning in for Honkai Star Rail’s second anniversary, make sure to grab your free Ruan Mei or Luocha while the event lasts. Check out our HSR codes page for some freebies, too.

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04/05/2025

Volleyball Ascended Abilities Tier List and Guide [UPD]

Abilities in Volleyball Ascended add a unique layer of strategy and excitement to every match. They allow players to pull off unexpected moves, shift momentum, and outsmart opponents in creative ways. From teleporting sets to directional spikes, each Ability offers a distinct tactical edge. Mastering these powers can be the difference between a good play and a game-changing moment. So follow along with our Volleyball Ascended Abilities tier list and guide to learn how.

Valleyball Ascended Tier List

In the tier list above, we ranked all Abilities in Volleyball Ascended based on how good they are in the current meta. In general, rarer Abilities are stronger. However, as surprising as it may be, a Rare Ability is one of the strongest Abilities in Volleyball Ascended, and a Rival Ability is one of the weaker ones. After extensive testing, I found out that teleporting back with Waypoint is virtually useless compared to the increased team movement speed given by Team Synergy.

Volleyball Ascended Abilities List

Below is a complete and detailed list of all Abilities in Volleyball Ascended, sorted by their position on the tier list:

Direct Set Ability from the Volleyball Ascended Roblox Experience

Team Synergy Ability from the Volleyball Ascended Roblox Experience

Rarity	Description	Tier
Legend	• When activated, your next set within 8 seconds will automatically teleport to the nearest teammate within 35 studs. If no teammate is within range, the set will instead go directly above you. + Amazing for any playstyle. + Easy points when coordinating with your team.	S
Rare	• When activated, your whole team gains a burst of movement speed for 5 seconds. + A Universal Ability that is amazing for any situation. + Best defensive Ability in the game. + It might as well be of Rival rarity or even higher.	S
Rival	• When activated, your next Spike* within 8 seconds has significantly increased power.* + Amazing for an offensive playstyle.	S
Rival	• When activated, your next set within 8 seconds* will be dumped in the direction you are tilting, allowing for quick and unexpected plays.* + Great for surprising the opponents.	A
Epic	• Passively see all landing spots of spikes for both teams. + Great for controlling gameplay and learning.	A
Epic	• When activated, you become invisible* to all enemies for 0.6 Seconds.* + Great for surprise Spikes.	A
Uncommon	• When activated, your next Spike* within 8 seconds will curve to the side.* + Useful in all playstyles.	A
Rare	• When activated, your next Spike* within 8 seconds will become invisible for a split second.* + Great against experienced players.	B
Rival	• When activated, mark* your current location. After 10 seconds, teleport back to it.* − Man, this Ability is just sad. − Very rarely useful and only in niche situations. − It is a Rival rarity Ability, but it might as well be a Rare or Uncommon.	B
Rare	• When activated, your next set within 8 seconds will create a mirage ball. + Good when trying to confuse enemies.	B
Common	• When activated, increase your Block* radius by 30% for 0.75 Seconds.* − A very basic Ability with extremely limited use.	C

A good starting Ability in Volleyball Ascended would be Super Spike, if you can get it, or Spike Seer, as it allows you to see where Spikes will land. Seeing where they land means you can quickly learn how people play and develop a sense of where opponents usually aim.

How to get Abilities in Volleyball Ascended

Step one on how to get an Ability in Volleyball Ascended Roblox Experience — **Click on the Shop icon.**

Step two on how to get an Ability in Volleyball Ascended Roblox Experience — **Click on the Shop icon.**

If you want to get one of the Abilities from our tier list in Volleyball Ascended, you first need to collect enough Yen. You can collect them by playing or using codes from our Volleyball Ascended Codes page. Once you have 3980 Yen, you will be able to buy an Abilities Pack from the store. When you open it, you will get a random Ability from the list above. Some of the better Abilities have a lower chance of dropping, so make sure you have enough Yen to Reroll a few times until you get the one you’re looking for.

And that is all for my Volleyball Ascended Abilities tier list and guide. Check out more Roblox-related stuff on our Roblox Page.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

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04/05/2025

magic the gathering – Does cycling a card use the stack? And what about his triggered ability?

Cycling does go on the stack.

702.29a Cycling is an activated ability that functions only while the card with cycling is in a player’s hand. “Cycling [cost]” means “[Cost], Discard this card: Draw a card.”

602.2. To activate an ability is to put it onto the stack and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Only an object’s controller (or its owner, if it doesn’t have a controller) can activate its activated ability unless the object specifically says otherwise. Activating an ability follows the steps listed below, in order. If, at any point during the activation of an ability, a player is unable to comply with any of those steps, the activation is illegal; the game returns to the moment before that ability started to be activated (see rule 730, “Handling Illegal Actions”). Announcements and payments can’t be altered after they’ve been made.

Triggered abilities that trigger from cycling also go on the stack, on top of the cycling ability (because the process of activating cycling will have finished before the triggered ability is put on the stack).

603.3. Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object that’s not a card the next time a player would receive priority. See rule 117, “Timing and Priority.” The ability becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has the text of the ability that created it, and no other characteristics. It remains on the stack until it’s countered, it resolves, a rule causes it to be removed from the stack, or an effect moves it elsewhere.

117.3c If a player has priority when they cast a spell, activate an ability, or take a special action, that player receives priority afterward.

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02/05/2025

Star Gazers and Observatory Kickstarter Preview

There are two new space-themed games coming to Kickstarter from 25th Century Games. Star Gazers is a tile-laying game with art from Vincent Dutrait while Observatory is a roll and write that has players mapping out the night sky.

In this video preview, Phil and I talk about how each game plays and our thoughts after a couple of games. These are two very different space games that are worth checking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tHIv8TPE_U

You can checkout the Kickstarter campaign for Star Gazers and Observatory today.

A prototype of the game was provided for this coverage. Components and rules covered in this preview are not finalized. Read more about our preview policies at One Board Family.

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02/05/2025

Playing and Analyzing Go in Leela

I’m trying out a few Go programs (UI+engine or combined) and have a couple of questions about Leela (v.0.11).

In the analysis mode, some of examined moves are highlighted in color. What do reddish, bluish, yellowish tints mean? Available documentation does not give any clue.

I’d suppose that analysis is made from the point of view of Leela, and that red color is bad (a weak move), but this contradicts to the picture imho, because the red point looks favorable – at least at the current position, until the opposing player occupies it.

BTW, I did not find a way to switch the side of analysis, that is it’s always performed for Leela, and not for the player (human) – am I correct that it’s impossible?

Finally, the game provides 2 files – Leela0110.exe for CPU and Leela0110_OpenCL.exe for GPU. Unfortunately, no matter which one I run, the program always loads CPU 100%, not GPU (AMD). At the same time I tried out Leela Zero (with Sabaki UI) and it utilizes GPU for 100%. This shows that the device and drivers are functioning normally. Yet Leela does not use GPU for some reason and does not show any error messages or logs. What could be the problem and how to solve it?

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01/05/2025

Wahey, Helldivers 2 players have finally stopped the Meridian death ball’s advance towards Super Earth, and the Illuminate have responded by rage quitting the war for now

Panic over. At least for now. Sort of. Fresh off of the news that Helldivers 2 is getting some fresh content in May, April’s closed with the Illuminate’s planet-eating death ball being stopped in its tracks – something players have been working towards for ages.

Yep, this is not a drill. The Illuminate have gone into hiding too. Take that, the colour purple! I’m sure this relative peace will last forever, and that “more exciting news to come” not long after the next Warbond won’t have a chance of kicking off more squid shenanigans.

If you take a glance at the Galactic War map right now on April 30, you’ll see no trace of the faction the divers have been going at it with on the reg for the past few months – there are only Automatons and Terminids left, because those two old foes will never totally die out. Though, as Arrowhead explained in its latest briefing, neither have the Illuminate.

“The Meridian Singularity has come to a halt,” this briefing reads, “The Illuminate have disappeared completely; Ministry of Defense analysts have concluded this is likely explained by too few remaining to present a significant threat. The enemy is likely attempting to evade detection in order to survive a second total annihilation.”

MAJOR ORDER: The Meridian Singularity has come to a halt. The Illuminate have disappeared completely; Ministry of Defense analysts have concluded this is likely explained by too few remaining to present a significant threat. The enemy is likely attempting to evade detection in… pic.twitter.com/oF9Ohtlkml

— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) April 29, 2025

So, the big wormhole thing that was on its way to try and add the Helldivers’ home planet of Super Earth to the list of worlds it’s blown to smithereens has stopped in its tracks, and the squids have made a tactical retreat. Nice.

This is Helldivers 2 though, meaning the fighting’s never over and there’s still a fresh major order. “The Terminids and Automatons remain significant threats,” Arrowhead continued, “In the Illuminate’s final hours, they dealt significant damage to the defenses of multiple strategic sites across both battlefronts, granting the opportunity for our foes to capture formerly well-defended territory.” Damn. It can never be easy, can it.

So, players are now taking on the task of holding on those weakened sites – the planets Fenrir III, Turing, Claorell, Mastia, and Achernar Secundus. As of writing, the latter two are being battled for, while the first two are currently held by Super Earth with just over five days left on the order. So, by the time it runs its course, that next Warbond reveal on May 8 will be just around the corner.

Are you glad to see that the death ball has stopped rolling towards your Super loved ones? Let us know below!

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30/04/2025

Chaotic co-op FPS Mycopunk revealed, and you can try it right away

While there’s still a huge appetite for competitive PvP shooters, we’re really in a golden age of co-op PvE experiences. Already you can play the likes of Helldivers 2, Space Marine 2, and Deep Rock Galactic, and the likes of Killing Floor 3 and FBC Firebreak will soon join the party. It’s a tough realm to break into, but Mycopunk is the latest to give it a go with a striking art style, surreal weapons with outrageous upgrades, and a humorous tone. Despite only just being revealed, you can try it out straight away thanks to a multiplayer demo that’s live right now on Steam.

Given the prominence of Borderlands in the genre (and with the Borderlands 4 release date on the way in a few months too) a co-op FPS game with cel-shaded visuals might seem like an odd decision. But from what I’m initially seeing of Mycopunk, it’s doing plenty to make sure it stands out. Its overarching premise initially sounds quite Helldivers 2-y, as you’re part of a squad aboard a space station orbiting an infested planet that gears up, enters a drop pod, and blasts down to the surface. The threat you’re facing? Fungus. Out of control, deadly fungus. It’s corrupting the entire planet, its wildlife, and its technology, and you’re part of the clean-up crew.

In squads of up to three players, you’ll head into battle with a loadout packed with futuristic weapons, tools, and abilities. In what is one of the most novel-looking gunsmith systems I’ve seen, you can configure several mods into one gun using an almost Tetris-like minigame. Mods have different numbers of nodes presented in different shapes, and you’ve got to piece them all together like a puzzle on a grid with a limited number of spaces.

While out on your mission, you’ll be mowing down fungal matter, bugs, and out-of-control robots as you look to stop the spread. You’ll also scavenge for resources that’ll go towards upgrading your gear. There’s also a light extraction element where you must return to your pod with everything you’ve gathered. While traversal happens mostly on-foot, there appears to also be environmental elements like jump pads and rails that add different dimensions, as well as vehicles.

Content-wise, there’s an impressive amount on offer given this is the debut game from Pigeons at Play, but it’s the art style that I’m really digging. The robot designs, the weapon details, the grimy and corrupted environments – all of it looks great with its cel-shaded approach.

The best part about Mycopunk is that, despite only being revealed for the first time today, you don’t have to wait to give it a go.

A Steam demo for Mycopunk, with multiplayer support enabled, is available right now. You can download it here.

For more, check out our list of the best co-op games and the best space games.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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29/04/2025

برچسب: and

A Universal Time Trello and Discord Guide

Valleyball Ascended Tier List

Volleyball Ascended Abilities List

How to get Abilities in Volleyball Ascended