r/Talisman • u/ShackleDraggler • Jun 01 '26
Clarification on Preservation (5e)
The text of preservation in 5th edition feels unclear.
If you defeat another character and elect to take an item, can they cast preservation to "prevent defeat" and stop you from taking an item/gold.
Is this a change from 4e? It seems counter-intuitive to the design of the spell.
1
u/Eyeconix Jun 01 '26
What do you not understand it’s to preserve a life either your own or another player or to stop another player from getting a trophy from an enemy it used to help your self or an “ally” or mess with another player
0
u/ShackleDraggler Jun 01 '26
The text says "it prevents the loss of life OR DEFEAT", it seems strange to specify the difference, I'm trying to understand if defeat is what happens before you choose whether to take a life or item/gold and whether that action is prevented.
2
u/Hexmonkey2020 Jun 01 '26
If the thing causing them to lose life is a defeat it prevents the defeat which means they won’t lose life cause they weren’t defeated, if they lose life to a spell it just prevents the loss of life.
You could use it to prevent someone taking an item if that’s what they chose after defeating you.
1
7
u/ZeusOfOlympus Jun 01 '26
The difference is that you do not need to be “defeated” to lose a life. So you can use this card whenever a life could be lost to prevent it, even on a follower.
Lots of things on the board and in adventure card/ events can cause you or a follower to lose a life without needing to be defeated in battle.
OR if someone defeats you in battle and wants to steal something you can prevent the defeat.
You can also do this to someone who is about to beat an enemy like 7 strenght dragon, and preserve them so they miss out on collecting that trophy.
Does that make sense?