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Okay this question has come up quite a few times at tournaments now and alot of people have argued it both ways.
The wording in the book for using the Engine " At the beginning of the magic phase, choose a power to use that turn . . ."
A tactic I like doing (especially against T3 folks), is choose the Burning Alignment, then cast portent of far on the skink priest to reroll 1s to wound.
The argument some folks have been saying is that you have to use the effect at the beginning of the turn, i.e. use Burning Alignment before casting any other spells.
My argument is that it says "choose" instead of "use" - I can see why they want you to choose (just say you didn't have to choose and cause major damage to a tooled up unit thats real close to the Engine with regular spells - seeing that you almost have them wiped out, you could say "Oh now I'm going to pick Burning Alignment).
However, the FAQ had nothing about this in it and I'm inclined more towards - if it says I HAVE to use it at the beginning of the phase - fine. If not, I'll choose like it says and then use it at any point in the phase. Which, can be detrimental when you think that if you wait to burn and then miscast, ending the phase, you lose the ability to burn.

Its pretty clear "At the beginning of the magic phase" IE you have to do it first because it can effect what you do 2nd.

You select what you going to do, resolve its effects. You cannot use the tactic you've been using IE cast portent then resolve the EoTG. Basically if you cast a spell, you have missed your chance to use the EoTG.

"At the beginning of the magic phase" doesn't really make it that clear - the book states "choose". If someone can show me where "choose" and "use" mean the same thing, I'd love to see it.

How does any reference to "beginning of the phase" not make it clear?
-your magic phase begins, you use the ability? There is no precedence to choosing how to use an item and resolving it later to take advantage of the function. There is precedence with things like Terror and Frenzy regarding where the effects are resolved in a turn sequence.

I think on this one you are incorrect. "Beginning of the phase" is clear and cut and dry. As far as i'm concerned if you have "chosen" to not use it at the chosen time, you have missed you opportunity.

EDIT: Thought this one through. Playing the devil's advocate.
An additional thought would be telling the opponent "i'm nominating my EoTG to utilize ability..blah." IE at the beginning of the phase you tell them clearly what the ability will be. That way you are bound by the ability chosen, and your opponent knows what the result will be. I'm thinking its a vague stretch, but its essentially giving you opponent a chance to put dice aside and shut down the Portent of Far spell. However, once you pick an ability, you could not adjust later in the phase.

Do you have permission to delay using the ability?

No

Therefore you cannot delay using the ability.

The word "choose" in this case means you a=can chose to use it at the beginning of the phase, or not at all. You cannot do it later in the phase.

PLAY THE GAME, NOT THE RULES!

In the rulebook under the magic section it says that I choose a lore for my wizards. It doesn't say when I have to roll my spells. I can wait till turn 3 because it doesn't specify WHEN to do it.

This sarcasm brought to you by the 'Play the game, not the rules" committee for please stop ruining my fun. Thank you.

In all seriousness, this seems pretty easy. 'Choose' at the 'start of the magic phase' Not 'pick an option to use during the phase' C'mon, you are already smoking us poor T3 elves. You need more help?

Right on Manfred! Beat me to it!

Guys this is a simple one. The Engine has both persistent and immediate effects. Once you chose the power it is activated. Thus an immediate effect is resolved once it is chosen (it does not need to be used) and the persistent effect will last from the time it is chose until the time that the ability indicates that it is no longer in effect.

Negativemoney wrote:Guys this is a simple one. The Engine has both persistent and immediate effects. Once you chose the power it is activated. Thus an immediate effect is resolved once it is chosen (it does not need to be used) and the persistent effect will last from the time it is chose until the time that the ability indicates that it is no longer in effect.

Apparently its not that simple if you want to be TFG. You and the others are correct, though. "Choose" allows you to disregard the ability in a given turn, not delay its affects until a time you deem more beneficial.