I know it's only possible with the Fixed Point, but it is possible, and on the face of it seems to create an infinite loop. So how does it work?
Tool cards aren't destroyed when you play a new tool - they go to your hand. This would seem to be a separate factor from the indestructibility granted by Fixed Point - as tools aren't specified to be destroyed when replaced, wouldn't you just act as normal when playing a new tool? It's Styles that are destroyed when replaced…
Indestructible is actually defined as not allowing destruction or otherwise being removed from play, so yeah, Fixed Point prevents the tools from returning to the player's hand.
As to the results of having them in play at the same time, I believe it depends on the order they were played. Here's my interpretation...
If the Crowbars were first:
- MF uses Strike for 1 + 1 for Crowbars (+ anything else)
- Crowbars triggers on the original, allowing for a second target for the same damage
- Jack Handle triggers on the original then triggers again on the second
- End result: two targets damaged and all non-hero targets damaged twice
If the Jack Handle was first:
- MF uses Strike for 1 + 1 for Crowbars (+ anything else)
- Jack Handle triggers on the original for the same damage
- Crowbars triggers on each instance of damage done by both the first and all the Jack Handle damage instances
- End result: one target damaged, all non-hero targets damaged, then a number of targets damaged equal to the number of non-hero targets damaged
Actually, I believe Jack Handle implies an ‘instead’ and thus the original targets are not hit, thus just all targets hit twice for the first and all targets hit once, and an equal amount of targets hit again, possibly repeatedly, for the second.
Crap - you're completely right, TheJayMann. I totally forgot that, and just went based on the card text. Thanks!
So...
If the Crowbars were first:
- MF uses Strike for 1 + 1 for Crowbars (+ anything else)
- Crowbars triggers on the original, allowing for a second target for the same damage
- Jack Handle triggers on the original then triggers again on the second, replacing each
- End result: all non-hero targets damaged twice
If the Jack Handle was first:
- MF uses Strike for 1 + 1 for Crowbars (+ anything else)
- Jack Handle triggers on the original for the same damage
- Crowbars triggers on each instance of damage done by all the Jack Handle damage instances
- End result: all non-hero targets damaged, then a number of targets damaged equal to the number of non-hero targets damaged
I think only each one would activate once as it will satisfy each condition that is met on the card. No matter what Jack Handle would take priority as it triggers on "would deal" rather than "deals damage" so order doesn't have an effect. You'll start an attack that will hit all targets, upon dealing damage to the first target he can immediately deal that damage to a second target. After that the rest of the damage from Jack Handle would be resolved.
Edit: Though I can see it being agrued that each hit from Jack Handle could trigger another instance of damage due to Dual Crowbars, but that seems overly powerful.
I think that Mister Fixed Point is one of the coolest things in Shattered Timelines. In playtesting, we cycled through the Environment deck twice to get out four or five Styles, and six or seven Tools. It was gratuitous, absurd, and self-indulgent.
It was also one of the best nights ever.
P.S. It also works with Little O's Plating cards!
We call that O-X Body Technique. 
(If anybody gets that, I will give you a cookie)
Any computer scientist's out there also reminded, like me, of big O notation 'O(n)'? Little O is quite a propos.
Ugh, I sucked so bad at analysis of algorithms. I was fine until we started doing the T notation for recusive algorithms. Big O, little O, and Omega, I was fine with, but I sucked at T.
I really want Fixed Point to come up in a game now - I think we've only fought in the Time Cataclysm once so far (possibly twice) and it didn't come up :(. But I'm already thinking how insane a certain hero's damage could get when he has all four copies of his Staff out, plus as many Inspiring Presences as a certain other hero can play, plus both copies of Imbued Fire as well...omg actually this card could be quite insane...hopefully it'll come up in some of our games over the weekend and we can wreak havoc with having multiple copies of Limited stuff out and "kill" everything and then do whatever you need to do to remove the card...unless it goes away after one round anyway...I haven't seen it yet.
Limited stuff cannot be played. As when a limited card tries to enter play when another is already in play the second card would just be moved to the appriote trash and since it never enters play it's more or less counted as a discard.
Fixed point destroys itself at the start of the environment turn.
But...I thought Fixed Point made everything indestructible (everything I know about this card I've read on the forum since, as mentioned, I've not actually looked at the card itself yet as it hasn't come up in-game). So if you play a second copy of a limited card, the first one should be destroyed (moved to trash) and replaced by the new one...but Fixed Point prevents that from happening. So it should stay in play, surely?
No it's the second card that is played that gets moved to the trash. It never enters play though. Anytime you play a limited card there is a check to see if another limited is already in play. Afterwards if there is one then instead of entering play the second card goes into the trash instead. I checked the rulebook about it to, and it is the second card that enters the trash before even entering play.
Ah. There goes replacing an old Staff of Ra with a new one to get a second heal without having to use a power to get rid of the first one, then...although I don't think I've ever actually got round to doing that.
Well played good sir. Though I can't think he has more than 1 point in resistance. >.>
True, but you can still throw the staff, again and again and again…
LOL. He spent all his BP maxing out his Compassion score.
Gimme my cookie, because Exalted is awesome! I've actually played many a game with one of the more recent writers (Charles Spaulding), and helped a little with the playtesting of 2nd Ed. Infernals because of it!
If Fixed Point is out and you use the Staff's power, obviously it isn't destroyed, but is that effect basically put "on hold" and instantly acts when the Fixed Point goes away? Or can you get away with using the Staff's power repeatedly and yet it stays in play when the Fixed Point is destroyed?