Clarification on Retaliation please

[dneher87]

Retaliation – If an affiliated character is KO’d, deal 1 damage to an opposing player.

Q: So does mean if someone of the same affiliation of the card who has this effect is ko'd , deal 1 damage to an opposing player?

Q: Or does it mean anyone who has an affiliation and is ko'd, deal 1 damage to an opposing player?

[dmrulesteam]

Retaliation – If an affiliated character is KO’d, deal 1 damage to an opposing player.

Q: So does mean if someone of the same affiliation of the card who has this effect is ko'd , deal 1 damage to an opposing player?

Q: Or does it mean anyone who has an affiliation and is ko'd, deal 1 damage to an opposing player?

Neither. Per the DC Rulebook at page 26, “Retaliation: If an affiliated character you control is KO’d, deal 1 damage to an opponent.” Also, a character’s Retaliation ability only triggers if that character is active in the field. (See viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4073&p=9592) As a result, Retaliation is the equivalent of “If this character is active and a character sharing an affiliation with this character is KO’d, deal 1 damage to an opposing player.” The exception to this is Black Manta – Deep Sea Deviant, which deals 1 damage to your opponent for each other active Villain when triggered, rather than just 1 damage, period.

-The Dice Masters Rules Team

EDIT: There have been some additional questions/confusion about Black Manta: Deep Sea Deviant. His text reads,

Retaliation - If one of your Villains is KO'd, deal 1 damage to your opponent for each of your active Villains.

The above reference to 'other' means the Villain that is KO'd doesn't count itself (since it isn't in play after it is KO'd).