>>96386029
Influencing and Directly Influencing:

Influencing is just the game terminology for a written card effect.
Directly Influencing is the game terminology for a combat operation.

Influences (effects) are put on the Thread while they await resolution. Card effects can Nullify them while they are on the Thread, or even change their target. This is similar to how MTG tap effects go onto the stack, except ALL card effects do this.

Like pre-MTG10 rules update, Directly Influencing (attacking) DOES use the Thread (stack).

Like YGO, and unlike MTG, you choose the targets of your attacks (Direct Influences).

As Turn Player conducting combat during the combat phase, you can only add regular Influences (written card effects) to the Thread in response to another player's response. Basically you are limited to conducting exclusively Direct Influences (combat operations) during the combat phase unless the other player has a response, in which case you can respond normally with effects.

Direct Influence operations are simple stat comparison calculations, which are notated on the starter playmat for easy reference. If a card's stat reaches 0, it is Archived (sent to the graveyard).

Here is a simplified summary of how the different card types conduct combat:

1.) Structures do not conduct combat, but subtract their stat from Entity attacks.
2.) Stories +1 any card.
3.) Memes -1 any card.
4.) Entities subtract their stat from their target.

An Influence is NOT a Direct Influence. For example, an effect that Nullifies an Influence, cannot be used to Nullify a Direct Influence, and vice versa.

>>96177281
>Memes have a stat called "virulence but they don't actually spread anywhere
You can think of it like the potency of a meme (virality) being expended as its effects are used. like the process of meme becoming stale and disappearing as it becomes overused.

>you win by fighting another avatar with entities
This is only 1 way to approach the win condition. You actually win by controlling the elements which comprise the board. Entites are fire element. If you have a bunch of Entities and don't control the fire element it's more of a lose condition as they will be taken from you or used against you.

You approach the win condition through Meme combat, and through effects. Colors with the Earth element able to grant Structures the ability to conduct combat (as Entities).

For example picrel, Killdozer, is a really good Red card. It can conduct combat during both player's main phases via an effect. This has lots of applications.