I encountered a scenario and was hoping we could all come to a consensus. Mines are triggered by the execution or declaration of a skill. Mines are not triggered by guts. However Courage is an automatic skill. Upon the declaration of using courage, would that trigger the mine? do automatic skills fall under the "declaration of a skill" clause?
It's an automatic skill. It doesn't require an order or ARO to use it. It just makes you be able to pass the guts roll, which specifically says that doesn't trigger mines. So I think it's safe to say Courage doesn't activate mines and there is nothing in the rules to think otherwise.
But you have to declare whether you use it or not, as distinct from a non-optional automatic skill. Automatic just means it doesn't use a short skill, or aro.
https://infinitythewiki.com/Skills_and_Equipment_in_Infinity https://infinitythewiki.com/Mines Automatic Skills are nor declared nor executed. They are automatic. Mines triggers on Short Skills, Short Movement Skills, Entire Order Skills or ARO Skills. These are the skills declared and executed.
Makes sense, 'declare' in mines is being used as a specific use term (i.e. order declaration) rather than as a ordinary use of declare (i.e. stating intent of something), as in "choosing to use a skill". Because courage requires a declaration in the ordinary use of the word, as while it is automatic it is also optional, and a player must declare/say whether they are using it or not.
I have to point out that courage takes effect in the guts rolls stage, at the resolution step of the Order Expenditure Sequence, nothing triggers a mine at that stage, neither Guts rolls, not dodge movement, why would Courage trigger a mine?
In Infinity "Declaring" a skill specifically means steps 1.2, 2.2, 3, and 4.2 of the Order Expenditure Sequence. https://infinitythewiki.com/Trooper_Activation#Order_Expenditure_Sequence Courage is an automatic skill so can be used without being Declared, you simply state "I am using courage"
