Balerion the Black

Would "Ambush from the Plains" activate Balerion's response?

If Balerion is in your hand, yes

No, it would not. Playing a card is distinct from cards that instruct you to "put into play" something. Thus, Ambush from the Plains would not activate any ability that is triggered when a player plays a card (such as Balerion's kneel effect), unless Ambush from the Plains is itself the targeted card.

Ambush from the plains reads :

Challenges: Put a Targaryen character into play from your hand or discard pile with printed cost lower than your total initiative. At the end of the phase, if that character is still in play, return that character to its owner's hand

If BB is coming from your hand then yes.

Xenoce is correct. Ambush from the Plains (QoD) is a put in to play effect, which is different than played.

Quoting from the FAQ Page 10 section 4.4

Character, Location, and Attachment cards are
“played” from the hand during the marshalling
phase, by taking a player action and paying
their gold cost.

"Put into play" effects are not considered to be
"played." Similarly, when a card is "put into
play," it does not trigger any "when played"
effects, and vice versa. Both, however, would
trigger effects that occur when a card "comes
into play” or “enters play.”

"Put into Play" is a game mechanic that
bypasses all costs (including all gold penalties)
and play restrictions.

This along the same lines Varamyr Sixskins (AKitN) would not trigger his text either but the new Dragon Lore (CbtC) would because you are playiing it during your hand even if it is for free.

Thank you for clearing this up.

I wonder if this little bugger will start showing up more with "Dragon Lore" in the environment.

I finally was able to play him in melee game recently, without to use of 'Dragon Lore'. Two turns later he got killed off by 'Bear Island' and was able play him again with 'Maegi's Promise'!

I don't understand the combo to put into play balerion with Varamyr Sixskins (AKitN) and

Bloodrider (MotA). Why is the bloodrider necessary?

The "put into play" part is the cost of Sixskins ability, while the "return to hand" part is the effect. Using Bloodrider to cancel the effects of Sixskins ability will let you keep your Balerion in play, even as the phase ends

I often use Take Them by Surprise (LoW) combined with Ambush from the Plains (QoD) to get it out of the discard pile.

Haha, nice

Can I use Take Them by Surprise (LoW)+Ambush from the Plains (QoD)+Bloodrider (MotA)?

No, Ambush from the Plains is not a character ability.

Oh, my bad... So what if... it would be text "effect just triggered" like with Alannys Greyjoy (ODG) instead Bloodrider?

Just a reminder, using any effect that "puts into play" with Balerion will not allow you to trigger his response.

As for the abilities and cancels:
The ability of Sixskins breaks down like this (do x to do y):
Cost (x) = put character into play
Effect (y) = put Sixskins back in hand, and later put creature back into hand.

Ambush from the plains does not follow the (do x to do y) format directly. Instead it is like so:
Cost (x) = Play event (during challenges only)
Effect (y) = put character from hand/discard into play, and later put character back into hand.

If any effect is cancelled, the cost is still paid, but the effect does not finish. So if Sixskins is cancelled, the cost "put creature into play" is paid (enter Balerion) but the effect is cancelled "to put Sixskins back to hand, and later return creature to hand"

If the event is cancelled, the event is still considered played but the entire effect is cancelled.

Sloth/Pycelle... You are simply the best:)

Thanx for the clarification! I played for example V:TES, but AGOT LCG has much more details like this one "partial cancelling/cost".

I played a game where my opponent got this bugger on the table during the first round with some cheap maester and dragon lore. That was a shocker.

From a gameplay point of view, i have no problem with him. He's nasty, but can be dealt with. From a timeline point of view, i hate the fact that they made this dragon that has been dead for a long time. Characters recently deceased (as in the time of Robert's rebellion) i'm okay with, but this just seems wrong.

Can i cancel Balerion's  response with Lannister's

Iron Throne?

Can i cancel Balerion's  response with Lannister's

Iron Throne?

Yes, only if you are alone to have Iron Throne