If my opponent casts ancestral recall, can I cast word of command in response to choose the ancestral or has it legally been cast (and is not a legal target) but hasn't resolved?
Once a spell has been played it exists on the stack and not in the player's hand. Word of Command can't choose a card on the stack.
Note, however, that you can make your opponent use the alternate casting cost of spells (Force of Will, Misdirection, Fireblast).
Word of Command
BB
Instant
Look at target opponent's hand and choose a card from it. That player plays that card with his or her own mana, but you make all decisions it calls for. The player is required only to use mana in his or her mana pool and mana that can be drawn from lands.
So no, you can't make him pay the alternate casting cost. He must play it with MANA.
Can you choose to pay the alternate cost if you are targeted with one?
Huh? I have no idea what you mean. One what?
Francois, I think you're wrong:
If there is a non-mana way to cast a spell, as with Pitch Spells, you may require that way to be used if it is possible to do so. [D'Angelo 1997/03/26]
The caster of Word of Command makes all the decisions about how to pay for the spell, down to which lands to tap. So no, you can't choose to pay the alternate cost if you're targeted with WoC.
The thing is, it's still insanely poor against instants because pitch or no, if he CAN cast a thing he WILL, just because letting you do it is worse. The only thing this is good for is against Sorceries ("on your draw step, Mind Twist yourself") or permanents ("FTK your own elf", putting a creature into play to trigger your oath etc.)
I've tried to find a way to make this card be good. I wish it were. If it said "this may not be responded to" that would be cool.
Gzeiger, if say, you're Word of Commanded into playing a Misdirection, can you pay its alternate cost?
I still think my answer is right. The ruling from d'Angelo is very old, dating from a time where the wording of Word of Command was different. Anyway, the best way to be sure would be to ask the Judge List.
I would certainly like to know. I am a judge, but have not been put on the list yet.
I would agree with Francois.
Matt: send a e-mail to i***e@w***s.com and ask them about it. They should fix it and let you on the list.