Index -> Appendix -> States
Most cards in play exist in one of four states: ready, assigned, stopped, or incapacitated. A card can only be in one of these states at a time.
Characters can exist in any of the four states. Adversaries can be ready, assigned, or stopped. Gear can be ready or stopped. Events (which are never in play) and missions don't exist in any of the four states.
A card can become blocked while in any one of the four states.