platinum emperion and wall of shards cumulative upkeep rulings magic

[Lich]

If opponent controls a platinum emperion can I still pay the cumulative cost of wall of shards?

[Arix]

No.

[Muk]

what if instead of platinum emperion he had a Sulfuric Vortex?

[Arix]

That would be different, and in that case, he could.

[Soddda]

How come? He gained no life, so the cost was not paid? or am I missing something?

[Arix]

The cost was paid - it was just replaced by something else.

[Soddda]

So it wasn't paid? doesnt the game look and see that he didnt gain life, so cost was never paid?

[Arix]

No, that's not how it works. You just have to announce that you're paying the cost and givnig your opponent some life. Cumulative upkeep is satisfied. Sulfuric Vortex then jumps in and replaces the life gain event with something else.