A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from a copy of the forum saved in October 2015, so pages it didn't save are missing. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
A player, 7 October 2012
I feel this is kind of a straightforward answer but I don't know the details well enough to figure it out myself. I also searched for a question like this but didn't find one here. So, my question:
Do personalities with Reactions as their only printed non-trait count as "Personalities with Abilities" so far as The Topaz Championship is concerned?
For example, let's say I have both Shinjo Byung (Blank, no traits or abilities) and Shinjo Jong-Ho (No trait, does have a Reaction) in play and I reveal The Topaz Championship. Am I able to target either or is Byung the only valid target?
Basically, does a Reaction count as an ability? I would like to think "Yes" but given I was wrong about "Battle Actions" vs. "Actions" I want to make sure there's not some distinction I'm missing. Thanks!
Relevant Card Text:
The Topaz Championship Choose one of your Personalities in play without abilities. Permanently give him +1F/+1C, the trait "Before the first time each turn another player's card effect destroys this Personality: Negate the destruction", and the ability, "Battle: Target an enemy card without attachments: Destroy it."
Shinjo Jong-Ho Reaction: After a Tactical action Jong-Ho performed resolves, target a card opposing him with lower Force: Bow it.
Shinjo Byung (No text to mention - she has no traits or abilities)
Alex Jones (rules official), 7 October 2012
I feel this is kind of a straightforward answer but I don't know the details well enough to figure it out myself. I also searched for a question like this but didn't find one here. So, my question:
Do personalities with Reactions as their only printed non-trait count as "Personalities with Abilities" so far as The Topaz Championship is concerned?
For example, let's say I have both Shinjo Byung (Blank, no traits or abilities) and Shinjo Jong-Ho (No trait, does have a Reaction) in play and I reveal The Topaz Championship. Am I able to target either or is Byung the only valid target?
Basically, does a Reaction count as an ability? I would like to think "Yes" but given I was wrong about "Battle Actions" vs. "Actions" I want to make sure there's not some distinction I'm missing. Thanks!
Relevant Card Text:
The Topaz Championship Choose one of your Personalities in play without abilities. Permanently give him +1F/+1C, the trait "Before the first time each turn another player's card effect destroys this Personality: Negate the destruction", and the ability, "Battle: Target an enemy card without attachments: Destroy it."
Shinjo Jong-Ho Reaction: After a Tactical action Jong-Ho performed resolves, target a card opposing him with lower Force: Bow it.
Shinjo Byung (No text to mention - she has no traits or abilities)
Reactions are abilities - see Card features, Abilities and Abilities and actions, Designators.