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, 10 February 2014
Some interrupts do not need the card to be at the battlefield. So how do we differentiate the interrupts that need to be at the battlefield and those that are not?
For instance:
Susumu Yanada http://imperialassembly.com/oracle/#cardid=11227
And, so sorry, because brain says it can use his interrupt if a fear action targets a card and bows it. But does he need to be at the battlefield also? I guess, got confused because some say it can be used and having second thoughts because of some posts. And as I read some posts regarding interrupts(e.g, Moto Taigo the Skull Taker, http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic. ... o#p1404543 and this one, http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 9&t=106835), I get way more confused. So can you site some good card examples as well?
Thanks for the explanation and hopefully help clear the confusion.
ModEdit: Thread title modified to clarify the rule really being discussed
A player, 10 February 2014
You know that the card with the Interrupt need not be at the battlefield: -When the ability has the Home keyword -When it's not in a card in a unit (the Rule of Location doesn't apply to Strategies, Rings, Holdings... Exception here are the Fortifications, whose abilities can be used only if the current battlefield is at their province) -If the card had specific text allowing you to waive the Rule of Location, but I don't think there's any IvE card with that
So, for instance: Susumu Yanada MUST be at the current battlefield if you want to use the Interrupt. Moto Taigo MUST also be at the current battlefield. The Shugenja with Steal the Candle's Flame MUST also be at the current battlefield. Yogo Honami need be at the current battlefield to Interrupt a Battle action (but she can safely Interrupt Limiteds and Opens)
However, Ring of Earth isn't a card in a unit and doesn't answer to that part of the Rule of Location, therefore it works. Similarly, Gidayu Sensei can be used without restriction.