A topic from AEG's L5R CCG Rules forum, copied for Oracle of the Void from the Wayback Machine (its copy), so posts 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, 19 November 2005
K. So I think I fugured out why you can't play In Search of the Future when there are no Force Bonuses in current battle.
In Search
Battle: Even if you control no units at the current battlefield: Reduce all existing Force bonuses applying to cards at the current battlefield to +0F until the turn ends. This does not affect bonuses applied by a card to itself or to another card in the same unit.
Pg 51, Lotus Rulebook
Relevance
Come from, Target, Affect, Play, or Create a card at the current battle or attached to the current Province
Because In Search doesn't actually Target, it cannot be played.
Current non-smartcard rulings make it difficult to play any Open or Battle action card that doesn't target.
You cannot play "Courage" (as it relies on game state to affect a card at the current province - in this case samurai in current battle)
You Cannot play "Wayward Attack" during battles (again, relying on game state to be relevant - needing orochi at current battle to be relevant)
I Guess what I'm asking for is a definition for Smart Card. From my perspective, ruling you can play an action because another card is in play seems a lot like you can't play a card because a different card is in play.
Maybe I'm wrong, and your response will clarify.
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 19 November 2005
K. So I think I fugured out why you can't play In Search of the Future when there are no Force Bonuses in current battle.
In Search
Battle: Even if you control no units at the current battlefield: Reduce all existing Force bonuses applying to cards at the current battlefield to +0F until the turn ends. This does not affect bonuses applied by a card to itself or to another card in the same unit.
Pg 51, Lotus Rulebook
Relevance
Come from, Target, Affect, Play, or Create a card at the current battle or attached to the current Province
Because In Search doesn't actually Target, it cannot be played.
Current non-smartcard rulings make it difficult to play any Open or Battle action card that doesn't target.
You cannot play "Courage" (as it relies on game state to affect a card at the current province - in this case samurai in current battle)
You Cannot play "Wayward Attack" during battles (again, relying on game state to be relevant - needing orochi at current battle to be relevant)
I Guess what I'm asking for is a definition for Smart Card. From my perspective, ruling you can play an action because another card is in play seems a lot like you can't play a card because a different card is in play.
Maybe I'm wrong, and your response will clarify.
There is no "smart cards" ruling any more.
In Search of the Future is always legal at the current battle, regardless of whether there are force bonuses, units, or what have you. It's own text waives Presence and provide Relevance.