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, 14 August 2007
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60457
Very well then. I think I'm with you so far. Looking at previous rulings and the rules themselves, is the following chain of events accurate?
It is the active player's turn, during the action phase of the turn. The player has enough gold and methods to pay costs that he could buy the two followers (let's say, Ogre Warriors) that are the only cards in his hand 50 times over. Further more, he has two distinct personalities, one that specifies that it cannot attach followers.
It is the active player's opportunity to perform a Limited or Open action. The active player chooses to announce the Limited Action, Equip, from the rule-book.
He can choose this because he has the knowledge of an eligible target for the action (the second, unrestricted personality), and as far as he can tell, he can pay all the costs of the action, and there are no other currently active restrictions preventing him from announcing such an action. During this time one of the Followers is shown from his hand in order to continue to fulfill the Good Faith Rule (by showing that he has an appropriate card with which to use the Equip action).
The, er... rulebook? Or perhaps some other type of proxy/phantom representing the action, goes into it's own, specially located space that is "entering play (but not really)" and thus can be affected by any reactions.
Costs for the Equip action (targeting a personality). Are then paid.
It begins to resolve, the effect of which is to take the elected card from his hand, and attach it to the targeted personality.
The Attachment enters it's own specially created space for entering play.
The active player then continues with the personality specially designated by the Limited action Equip, unless that personality somehow becomes illegal (leaves play, gains an effect or trait that would prevent it, etc.) Restrictions, as appropriate, and fulfilled/designated by the Good Faith Rule rule are checked, and modified according to known capabilities (reducing PH requirement, for example, if needed) to the best of the players ability. If something interferes and an effect or action unknown to the player alters this so the restrictions cannot be met, the attachment is returned to the card's original location and costs are not paid (though any actions used in the attempt to help meet restrictions and requirements will still have been used?)
Next, costs are paid, the player does as much as it can to pay those costs, including any additional costs added an via effects or reactions (and pre-standing ones must have been accounted for in the Good Faith Rule). If unknown events make costs un-payable, than the card is returned to it's original location, but any efforts made to pay the costs are not refunded?
If the above conditions have been met without undue interference or the interference is overcome, the attachment enters play and attaches to the previously designated (most often targeted) personality.
The Equip action has now fully resolved, and play continues to the next player, who has an opportunity to take an Open action, or any reactions to the resolution of the active player's action.
The active player then eventually loses because all he has in his dynasty deck are holdings, a Shadow Dragon and an Utaku Kohana, and no hand other than a (fairly good) follower.
If I missed anything, or have gotten anything incorrect, please inform me.
And thank you for your responses.
Chris Fuchs (rules official), 14 August 2007
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60457
Very well then. I think I'm with you so far. Looking at previous rulings and the rules themselves, is the following chain of events accurate?
It is the active player's turn, during the action phase of the turn. The player has enough gold and methods to pay costs that he could buy the two followers (let's say, Ogre Warriors) that are the only cards in his hand 50 times over. Further more, he has two distinct personalities, one that specifies that it cannot attach followers.
It is the active player's opportunity to perform a Limited or Open action. The active player chooses to announce the Limited Action, Equip, from the rule-book.
He can choose this because he has the knowledge of an eligible target for the action (the second, unrestricted personality), and as far as he can tell, he can pay all the costs of the action, and there are no other currently active restrictions preventing him from announcing such an action. During this time one of the Followers is shown from his hand in order to continue to fulfill the Good Faith Rule (by showing that he has an appropriate card with which to use the Equip action).
The, er... rulebook? Or perhaps some other type of proxy/phantom representing the action, goes into it's own, specially located space that is "entering play (but not really)" and thus can be affected by any reactions.
Costs for the Equip action (targeting a personality). Are then paid.
It begins to resolve, the effect of which is to take the elected card from his hand, and attach it to the targeted personality.
The Attachment enters it's own specially created space for entering play.
The active player then continues with the personality specially designated by the Limited action Equip, unless that personality somehow becomes illegal (leaves play, gains an effect or trait that would prevent it, etc.) Restrictions, as appropriate, and fulfilled/designated by the Good Faith Rule rule are checked, and modified according to known capabilities (reducing PH requirement, for example, if needed) to the best of the players ability. If something interferes and an effect or action unknown to the player alters this so the restrictions cannot be met, the attachment is returned to the card's original location and costs are not paid (though any actions used in the attempt to help meet restrictions and requirements will still have been used?)
Next, costs are paid, the player does as much as it can to pay those costs, including any additional costs added an via effects or reactions (and pre-standing ones must have been accounted for in the Good Faith Rule). If unknown events make costs un-payable, than the card is returned to it's original location, but any efforts made to pay the costs are not refunded?
If the above conditions have been met without undue interference or the interference is overcome, the attachment enters play and attaches to the previously designated (most often targeted) personality.
The Equip action has now fully resolved, and play continues to the next player, who has an opportunity to take an Open action, or any reactions to the resolution of the active player's action.
The active player then eventually loses because all he has in his dynasty deck are holdings, a Shadow Dragon and an Utaku Kohana, and no hand other than a (fairly good) follower.
If I missed anything, or have gotten anything incorrect, please inform me.
And thank you for your responses.
..Sure? Is this leading to a followup question, or just a restatement of the various comprehensive rules entries?