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, 1 October 2007
If during my turn my opponent he uses Isawa Ochiai Exp. open ability on my Yoritomo Random. When I declare an attack and assign my personality she will make the duel from her ability that will end up bowing my Yoritomo. Assuming I had Pincers and Tail attached to my personality can I use the item battle action? Based on the "who's performing" rule I guess not. But I had that doubt, so here I am.
Thanks in advance.
Pincers and Tail
Reaction: After a Battle action targeting one of your Personalities resolves, if this card is in your hand: Attach it to him, paying 2 less Gold. Battle: Bow and destroy this card: Ranged 3 Attack. You may compare this attack's strength against the target's Chi instead of Force if he is a Personality.
[Mod edit: Thread title, typos. -ZF]
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 2 October 2007
If during my turn my opponent he uses Isawa Ochiai Exp. open ability on my Yoritomo Random. When I declare an attack and assign my personality she will make the duel from her ability that will end up bowing my Yoritomo. Assuming I had Pincers and Tail attached to my personality can I use the item battle action? Based on the "who's performing" rule I guess not. But I had that doubt, so here I am.
Thanks in advance.
Pincers and Tail
Reaction: After a Battle action targeting one of your Personalities resolves, if this card is in your hand: Attach it to him, paying 2 less Gold. Battle: Bow and destroy this card: Ranged 3 Attack. You may compare this attack's strength against the target's Chi instead of Force if he is a Personality.
[Mod edit: Thread title, typos. -ZF]
Generally, the bowed status of a Personality does not affect whether you can use an ability on an attached card.
The rule is, "Abilities on a bowed card can not be used," not, "Bowed Personalities can't perform actions." Those are two very different things.