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, 21 February 2008
Start of game When a game of L5R starts, follow steps A through G in sequence.
A. All players show their Strongholds, and any other cards that begin the game in play, at the same time. Each player starts his or her Family Honor stat at his Stronghold’s Starting Honor, applying any modifications. This is not an Honor gain. B. The starting player is determined; the player with the highest Family Honor goes first. If one or more players are tied in Family Honor, they resolve who goes first randomly, such as by rolling dice or flipping a coin. C. In turn order, each player who is not going first may search his or her Dynasty deck for a Legacy holding, show it, and put it into play (bowed) without Gold cost. Legacy holdings put into play this way cannot straighten before their controller’s third turn begins.
A Favor Returned -
After determining starting player but before shuffling, if you are not the starting player, you may search your deck for this card and put it into play, bowed. If you do, this card may not straighten before your third Straighten Phase. Play only one copy this way per game. Bow this card: Produce 2 Gold, or produce 3 Gold if paying for a Holding.
Is there anything stopping someone searching for a Legacy holding and a copy of A Favor Returned before the start of the game in a format where both are legal?
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 22 February 2008
Start of game When a game of L5R starts, follow steps A through G in sequence.
A. All players show their Strongholds, and any other cards that begin the game in play, at the same time. Each player starts his or her Family Honor stat at his Stronghold’s Starting Honor, applying any modifications. This is not an Honor gain. B. The starting player is determined; the player with the highest Family Honor goes first. If one or more players are tied in Family Honor, they resolve who goes first randomly, such as by rolling dice or flipping a coin. C. In turn order, each player who is not going first may search his or her Dynasty deck for a Legacy holding, show it, and put it into play (bowed) without Gold cost. Legacy holdings put into play this way cannot straighten before their controller’s third turn begins.
A Favor Returned -
After determining starting player but before shuffling, if you are not the starting player, you may search your deck for this card and put it into play, bowed. If you do, this card may not straighten before your third Straighten Phase. Play only one copy this way per game. Bow this card: Produce 2 Gold, or produce 3 Gold if paying for a Holding.
Is there anything stopping someone searching for a Legacy holding and a copy of A Favor Returned before the start of the game in a format where both are legal?
This sounds like a question for the Legacy Council.
http://www.jadehand.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=33
A player, 22 February 2008
From here.
As a member of the Legacy Council, I'm happy to oblige. However, the answer is contained in the Rules Wiki.
From the Rules Wiki, Alternate Formats, Legacy Format, Changes to the Samurai Rulebook:
"P 24, Legacy Holdings
REPLACE, "If you're not going first, you may now search" with "If you're not going first and have no holdings in play, you may now search"
ADD, "If you have put a Legacy Holding in play this way, you may not bring holdings in play except through another player's card effects until your first turn begins."
So, yes, there is a rule in Legacy Format preventing getting A Favor Returned AND a Legacy Holding before your first turn.
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 22 February 2008
From here.
As a member of the Legacy Council, I'm happy to oblige. However, the answer is contained in the Rules Wiki.
From the Rules Wiki, Alternate Formats, Legacy Format, Changes to the Samurai Rulebook:
"P 24, Legacy Holdings
REPLACE, "If you're not going first, you may now search" with "If you're not going first and have no holdings in play, you may now search"
ADD, "If you have put a Legacy Holding in play this way, you may not bring holdings in play except through another player's card effects until your first turn begins."
So, yes, there is a rule in Legacy Format preventing getting A Favor Returned AND a Legacy Holding before your first turn.
Thanks. Looked for that, but searched for "Favor" and missed "Legacy." (It's morning...)