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.
Duelist Keyword (http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_D#Duelist_.28keyword.29): If a Duelist is in a duel against a non-Duelist with an equal or higher duel stat than his own when the duel begins, the Duelist has the first opportunity to focus in the duel, but may not use this opportunity to strike.
If a duelist is the challenger in a duel, but his controlers focus pool is empty, and he does not have a card in his hand. What happens?
Duelist Keyword (http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_D#Duelist_.28keyword.29): If a Duelist is in a duel against a non-Duelist with an equal or higher duel stat than his own when the duel begins, the Duelist has the first opportunity to focus in the duel, but may not use this opportunity to strike.
If a duelist is the challenger in a duel, but his controlers focus pool is empty, and he does not have a card in his hand. What happens?
A duellist with lower chi facing a non-duellist gets the first opportunity to focus or strike, regardless of whether he can focus. He does not have a choice.
If his focus pool is empty and he has no cards in hand, he will be unable to focus, so he must strike. [FIXED]
Code: Select all If the duellist's focus pool is empty, he will be unable to focus, so he may not choose to focus first.
Alex
http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=67272
If a Duelist has the ability to focus, may he then choose not to focus first?
If a Duelist has the ability to focus, may he then choose not to focus first?
No. It's not optional.
The Glossary has been updated to reflect the rulebook; my original ruling has been reversed.
Alex