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, 12 August 2008
I would just want to ask what happens to Gempachi's force in the following scenario:
٠I assign Daidoji Gempachi to attack ٠Obsidian Dragon assigns to defend against Gempachi ٠Gempachi uses his ability (Reaction: After Cavalry Maneuvers: Raise Gempachi's Force, and the Force of another target Personality in his army, to the Force of a target card opposing them.) ٠Battle ensues
Would Gempachi retain his force bonus once battle begins or would the Obsidian Dragon's trait kick in again?
And a follow up: Once and for all (for our playgroup's peace of mind), can Gempachi use his ability while he is alone?
Advanced thanks to those who can help me out...
A player, 12 August 2008
Obsidian Dragon's trait reads: "Non-Unique Personalities have a Force and Chi penalty equal to their own Personal Honor while they oppose Obsidian Dragon; this will not reduce Chi below 1."
Would Gempachi retain his force bonus once battle begins or would the Obsidian Dragon's trait kick in again?
Obsidian Dragon's trait reduces Daidoji Gempachi's Force as soon as they oppose each other: when Obsidian Dragon assigns to defend against Gempachi. Gempachi's ability is used after that point: "after Cavalry Maneuvers" (card text). Thus he gains a Force bonus high enough to raise his Force, and the Force of another target Personality in his army, to the Force of a target card opposing them (Obsidian Dragon I suppose). This Force bonus is calculated so that his current Force (including the penalty from the Dragon) reaches the number which it is set to.
For example, if Gempachi's Force Chi and Personal Honor are 3 before he assigns, he is given a -3F/-2C penalty when Obsidian Dragon assigns, then his action gives him a +6F bonus, so he is 6F/1C at the beginning of the battle. If Obsidian Dragon and Daidoji Gempachi no longer oppose each other, Gempachi's Force increases to 9 because the -3F penalty stops.
Card features, General rules about stats, Setting stats to a value: "Various effects will set a stat to some particular value, such as effects that switch or copy stats. To set a stat to a value, give an appropriate bonus or penalty. Example: A 0F/3C Personality has a +1C weapon attached. An effect switches the Personality's Force and Chi. The Personality's Force gains +4F, and Chi receives -4C. Because the weapon's bonus is already part of the stat, it is not reapplied, and the Personality is destroyed due to having 0C."
See also "Gempachi and Force bonuses", "Followup to Gempachi and Force Bonuses" and especially "Daigotsu exp2 and Daidoji Gempachi".
can Gempachi use his ability while he is alone?
No, "another target Personality in his army" is a required target in order to take his action (see Abilities and actions, B. Required targeting).