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, 17 August 2008
I assign my Nonhuman personality to attack province X. Enemy personality assigns to defend province Y. I resolve the battle in province X. I play Surprise Attack and create another battlefield. I target my Nonhuman personality and enemy personality defending in province Y. I moved both targets in that other battlefield. Is this possible?
If not, can I resolve the battle in province Y first, we both pass, resolve the battle in province X next and then play Surprise attack to move both targets to another battlefield?
Is the enemy personality considered to be defending a province and at home at the same time?
Surprise Attack Battle: Target one or more of your Nonhuman Personalities at the current battlefield: Target one of the enemy leader's Personalities at this battlefield or his home. Create a battlefield not associated with any province. Move all targets there. (The current battle continues normally.)
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 17 August 2008
I assign my Nonhuman personality to attack province X. Enemy personality assigns to defend province Y. I resolve the battle in province X. I play Surprise Attack and create another battlefield. I target my Nonhuman personality and enemy personality defending in province Y.
Stop. That's illegal. Surprise Attack says, "Target one of the enemy leader's Personalities at this battlefield or his home." That is, the current battlefield.
If not, can I resolve the battle in province Y first, we both pass, resolve the battle in province X next and then play Surprise attack to move both targets to another battlefield?
No, because of card text above.
Is the enemy personality considered to be defending a province and at home at the same time?
No (Law of Conservation of Mass).