Can I bring back Conscript Sailors from discard pile to my hand using his open action?
Conscript Sailors Text Unique Battle: If this card was not in play when this battle began: Give it +1F. Open: Put this card into your hand.
Conscript Sailors
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.
Can I bring back Conscript Sailors from discard pile to my hand using his open action?
No rule prevents it that I can find. Though this does seem weird, so I'm still searching.
About this ruling...
What about this rule? Implications of in and out of play
Cards that are not in play or in a resolution, entering-play or focusing area have the following limitations:
* They cannot be targeted. * Their continuous traits do not produce effects.
EXCEPTION: Continuous effects on cards out of play affect only the card itself.
* They are not affected by effects. * Abilities on them cannot be used, and triggered traits on them are not triggered.
[CLARIFICATION March 16 2008]
Cards that are not in play also may not be used or changed to pay costs, even ones in a resolution, entering-play or focusing area.
The above limitations are overridden when a reference is made to cards in an out-of-play area, or an effect that would normally put a card in an out-of-play area. Examples: “Target a discarded card”; “After one of your cards is destroyed”; “All Samurai in and out of play.”
Each of the limitations must be overridden separately, and is overridden only for the specific area or areas mentioned or implied. (Emphasis mine) Conscript sailors doesn't include a clause allowing his Open ability to be used "even if in a discard pile" or similar.
About this ruling...
What about this rule? Implications of in and out of play
Cards that are not in play or in a resolution, entering-play or focusing area have the following limitations:
* They cannot be targeted. * Their continuous traits do not produce effects.
EXCEPTION: Continuous effects on cards out of play affect only the card itself.
* They are not affected by effects. * Abilities on them cannot be used, and triggered traits on them are not triggered.
[CLARIFICATION March 16 2008]
Cards that are not in play also may not be used or changed to pay costs, even ones in a resolution, entering-play or focusing area.
The above limitations are overridden when a reference is made to cards in an out-of-play area, or an effect that would normally put a card in an out-of-play area. Examples: “Target a discarded card”; “After one of your cards is destroyed”; “All Samurai in and out of play.”
Each of the limitations must be overridden separately, and is overridden only for the specific area or areas mentioned or implied. (Emphasis mine) Conscript sailors doesn't include a clause allowing his Open ability to be used "even if in a discard pile" or similar.
That's the one I was looking for. Thanks.
So, to correct the above: No, you can't use an ability on an out-of-play card.