I declare an attack. I assign Moto Chagatai exp4 to an undefended province. Resolving that battle first, we both pass, the province is destroyed, and Chag goes home bowed. The next battle is at a province where neither I nor my opponent have presence. Chag's own ability says that even if he's bowed and has been in a battle resolution this turn, he can assign to the current battle, but he won't straighten if he's unopposed. With bowed Chag at home, can I play Unwavering Assault on him? I know it won't move him into the battle, but its straightening ability is a separate effect. The idea is that Unwavering Assault will straighten him at home, then I can use Chag's own battle action to actually move him into the battle. I think that by the good faith rule this is legit, but my opponent was arguing the rule of Location.
Unwavering Assault and Good Faith
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.
I declare an attack. I assign Moto Chagatai exp4 to an undefended province. Resolving that battle first, we both pass, the province is destroyed, and Chag goes home bowed. The next battle is at a province where neither I nor my opponent have presence. Chag's own ability says that even if he's bowed and has been in a battle resolution this turn, he can assign to the current battle, but he won't straighten if he's unopposed. With bowed Chag at home, can I play Unwavering Assault on him? I know it won't move him into the battle, but its straightening ability is a separate effect. The idea is that Unwavering Assault will straighten him at home, then I can use Chag's own battle action to actually move him into the battle. I think that by the good faith rule this is legit, but my opponent was arguing the rule of Location.
This is a variation of the frequently asked question, "Is an action legal if an effect can't happen?"
http://rules.l5r.com/FAQ#Is_an_action_l ... _happen.3F
Also, if you look under the Rule of Location (http://rules.l5r.com/Battles#Rule_of_Location), it notes: "Even if the movement is subject to known effects that will cause it not to happen -- for example, due to ongoing negation effects, or due to the unit having been in an attacking army during the Resolution Segment of another battle -- the action can still be taken, because of the Blind cards rule."