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, 30 October 2008
Situation: Hired Killer is thrown to kill a Monk A. Player who has the potential victim on the board also has a copy of Turn of Fortune in discard pile and a Wandering Sohei attached to one of his personalities in play. He wants to play that kiho for the ability that changes the target to his samurai (he has got one).
Questions: 1. What does actually the wording “perform from” means? Does personality with Wandering Sohei attached copies ability on himself or does action comes from the kiho card in graveyard? If the first is true does that mean that this personality (who is already performing the action) does not have to be a monk or be used to pay the cost of the kiho action and meet its target requirements? If the second is true, does that mean that the action that is originally performed by no one (like the reaction on Turn of Fortune that gets Hired Killer off the monk) cannot be performed with the help of Wandering Sohei?
Relevant cards text:
Wandering Sohei Once per turn, this Personality can perform an action from a Kiho ability on a card in your discard pile (observing the Kiho's restrictions); then, remove the card from the game.
Turn of Fortune Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your Samurai, target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets him instead, if legal. Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 30 October 2008
What does actually the wording “perform from” means?
The phrase on Wandering Sohei isn't "perform from", it's "perform an action from a Kiho ability on a card." The "from" is just specifying the location of the ability, not anything unusual about performance.
If the action is not performed, Wandering Sohei's trait won't be helpful (http://rules.l5r.com/FAQ#What_performs_an_action.3F).
Does personality with Wandering Sohei attached copies ability on himself or does action comes from the kiho card in graveyard?
Latter. Copying is a very specific thing, and doesn't occur unless the word "copy" (or some variation of it) appears in the card text.
(D)oes that mean that this personality (who is already performing the action) does not have to be a monk or be used to pay the cost of the kiho action and meet its target requirements?
Nothing about the text of the ability changes because of Wandering Sohei. If the Kiho ability requires a Monk, you need a Monk. If the ability does not require a monk, you do not need a monk.
A player, 31 October 2008
Card "Turn of Fortune" Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your Samurai, target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets him instead, if legal. Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
Questions №1. As i correctly understand the unbowed Monk or Shugenja personality targeted when first part of reaction of Turn of Fortune used is performer of Turn of Fortune? Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your Samurai, target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets him instead, if legal. Right?
Questions №2. Who are performing the second reaction printed on Turn of Fortune? Or nobody performing it when it is played? Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
Do it has to be read (maybe it misses some violet text?) as i printed it below? Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja, target one of your Samurai: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
[Mod edit: Coloured text removed. Please note that red text is reserved for moderator use, and using it can land you a warning for impersonating a mod. Thanks! -ZF]
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 31 October 2008
Card "Turn of Fortune" Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your Samurai, target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets him instead, if legal. Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
Questions №1. As i correctly understand the unbowed Monk or Shugenja personality targeted when first part of reaction of Turn of Fortune used is performer of Turn of Fortune? Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your Samurai, target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets him instead, if legal. Right?
Questions №2. Who are performing the second reaction printed on Turn of Fortune? Or nobody performing it when it is played? Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
Do it has to be read (maybe it misses some violet text?) as i printed it below? Kiho Reaction: When an action would target one of your unbowed Monks or Shugenja, target one of your Samurai: The action targets one of your Samurai instead, if legal.
[Mod edit: Coloured text removed. Please note that red text is reserved for moderator use, and using it can land you a warning for impersonating a mod. Thanks! -ZF]
The first action is performed. The second action is not. A Personality cannot perform an action that nobody performs.
http://rules.l5r.com/FAQ#What_performs_an_action.3F