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, 5 March 2009
Couple of questions:
1. If I use Determination when I play an action that creates a challenge, Victory or Death for example, will I be able to challenge personalities that "may not be challenged," such as the Shinbone Pack or a personality that has Ryokan's Sword EXP attached?
2. My opponent focuses The Bear Returns face up during the second duel of the turn. If I play Determination when I play an action that creates a challenge, Victory or Death for example, will the challenge resolve (even though The Bear Returns says "no challenges may be issued this phase")?
Relevant texts:
Determination Dark Virtue Reaction: After you announce an action, target one of your Samurai: The action cannot have its effects negated or have its targeting changed. After the action destroys any Personality, remove him from the game.
Shinbone Pack Ratling • Broken Shinbone Tribe • Creature May not challenge or be challenged. May not be brought into play by Battle actions. Open: Pay 2 Gold: Search your Dynasty deck, then discard pile, for a Shinbone Warrior. Bring it into play at this location, ignoring costs.
Ryokan's Sword (Experienced) Weapon • Experienced • Unique This Personality may not be challenged. You may not be forced to focus by other players' card effects. Weapons give no Chi bonuses to Personalities while they are in a duel against a Personality you control.
The Bear Returns You may focus this card face-up. If you do, and it is the second or later duel during an Action Phase, draw 2 cards, end the duel without resolution, and challenges may not be issued this phase. Battle: Target a Samurai or Bushi you control with Force greater than 5: Target a card opposing him with Force less than 4. Destroy it.
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 5 March 2009
Couple of questions:
1. If I use Determination when I play an action that creates a challenge, Victory or Death for example, will I be able to challenge personalities that "may not be challenged," such as the Shinbone Pack or a personality that has Ryokan's Sword EXP attached?
2. My opponent focuses The Bear Returns face up during the second duel of the turn. If I play Determination when I play an action that creates a challenge, Victory or Death for example, will the challenge resolve (even though The Bear Returns says "no challenges may be issued this phase")?
Relevant texts:
Determination Dark Virtue Reaction: After you announce an action, target one of your Samurai: The action cannot have its effects negated or have its targeting changed. After the action destroys any Personality, remove him from the game.
Shinbone Pack Ratling • Broken Shinbone Tribe • Creature May not challenge or be challenged. May not be brought into play by Battle actions. Open: Pay 2 Gold: Search your Dynasty deck, then discard pile, for a Shinbone Warrior. Bring it into play at this location, ignoring costs.
Ryokan's Sword (Experienced) Weapon • Experienced • Unique This Personality may not be challenged. You may not be forced to focus by other players' card effects. Weapons give no Chi bonuses to Personalities while they are in a duel against a Personality you control.
The Bear Returns You may focus this card face-up. If you do, and it is the second or later duel during an Action Phase, draw 2 cards, end the duel without resolution, and challenges may not be issued this phase. Battle: Target a Samurai or Bushi you control with Force greater than 5: Target a card opposing him with Force less than 4. Destroy it.
The answer is "no" to both questions.
Determination negates negation. "May not" clauses are not negation (see here).