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, 11 July 2009
The CE wording on falling leaf strike has had the wording MRP'd to read:
"Battle: Target your unbowed Monk: Move him to the current battlefield. Give a target enemy Personality or Follower -3F. Bow it if its Force is now 0."
WIth the new wording it says move, then apply the force penalty. Since it does not state that I need to be opposed to move into the battle can I move into an unopposed battle and let the targeting and force reduction fail?
Or is the targeting and force reduction required for the movemnt? (despite it being two seperate sentances/blocks)
Also if the opposing card cannot be targeted or have it's force reduced, can I still legally play falling leaf to move into the battle?
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 11 July 2009
Falling Leaf Strike: can I move into an unopposed battle?
Celestial Edition rules, page 23: "Targeting mentioned in the effects block is not required at this time if it: is done by another player..." Does not apply.
"...is delayed in time..." Although the movement effect comes before the targeting, the targeting is not "delayed." Delayed means a time for the effect is spelled out in the card text as happening at some point other than during action resolution. Does not apply.
"...or is optional." Does not apply.
Thus, targeting the enemy Personality is mandatory. You have to do it.