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, 29 August 2009
Terrains are Strategy cards that follow completely different rules than any other Strategy.
The player must take an action during a battle to put his terrain in play. He does so, and the terrain enters play in the current battlefield. Per the CR, this happens "before the Terrain action resolves".
At which point does the "Terrain action" resolve? This isn't explained too clearly in the Terrain entry of the glossary. Do we consider the "terrain action" resolved when its effects are applied? Or is it activated right after the Terrain enters play?
If I play any Terrain, does it always count as successfully resolved for the purposes of playing Ring of Water? (Example: After playing three successful battle actions, I control one unopposed unit at the current battlefield and play Encircled Terrain. Can I put my Ring of Water into play?)
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 29 August 2009
At which point does the "Terrain action" resolve?
It will depend on the particular text of the Terrain. There is no general rule.
If I play any Terrain, does it always count as successfully resolved for the purposes of playing Ring of Water?
No, it does not. Remember that to be successful, the effects of the action must do something; that playing the card alone does something doesn't matter.
A player, 29 August 2009
Regarding this Zen said: It will depend on the particular text of the Terrain. There is no general rule.
Let's say, for example, Mountains of the Phoenix. At which point does the "Terrain action" resolve when you play Mountains of the Phoenix?
Mountain • Terrain Battle: Before this battle’s resolution, the Attacker and the Defender each choose a unit in their own army; the active player decides who chooses first. Then, destroy the chosen units.
Zen also said: No, it does not. Remember that to be successful, the effects of the action must do something; that playing the card alone does something doesn't matter.
Well, for now, I've brought a card into play at the current battlefield. Doesn't that count as "doing something"?
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 30 August 2009
Mountains of the Phoenix. At which point does the "Terrain action" resolve when you play Mountains of the Phoenix?
It has only delayed effects, so will resolve after those effects are activated, which is nearly right after the card is played.(http://rules.l5r.com/CE_Abilities_and_a ... resolution)
I've brought a card into play at the current battlefield. Doesn't that count as "doing something"?
It's not an effect of card text. Card text alone determines success, not rulebook text.
A player, 9 September 2009
With regards to this: http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=79002
Wouldn't just by putting a terrain in play change the game state for purposes of putting rings into play? It's my understanding that while a terrain remains in play, other players cannot put one in play. Therefore, a game state has changed.
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 9 September 2009
With regards to this: http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=79002
Wouldn't just by putting a terrain in play change the game state for purposes of putting rings into play? It's my understanding that while a terrain remains in play, other players cannot put one in play. Therefore, a game state has changed.
No, because that is not a card effect. It's a rulebook effect. "Successful" cares about card effects, not rulebook effects. This was dealt with in an earlier thread, which I'll be merging with this one.