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, 27 January 2010
If Bayushi Hikoko is at a battlefield where Fields of Battle is in effect and chooses to dishonour himself, can he then bow someone or even dishonour someone? Does he loose his base abilities as soon as he hits zero personal honour?
Bayushi Hikoko: Political Battle: You may dishonor Hikoko: Target an enemy Personality. Bow him if his Personal Honor is lower than Hikoko's Chi. Dishonor the enemy Personality if you dishonored Hikoko
Fields of Battle: Battle: While at this battlefield, Personalities with 0 or 1 Personal Honor may not use their base abilities and have -1F.
Thank you,
Dan Jacobson (rules official), 27 January 2010
If Bayushi Hikoko is at a battlefield where Fields of Battle is in effect and chooses to dishonour himself, can he then bow someone or even dishonour someone? Does he loose his base abilities as soon as he hits zero personal honour?
Bayushi Hikoko: Political Battle: You may dishonor Hikoko: Target an enemy Personality. Bow him if his Personal Honor is lower than Hikoko's Chi. Dishonor the enemy Personality if you dishonored Hikoko
Fields of Battle: Battle: While at this battlefield, Personalities with 0 or 1 Personal Honor may not use their base abilities and have -1F.
Thank you,
Hikoko has already started to use his base ability before Fields of Battle would check his personal honor.
Remember the sequence of actions:
A. Announce ability (Fields of Battle checks before this step) B. Declare Targets C. Pay Costs (Hikoko may dishonor himself here) D. Effects
Once dishonored, of course, Hikoko may not have his action announced (i.e. "used") if Fields of Battle is in play.