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 2010
For the purposes of the Talisman of Yume-do which cards are face-down? From the Rules site I get that Decks (fate and dynasty), hand, provinces, and focus pools are face down. Am I missing any? Further, which of these face down cards can I use to check with the Talisman of Yume-do? For example can I look at the twelfth card down in my fate deck? Can I check a card my opponent has focused in a limited duel I have started?
Relevant texts: Talisman of Yume-do - Unique Attaches to a Crane Clan Personality paying 1 less Gold. Limited: Bow this card: Look at a target face-down card.
Face down - A player can sometimes look at his or her face-down cards (such as in the hand) and sometime can not (such as in the deck or in Provinces). Equivalent to "face down."
One last thing, in this question http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=86063 the poster asks if followers of bowed personalities contribute to battle resolution. And as I understand it bowed personalities count for the unit's strength but not for battle resolution. Is this correct?
Thank you!
A player, 30 August 2010
For the purposes of the Talisman of Yume-do which cards are face-down?
It depends on their areas (see Areas of the game) and on the rules that govern those areas; for example face-down cards in provinces are turned face-up during the Events Phase.
From the Rules site I get that Decks (fate and dynasty), hand, provinces, and focus pools are face down. Am I missing any?
The focusing area, and cards under another card.
which of these face down cards can I use to check with the Talisman of Yume-do?
Any of them which is still face-down when you are allowed to take a Limited action.
can I look at the twelfth card down in my fate deck?
Yes.
Can I check a card my opponent has focused in a limited duel I have started?
No, because you are not allowed to take another Limited action while your previous one is still resolving.
bowed personalities count for the unit's strength but not for battle resolution. Is this correct?
Yes. Glossary, Total Force: A unit's total Force is the sum of the modified Force of all Personalities and Followers in the unit, regardless of whether they are bowed or unbowed. An army's total Force is the sum of the modified Force of all unbowed Personalities and all unbowed Followers in the army.