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, 18 March 2011
The Rule of Presence: Battle actions can only be taken by a player who controls a unit at the current battlefield.
EXCEPTION: A player who controls no units at the current battlefield may take a Battle Action whose costs or effects say they are able to move one or more of his units there. The player must then make choices within the action, if possible, such that it does move one or more of his units there, fulfilling Presence.
is this correct on the exception? some cards has words "even you control no units at the current battlefield" to specify the action taken. but the "Unwavering Assault" can be taken even without any units in the battlefields, does this include these action cards?
can i still move a unit even i dont have any "presence" at the current battlefield
Inexorable Defeat - must have an enemy unit there. Mountain Storehouse Strike Quickly Guided by Honor
Countermove - i move in with an enemy unit.
also the none considered movement actions like:
Will Unexpected Arrival Fortress of the Forgotten
where im from they only allow the "Unwavering Assault" can you please give some clarification on them.. just for the sake of argument, because if the "Unwavering Assault" is allowed they why not the other action, they all move into a battle plus they dont have the word "even you control no units at the current battlefield"
thank you L5R AEG
P.S. how can i reply on my post?
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 18 March 2011
The Rule of Presence: Battle actions can only be taken by a player who controls a unit at the current battlefield.
EXCEPTION: A player who controls no units at the current battlefield may take a Battle Action whose costs or effects say they are able to move one or more of his units there. The player must then make choices within the action, if possible, such that it does move one or more of his units there, fulfilling Presence.
is this correct on the exception? some cards has words "even you control no units at the current battlefield" to specify the action taken. but the "Unwavering Assault" can be taken even without any units in the battlefields, does this include these action cards?
can i still move a unit even i dont have any "presence" at the current battlefield
Inexorable Defeat - must have an enemy unit there. Mountain Storehouse Strike Quickly Guided by Honor
Countermove - i move in with an enemy unit.
also the none considered movement actions like:
Will Unexpected Arrival Fortress of the Forgotten
where im from they only allow the "Unwavering Assault" can you please give some clarification on them.. just for the sake of argument, because if the "Unwavering Assault" is allowed they why not the other action, they all move into a battle plus they dont have the word "even you control no units at the current battlefield"
thank you L5R AEG
P.S. how can i reply on my post?
I am not sure I understand the question.
If you are asking if an action without Presence is only legal if it includes card text saying, "even if you control no units": No. An action can be legal even if there is no "even if" wording written on the card.
As to why some cards have explicit exceptions, and some don't... it depends on the rest of the card text.