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
A dispute came up between me and a very knowledgeable player of my play group so i wanted to get a ruling.
As I understand it, Only Actions Speak reacts to the announcement of an action, before targeting takes place, or effects with choices happen.
So the following scenarios should work: [i have a magistrate, the opponent has a personality A, with 0 PH, and personality B with 1PH] 1) I announce Patrolling the roads. 2) My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak. 3) I target personality B, setting his force to 1 an gaining no honor.
[i have a magistrate, the opponent has a dishonorable personality] 1) I announce taxing the scum 2) My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak. 3) I target his dishonorable personality 4) during the effect resolution, I choose to make the opponent lose 2 honor.
Relevant Card Text: Only Actions Speak Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
Patrolling the Roads Battle/Open: Choose your performing unbowed Magistrate: Target a Personality with lower Personal Honor than your Magistrate's Chi. Reduce the Personality's Force to his own Personal Honor. If his Force is now 0, gain 2 Honor.
Taxing the Scum Open: Choose your performing unbowed Magistrate or Courtier: Target another player's dishonorable Personality. Increase all Honor Requirements on Personalities in and out of play by 10 (except -HR). Choose a player, who gains or loses 2 Honor.
Zen Faulkes (rules official), 18 March 2011
A dispute came up between me and a very knowledgeable player of my play group so i wanted to get a ruling.
As I understand it, Only Actions Speak reacts to the announcement of an action, before targeting takes place, or effects with choices happen.
So the following scenarios should work: [i have a magistrate, the opponent has a personality A, with 0 PH, and personality B with 1PH] 1) I announce Patrolling the roads. 2) My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak. 3) I target personality B, setting his force to 1 an gaining no honor.
[i have a magistrate, the opponent has a dishonorable personality] 1) I announce taxing the scum 2) My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak. 3) I target his dishonorable personality 4) during the effect resolution, I choose to make the opponent lose 2 honor.
Relevant Card Text: Only Actions Speak Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
Patrolling the Roads Battle/Open: Choose your performing unbowed Magistrate: Target a Personality with lower Personal Honor than your Magistrate's Chi. Reduce the Personality's Force to his own Personal Honor. If his Force is now 0, gain 2 Honor.
Taxing the Scum Open: Choose your performing unbowed Magistrate or Courtier: Target another player's dishonorable Personality. Increase all Honor Requirements on Personalities in and out of play by 10 (except -HR). Choose a player, who gains or loses 2 Honor.
These look correct.