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.
I have read the rules but it is still not clear to me.
Can open actions be taken during battle? or must it say Battle/Open?
is the combat segment part of the action phase? or its own phase altogether? that is part of the problem our play group is having.
We dont have any experienced players in our area that we know of and are learning through trial and error.
thank you
Can open actions be taken during battle?
No. The only actions that can be taken during battle are Battle actions, which follow the additional rules of Presence and Location, and Reactions. Open actions may only be taken during the Action Phase, outside of battles (e.g. not during the battle of an Ambush). An ability with both designators Battle/Open can be used either as a Battle action or as an Open action, so it can be used legally during battles.
is the combat segment part of the action phase? or its own phase altogether?
The Combat Segment is not "its own phase" but a part of any battle, between engaging and resolution. Usually battles take place during the Attack Phase. However sometimes they happen during the Action Phase (e.g. Ambush); in this situation, players may no longer take Limited or Open actions, but only Battle actions and Reactions, until the battle ends.