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, 17 February 2012
I was looking for a clarification on the use of Words Have Strength. In particular, I was hoping for confirmation on whether or not multiple Words Have Strength's can be played in reaction to a single deadly Battle action. I initially thought that the trait restricting it to once per resolution was only referring to the resolution of a battle (during which Personalities are destroyed), but then my friend pointed out that the card itself triggers with a battle's resolution or "the resolution of another player's Battle action" (emphasis added) (though the ability goes on to refer to the Battle action as the "action," rather than referring to the resolution of the action). Does this phrasing mean that one can only play a single Words Have Strength in reaction to a Battle action that destroys that player's Courtier or Magistrate, or was the trait only meant to restrict the playing of multiple copies in response to a battle's resolution?
Thank you for your time.
Words Have Strength says: Political You may only play one copy of Words Have Strength in reaction to any one resolution. Reaction: After a battle's resolution, or the resolution of another player's Battle action, if the resolution or action destroyed any of your Courtiers or Magistrates: Choose a player who loses 3 Honor.
Jon Palmer (rules official), 19 February 2012
I was looking for a clarification on the use of Words Have Strength. In particular, I was hoping for confirmation on whether or not multiple Words Have Strength's can be played in reaction to a single deadly Battle action. I initially thought that the trait restricting it to once per resolution was only referring to the resolution of a battle (during which Personalities are destroyed), but then my friend pointed out that the card itself triggers with a battle's resolution or "the resolution of another player's Battle action" (emphasis added) (though the ability goes on to refer to the Battle action as the "action," rather than referring to the resolution of the action). Does this phrasing mean that one can only play a single Words Have Strength in reaction to a Battle action that destroys that player's Courtier or Magistrate, or was the trait only meant to restrict the playing of multiple copies in response to a battle's resolution?
Thank you for your time.
Words Have Strength says: Political You may only play one copy of Words Have Strength in reaction to any one resolution. Reaction: After a battle's resolution, or the resolution of another player's Battle action, if the resolution or action destroyed any of your Courtiers or Magistrates: Choose a player who loses 3 Honor.
The word "resolution" on Words Have Strength can refer to either the resolution of an action or the resolution of a battle. Therefore, you may not play multiple copies in reaction to the resolution of a Battle action that destroys your Courtier or Magistrate.