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, 20 February 2012
If my opponent uses Firm Censure on my personality and I want to perform the Limited Equip action with that personality do I: A: Announce and pay all costs for the equip action, but the effect of equipping the card fails and I keep the card in my hand. B: Announce and pay all costs for the equip action, but the effect of equipping the card fails and I discard the card from my hand.
Also, if I somehow fail to pay the costs for the equip action, did the personality still perform the equip action? If they did perform the action, does Firm Censure's delayed effect still get used up? Also, is it possible to fail paying the costs of the Equip action to the best of your knowledge?
Relevant text of Firm Censure: Open: Choose your performing Samurai and target another player's Personality or Follower: Negate the effects of the next action performed by the targeted card (this turn).
Jon Palmer (rules official), 21 February 2012
If my opponent uses Firm Censure on my personality and I want to perform the Limited Equip action with that personality do I: A: Announce and pay all costs for the equip action, but the effect of equipping the card fails and I keep the card in my hand. B: Announce and pay all costs for the equip action, but the effect of equipping the card fails and I discard the card from my hand.
Also, if I somehow fail to pay the costs for the equip action, did the personality still perform the equip action? If they did perform the action, does Firm Censure's delayed effect still get used up? Also, is it possible to fail paying the costs of the Equip action to the best of your knowledge?
Relevant text of Firm Censure: Open: Choose your performing Samurai and target another player's Personality or Follower: Negate the effects of the next action performed by the targeted card (this turn).
A is correct, but only in a tricky sense. The Equip action has no innate cost; it could be given one by an effect such as Kaiu Sugimoto.
If your Personality is targeted by Firm Censure, you may announce the Equip action targeting them (restricted by the Good Faith Rule), and Firm Censure will negate the effects of the action, which allow you to pay for and attach a follower, item or spell. Effectively in Emperor Edition you will not have paid any costs.