post for 23 October 2001
A rules digest from the L5R CCG rules team, copied from the mailing list archive for Oracle of the Void. The askers' names are left out. Rulings are as they stood on this date; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
post for 17 October 2001
Going by what you said above, you may in fact redirect the BSL to your Test-of-Couraged personality, since you need be "bound only by the action's original targeting requirements." Test of Courage prohibits YOU from targeting/bowing your OWN cards, and says nothing of prohibiting your opponent from doing so. In which case, as the opponent could legally BSL the already-Couraged guy, you could legally then redirect the action to such a personality.
Right?
Right. Yes, I see the contradiction. A Test of Courage actually won't prevent using Shosuro Gardens, or any other redirection effect, to redirect an action to the Test-ed Personality. This is a REVERSAL.
Strike of the Flowing Water
When you have 2 cards with differing text, the newer card is always the right one. This is called the "Most Recent Printing" rule (MRP), and can sometimes change the effects of certain cards. I believe that you focus Strike of Flowing Water face down, and thus get both the three focus and the doubling effect, but I could be wrong. Jeff, Zen, or Vaughn will give you an official response.
No, you're right. When used as a focus, Strike of Flowing Water adds its own focus value as well as doubling that of the next one you play that duel.
Questions, Questions - always more questions!
Seppuku is a legal option but must be done as soon as the Personality is targeted with the Ambush, which is before the attack happens.
Just wondering how you can commit seppuku as the personality is targeted with ambush, because the honor loss does not happen until after the battle occurs.....
As Vaughn pointed out, the only condition for seppuku that Ambush meets is that of targeting your samurai, so the option to seppuku must be exercised upon targeting.
Questions, Questions - always more questions!
Vaughn Derderian writes:
In the specific case of Ambush, the Samurai isn't taking an action, and he isn't making a decision, but he *is* getting targeted by an action that will unconditionally cause an honor loss. There are a number of steps in between the targeting and the honor loss, but that's not important.
I'm still confused by what constitutes "taking an action" for a Personality.
It has to be written on the Personality or the Personality has to bow as a cost of playing it. Neither is true for Ambush.
I had thought this was in the rulebook, but I've looked hard and I cannot find it. Nonetheless, that is the definition, and I've sent copy off to Zen for inclusion in the archives until we can print a rulebook with it.
Questions,
Questions - always more questions! + more questions
4) Can Ikoma Sume use his ability in a battle he is in, or does he bow before he gets the change to bow and give everyone in the battle +1/+1?
He will bow before you have the option to use his Reaction. You either need to play a Rallying Cry or only use him on defense.
If he´s outside the battle, can he use his reaction?
Yes.
post for 17 October 2001
Jeff Alexander writes: You could also argue that Kuon dies honorably, and is then immediately dishonored by the rest of the text of Iaijutsu Challenge, but I'm guessing that the rationale is that once he's dead you stop applying those effects.
Well, no. My gut reaction is that it would still apply. I'll see what the Rules Team has to say on the matter.
Well, they've considered. From the Oni's Fury rulebook: "This seppuku will also prevent any dishonoring effect that that action may have on the Samurai."
OK, this means Ide Mishisuna is less interesting in Dishonor decks than I first thought...
* I have Mishisuna, and one of your Samurai declines a Iaijutsu Challenge, and commits Seppuku: total Honor loss, 1, right?
Right, because you can't use Mishisuna.
* I have Mishisuna, and play Shame on one of your Samurai, who commits Seppuku. Mishisuna can still cancel the rehonoring part, resulting in the total Honor loss being 1 + PH, right?
Right.
Quick question
Just to make sure. Bowed personalities add their force totals while at home to cards like Outmanuevered By Force, right?
Wrong. The rules about bowed cards adding less Force to their units apply at all times. [Gold/APC rulebook p. 55]
Targeting Question
When The Damned explode to give 5F to the personality they are attached to, are they targeting the personality they are attached to?
Under Gold Edition rules, yes.
Code of Bushido
The Code of Bushido:
Reaction: Play this card when a Samurai takes an action, or creates an optional effect that would dishonor him or her or cause his or her controller to lose Honor. Cancel the action, or prevent the Samurai from creating the effect.
What does "when a Samurai takes an action, or creates an optional effect that would dishonor him or her or cause his or her controller to lose Honor" mean?
It covers using an action on the samurai's own card, bowing as a cost of playing a card, or the samurai's controller making a decision that results in dishonor to the samurai or an honor loss (like refusing an Iaijutsu Challenge).
can someone "Code of Bushido" me if I try to "Marries a Barbarian" one of his Samurai?
No, because the Personality is neither taking the action nor creating an optional effect.
The Bane of L5R: Voting
Is there any chance the L5R team will avoid voting competitions in the future?
I figured we'd learned when the Crane first got hosed...
Then the lion...
And now we have Battle for Black Crane Palace...
...which is a series of tournaments, yes? Not a vote. I am confused at this point.