post for 11 March 2002

Simple question

Hmmm but wouldn't Yoritomo Aramasu be discarded as well since it is the Experienced Bayushi Aramasu? (Even has the friendly little reminder right on the card)

-Yoshitomo

Ah. But that's the great part.

To quote: "When Kitao enters play, discard all copies of Bayushi Aramasu."

'Copies' doesn't look for traits. It looks for titles. Yoritomo Aramasu is NOT a copy of Bayushi Aramasu. Jeff has already ruled on this one.

On the other hand, I'm still waiting for the answer as to whether or not the 'copies' thing applies to blocking him from entering play. (I've asked twice. Once the Rules guys were discussing it, and the second time my question was included in the rules post, but there wasn't an answer appended.)

Here's the thing:

It's clear that Kitao was intended to discard the exact same set of cards when she enters play as she prohibits from entering play once she's out.

It's also clear that she *should* affect Yoritomo Aramasu either way, since they're the same person. Furthermore, these effects exactly mimic storyline events.

Read literally, her discarding only applies to cards titled "Bayushi Aramasu". Whether or not her prohibition against play likewise applies by strict title match is open to interpretation, so I can't just say "read it literally too". On the other hand, no matter which way I clarify it, one of the two clear intentions above is violated.

The Rules Team debated and rejected a general ruling that any card effect that refers to Personality X also refers to all Experience levels of Personality X, so that avenue of solutions was closed.

So, I'm going to have to put on my Lead Designer hat and issue the following ruling:

Both of Yoritomo Kitao (Experienced)'s effects that apply to Bayushi Aramasu also apply to Yorotimo Aramasu. This is a REVERSAL.

Ratling stronghold question.

Two quick questions.

Is it possible to bring Ratling personalities into play for 2 less gold?

Can you pay full gold cost while brining a ratling personality into play to gain honor?

Yes and yes, as of Gold Edition. [rulebook p. 2, et al] However, note that the Warrens no longer gives a 1g discount to Personalities. Only non-Personality Ratlings are 1g cheaper, so you can't buy Ratling Personalities for 3g less.

Ring of Earth

I'm not completely sure about the conditions required to put this ring into play... You must keep your province after the opponent attacked it and had at any time a force greater than the resistance of the province, ok...

But what does "at any time" means in this case ? Does it mean at least once during the battle, or during the whole battle ?

Any single moment in time during the entire Attack Phase, including right after assignment but before any battles have even begun to resolve.

Two little questions

1) Can I use Code of Bushido to force my opponent to accept my Iaijutsu challenge ?

Yes.

2) What happens if my Personal Champion replaces my personnality challenged by Iaijutsu Art, and loses the duel : can i have a dishonored follower ?

Yes...which, for Followers, means absolutely nothing special.

Toturi

Toturi: 7F 6C 10H 17G 5PH * Lion Clan Thunder. Samurai. Toturi's Army. Tactician. Double Chi. Exp 2. Unique. Toturi is not a member of Lion Clan, but will join a Lion player for 2 less gold. (and other stuff).

What happens if an effect would cause this version of Toturi to swear fealty to the Lion Clan? Does his text mean that his change of allegiance is ignored - so that if you (playing Lion) play Oath of Fealty three times he becomes 10/9?...

He would keep the Lion Clan trait if given it by something during the game, since it would be a later effect.

Alternatively, since Toturi Miyako has made Toturi a family name, you could name Toturi for "Agasha Join the Phoenix", and get him for honour for 15 gold (13 reduced), or 13 gold when your Alliance resolves and you name Toturi's Army...

Correct.

Shosuro Higatsuku question

Shosuro Higatsuku has as a battle action the ability to force someone to challenge him. If he does this, does the Higatsuki player or the player forced into the duel get first reaction?

The player to Higatsuku's controller's left takes the first Reaction to his action, then the first Reaction to the challenge, then the first Reaction to one of his or her Personalities entering a duel. Higatsuku, being the one challenged, gets the first option to focus or strike.

Here's the combo I'm looking at.

Give Bayushi Kwanchai the Celestial Sword of the Scorpions. Assign both to an attacking or defending army. Use Higatsuku's battle action to force a personality in a duel. Here's where I get to thinking. Since the other personality is challenging me, I get first reaction. Use Kwanchai's reaction to replace Higatsuku, allow any reactions the other player has. If I get first action in the duel, choose strike.

Your opponent gets the first chance to play a Reaction with the wording "when one of your Personalities enters a duel, ...". Then you get a chance to use Kwanchai. Once both of you are done reacting, you get the first option to focus or strike.

Shosuro Higatsuku question

I would think you need Kwanchai there since you have to abide by the rule of presence to use his reaction.

Reactions are not bound by the Presence or the Relevance rules. Those two rules apply to Battle and Open actions only.

However, this leads to a couple other questions. Is forcing the duel my action or my opponents. If Higatsuku's ability to force your opponent to duel Higatsuku, then is that his battle action and I get one after the duel?

It is your action.

Yu question

This came up in a game the other night. If Narrow Ground is in play, are the Forces of each victorious Personality still a 2 when the defeated army starts to use its Yu?

Yes. They are 2 until the end of the turn.

SotC Question

Do winning players of this tournament (as well as the others) have to turn in a decklist to AEG?

The only mandatory information is the Clan and Wind used by all participants, plus the first place winner's answers to a short multiple choice questionnaire.

post for 4 March 2002

BTW: My copies of the Ancestral Home say 'Bow to give a Lion Personality a +2F bonus for attacking until the end of the turn'. Does 'for attacking' count as 'while attacking'?

Yes.

That is, imagine a Lion attack - counterattack - counter-counterattack situation, where Akodo X in the Lion attacking (and second counterattack) has the stronghold bonus. Would that personality have the +2F only in the first and third attack phases, when the personality's actually attacking?

Correct.

Two 50-card decks, Kosaten Shiro (Crane) vs. Yogo Towers (Scorpion). Contents and complexity geared towards two neophyte players facing off against one another with an experienced player providing instruction. Cards will not have simplified or omitted game text.

Cheer, yay, cheer!

This means these cards won't fall under the 'these cards do not count towards MRP' rule that the previous two sets have?

They'll still fall under it, just for completeness. Although no cards have had their effects simplified or reduced, some cards HAVE been slightly reworded to address frequent questions new players commonly have about them.

And, as an aside, were you able to choose decklists so that none of the cards are MRPs? (with the caveat that you're able to let us know this far ahead of the product's shipping).

I don't know what you mean by this. The only alternative to being a reprint is to be brand-new, and I can tell you right now that every single card in them already exists.

shinjo tech

During a battle, my opponent produes a ranged 2 attack (say, off of Elite Spearmen). The opponent then raises this by 2 using Arrows from the Woods. Can I Shinjo Tech this attack?

The Arrows From the Woods is not producing a Ranged Attack in this instance. It's raising the strength of the Spearmen's RA by 2. You can't use Shinjo Technique on it because it's not an Action card targeting one of your Personalities.

The errata on Shinjo Tech says that the wording requring target of an "oppposing unit" cannot be tech'ed.

That is not errata. That is the way the card has always interacted with the general rules on redirecting actions.

Distractor + Confusion Question

If I use Tsudao's battle action to send a unit home and my opponent reacts bowing the Scorpiod Distractor and one of his personalities, and I pay the cost to 'cancel the canceling' can he still play Confusion at the Court or is the chance gone?

Those cards are both worded with the same timing, so he can try the Distractor first and then use Confusion at Court if the action is not canceled.