post for 10 December 2002

Season of the Phoenix Promos

I am under the impression that season of the phoenix kits release today or in the near future, yet I have seen no advertisement for it, with promos and whatnot. Anyone know what the cards are and when the kits actually do release?

The special promo card is Isawa Tekkan. The sets officially release December 9th, which would be yesterday.

Berserker Rage question

It occurred to me that I never actually asked this before. Berserker Rage says "Battle: Target one of your Berserker Personalities opposing one or more units. That Berserker's Force becomes equal to twice his or her printed Force until the battle ends. That Berserker bows when the battle ends, an effect that cannot be prevented, and may not straighten before your second Straighten Phase from now."

Since the target's force is set equal to a specific number until the battle ends, does that mean that the target cannot receive further force bonuses and penalties during that time? Or is it just his base force that is set to that?

It's a one-time, instantaneous change. Further changes may be applied afterward.

Rules Q: Timing on focusing bonuses

When do bonuses from focusing in a duel wear off?

When the duel ends. [GE p. 61]

I assume it's sometime during duel resolution, but is it before or after the rewards and penalties for winning or losing the duel are applied?

After, since those happen as part of resolution, which is still during the duel.

Specifically...

If Tamori Chieko loses an Iaijutsu Art after focusing >1, can she Wind's Truth the opponent's honor gain?

Yes.

If Tsutomu no Shiryo changes the duel from Words Cut Like Steel to one of personal honor, will the winner gain honor equal to the loser's pre-challenge PH + focus values?

Yes.

If my personality loses a Tsutomu no Shiryo-affected duel where the penalty for losing is dishonor, can I play Honorable Seppuku and gain my personality's pre-challenge PH + focus values?

Yes (assuming your Personality is a Samurai).

Death by Gifts and Favors (Solution offered.)

Forfeiture of the entire game is *way* out of line.

The primary reason for the MRP was to incorporate an official ruling that you're not allowed to use it if it's not in your deck, in a way that wasn't pointless -- every card can have the sentence, "You can't take this action if it's illegal" tacked onto the end, and it wouldn't change the card one bit. Yet the question of what to do if G&F is used and not found was a common one, and we try to incorporate rules clarifications onto cards whenever we reprint them.

Arbitrary free reshuffles are only an example of WHY someone might want to deliberately misuse G&F's existence in a dishonorable fashion, as well as a demonstration that it COULD be misused in ways that most cards (such as Taeruko) can't. Reshuffles are not so potent in and of themselves to be the sole or even the main reason for the change.

Another G&F MRP question

Okay, I haven't seen this one mentioned yet so...

All effects on cards are performed in the order they're listed, correct?

Basically. Normally this only matters when there is a timing issue.

During my end phase, I bow my stronghold to retreive my one Gifts and Favors from my deck and put it into play. I now check to see if I have Gifts and Favors in my deck or face-down Provinces, which I don't, since the one I'm playing with is now in play. I lose the game.

No, you don't. Losing is contingent upon trying to use G&F and finding you have none. It's an alternative, not a later, separate effect.

Kakita Tech

I was wandering through the rulings and saw a ruling for KT,

The last one played takes precedence.

So my question is, since only one person could play it, even if they played multiple copies (to get the Ring of Void out or whatever) there is still no need for the ruling, as the same personality would be striking or focusing first.

Or is there some way for both people to be able to play it, i.e. the higher PH personality loses PH after playing KT, but before actually striking or focusing?

I don't recall the situation that generated the question. You're right, it's normally not possible for both players to play Kakita Technique. The exception would be if Reactions are taken that alter Personal Honor as the duelists enter the duel.

Lady Moon's Curse

If the kiho Lady Moon's Curse is cast on a Scorpion Personality to strip his Yogo Towers ability, does he then remain without the bowing ability for the rest of the game or does Yogo Towers immediately reapply it since the Stronghold's effect is ongoing?

The Yogo Towers would not grant its ability again unless the Personality stopped being "your Scorpion Clan Personality" -- either by leaving your control, leaving play, or losing the "Scorpion Clan" trait -- and then became one again.

More on OsanoWo-Unravelling-Unravelling

OK, Unravelling B occurs, cancelling Unravelling A. Unravelling A is now not considered to have been used. THIS IS CORRECT, BUT THEN React with Unravelling A against... FURY OF OSANO-WO ... and cancel it (but one token is removed) Unravelling A used. THEN Fury of Osano-wo is now not considered to have been used AND if it has another token it may be destroyed to make the ranged attack.

Jeff, this is the correct COMPLETE sequence ???

Correct -- although the second use of Fury of Osano-Wo would have to wait for its controller's next opportunity to take a Battle action.

Some renewbie questions

1. What is this rule about a tainted or corrupted deck? How many shadowlands cards make me tainted or corrupted? What is the result for tournament results?

It depends entirely on who's collecting storyline results, and why. The last Kotei we had used "one to three Shadowlands and/or Maho cards = tainted, four or more = corrupt".

2. Does slaughter the scout work against units that are asigned or only against those that move into a battle during battle actions segment?

Moving only. Moving and assigning are different.

Rules Questions

Hi guys, I had a few rules questions. I imagine some of them have been brought up before, but I'm not sure exactly how they work. Any help would be appreciated!

First, I was wondering about the interaction between Coordinated Fire, Stars Scatter, and Ranged Attack modifiers such as The Arrow Knows the Way, Kyujutsu, and The Jade Arrow. Specifically, when looking through the rules archive, I noticed this statement for Stars Scatter: "When affecting a Ranged Attack with some special properties, all the Ranged Attacks keep those properties. [DW, e-mail, 17 May 2000]"

Does this mean that I if I coordinate fire several ranged attacks and Arrow Knows the Way one of them, then Stars Scatter the coordinted RA, that all of the new Ranged Attacks will be able to ignore Followers.

Yes.

Same with Kyujutsu (ignore targeting restrictions)?

Yes.

And if one of the ranged attacks was a Jade Arrow, does that mean that all of my RA's destroy opposing cards with their ranged attacks?

You know, I don't think anyone has ever thought to combine a Jade Arrow ranged attack with others, since it's normally pointless, but it looks like this combo works -- and is necessary to play Stars Scatter. And, unfortunately, it looks like it might be too strong, since Stars Scatter lets you split the attack into an unlimited number of strength 0 attacks if you wish. That will destroy the entire opposing army every time. I'll see what the Rules Team wants to do.

Secondly, on the interaction between Sneak Attack and Scout, I know that you can Sneak Attack, play a non-terrain action, and then play a terrain via the Scout all before the defender gets his first action. But can it be done the other way?

Yes. You do still have to play the Sneak Attack itself before you declare you're using the Scout, though.

Another question: Test of Courage and Overwhelmed

1. Can I use a test of courage against overwhelmed?

If you choose to send units home, yes.

2. If I used a test of courage against a block supply lines earlier on my strongest char and have only 2 units. Can I choose to send those 2 home when overwhelmmed is played? I cannot target my strongest guy with actions after all....

In this situation, you are forced to send home just your other unit. With Overwhelmed, you must choose an alternative you can satisfy completely, and if you can't, you must choose an alternative you can satisfy partially (i.e., send one unit home).

Question about old Shinjo Shono colour text

On a very old copy of Shijo Shono it indicates that he has sworn to undo the shame the Shijo have brought on the Unicorn clan. What is the shame that the card is referring to?

They were greatly infested with Kolat.

Question Regarding Ancestors

Do Ancestors negate the cavalry trait in personalities?

No. Only the Personality and all Followers need to have the Cavalry trait, and Ancestors are not Followers. [GE p. 2]

Question about old Shinjo Shono colour text

As a side question, is there a Utaka family or is it like the Togashi name was?

There is an "Utaku" family. It and the "Otaku" family are equivalent. I don't know what you mean about the Togashi family being special in the past. rules