Rules for 30-31 December 2002

Greetings,

First, a correction on Oni no Ogon. Oni no Ogon can force a player to bow his stronghold (Rules Archive). Going back to the original question, though...

rules questions

Can oni no ogon force a player to bow his stronghold to produce 0 gold, or can the shadowlands player retain his stronghold unbowed when ogon ability forces him to pay X gold.

No. (Right answer, wrong reason!) The Shadowlands Horde stronghold does not produce gold. The only thing that needs to be bowed are those Strongholds and Holdings that can actually produce generic, multi-purpose gold. Specialty gold-producing holdings (e.g., Bushi Dojo) don't need to be bowed (since you're not paying for a Follower, it can't make gold), *unless* you don't have enough to pay and the second clause comes into effect. The second clause, however, does not force you to bow your stronghold (card text).

See why I don't answer rules questions by private email? :)

Continuing on this topic...

Rules for 28 December 2002 (Zen)

Chinoko can reduce the gold cost of a kolat card by 4 and his ability can be used to pay for Ichiin ability.

That's not exactly correct. Chinoko can be used for an ability because her card text says it can be used for a card *or action*.

what is not clear is if the cost reducing ability of the shadowlands horde would work the same way, sure he can reduce the gold asked by ogon but can he be forced to do so if he doesn't want to?

Irrelevent, for two reasons.

First, Oni no Ogon's gold payment *isn't a cost*. It can't be reduced by things that care about costs -- like the Shadowlands Horde Stronghold.

Second, something that reduces the cost of a card is referring to the cost of bringing a card into play, and won't do anything about the cost of an ability on a card in play (unless it otherwise says so, like Chinoko does).

Kusatte Iru

Can you use One Life, One Action on an action card played as a focus that has an effect on the duel?

Yes.

Can I use Investigation to cancel an action used by Yudoka that accesses his Tactician trait and targets my cards?

Gold Edition rules, "Action Traits," page 34: "When a player [or Personality or Follower card; -ZF] takes an action, the action carries with it all of the traits preceding the action type itself, as well as those of the card *on which the action is printed.*"

(Note: Example 3 in the Gold rulebook following the above rule makes it clear that this rule also applies to actions performed by a Personality or Follower.)

Follow the ink! If the "Ninja" keyword is *not* printed on the card (Luring Tactics, say), it is not legal to play Investigation.

Can Investigation cancel Yodoka [or another scorpion ninja] bowing my cards using the Yogo Towers stronghold?

Gold Edition rulebook, "Abilities and traits," page 33: "When a card gains a trait or ability, consider it printed on the card." Yes.

Will Investigation cancel Yudoka attempting to destroy my terrain using his built-in action?

Yes. Why wouldn't it?

Encircling Terrain & A test of courage ?????

Does the Terrain Resolution count as an "action"?

Encircled Terrain is an action (i.e., it says, "Battle"), which is what A Test of Courage cares about.

A Terrain is an "action" card, but the action is playing it not resolution.

You're drawing a distinction that does not exist in the rules. Just because an action has a delayed effect does not mean the effect stops being from the action.

All A Test of Courage cares about is, "Is one of my Personalities leaving due to the effect of an action ('Limited,' 'Open, 'Battle,' or 'Reaction')?"

Sepukku question

Is committing sepukku political?

It depends.

If you're talking about seppuku allowed by the rulebook, it's not an action, so it can't be a Political action.

If you're talking about seppuku allowed by a card effect, read the card and look for the Political keyword. Honorable Seppuku is Political; Remorseful Seppuku is not.

Run Him Down question

Does [Run Him Down] target his [opponent's] personality?

No. Run Him Down affects the challenge, so it targets the card (or Stronghold) used to generate the challenge.

Fields of Grain and Kosaten Shiro

Does a holding with a * gold cost have a printed value of 0?

You have to read each card on a case by case basis. See Archive, General Rules, Bonuses and Penalties. It's the first entry. Moneylender's printed cost is variable, not 0.

Some questions

Can [Superior Tactics be] used to move a personality from another battle to the current battle?

Yes. Why not?

Snake Tattoo: What is an example of an action or kiho that is still legal to play?

Generally, an action that could normally target a Personality in another battle and that targets one of your own Personalities in the current battle. E.g., Energy Transference or Written in Blood would work, *if* the casting Shugenja was in the current battle.

Arent even most kihos now illegal since the snake tattoo unit is now no longer opposing the caster?

Most. Which is kind of the point.

Open actions are likely to work, since they're unlikely to say "opposing."

Hoshi Wayan exp 2: Does this mean when I use his action on a weapon the bonus will not last only one turn but as long as the weapon is there?

Sure.

Vengeful Dead: What counts as destroyed by card effect?

Generally, something that was in play that was destroyed after a card was played that had "Destroy the Personality" (or something equivalent) printed on it.

duel[?] Chi 0[?] Battle[?]

Yes (see Rules Archive, General Rules, Duels), no (see Rules Archive, General Rules, Death and Destruction), no (rulebook effect, even if the battle is started by a card effect -- e.g., Ambush, Hiruma's Last Breath). Ranged Attacks are also a "Yes."

Even in gold ninja is a valid faction trait, right? (rulebook)

Um. Since you've read the rulebook, why is this even a question? (Not being sarcastic, just curious.) Yes.

Yasuki Yukinaga and Moneylender question (rules team only please)

Just a note here: Saying, "Don't answer if you're not a rules guy!" brings out people's contrary nature and is typically ignored. :)

Could you bow Moneylender when it has no tokens on it using Yukinaga's ability and produce 6 gold for a follower?

It's a Gold-producing Holding, ain't it? Sure.

I wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year.

Zen Faulkes! * Crab Clan Scholar * Deputy Rules Guy