post for 12 March 2003

Blade of Slaughter / Blessed Sword.

If one were to attach a Blade of slaughter to a samurai under Shiro Mirumoto, then follow up with a Blessed sword, the sequence of events would go: Personality becomes dishonored by the Shame Sword. Personality attaches Blessed Sword, creating a 1 point honor gain. The honor gain is negated, instead rehonoring the personality. This then gives the Shame Sword a +2/+2, and preventing future dishonor.

Is this the case?

Yes.

Blade of Slaughter / Blessed Sword.

Is this the case?

Yup. Same would happen if you attached the Celestial Sword, for instance.

I thought so as well, however there is some issue with it on the Crane Boards, and I'd like some official clarification. Thanks!

Consider it clarified. The rules state the Personality only needs to be involved in the creation of the gain. [GE p. 60] Attaching a card that gives Honor when brought into play satisfies this.

Rules Question (JEFF)

When using fear under Citadel of Daigotsu on a personality with only followers, none of whom have force greater than the fear strength, can I bow the fear source to bow the personality, or do I need a second fear effect?

You need a second Fear effect.

Rules Question (JEFF)

And a follow up to that ...

Say the personality has a weapon that is not bowed ... then the fear effect cannot bow that personality, correct?

Correct.

Mirumoto Kyuzo

I seem to recall Jeff or Dave saying that no non-unique Dynasty rares would be printed, yet Kyuzo looks like one. Is this old samurai's memory going, or was this an oversight somewhere?

A set can easly have around 25 one-per-deck Dynasty cards, which goes a long way towards deciding our rarities for us if our only goal is "one-per-deck = rare, three-per-deck = not rare". But there are two other factors to consider: we like to have some Uncommon Events, and we like every Faction to have a Personality at every rarity level.

Why was Kyuzo not Unique? There was neither a mechanical nor a storyline reason for it. Why is he rare? We wanted someone to be. I'd rather it be the one players are least likely to run 3 of in a deck due to a clunky high gold cost, and his cost is highest of all the Dragons in this set. I'd also rather have half the Dragon- playing population upset with needing to trade for more rares than have 90% of the Dragon-playing population upset with getting an extremely niche rare they can't use.

Blood Money

Can a Ninja player use Blood Money to waive Toturi the First's honor requirement if bringing him into play "without gold cost" with a Ninja Stronghold?

Yes.

Questions

A scorpion player plays a political action, I use the Steel Throne to Issue a Challenge to the player, the challenge is accepted but Bayushi Kwanchai replaces the original personality, Kwanchai loses the duel.

Is the political action negated?

The Steel Throne: "If the Steel Throne is attached to a Courtier, bow it after another Personality performs a Political action to have your Courtier challenge that Personality. If that Personality refuses the challenge or loses the duel, cancel the action."

The challenged Personality did not lose the duel. The Political action is not canceled.

Same situation, but now the player with Steel Throne is using Kyuden Doji, he uses the steel throne and the replaces his personality with another dueler. This time Kwanchai does not replace the personality.

Is the political action negated?

Yes (assuming the Throne's player wins the duel).

Sneak Attack Reaction: Play this card when the Battle Action Segment begins. The Attacker may take an Open or Battle action before the Defender's first action in this battle

I believed that if I Fall On Your Knees my opponent Sneak Attack, he can play another but somebody pointed out that the Fall On Your Knees would be the first action I played in the Battle making Sneak Attack useless, is these true?

No. Another Sneak may be played. Sneak Attack is played "when the Battle Action Segment begins". That trigger still exists.

Furthermore, all phrases such as "when / immediately after the battle begins" and "before the first / Defender's first action" are considered synonymous. [GE p. 58] They are not invalidated by a Reaction being taken.

If Ashura is bowed when the resolution segment of the battle begins, can he use his ability to destroy a personality without follower or a follower?

Not only can it, it must. As written, it's mandatory, and it is not an action, so it is not rendered inactive by being bowed.

Chithith Rules Q? [Jeff]

Jeff, Can Chithith cast Kiho without a non-rat follower? (as printed, I assume no.)

You are correct.

If not, was that the intent of the text?

Probably not.

Can Chithith attach spells without a non-rat follower?

Yes. Attaching a Spell is not a "Spell action".

Chithith Rules Q? [Jeff]

Casting a kiho always targets the caster. Attaching and casting spells does not automatically do so.

Attaching a card to a Personality DOES target the Personality. [GE p. 49] It's just not considered targeting with the Spell/Item/ whatever. Attaching from your hand is not an action OF that card.

City of Gold

With all this talk of City of Gold, I have one quick question. Does it's ability produce a seperate 1G, or does it increase the Gold production by 1?

Your answer is on the card:

"Reaction: Bow City of Gold after you bow a Holding to produce Gold. City of Gold produces 1 Gold."

Rules question...

From the Rulings Archive entry on Overconfidence:

May be played during a duel of force if it is known that a focus is sufficiently large enough to be a legal trigger.

Does this mean it can only be played if focus values are played up? Or can it be played immediately after the focus values are revealed during a strike?

Reactions must be played as soon as their triggers are satisfied. [GE p. 48] Focusing in a duel adds to the duelist's stat as soon as the focus card is played. [GE p. 61] So, Overconfidence must be played when the focus happens. If the focus card is face- down, you cannot wait until you see it.