Rules for 27 August 2003

Greetings,

Toshimoko no Shiryo

What exactly does [Toshimoko no Shiryo] prevent (or does it prevent only reactions to action creating the duel or all reactions during the duel)?

"*No* Reactions" during challenge *or* refusal *or* duel (card text).

Can Kisada's Shrine be used to save a personality with Yu if it dies in such a duel (or when is 'during a duel' considered to be over)?

Yes. The duel is over just like when any other action is over, when all effects have resolved.

Can Poisoned Weapon be used in such a duel (or any other reaction that's used during a duel but not as a reaction to action causing the duel)?

No, it cannot.

Can I switch another personality to duel with Kyuden Doji if either of the original participants has 'Toshimoko no Shiryo'?

No.

Funny Question for Zen & Jeff

Does Arms Merchant look for cards being brought into play from your hand, discard pile, or "from that other place" when bringing an item into play?

Yes. Arms Merhcant looks for a card going from out of play to in play. Where it's coming out of play from does not matter.

Asami

I still don't quite figure out how to get anything from the archives.

Could you be a bit more specific? Are you haveing problems finding it? Will it not load? Or is the way its arranged confusing?

can [Yogo] Asami's ability to force a player to bow one of his personnalities be used in battle ?

Quoting Jeff Alexander, "If Asami herself is in the current battle, yes [Rule of Relevance, GE p. 53]. If Asami is not in the current battle, no, UNLESS everyone the opponent could possibly bow for her is in the current battle. [Rules Archive]"

ruling questions about toritaka kitao

Can [Toritake Kitao] refuse the iai challenge and what happens[?]

Yes. The action is cancelled the instant it is refused.

What happens if kitao looses a iai art?

The action is canceled the instant it's known he has lost. No legally resolved effects are undone (Gold Edition rulebook, pg. 45, italic text).

Can I play feign death on kitao?

You may announce the action, target Kitao, and pay costs, and it is then is canceled. It will not save Kitao because his trait immediately cancels the action before any effects resolve, because it's known at the outset that the action *will* dishonor him.

Same question with loyal yojimbo?

You can play it, but if a duel was involved, it will not save Kitao (see above).

Diamond Rule question about mai non exp nad diplomatic apprentice

Can the apprentice bow instead of mai non exp to lobby the 2nd time?

I won't answer that question, but I will answer a question about the very similar Kakita Ichiro. Yes, you can use Diplomatic Apprentice instead of bowing Ichiro, but this will not let you take the Favor more often than if you had bowed Ichiro.

Diamond Set & Rarity

Instead of the normal starter decks, that consist of mostly random cards and a few fixed cards, why not have well-constructed, competitive decks built by experts[?] Magic does this, and the decks are fun to play and make for good sealed deck tournaments.

Heh. Magic only started doing preconstructed decks after they had been pioneered, and shown to work, by L5R. I'm pretty sure this was an example of a Five Rings Publishing Group business model being "incorporated" into Wizards of the Coast's practices after FRPG was sold to WotC.

Pssst! Ryan! Do I remember right, or am I making things up? ;)