Rules for 3 April 2004

Hey Rocky, what me pull the Rules for Saturday, April 3, 2004 out of my hat ...

Kiho Tricks/Satsu and bowing/RED and Shukmei

Here are some question that I would like some answers to that came up over the past week or so during some games.

1. If I have a Satsu out who's bowed..and since the card reads "need not bow to cast Kihos" can he still sling kihos like Chasing Osano Wo? If I remember correct cards that are bowed..their abilities are "turned off"..like even though the new Kaneka card doesn't have to bow to use his abilities..if he's bowed he cant use his abilities right?

You can't use an Action on a card or stronghold which is bowed. That means Limited, Battle, Open, or Reactions. That does not do anything to Traits. Satsu has a Trait that lets him cast without bowing. It is always "on."

And as for casting ...

"Kiho can be cast by bowed Personalities if the kiho or Personality does not require bowing (e.g., Togashi Satsu, Experienced). [JA, 15 September 2003]" (Accumulated Rulings, "Kiho")

2. I have a Hitomi Daisetsu attacking province A and a Hitomi Daisetsu attacking Province B. We are resolving the province A battle..can Daisatsu at Province B cast Kihos into that battle? I checked the rule of relevance and it seems to fulfill all the requirements so I don't see why not...but this was disagreed.

There is no grounds to disagree upon. So long as the Kiho affects a card or token at the current battle or the battle itself or it creates / moves a card or token in the current battle, you can cast it from any place in play - home, another battle, Mars, etc.

3. Im playing Crab with Razors Edge Dojo and my opponent brings in a Shukmei..and puts a -1/-1 on one of my guys..does he have to discard a card to the dojo? I think the token is a cost of bringing in Shukmei..not a targeted action..but I could be wrong..thus why I'm asking.

The token placement is not a cost, but an effect. However, it is not an effect generated by an Action. There is no Limited, Open, Battle, or Limited attached to it. It is a trait with a triggered effect. It - is - targeted, but it is not an Action, so you need not discard.

Kiho Tricks/Satsu and bowing/RED and Shukmei

I would think Kolat Recuiter is an action that targets Personalities assuming the Dynasty card targetted is a Personality when revealed. Also it would most likely be the opponents first action that phase targeting a Personality. Anybody see any reason why this wouldn't be the case.

Well, cards in your Provinces don't qualify as "Your Personalities" so Razor's Edge Dojo won't trigger. Cards that are not in play do not have Controllers, and thusly don't qualify as "yours," only "cards you own." (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 105, "Glossary: 'your'")

Semantics, I know, but game mechanics are almost completely dependent on arbitrary semantics.

Hoshi Wayan: Questions and Corrections.

Question: Hoshi Wayan XP 2 gains Double Chi. In a duel of Force, his tokens will:

According to the rule book, Double Chi makes each focus add its value twice.

Twice is an adverb in this sentence, meaning to do the action two times. That means you get two seperate bonuese from focusing. Each one can be Reacted to with Hoshi Wayan's ability once.

Another way to put it is: Does Double Chi make two seperate bonuses, or add a bonus to itself before it is applied. This would also have relevence for Overconfidence.

Well, it would only have relevance if the Focus cards were Face Up in the duel. Unknown values aren't elligable, even if you can extrapolate some sort of mathematical minimum.

Two questions

1. If Blackened Claws kills the opposing personality before focussing occurs, is that considered winning the duel for the purposes of Iuchiban, For the Empire, Bloodsword etc.?

Much like a battle, you need two sides to a Duel in order to "win" or "lose." If there isn't an opponent when it comes time to determine a winner and loser by comparing Stats, there is no winner or loser at all.

2. If you use the Pit of Blood to save Shukumei, when you return him to play, does his trait kick off again and give someone -1/-1?

Pit of Blood tells you to put him into play. It says to ignore all costs and restrictions. His entering-play effect from his trait is neither a cost nor a restriction, so it triggers. You must give someone -1/-1.

Just a random thought

If a personality that does not need to bow to cast a kiho can cast kiho's while bowed, does the same apply to ranged attacks? By extension, with the castle of the wasp?

Why would it? The issue with Ranged Attacks is that ABILITIES on bowed cards and strongholds may not be played unless they unbow that card or stronghold. (Diamond Edition Rulebook, Page 54) Kiho are printed on Action Cards and they are never bowed as far as I can tell.

If, hypothetically, Togashi Satsu xp. got hit with Gempuku to become a Shugenja, then Blessings of Isawa resolved and he cast a Kiho, he could not cast his new "Kiho Ability" while bowed (unless it unbows him), just like Tusuruchi Nobumoto can't use his Ranged Attack Ability while bowed (unless it somehow unbows him).

fun and games with Tribute to your house...

If, on his turn, the Phoenix player plays Tribute to your House on himself, knocks himself down to 6 honor, can he subsequently gain 8 or more honor (if capable of that) and auto win at the beginning of his next turn as Tribute wears off?

In short, yes. He was at 32 at the beginning of the turn. 14 is less than 37, so In Time of War won't do anything to the game (it only looks for the Honor to rise above 5 more than its value at the beginning of the turn = 32 + 5 = 37).

When Tribute's effect ends, his Family Honor will be at 40 at the beginning of his turn (card text) and trigger the Honor Victory condition.

OK, that looks like all of it. As usual, if you want an official ruling on a card that is not yet released, you need to talk to Jeff. I won't give you them. If I overlooked any of your other questions, please, repost them with the flag [RULES] in the subject line and I'll get to them at the first opportunity.