Rules for 11 April 2004

Just another manic monday, with rules from Sunday, 'cause that's my fun day ...

The Rules for Sunday, April 11, 2004

Keen Eye

1 - I target my opponent's shugenja with a Iaijutsu Challenge. He bows Shiba Danjuro to change the target. Can I play Keen Eye to cancel this?

"An action creating a challenge must begin resolve before anything can happen "during" the challenge. E.g., the action can be canceled, even if reactions are not allowed during challenges. [JA, 16 December 2001, 2 March 2004]" (Accumulated Rulings, "Duels")

This same logic applies here. You select both targets for Iaijutsu Challenge before the action begins to resolve. Danjuro's Reaction is played then - well before Keen Eye can be legally played.

2 - Can you confirm that Keen Eye will cancel Feign Death, Be Prepared To Dig Two Graves, Kisada's shrine used in reaction to the death of the loser of the duel ?

"Everything that occurs after a challenge is accepted is "during a duel." [JA, 7 November 2001], including destroying the loser. Thus, if Reactions are not allowed during a duel, a Reaction played after the death of a Personality is illegal (e.g., Feign Death), unless the Personality dies before duel resolution. [JA, 28 August 2003; email, October 2003]" (Accumulated Rulings, "Duels")

Yes. The results of losing and winning a duel are also considered to happen "during a duel" and thus happen during the time it is legal to play Keen Eye.

3 - My opponent plays Smoke And Mirrors, I cancel with Keen Eye. Who gets to focus / strike now ?

I believe that your opportunity to act (focus) passes to the next player, just like your opportunity to play an Open or Battle Action in the Battle Action Segment or a Reaction to a given trigger passes when your Action is canceled.

rehonoring after storm heart

Say I have Doji Kurohito with an Omoidasu attached and he proceeds to Storm Heart on Koto. Koto accepts and strikes, Kurohito wins. If I bow the Omoidasu to gain two honor, does this rehonor Kurohito since winning the duel dishonored him, but winning the duel enabled the Omoidasu to use it's ability, or will I simply gain two honor and Kurohito will remain dishonored?

"Outside effects and reactions triggered by winning or losing a duel occur before the results of the duel itself, because winning occurs when Chi totals are compared and one is found to be higher. [JA, 19-20 February 2004]" (Accumulate Rulings, "Duels")

Omoidasu gets played before Storm Heart dishonors him.

Assume the same situation, only a Blade of Penance is attached and Kurohito was honorable when the duel was initiated. What are the results of that outcome?

First, I'm going to assuming the Omoidasu was not attached (thereby preventing the Blade from doing anything).

Secondly, I'm going to assume that Kurohito has already been restored to honor from the dishonor caused by Blade of Penance, as he can't possibly win a duel from Storm Heart as far as I can see with 0 PH.

The Blade would likewise produce 4 honor before Storm Heart dishonored Kurohito.

L5R-CCG] Wanton Destruction & Blood Pact

Can Wanton Destruction be played in a Battle in which a Shadowlands Personality is opposed by a single Personality beloning to a different player?

No. Wanton Destruction tells you to select 3 targets. If you can't target the necessary targets, you can't play the card.

Can Blood Pact be played in a Battle by a player whose Personality is not opposed by a Personality belonging to that player (or) is not opposed at all?

No. Blood Pact has two targets. If you can not select the necessary targets, you can't play the card.

This only applies to you, however.

"If a card forces an opponent to target cards, you must only meet your own targeting requirements to play a card legally. [JA, email, 18 November 2003]" (Accumulated Rulings, "Targeting")

queston of Unicorn Stronghold

Can Unicorn Shugenja have a spell cast itself if the Shugenja bowed from using the spell already, Using the new Shinden Hor.. New Stronghold?

Bowed Shugenja may not cast spells. (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 54, "Bowing")

question about Yu

Yu happens at the end of resolution. If thats the case then if they have enough strength to take the province and you kill enough of their force with yu leaving them with least force than your province strength do they still that the province?

The comparison of Army Forces and Province Strength is already made back when you determine who wins and loses the battle, way before Yu resolves. Resolving Yu won't change the fate of the Province or Army.

"This occurs immediately before the losing army is destroyed. Destroying cards in this way does not alter the outcome of the battle, and it does not earn the loser any Honor." (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 93, "Yu")

Agasha Chieh rule question

If agasha chiehs unit counts as being in a battle for the brief instance she is casting the spell does she count as moving into that battle for that brief instance?

No. Moving is an effect. Chieh xp. does not generate any such effect. Chieh does not go there, she simply IS there.

If you want to get all shaved-scalps and tattoos about it, Chieh does not move about the Universe. Instead the Universe moves about her. ;-)

(No, that doesn't mean you can Slaughter the Scout the Universe. The last part was just philosophical rambling for pure entertainment value.)

More zany rules questiosn

Does a battle resolve before or after personalities are destroyed during resolution of a battle?

Personalities are destroyed During battle resolution. Battle resolution is a phase with a distinct beginning and ending.

If that isn't clear enough, perhaps you could give me a specific example of a card effect with wording you have a question about?

rules question

When a personality dies, which player is allowed the first reaction? Is it the player controling Hakai who is attempting to remove the dying personality from the game or the one which is attempting to Feign Death the dying personality?

Hakai says, "Reaction: After a card is put into a discard pile, remove that card from the game."

Feign Death says, "Reaction: Play after a Personality is destroyed to return the Personality to play ..."

Since going to the discard pile is part of being destroyed, I'd say they have the same trigger.

I'm assuming the action leading up to it also has an effect as to who reacts so assuming the answers to be different what happens if my opponent is playing a card like To Do What We Must in Battle vs in another circumstance I killed his personality by a Kolat Assassin?

"the change to react goes the the player to the left of the one who causes the trigger." (Daimond Edition Rulebook, page 75, "Reactions")

Lastly who would get the first reaction to a card being destroyed during battle resolution?

In cases where neither player causes the trigger (beginning of a phrase, rulebook effects that destroy cards) you'd start with the Active Player - the one whose turn it is - and then move left. (Daimond Edition Rulebook, page 75, "Reactions")

Oh, and to make the Rend situation clear as I promised.

Rend the Soul says: "Battle: Give one of your Personalities +5 Force. If that Personality's army wins this battle, this battle is tied instead. Your army can not destroy Provinces this battle."

"This battle" refers to the Current Battle in which Rend was played. We'll call that Battle A.

"That Personality's army" refers to any army that personality finds himself in at any given time.

"Your army" refers to the army to which the Controler of Rend the Soul is sided with at any given time (either the Defending Army or the Attacking Army).

So, what does all this mean in practical terms?

If you move the Personality targeted by Rend the Soul into another Battle (call it Battle B) and he stays there, Rend the soul will not make wins at Battle A or Battle B into ties. Battle B does not qualify as "this battle" and the army in Battle A no longer qualifies as "that Personality's army."

However, no matter where the Personality ends up, the army of the Controler of Rend the Soul can not destroy a Province during Battle A ("this battle).

I believe that about does it for Sunday. All Hidden City questions need to be directed to Jeff. If I missed your question, please repost it with the flag [RULES] in the subject line and I'll address it at the first opportunity.

I've also done a bit more consulting with the Rules Team bout Kwanchai xp. and Pit of Blood. I hope to have something clear and final for you in the immediate future. If not, I'm sure people will pester Jeff and I about it to no end during the Kotei this weekend until we crack. ;-)