Rules for 12 May 2004
A rules digest from the L5R CCG rules team, copied from the mailing list archive for Oracle of the Void. The askers' names are left out. Rulings are as they stood on this date; later rulings, the rulebooks and the Rules Archive may differ.
Your Rules for Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Show of Good Faith question
The personality that you take control of with show of good faith, is it considered "one of your personalities" for purposes of other card effects?
Yes. In reference to cards in play, "your" refers to the cards in play that you control.
Rules question
Can a personality who is bowed be targetted by actions that bow him? For instance, can I Palm Strike a bowed, weaponless opponent in order to play Ring of Air?
There is no problem with that. Bowing a bowed Personality won't have any effect, however, when you try to do it. Still, it does count as a successful action / casting / etc.
Kenzo and Shining Example
Is the +2 force or chi gain from Mirumoto Kenzo's trait permanent?
Yes. "Permanently" is the duration of both bonuses.
Can I form Shining Example with ... Bayushi Kamnan (or any unique Samurai) with a samurai follower (say, for instance, a Veteran Samurai) attached..
Shining Examples says, "Formed by a Unique Samurai and a non-Unique Samurai."
It does not specify "Personality" anywhere. Samurai Followers count.
give him Tactician, give him +1/+1 from the formation, and then use the Tactician trait as my next immediate action?
Assuming he's aligned to your Faction, sure, you can give him the Tactician Trait just like it says on "Shining Example." Then you can go to the extra opportunity to play a Battle or Open Action gained from playing a Formation. You can use the Standard Tactical Action from the Rulebook on him - or take any other Battle or Open Action you want.
Also, does playing any formation count as a battle action for the Ring of Water? That immediate action you get after playing the formation, does that also count for the Ring of Water?
Formations are played as Battle Actions, as per the Hidden City Rules Sheet. Playing one will count as playing / taking a Battle Action.
As for the extra opportunity to take an Open or Battle Action, if you use that chance to play a Battle Action, then you've played a Battle Action. It'll count for Ring of Water. Nothing special.
Secluded Outpost
If I pay for a samurai using 2 Secluded Outposts, can I combine those effects to attach an item or follower costing 8 or less gold for free? I.e. I pay for Bayushi Motomu with 2 Secluded Outposts, can I then slap the clan sword on him without cost?
No. Secluded outpost says, "If this pays for a Samurai or Bushi Personality, you may attach an Item or Follower to him from your hand after he enters play, for 4 Gold less. You must pay all remaining costs."
That's an individual effect. You either use it, or you don't, all or nothing. There is no option to combine them. If you use two Secluded Outposts to buy a Samurai or Bushi, you may attach 0-2 Items / Followers at 4 Gold less each. You may not choose to attach 1 Item / Follower at 8 Gold less.
OK, that's everything for Wednesday that wasn't tackled in-thread. If I missed your question, please repost it with the flag [RULES] in the subject line and I'll get back to you at the first opportunity.