Rules for 19 May 2004

Your Rules for Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Well Prepared question

How is the choice about wether Well Prepared bows or straightens made ? I mean, when a players declares he's using WP, does he has to say "i want to bow/straighten a card ; i then choose card X that is unbowed/bowed and therefore a legal target, as the target of WP" ? Or is it more "I choose card X as the target of WP ; as it is bowed/unbowed, WP straightens/bows it" ?

I ask this because of redirection ; in the second above case, if i redirect WP from an unbowed personality to a bowed one, it will give me a huge advantage.

When Well Prepared's effects resolve, the controller can either bow or straighten the target card.

However, the decision you make seems to be restricted. I can't ignore the Accumulate Rulings about decisions:

"If a card effects forces you to make a decision, you may not choose an option that is known in advance will fail. You may, however, immediately respond with a voluntary effect that negates or cancels the action or effect you chose. [Summary of other rulings]" (Accumulated Rulings, "Decisions")

Bowing a bowed card will fail.

Straightening an unbowed card will fail.

This would indicate to me that in most cases Well Prepared forces you to either bow or straighten the target based on the target's status as bowed or unbowed.

Q: Compassion + Tani Hitokage

If I have a Shrine of Compassion in play and 3+ destroyed Personalities, can my opponent use his duel on Tani Hitokage?

Yes. Shrine of Compassion says, "before they issue a challenge to one of your Personalities during the Action Phase or the challenge is negated."

Tani Hitokage's challenge is part of a Battle Action. It can't happen during the Action Phase.

Quarantine and Diplomatic Apprentice

If I use diplomatic apprentice to bow for quarantine, can it stay bowed for the card's effect, or must the personality it is attached to be bowed?

Diplomatic Apprentice itself is now a Courtier as of Diamond Edition. You can have him perform "Quarantined" all by himself, including the staying bowed part.

Duels vs. Sozen

Hida Sozen challenges another personality to a duel of force via the new Stronghold.

The destruction of the loser of the duel is an effect of your stronghold, and thusly Sozen's trait will do nothing about it.

Sozen says that he can't be destroyed in battle unless, "there is an opposing unit with more total Force than his unit or the destruction is an effect of your own card or Stronghold."

Sling tokens.

If Shinjo Slings has resolved, may I use the Sling tokens on my other followers wherever they happen to be as long as the Follower performing the RA has a Sling token?

My gut instinct is "no," but I see how the card doesn't specify where the Sling Tokens to pay the cost of the ability have to come from. In light of that, I'll forward it to Jeff to clarify.

Stupid Bloodspeaker Sanctum tricks

If I read the card correctly, then I can bow Bloodspeaker Sanctum to target Hida Bob and permanently give him the Bloodspeaker trait even though I'm going to have Kuni Frank be the personality who casts the Kiho.

You're reading it right. In order for the Sanctum to work mechanically, it needs to do its thing before you have to choose who will cast the Kiho. It doesn't force you to choose the Personality you use it on. It merely says that he MAY cast that Kiho as if he were a Shugenja, and that he gains the Bloodspeaker Trait.

Did I ever mention that you are a bad, bad person? ;-)

RULES] Feign Death and Entering Play Effects-- followup ?

Will a Feigned SHukmei set off another -1F/ -1C when he returns to your fief?

Yes. It even reminds you as much on the most recent printing of Feign Death.

Senpet Scimitar

Two questions:

And two answers.

1.) Does Senpet Scimitar contribute 5F to the unit while its personality is opposed? If so all the time or only when if it is attached during battle?

Only when it is attached in battle. The Scimitar's effect happens when the bonus is gained. If you already had the bonus while not opposed, it is too late to increase it.

2.) Has there been any decision regarding the Moto Gurban/Senpet Scimitar interaction, that came up about a month ago, as of yet?

Well, since the Scimitar can increase itself in battle, sure, it can increase Gurban's bonus in battle too. If you manage to attach the Scimitar to her in battle while she it opposed, it will increase the bonus she gets from it from +4 to +5 and the bonus she gets from herself from +1 to +2.

OK. That looks like it covers Wednesday the 19th. If I missed your post from that day, please repost it if you can't find you answer in the Rulebook, FAQ, or Archive. I'll get back to you at the first opportunity.