Rules for 26 August 2004

You Rules for Thursday, August 26, 2004. I'm answering Wrath of the Emperor Questions, but not Dawn of the Empire.

Binding Kharma

Pretty straight forward question. When playing a specific simulation (Diamond Ed for example) when casting the spell are you limited to choosing the abilities that can be copied to on a stronghold. For example if I was playing diamond ed game could I name Asako Towers ability to bow the stronghold to cancel an action targeting a shugenja or would I be limited to playing those off of the three legal strongholds?

You can only use it to copy abilities from Strongholds that are legal in the environment you are playing in. Hence the phrase, "name a legal Stronghold from your Faction ..."

[RULES} Hoshi Ishida

For the purposes of such cards as Archer's Row, Ambush Duel and others, is Hoshi Ishida possessed of "a printed Ranged Attack ability"?

It is an ability. The ability can produce a Ranged Attack. I'd think that would have to qualify.

And, if combined with Ambush Strategist or the aforementioned Duel, is it consdiered to be variable?

It will work with those cards. The Ranged Attack's strength is pre-determined, rather than chosen by you, so it isn't variable.

More (silly) Yajinden Questions

I know Yajinden can redirect the Temples of the Snake chi loss, can he redirect his own Chi loss from Temples of the snake? (arguement being he doesn't receive the +1/-2 / Bloodspeaker trait until he's in play)

Yes, he can redirect it. He has to get into play successfully (be played) for Temples of the Snake to do anything to him, at which point he can redirect the effect.

Can Yajinden take control of a Clan Champion or personality with the "will only join clan x" trait.

No. "Will only join" restrictions apply not only to bringing cards into play, but also to taking control of those cards. Yajinden can't get them unless they would join your Clan. Seppun Jin doesn't have such a problem, since his ability says to ignore all restrictions. Yajinden isn't that lucky.

Negative Printed Stat

If I play Political Entanglement on a personality with 0 printed PH. It then has -1 printed PH, I'm right there ? Then what would happen if dying dishonorably ? Would you gain 1 familial honnor (I believe not, but it is related to Tamago's question).

For the sake of math and consistency, yes, you'd gain one. Performing a subtractive operation with a negative number gives you a positive return. Note that the Current Value of Personal Honor will always be raised from a negative number to the 0 minimum, however, even if the printed value is lower. Outside of the few references to printed stats in the game, it shouldn't matter.

You could, however, use entanglements to get infinite Tamago duels. Toss him and Entanglements into your Penance Bomb deck if you're feeling froggy. I think it'll just slow the deck down, thought.

RULES: Plain sof O-U

There is some talk that Jeff said at GenCon that when you reveal a Plains of Otosan Uchi and refill it, the second card fills face up.

Well, technically, it doesn't refill face-up. It fills normally, then it's revealed.

Sicne that doesn't make any sense, as far as I can tell, can we hear it officially?

We double-checked the archive at GenCon to make sure this wasn't a reversal. We found no conflicting rulings.

There was a post by me back in February that if another card is added to the Province currently being revealed in the Events Phase, those extra cards are handled before moving to the next Province. The post in question involved the Regions of Rokugan Event, but the same logic applies if the Province gains additional cards in any other way while it is being examined. You have revealed one card, but the Province has two and you do not move on to the next Province before you've revealed both of them.

Troll Warband - weird rules situations

I meant no disrespect :D. But you clarified this without refering to anything.

I had to. There is nothing to refer to. Either the game pauses indefinitely (or runs to time in a tournament) or...something else.

That "something else" is that if you cannot do anything else for your opportunity to take an action, you pass.

why would we need a new rule here at all? we already have a rule that states if a player creates a hang condition, he loses the game automatically. that applies here, so should that ruling.

There is no rule against "creating a hang condition". There is a rule against stalling, which covers both deliberately not acting and repeatedly taking an ineffective action. Neither of those stalling activities are being engaged in here.

Pre-Release & Sealed Deck Clarification

You are allowed to bring your own Winds to use in Pre-Release/Sealed Deck events.

I am aware that the Code does not necessarily clarify this, so I am stating it here.

This does not apply to Senseis at this time.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Archer Squad and Ambush Duel

I just was curious if when an archer squad is in play, are those personalities targeted by it actually considered to have ranged attack actions "on them" for purposes of Ambush Duel? (e.g. with plans within plans, Mirumoto Kaiji, etc.) Thanks in advance,

Yes. They "gain" the ability, so it is "on them."

Many Temple Master

When the Many Temple Master overlays a Personality does it gain the Personality's Faction trait or does it remain unaligned?

Overlay Personalities don't normally retain any traits of the cards underneath the topmost card. Many Temple Master has no text creating an exception to this, so he doesn't have the trait.

That's everything for Thursday the 26th of August. If I missed your non-Dawn related question, please repost it with the flag [RULES] in your distinct and clear subject line. I'll get back to you at the first opportunity.