Rules for 22 September 2004

Your Rules for Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Shadow's Claw and Smoke and Mirrors

*1st case:

- I have one Shadow's Claw and one Smoke and Mirrors in hand. - I'm in a duel and it's my turn to focus or strike - Instead of focusing I play my shadow's claw and 'look at the top 5 cards' as per card text

here are the questions:

a. Can I react to the 'focus with one' effect of the shadow's claw with the smoke and mirrors I already have I in my hand thus drawing the first card of my fate deck, taking one of the 5 cards looked by the shadow's claw effect and reshuffling 4 cards into my Fate Deck?

Smoke and Mirrors says, "Reaction: Play instead of focusing in a duel to discard your opponent's last focus card without effect. Draw a Fate card."

Shadow's Claw says, "Reaction: Play before your Personality focuses in a duel. Look at your top five Fate cards. Focus with one, take one into your hand, and shuffle the rest into the deck."

You can play Smoke and Mirrors. It will Negate the effect of focusing with one, and make you draw the first card on your deck. However, keep in mind that those 5 cards you are looking at haven't moved. They are still the top 5 cards of your deck. You'll draw the first one.

*2nd case

- this time I have 2 Shadow's claw in hand - I'm in a duel and it's my turn to focus or strike - Instead of focusing I play my shadow's claw and 'look at the top 5 cards' as per card text

Jeff answered this a long time ago:

http://www.deathseeker.com/article.pl?sid=2003/02/06/210931&mode=thread

The important part is this:

Well. In that case, you would:

1. Play Shadow's Claw #1 instead of focusing.

2. Look at your top five cards.

3. Play Shadow's Claw #2 from your hand instead of focusing one of the top five.

4. Look at your top five cards. (No surprises here, they're the same five.)

5. Focus with one.

6. Take one of the remaining four into your hand.

7. Shuffle the other three.

8. Take one of THOSE three into your hand.

9. Reshuffle the other two.

Now, step #8 isn't really possible after #7, but what is possible, and still equivalent, is to take two cards into your hand at step #6 and then shuffle once.

I hope that answers your questions!

Someisa Sensei

My opponent is playing "Someisa Sensei". I "Show of Good Faith" one of his Monks. I then Gempukku the Monk and give him/her the Shugenja Trait. What happens at the end of my turn? I can't keep the personality per Show of Good Faith's card text, but the personality cannot return to its owner because Shugenja will not join him due to Someisa Sensei's card text.

You are stuck with the Shugenja-Monk until such time as you can legally return it to that player. Until then, you still can't declare any attacks or move that Personality's attached cards or tokens.

agasha chieh exp.

Can Chieh use the reaction of the isawa house guard while she is not in the battle ?

She is either in an Army at a Battle, or she isn't.

If she is casting as if at a Battle via her trait, she is in an Army at a Battle and you can use Isawa House Guard's Reaction.

shallow graves

I started with shadowland and wanted to know if i can play shallow graves in a diamond game.

Playing Battlefield of Shallow Graves is a Political Action. If your Stronghold says that you can not take Political Actions, then you can't play Battlefield of Shallow Graves.

This usually excludes it from use by the Shadowlands Players - unless they use Imperial Palaces of Fu Leng (not Diamond Legal, though) or one of their Red-bordered Strongholds that start with 6 Family Honor. ;-)

That should cover everything from Wednesday. If I missed your question, please repost it with the flag [RULES] as part of a clear and distinct Subject Line and I'll get back to you at the first opportunity.