Rules for 28 September 2004

Your Rules for Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Templating

"Before the end of the infantry maneuvers segment" then "opposing card"

I think it was ruled that to be opposed you need to be in the battle at the province (see Latomu clarification). Unless there is a major rules change coming, how can this card works with the current rules? (ie, it is not possible to be opposed while not in battle).

[MARTY] First, Lotus rules, last I heard, are going to revamp the language and related rules regarding the time interval of battle and the location of the battle. I can't tell you how it will work when Dawn of the Empire is released.

Second, War Chariot's Reaction is used during Maneuvers. Latomu is used during the Battle Action Segment. The rule regarding the legality of "opposing" and "this battle" Actions having to be played at the Current Battle is listed in the Battle Action Segment section because only during segments 3-5 of the Attack Phase could it actually be met (the only time there is a "Current Battle").

So even under the current rules, War Chariot works. During Maneuvers, there is no "Current Battle," hence a restriction like that would never apply to a Reaction that can - only - be played during Maneuvers due to the Rule of Obvious Legality.

Marty - re: Many-Temple Master [Ruling}

If I overlay a self-referencing card with Many-Temple Master can I still use the original cards ability. Say i overlay Hitomo Daisetsu, can I still untap him after casting a kiho.

Self-reference is always self-reference, even if the name changes. This has been true since the days of Ninja Shapeshifter and it is true today. When an ability of a card self-references, treat it as saying "this card." Changing the name or copying the ability to a card with a different name has ZERO impact on self-reference.

Ninja Mentor

Is this correct? I'm asking because the "he" is singular, while "other players" is obviously plural, so that it seems to me that grammar at least does not support this interpretation - but then, English is not my first language.

On Ninja Mentor, "he" refers to the Subject of the Sentence: "this Personality."

Setai Sensei.

The question is: on page 59 of the DE rulebook it states, "If you bring into play a Personality with your Faction’s trait, you may either lower his Gold cost by 2 until he enters play or add his Personal Honor to your Family Honor immediately before he enters play. (The Personal Honor of a Personality who “enters play dishonored” is 0 for this purpose.)"

Setai Sensei states, "Before bringing a non-Deathseeker Personality into play, either dishonor him and permanently give him the Deathseeker trait or permanently give him -1F."

I seem to recall, but cannot find in the rulebook, a ruling stating that when two traits would trigger at the same time, the active player decides which one triggers first. It seems to me that the rulebook trait and the Sensei trait trigger at the same time, both being worded "before" the personality comes into play. Therefore it seems to me that I get to choose the order in which the effects happen, assuming I am buying the personality in my own Dynasty phase. Therefore, I get to gain the honor before dishonoring the person. Am I correct in this?

I'll forward this over to Jeff to get the direct justification either way, because I'm not comfortable with these conflicting vs. dependent vs. simultaneous timing issues.

For the time being, always resolve Setai Sensei's dishonor / -1F choice before you resolve triggered honor gains from hiring Personalities.

Shinden Horiuchi and casting spells

Since spells are items, I can bow a spell instead of the shugenja to cast a spell. So, can I bow the spell I'm casting instead of the shugenja to cast it?

Yes. That's part of why Shinden Horiuchi is a good Stronghold - you can use spells without sacrificing combat Force.

That should cover everything from Tuesday, September 28, 2004. If I missed your question unrelated to Dawn of the Empire, please repost it with the flag [RULES] as part of your Clear and Distinct Subject Line. I'll get back to you at the first opportunity.