Rules for 2 February 2005

The Rules for Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Shosuro Saemon and Tangen Sensei: infinite combo?

The scorpion player uses tangen to redirect to saemon, and saemon uses his ability to pass out a follower token. However because tangen sensei's restriction is "once per battle" and the declaration degment isn't a battle, he then uses tangen's ability to redirect the already-redirected action back to saemon, and it triggers saemons ability. Repeat this process an infinite number of times.

Does this infinite combo work?

No. See Jeff's explanation below.

Can tangen sensei be used while not in a battle, but still in the attack phase (eg declaration segment)?

Yes.

Jeff says:

"Should you redirect an action, treat it as though it had been aimed at its new target all along." (Diamond Edition Rulebook)

This means that when you redirect from Target A to Target B, the action targets B instead of A, rather than targeting A briefly, then changing to target B as an additional and separate choice. Since there isn't a new instance of targeting, there is no new trigger. Tangen Sensei can't react multiple times.

/JEFF

Jama Suru

With Jama Suru's spell effects considered being maho, does unbow effects that only target maho actions, i.e. Bloodspeaker Sensei or Asako Hirotsugu, work on any spell he casts when he bows as a cost of casting the spell whether it's maho or not originally?

Making the Spell Effect Maho does not make the Action itself Maho. If the unbowing effect you are looking for keys off of Maho Actions, Jama Suru won't cut it.

one further rehonoring question...

Is my dishonored personality rehonored if they are involved in duel resolution in which they focused a "The Fortunes Smile"?

Yes. That Honor Gain will cause the personality to be restored to Honorable status.

Savagery of the Moto

"Battle: Target a Region you control and a Region attached to the current Province. Move them to each others' Provinces until the battle ends."

Now, by accumulated rulings:

"You cannot pay costs using another player's cards. [JA, 15 December 2003]"

And by rulebook, it would be safe to assume that the cost involved in taking the action would be to target 2 regions.

The Rulebook and Rulesheet specifically state things to the contrary.

There are no listed costs on Savagery of the Moto other than 0 Gold.

There is no "Do X to do Y," clause (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 70) nor is there one of those modern sections with the area to list additional costs and Reaction timing. (Web of Lies Rulesheet) Savagery of the Moto is purely Battle: Targeting Requirements. Effects.

Some questions

1) I have Sezaru and Isawa in play and a face-up spell in the top of my deck. can isawa cast that spell?

Yes. Sezaru allows you to play it as if it were in your hand. Isawa lets you cast something in your hand.

2) Spell that isawa cast from my hand can be recovered from the discard pile with the kami watch over me? (I posted this before, but was forwarded to jeff and still waiting response)

The best I can do is hound Jeff and keep an eye on my in-box for you. I'll drop him a line. It is certainly possible that some thing got lost in transit on my end.

3)if P'an Ku copies the shugenja trait of one of my personalities, are considered Pan'ku printed abilities to be innate abilities?

Yes.

4)if the ability of Troublesome Bureaucrat target a bowed personality, may the controller still choose to bow the personality instead of letting me gain the honor?

Yes. He only decides whether or not you gain the honor. Everything in the next sentence, "If he decides against it," isn't part of the decision. It is merely a separate conditional effect.

'When a card forces a player to make a decision, "Choose to do X or Y" or "You may do X" are the decision. Further sentences (e.g., "If you choose X, Z happens") are not part of the decision. [ML, 25 June 2004]' (Accumulated Rulings, "Decisions")

Now if it said, "That player decides to bow his personality or have you gain 2 honor," then he couldn't choose to bow a bowed Personality because he would know that option would fail.

'If a card effect 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")

That should cover all knew rules questions for Wednesday. If I missed your question, 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.