Bonds of Fate

Legend of the Five Rings card from The Fall of Otosan Uchi

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Keywords

Political

Card Text

Political Open: Bow your target performing Courtier with 2 or more Personal Honor to straighten a target Personality.
Political Open: Bow your target performing Courtier with 1 or less Personal Honor to bow a target Personality.

Focus Value

2

Legality

Four Winds (Gold), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Fate

Story

2002 Bonds of Fate - Bryan Reese & Apostolis Koutsikos

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: See this is my whole point. If Bonds of Fate never enters play and I never control it and it is never “my card”, how can it be “my card effect”?
  A: Because it is "your card effect," and not "an effect of your card."
  The distinction is important. Martin Lund, "Rules for 21 October 2004", 25 Oct 2004
• Q: Anyway, if Jeff have ruled in the Ruby vs. Tireless that the Ruby's Personality Player may not straighten the Ruby, then, in the same way, the Questing Personality could remain bowed.
  A: They have the same clause wording, so I think it is safe to assume that they work the same way in that respect. Unless Jeff feels the need for it to work otherwise, yes, the questing Personality may remain bowed. It doesn't specify any special conditions as to what it does, or does not apply to, so it applies to anything that would result in the Personality unbowing. Martin Lund, "Rules for 27 May 2004", 31 May 2004
• Q: A personality who bows to pay the cost of a political action such as Show of Good Faith, the reaction printed on the Underhand of the Emperor, or Bonds of Fate?
  A: Yes again, under rule #3. Martin Lund, "Rules for 21 May 2004", 24 May 2004
• Q: A quick question:
  My opponent reveals an Imperial Quest and targets one of his Personalities with over 2 Chi to bow him. In his Action Phase I play a Bonds of Fate targeting the quested Personality. What happens?
  a) The Personality straightens and become dishonored. b) The Personality straightens. c) The Personality continues bowed.
  A: Still being discussed by the Rules Team. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 19 March 2004", 20 Mar 2004
• Q: I Amush a bowed Shosuro Maru. Since the Ambush occurs in my action phase, can Bonds of Fate be used to bow my personality attacking in the Ambush?
  A: No. During an Ambush it is only an Attack Phase. The Action Phase is suspended until that Attack Phase ends. You can only be in one phase at a time. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 17 March 2004", 18 Mar 2004
• Q: I was wondering if I could use a Diplomatic Apprentice to perform the bowing action on Bonds of Fate.
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 4 December 2003", 5 Dec 2003
• Q: Is it true that I can play Honor's Cost and Bonds of Fate during a battle?
  A: No. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 8 October 2003", 9 Oct 2003
• Q: Can I use the follower Diplomatic Apprentice with Bonds of Fate to bow a Personality?
  A: Currently, yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 11 September 2003", 12 Sep 2003
• Q: Is Bonds of Fate (played "[d]uring an Action Phase") playable during an Attack Phase created by an Ambush? If so, how about one created by Shiro Matsu?
  A: No and no. You can't be in two phases at once. If it's an Attack Phase, it isn't the Action Phase. Jeff Alexander, "post for 24 March 2003", 25 Mar 2003
• Q: We've had some problems with this card at our local groups:
  The point of contention is that the card specifically states it may be played during the "Action Phase" thus restricting it from being played during the "battle action segment" regardless of it being an Open action and satisfying all other requirements for battle actions.
  So is it self restricting or can it be used in battle?
  A: It says to play it during the Action Phase, and that's what it means. It's self-restricting. Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 February 2003", 11 Feb 2003
• Q: To build on this...
  Can it be played during an Ambush?
  A: No. Ambush creates a new Attack Phase that interrupts the Action Phase. [archive] Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 February 2003", 11 Feb 2003