Farmlands

Legend of the Five Rings card from Celestial Edition, Forbidden Knowledge, Battle of Kyuden Tonbo, Jade Edition, Diamond Edition, Gold Edition, Lotus Edition, Pearl Edition, Samurai Edition, Training Grounds, Hidden Emperor Starter, Honor Bound, Ambition's Debt, Fire & Shadow, A Perfect Cut, Glory of the Empire, Promotional–Samurai

Card Type

Region

Keywords

Singular, Farm

Card Text

Limited, : Create a 1F Follower and attach it to your target Personality.

Legality

Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Clan Wars (Imperial), Destroyer War (Celestial), Four Winds (Gold), Hidden Emperor (Jade), Race for the Throne (Samurai), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Farmlands Singular. Limited: Pay 2 Gold: Target a Personality you control. Attach a 1F Follower token to him." [MRP, Khan's Defiance, 22 January 2007] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 136
• Erratum: Reads, "Farmlands Singular. Limited: Once per turn, pay 2 Gold to attach a 1F Follower token to one of your Personalities." [MRP, Diamond Edition, 27 October 2003] Rules Archive, November 11, 2006, p. 151
• The ability's cost can be paid for by gold sources which can only pay for Followers, such as Bushi Dojo. [DW, l5rinfo, 9/24/96] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 26
• The ability's cost is reduced by effects which reduce the cost of attaching Followers, such as Hida Tsuru's trait. [DW, email, 4/8/97] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 26
• Q: Can I pay for a Farmlands token with a Bushi Dojo? It's a Follower, and Bushi Dojo produces Gold "when paying for a Follower." A: No. You're not paying the Gold cost of a Follower; you're paying the Gold cost of Farmlands' Limited action. The token Follower's own cost is 0 by the Unwritten Number rule. The Imperial Herald, Issue 17, p. 40
• Q: What if I'm attaching the token to a Personality who reduces his or her Followers' Gold costs? A: Same answer: The cost of using Farmlands' action is separate from the token's Gold cost and doesn't go down. (There are one or two Personalities, like the Experienced Hida Tsuru, who give a discount to "attaching" Followers instead of to the Followers themselves.) It actually is cheaper to use something like Farmlands on them. They're the exception, though.) The Imperial Herald, Issue 17, p. 40
• Erratum: Reads, "Farmlands Farm • Singular. Limited: Pay 2 Gold: Create a 1F Follower and attach it to your target Personality." [MRP, Celestial Edition, 29 June 2009] Comprehensive Rules, Celestial Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, February 2012, p. 132
• Erratum: Reads, “Farmlands Farm • Singular. Limited: Pay 2 Gold: Create a 1F Follower and attach it to one of your target Personalities.” [MRP, Samurai Edition, 25 July 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 135

Rules Q&A

• Q: Is Farmlands considered a "Farm" for the purpose of Simple Huts?
  A: No. "Farmlands" is all one word. You can't break it apart into "Farm" and "lands" Martin Lund, "Rules for 5 May 2004", 8 May 2004
• Q: Are Farmlands considered Farms?
  A: No. You can't use a piece of a word as another word. Jeff Alexander, "post for 8 April 2003", 9 Apr 2003
• Q: Alright, second day back on the list and I have another question. Yay. Anyways, my new question deals with regions. I.E. specifically ones that have ablities like Farmlands and Ruins of Ostan Uchi, etc. etc. When these cards are flipped over, do you instantly have the ablity to use their effects (farmer token, pop opponents campsite, and so on) or do you have to wait till next turn?
  A: Regions that get revealed during the Events Phase enter play at the end of that Phase. [GE p. 49] This is before the Action Phase, which is where Limited and Open actions are used. You can use a Farmlands the turn it appears. Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 February 2003", 11 Feb 2003
• Q: Altering the cost of a particular type of card only matters when you are bringing that card type into play from your hand or Provinces, not when you are using an action that creates a card of that type. [JA, 18 October 2000] E.g., costs of actions that generate followers (e.g., Farmlands) are not affected by things that pay for or reduce the cost (Hida Tsuru, non-Experienced) of followers. These costs can be reduced by effects that look for when particular effects occur; e.g., "when bringing a follower into play" or "when attaching." [Extension from Hida Tsuru, Experienced. Reversal, JA, email, 20 September 2000]
  wouldn't "Ratling Followers will join you for 1 less Gold" be considered an effect which looks for a particular effect to occur. e.g. a ratling follower is joining me therefor its cost is reduced by one?
  A: The Follower token doesn't exist until the ability fully resolves. The ability doesn't resolve until it's fully paid for. Jeff Alexander, "post for 28 January 2003", 29 Jan 2003
• Q: For Hungry Ghost, the ability says "destroy a non-spirit token controlled by any player". Does that mean that I cannot use it on my own Farmlands tokens if I am using Shrine Of The Spirits as my stronghold?
  A: It means that, yes. Your Stronghold gives your Farmlands tokens the Spirit trait, since they're human Followers. [card text] Jeff Alexander, "post for 3 December 2002", 4 Dec 2002
• Q: Question #2: How does Farmlands make it into Gold, but the Otaku Meadows don't?
  A: Too narrow. Farmlands helps Unicorn less than everyone else but Utaku Meadows helps Unicorn more than everyone else. Sure, Gold was a big set, but everything is finite. We had to leave some things out, and these two cards are so similar in function to one another that the decision wasn't hard. Jeff Alexander, "post for 15 February 2002", 16 Feb 2002
• Q: 2) My opponent pays 2 gold to attach a Farmlands follower to one of his Personalities. Does this count as attaching a card since Follower and Item tokens count as cards at the end of a battle.
  A: Follower and Item tokens do not count as cards at the end of a battle. Follower tokens count as cards (as well as tokens) at ALL times. Item tokens count only as tokens at all times. (Both these rules are in the rulebook and are, as usual, overridable by explicit card text.)
  That being said, yes, it counts as attaching a card. Jeff Alexander, "post for 19 December 2001", 19 Dec 2001
• Q: coming from: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=90009#p1201475
  That sound a lot like a yes, but just to be sure and avoid missunderstandings, can we get a clear answer on this?
  A: That is correct. The "No" in the first post is now a yes." Zen Faulkes, "Seppun Horai + Heartlands/Farmlands", 2 May 2011
• Q: Got a Kotei coming up this weekend and I was wondering if there's been any resolution regarding this topic: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=90009 ?
  A: The previous ruling has been reversed. Zen Faulkes, "Seppun Horai + Heartlands/Farmlands", 29 Apr 2011
• Q: Can I use Seppun Horai to pay the gold cost on the limited actions of the regions Heartlands or farmlands?
  A: No. Cost of actions are not costs of holdings. Zen Faulkes, "Seppun Horai + Heartlands/Farmlands", 12 Apr 2011
• Q: Continuing from here: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=87216&p=1153318#p1153318
  In both cases, Farmlands and Transferring, the Imperial Artificers do not pay the cost of the card entering play.
  However the ruling for Farmlands is that, if you overpay when the created card is added to the target unit, you can activate the Imperial Artifacts trait. The Imperial Artificers' trait cannot be activated when paying the cost of creating the 1F Follower, which must be paid separately. The created card has already come to exist in "a specially created entering-play area." That's why Farmlands specifies "create and attach". If the card was not already created, the attachment would have to come from the hand.
  Now, let me point out again that the inconsistency lies in the fact that for the Farmlands ruling, you specify that Imperial Artificers' trait activates upon attaching, and the fact that transferring is also defined as attaching. However, from what you have so far explained, the trait of the Imperial Artificers activates after the entering play of the created card.
  Technically, I believe that the ruling regarding transferring is correct, the one that needs be clarified is the Farmlands one.
  Nitpicking, I know, but since it is rules nitpicking, I think it is quite relevant.
  A: There is no inconsistency here.
  Mod Nudge: Please read responses carefully before replying. Alex Jones, "Imperial Artificer & transferring attachments", 9 Nov 2010
• Q: Sorry guys, I know this might be a nuisance, but the explanation given in this thread is still not satisfactory, rules-wise.
  As stated in the link you gave us, the trait of the Imperial Artificers activates when the follower created by Farmlands attaches, if you overpay while attaching.
  Farmlands: Limited: Pay 2 Gold: Create a 1F Follower and attach it to your target Personality.
  According to the rules about Order of Effects, the [creating] and [attaching] happens sequentially. Farmlands specifies where the Follower comes from, in order to waive the requirement that the attachment must come from the hand and the "and" that links the two effects makes the [game process] continuous. However, according to the example given in the rulebook, the Imperial Artificers trait activates when the [attaching] happens, not when the created card comes into play. -------------------------------------------------- Attach
  When a player attaches an attachment card, he or she brings it into play, adding it to a personality’s unit. If the source of an attachment card to be attached in an effect is not specified, it must come from the player’s hand. Transferring a card from one unit to another is attaching too. A Personality card is not considered attached to its attachment cards. Thus, Followers, Items, Spells, and so on are always considered "cards without attachments."
  When a player attaches a region, he or she brings it into play, associating it with a Province. Changing a region’s province is also considered attaching.
  An effect that lets a player "attach a card" does not allow attachment of a non-attachment card, and does not automatically waive costs (see Mandatory costs). ----------------------------------------------------
  What I mean to say is, these two rulings are inconsistent. If we stick to the wording and the rules, you either have to repeal the Farmlands ruling since Imperial Artificers do not pay for the entering play effect or to tell us that the transferring ruling is dictated by designer fiat and that is that. Either of the two is completely acceptable, but the explanations given so far are not.
  Disclaimer: This is just a technical issue, I am not arguing against the Rules Junta, I am trying to find out why there is this inconsistency.
  Thanks
  A: When you create a card, such as a Farmlands follower, it does not immediately enter play: it momentarily exists in limbo - technically, in "a specially created entering-play area." From there, it enters play, after costs have been paid.
  See Card Types, Attachments.
  Also, please re-read my previous post. Imperial Artificers' trait is not triggered by attaching, it is triggered by paying a gold cost. This is an important distinction which renders most of your post irrelevant. Alex Jones, "Imperial Artificer & transferring attachments", 9 Nov 2010
• Q: If I pay for the action on Farmlands (not with Imperial Artificer) may I then overpay for the 0 gold cost token I'm equipping with an Imperial Artificer and use its cycling ability?
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/CE_FAQ#Can_I_draw_ ... s_token.3F: "(O)nce you have paid for the action, you are allowed to overpay the token Follower’s zero gold cost using Imperial Artificer and gain its benefits that way." Zen Faulkes, "Imperial Artificer + Farmlands", 2 Sep 2009
• Q: I have a follower card in my hand with a base gold cost of 0. It's the action phase during my turn. I use Equip to attach said follower to my personality. Per the rules regarding Gold Production, may I choose to overpay for this follower's gold cost by bowing my Imperial Artificer, thus triggering Imperial Artificer's trait?
  A: Yes, as explained previously in this (now merged) thread. Searching the forum would have answered this faster. A very similar question is in the FAQ.
  http://rules.l5r.com/CE_FAQ#Can_I_draw_ ... s_token.3F Zen Faulkes, "Imperial Artificer + Farmlands", 30 Aug 2009
• Q: Example scenario: Player 1 announces he is using Farmlands' limited action during the action phase and targets his samurai as the recipient of the farmlands follower. He bows Imperial Artificer to pay for the cost of farmlands. Will Imperial Artificer's trait trigger, because the action on farmlands created a follower?
  If so, Player 2 sees this happen than wished he ran those cards. lol.
  Imperial Artificer: Bow this card: Produce 2 Gold. If this pays for a Follower or Item attaching to a Samurai, you may draw a card, then discard a card.
  Farmlands: Limited: Pay 2 Gold: Create a 1F Follower and attach it to your target Personality.
  Thanks!
  A: No. However...
  There are two costs involved here. One is the cost of the Farmlands' ability, "Pay 2 Gold," and as the cost of an ability, rather than the cost of a card, Imperial Artificer does nothing beyond producing 2g. The other cost is that of the created Follower, which, like all Followers, has a cost: in this case 0 Gold. You may overpay this gold cost, producing, say, 2 Gold when none is required, and if you use an Imperial Artificer to produce this, the rest of Imperial Artificer's trait applies, and you may draw and discard. Note that you must still pay the cost of the action as well. Alex Jones, "Imperial Artificer + Farmlands", 3 Aug 2009
• Q: Regarding this: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=77808
  May I pay for Farmland's action, then overpay for the token -- with imperial artificers -- while attaching said token to a samurai personality, to trigger imperial artificers?
  A: Small correction to your question: Created cards are not "tokens", and tokens are not cards. A Follower created by Farmlands is the former.
  That being said, yes, you may do as you describe.
  After paying for the ability on Farmlands, its effects create a Follower with a default Gold Cost of 0. If you're attaching it to a Samurai, you may then overpay this 0G with Imperial Artificer in order to trigger its card-cycling effect. Brook Cunningham, "Imperial Artificer + Farmlands", 26 Jul 2009
• Q: f Imperial Artificer bows to produce two gold that is used to pay the cost for Farmlands and the 1F Follower is attached to a Samurai does the additional draw of the Imperial Artificer trigger?
  A: No.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Card_features#Created_cards
  You are paying the cost of the Limited action of Farmlands. The follower by the action created has no gold cost. Zen Faulkes, "Imperial Artificer + Farmlands", 25 Jul 2009
• Q: Farmlands: Can I (use the ability) more than once per turn?
  A: No.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Card_features#Abilities: "Abilities can be used only once per turn, unless their action or other card text states otherwise." Zen Faulkes, "Farmlands", 12 May 2008
• Q: Regarding viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60498
  It doesn't say 'card' either, hence the confusion.
  Venerable Master, Farmlands and Matsu Benika all have abilities that can produce something that is neither a token or a card (unlike Hida Dayu's followers who have the 'card' trait), what should these be treated as?
  A: This is from the post you linked to in your original question: "In Samurai Edition, follower, item or personality tokens cannot be created; cards are created instead." (Emphasis added.) Zen Faulkes, "RE: Tokens and Bowing 2", 14 Aug 2007
• Q: Here's another double shot question, mainly about the use of farmlands' ability:
  Glory of the Shogun: Equipping attachments is a Battle/Open action for all players. After the first time each turn each player attaches a card with a Gold Cost of 5 or greater from his hand, he may draw a card. These effects last until the end of the game.
  +
  Farmlands: Farm • Singular Limited: Pay 2 Gold: Create a 1F Follower and attach it to one of your target Personalities.
  My first question is, in the following scenario; a crab clan player has returned seeking revenge for the chi death nightmare I last asked about, and has managed to pull 3 Rich Coffers, Farmlands, and a single personality when Glory of the Shogun hits the board and successfully resolves.
  Now, more research before the question, the equip action is as follows (from the comprehensive rules site - Sequence of Play):
  Equip: Limited: Any number of times per turn, target one of your Personalities: Attach a target attachment card from your hand to him (paying all costs).
  Per GotS, equipping attachments can be used as an open and or a battle action, is adding a follower an 'equip attachment' action (vice merely attaching a card from your hand)? Is using the farmlands' ability then also an equip attachment action? Would then the Crab Player be able to assign three followers on his opponents turn using the Rich Coffers to pay for the farmlands' ability?
  Thanks muchly!
  A: An action that creates a follower is not the same as the rulebook equip action. Glory of the Shogun will not work with the action on Farmlands. Chris Fuchs, "Glory of the Shogun + Farmlands", 23 Jul 2007
• Q: That is explicitly the difference between Equipping and attaching without the Equip procedure. Not all attaching is necessarily Equipping. I agree that if something like Farmlands was created in Onyx, it would almost certainly invoke the Equip procedure, but in a format where Farmlands is legal, the Farmlands action is not "paying for a Follower" as the CR stands.
  A: There were versions of Mishime Sensei which had the variable cost symbol, and said, "Create and Recruit a 3g Oni, paying 2g more" Hm Maybe not Mishime Sensei. But cf Kitsune Yoshioka Alex Jones, "Onyx Lives #rules-questions", 5 Dec 2023
• Q: Famrlands, in Oracle: "Limited, (2): Create a 1F Follower and attach it to your target Personality"
  Alternative Universe Farmlands: "Limited, (2): Create a 1F Follower and Equip it to your target Personality".
  If you have gold that can only be used for a Follower, you cannot use it to pay for the Farmlands action, but you could use it to pay for the AUF action, if that card existed.
  A: That CR text is wrong. It should include cards which are created and directly put into play. Alex Jones, "Onyx Lives #rules-questions", 5 Dec 2023
• Q: Because Farmlands is neither Recruiting nor Equipping, the cost paid for its action does not pay for the created card, and so does not pay for a Follower.
  A: I'm using Farmlands as the example because it's the one that always caused questions. Pre-Ivory, the two were separate. Alex Jones, "Onyx Lives #rules-questions", 5 Dec 2023
• Q: Farmlands, per its Oracle wording, doesn't Equip, it creates.
  A: Yes It's an action that creates a Follower, so you're paying for it.
  True. Technically, to make it work as it did contemporarily, it should also Equip under Ivory/20F/Onyx Rules.
  Oh, at the time, sure.
  (Replying to a player: "Actually, I think the Oracle text is correct here; the contemporary rulings were that the Farmlands action was not "paying for a Follower", unless that got changed late in Celestial.") Ah, I was just trusting Alex. I should've trusted me more. 😛 Alex Jones and Brook Cunningham, "Onyx Lives #rules-questions", 5 Dec 2023