Imperial Artificer

Legend of the Five Rings card from Celestial Edition, Enemy of My Enemy

Card Type

Holding

Gold Cost

2

Keywords

Imperial

Card Text

w: Produce 2 Gold. If this paid for a Follower or Item attaching to a Samurai, you may draw a card, then discard a card.

Legality

Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Destroyer War (Celestial), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Imperial Artificer 2G Imperial 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." [MRP, Celestial Edition, 29 June 2009] Comprehensive Rules, Celestial Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, February 2012, p. 139

Rules Q&A

• Q: Under the new Ivory gold pooling rules, how does Secluded Waystation (link to Ivory text) know whether it has produced gold to recruit a personality or not? If I bow it to produce gold in my dynasty phase along with other holdings and buy a combination of holdings and people, can I just assume that its interrupt will be usable on any one personality I choose? This also applies to Imperial Artificer, Vast Paddy Fields, etc.
  As an additional bonus question, with a card such as Vast Paddy Fields, Imperial Artificer, or really any holding (although most don't care about it), how many different cards can a given gold production be considered to "pay for?" If I have a Vast Paddy Fields and a 444 in play and I bow them both to produce 6 total gold, and use that to buy 3 two gold cost farm holdings, how many provinces can I refill face-up? I can see arguments for it to be 1, 2, or 3.
  Thanks
  Edit: After rereading the actual Ivory text for Vast Paddy Fields for Ivory and not the current EE Oracle text, I think it's clear that Vast Paddy Fields can only refill one province because you have to bow it WHILE you're paying for a holding to get the benefit. Question still stands about other cards with the "pay for" wording though.
  A: I see you meant Secluded Outpost. For that...
  Referenced actions in an Interrupt refer to the interrupted action, therefore the bowing of the Outpost must have been to pay for the referenced Recruit in order to take the Interrupt action in Good Faith.
  As for the other Holdings you asked, expect their Oracle wording to resemble Vast Paddy Fields come Ivory. Brook Cunningham, "Secluded Waystation/etc. and "paying for" a card", 1 Jan 2014
• Q: in response to viewtopic.php?f=59&t=91765 (i felt that the answer was not clear)
  1)declare an attack 2)assign 3 units to attack the same province 3)react with Kyuden Hida (Experienced) and create up to 3 scout followers 4)bow Imperial artificers to pay an extra 2 gold for one of the followers. draw a card and discard a card. 5)start battle etc.
  is this legal?
  with 3 copies of imperial artificers:
  1)declare an attack 2)assign 3 units to attack the same province 3)react with Kyuden Hida (Experienced) and create up to 3 scout followers 4a)bow Imperial artificers#1 to pay an extra 2 gold for one of the followers. draw a card and discard a card. 4b)bow Imperial artificers#2 to pay an extra 2 gold for one of the followers. draw a card and discard a card. 4c)bow Imperial artificers#3 to pay an extra 2 gold for one of the followers. draw a card and discard a card. 5)start battle etc.
  is this legal?
  if not please specify.
  A: From the quoted bit of the FAQ (http://rules.l5r.com/CE_FAQ#Can_I_draw_ ... s_token.3F): "(Y)ou are allowed to overpay the token Follower’s zero gold cost using Imperial Artificer and gain its benefits that way."
  Would appreciate any input on how to make that clearer. Zen Faulkes, "Kyuden Hida Experienced+Imperial Artificer", 20 Jun 2011
• Q: Can you react with Imperial Artificer in reference to Kyuden Hida's reaction, to let you draw and then dicard a card.
  A: Not exactly.
  http://rules.l5r.com/CE_FAQ#Can_I_draw_ ... s_token.3F Zen Faulkes, "Kyuden Hida Experienced+Imperial Artificer", 18 Jun 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: Followup from thread: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=87216
  Ruling in question: Transferring is also attaching, for the purposes of effects that limit what can be "attached" or that are triggered by something "attaching".
  However, the aspect of attaching from your quoted definition of "Attach" that is NOT part of transferring is that you are not "bringing it into play". The attachment is already in play, it doesn't leave and re-enter when transferring. Therefore, you have no opportunity to pay (or re-over-pay) for it when transferring. -----------------------------------
  I was reading this ruling and it seems to me that it was meted from a "designer intend" viewpoint. Which implies a smart card effect. I don't want to be a rules lawyer, but since the card states as a trigger [attaching] and the rules define transferring as [attaching], I fail to see why the [entering play] has anything to do with the whole deal. I am just trying to figure out here if there is something I missed. Please clarify.
  Thanks
  A: The trigger for Imperial Artificer isn't "attaching a Follower or Item", it's "paying for a Follower or Item", with the condition that that attachment is being attached to a Samurai.
  And if you're transfering an attachment, you're not bringing it into play, so there's no cost to be paid.
  Glossary, Transfer: To take an attachment card from one Personality and add it to the unit of another, different Personality. Transferring counts as attaching but not entering play. Alex Jones, "Imperial Artificer & transferring attachments", 8 Nov 2010
• Q: Togashi's Guidance: Reaction: After an action ends during which any Rings entered the discard pile from your hand or from your focused cards, if you are a Dragon Clan player, discard this card: Put one of those Rings into play or into your hand.
  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.
  I announce that I intend to attach a 2 gold cost weapon, normally in as a limited action. As a cost of that action, I bow artificer to pay the cost. This is paying for a weapon, so I draw a card and then discard. The discarded card is a ring. I continue through with the action and attach the weapon. After the action resolves, can I play the ring I discarded from artificer? An *action* does not discard a card, but rather the trait of artificer. The trait was triggered during the action.
  A: Togashi's Guidance does not require that the cards enter the discard pile because of the action, only during it. You may play the Ring after discarding it due to Imperial Artificer's trait. Dan Jacobson, "Togashi's Guidance + Artificer", 21 Oct 2009
• Q: Did a search on this, didnt find anything. So figured I'd ask. If you use Secluded Outpost to buy a personality, then equip a follower via its trait...Could you then react with Kyuden Hida's reaction? I am sort of confused.
  IF you purchase a follower via its trait (whether you use Kyuden Hida's reaction or not)can you then pay any remaining cost with Imperial Artificer, to draw a card/discard a card?
  If both answers are yes......is the following sequence of play the correct one?
  Purchase personality. Personality comes in play
  Pay for followers gold cost
  Draw a card via Imperial Artificer
  Discard a card via imperial artificer
  draw a card via Kyuden Hida
  A: You may not draw a card via Kyuden Hida's Reaction if you attach a follower via Secluded Outpost's trait, as it is not an action that attaches the follower but a trait. If you pay for the attachment with addition gold from the Imperial Artificer, then you may draw, then discard a card per the holding's text. Dan Jacobson, "Kyuden Hida and Secluded Outpost", 18 Sep 2009
• 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