Only Actions Speak

Legend of the Five Rings card from The Plague War

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Card Text

Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action ends. At that time, if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
Battle: Choose your performing unbowed Personality and target an enemy card with lower Force and without attachments: Bow it. Bow its unit if your Personality has 7 or more base Force.

Focus Value

2

Legality

Destroyer War (Celestial)

Erratum

Given technical errata via the internet.

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: Following to this subject.
  Palmer answered the question with an older post of Zen Faulkes, but the ruling seems uncompatible with this recent post, where MacBeth2001 explained that "Rulebook rehonoring negation of the Honor Gain or Only Actions Speak's negation (...) both occur in Step A".
  Even if the CR Timing Sequence create ambiguïty by stating that some "triggered rulebook effects" are applied in step B., it seems clear for me that triggered rulebook effects which "negate, prevent, or substitute the occurrence that defines the trigger" as defined in step A - such as "Rulebook rehonoring negation of the Honor Gain" - have to be applied at this step.
  Maybe I was mistaken in the CR analysis, but anyway MacBeth2001's and Palmer/Zen Faukes can not be both true. Thank you for your coordinated answer.
  A: The most current ruling (mine) is correct.
  Please note that my ruling which contradicts Palmer's and Zen's still post-dates both of them. In the case of contradictions, you should follow the most recent ruling rather than a "majortiy" rule.
  Granted, we try not to have contradictions, and these occurred very close to one another, but it is impractically difficult in general practice to find all older rulings that are later reversed and correct them. So, again, in such a case, the most recent ruling is correct. Brook Cunningham, "Only Actions Speak vs. dishonorable performer", 21 Nov 2011
• Q: i got a turney to go to tomorrow, my deck only has trouble with honor runners so i wanted to know how "Only Actions Speak" works. I'm not the best with reading how these cards work, but am i right in thinking, this card will stop all honor gains so long as it negates the the honor lose from the action it is played on? its worded weirdly so it seems like there might be a trick or something to it.
  A: Only Actions Speak: Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action ends. At that time, if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
  You play Only Actions Speak after the action is announced, before Performers and costs are chosen. If any player tries to gain any honour between then and when the action ends - from any cause, including the Focus Effect on Hamstrung, or Matsu Haruya's trait - the gain is negated.
  The honour gain doesn't have to come from the action, it just has to occur between Only Actions Speak's Resolution and the end of the original action.
  I'm assuming you understand the last sentence; please post again if you need more clarity on that. Alex Jones, "Only Actions Speak.", 19 Nov 2011
• Q: The ruling says that Only Actions Speak creates an ongoing effect and resolves at step A of the Time sequence while rulebook rehonoring effect is a triggered rulebook effect and resolves at step B. There is another ruling that confirms it.
  However the text in the current version of the Comprehensive Rules is different from what was cited (maybe there was a change in the text at some time?) and says “Apply any ongoing, continuous, or triggered effects that negate, prevent, or substitute the occurrence that defines the trigger, making the occurrence not happen in the first place.”
  And rulebook rehonoring seems very much like “any triggered effect that prevents the honor gain”. I am somewhat confused. Shouldn’t it occur at the step A of the sequence too?
  Then, there is an old ruling that implies that Faint Praise and OAS effects resolve at the same time. Does that mean that Faint Praise’s delayed instantaneous prevention effect happens at step A of the sequence? I am not sure whether delayed effect can be described as “triggered” since it has been already activated earlier.
  Reference:
  Only Actions Speak. Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
  Faint Praise. Open: Before the next time this turn a player gains Honor during his Dynasty Phase or from one of his own actions, he loses that amount of Honor instead of gaining it.
  A: As things currently stand, the active player would choose whether Rulebook rehonoring negation of the Honor Gain or Only Actions Speak's negation would be triggered first; they both occur in Step A.
  As you noted, Step A has been modified since your first two citations. Your third citation is the most accurate, by virtue of it being the most recent. Brook Cunningham, "Only Actions Speak, Faint Praise and rehonor timing", 6 Oct 2011
• Q: I have already resolved Formal Apology and am currently at my starting honor. My opponent plays an action that will cause me an honor loss and announces Only Actions Speak. Am I correct to think that the honor gain from Formal Apology will be negated?
  A: Yes, if the honor loss is not a delayed effect of the announced action. If it's a delayed effect, the honor loss would occur after the action's resolution, not be subject to Only Actions Speak, and Formal Apology would work as normal. Zen Faulkes, "Formal Apology timing", 2 Oct 2011
• Q: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=93307
  A follow-up question: When does the inability to react start?
  Given that it's an effect of the action, doesn't it technically not start until the Resolution? Which would mean that you could change the target, interfere with costs, use Only Actions Speak, etc.
  A: The inability to React is the first effect of the action, so it technically begins after that first effect is applied. Currently, Howard, this will allow all the examples you list of Reactions that CAN be taken.
  However it should be noted that, come EE, Ranged Attack targeting will occur during effects, not during required targeting, which will greatly increase the number of Reactions prohibited by this effect. Brook Cunningham, "Shosuro Aroru", 9 Aug 2011
• Q: The reaction on Only Actions Speak will not negate an honour gain from the effect of a political action during a battle at Toshi Ranbo.
  A: It will not. Zen Faulkes, "Toshi Ranbo", 20 Jun 2011
• Q: The ongoing effect created by the reaction on Only Actions Speak that is affecting the current attack phase will not negate honour gains from the effects of political actions during a battle at Toshi Ranbo.
  A: It will not. Zen Faulkes, "Toshi Ranbo", 20 Jun 2011
• Q: Player A resolves War of Dark Fire.
  On player B's turn, he attempts to gain honour (perhaps through the use of Doji Nukada), but reacts to the action with Only Actions Speak.
  Does OAS or War of Dark Fire take priority, or is it up to the active player (Player B) to decide?
  A: Active player picks.
  http://rules.l5r.com/CE_Timing#Timing_sequence: "Apply any ongoing, continuous, or triggered effects that negate, prevent, or substitute the occurrence that defines the trigger, making the occurrence not happen in the first place. If more than one of these effects conflict, the active player decides the order in which they happen." Emphasis added. Zen Faulkes, "War of Dark Fire vs. Only Actions Speak", 21 May 2011
• Q: Wouldn't the bowing of the Chagatai's Armor happen first? No. The Reaction is "Before the resolution of another player's action", which is before any effects of Only Actions Speak (http://rules.l5r.com/CE_Abilities_and_a ... resolution).
  (W)ith The Trap is Sprung, wouldn't it check if you have reconned so that it would bow the Chagatai's Armor first. Then check if you are a Crane Clan Player to see if the rest of the unit bows?
  A: No, for same reason as above. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak vs. Chagatai's Armor", 2 May 2011
• Q: A dispute came up between me and a very knowledgeable player of my play group so i wanted to get a ruling.
  As I understand it, Only Actions Speak reacts to the announcement of an action, before targeting takes place, or effects with choices happen.
  So the following scenarios should work: [i have a magistrate, the opponent has a personality A, with 0 PH, and personality B with 1PH] 1) I announce Patrolling the roads. 2) My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak. 3) I target personality B, setting his force to 1 an gaining no honor.
  [i have a magistrate, the opponent has a dishonorable personality] 1) I announce taxing the scum 2) My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak. 3) I target his dishonorable personality 4) during the effect resolution, I choose to make the opponent lose 2 honor.
  Relevant Card Text: Only Actions Speak Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
  Patrolling the Roads Battle/Open: Choose your performing unbowed Magistrate: Target a Personality with lower Personal Honor than your Magistrate's Chi. Reduce the Personality's Force to his own Personal Honor. If his Force is now 0, gain 2 Honor.
  Taxing the Scum Open: Choose your performing unbowed Magistrate or Courtier: Target another player's dishonorable Personality. Increase all Honor Requirements on Personalities in and out of play by 10 (except -HR). Choose a player, who gains or loses 2 Honor.
  A: These look correct. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions speak timing questions", 18 Mar 2011
• Q: If I use Distractions in Court to bow my only personality, I shouldn't be able to pay the cost for My Father's Shrine (bow a personality), correct? Thus Only Actions Speak does not stop honor gains, so I can continue to gain honor on my action phase.
  A: Ah, I see. Correct. Zen Faulkes, "Only actions speak Vs hamstrung overpay", 18 Feb 2011
• Q: Scenario 1: I have one courtier personality in play, unbowed. Scenario 2: I have two courtiers in play. Both unbowed.
  If I announce I'm using My Father's Shrine to gain one honor, my opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak, I then react with Distractions in Court to their Only Actions Speak. I bow a courtier for the cost of Distractions in Court.
  I'm assuming that for me to pay the cost of My Father's Shrine, I have to bow a personality, and if I have no personalities unbowed, I can't pay the cost. As long as I have one personality unbowed, I could still pay the cost since the targetting hasn't happened yet from My Father's Shrine (since Only Action's Speak and Distractions in Court occurred during announcement).
  Can I still gain honor during my action phase? In scenario 1? In scenario 2?
  A: While legal, reacting with Distractions in Court (reduced Honor losses) does nothing to Only Actions Speak (negates Honor gains, not create losses). So you won't be gaining honor in either case.
  The rest of the reasoning with the cost payments all seems right, though. Zen Faulkes, "Only actions speak Vs hamstrung overpay", 17 Feb 2011
• Q: What would the technical definition of "used" be?
  A: There isn't one. Sometimes, we just use the regular English meaning of words. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak vs. Hamstrung", 24 Jan 2011
• Q: (announcing Acrobat Troupe, reacting with Only Actions Speak, and Reacting with Hamstrung and overpaying for Hamstrung with Acrobat Troupe):
  (If) for some reason the Acrobat Troupe were straightened..., could the acrobat troupe honor gain ability be used since it wasn't fully used the first time?
  A: As the original thread said, you have a cost that has been interfered with. So you check the rules on cost interference:
  http://rules.l5r.com/CE_Abilities_and_a ... tory_costs: "The action is still considered taken and ended, but not resolved, and the ability that created it is considered used." Emphasis added.
  So the ability was used the first time and can't be taken again. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak vs. Hamstrung", 24 Jan 2011
• Q: If I play Test of Sincerity and want to react with my Only Actions Speak, does my opponent have to decide whether to seppuku his Personality or dishonor it before I announce the OAS Reaction or afterwards?
  A: Chain of events:
  1. Announce Test of Sincerity.
  2. Trigger for Reactions to an action being announced... namely Only Actions Speak.
  3. Pick target Test of Sincerity.
  4. Pay costs for Test of Sincerity.
  5. Start resolving effects of Test of Sincerity, which includes target Personality's controller choosing an option. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak + Test of Sincerity", 9 Oct 2010
• Q: My opponent announces the action my father's shrine. In response to the announcement I play Only Actions Speak. If he targets a dishonored personality will that personality be rehonored or will the OAS trigger before the rulebook effect?
  A: Answered here.
  Please use the search function before asking questions, it saves time for both you and me. Alex Jones, "Only Actions Speak and Dishonored Personalities", 9 Sep 2010
• Q: If I use Only Actions Speak's reaction to negate the honor gain of Houhou's action, is that player able to buy a personality for Honor in Dynasty phase that turn? The rules say that you can gain honor from a personality entering play only once per turn. As I'm negating that gain I thought that maybe that was it and the other player losses the opportunity to gain honor that way, as he already did it once.
  [Mod edit: Thread title. Please do not use abbreviations or acronyms. -ZF]
  A: The Honor gain from Houhou's ability is not the same as buying for Honor during the Dynasty Phase. Whether Only Actions Speak negates it or not has no bearing on the gain for buying for Honor.
  Dynasty Phase: (emphases mine) "He may reduce the Gold cost to play the Personality by 2. If he does not choose to do so, he may choose to gain Honor equal to the Personality's Personal Honor just before he enters play (also know as "buying for Honor"). A player may only gain Honor this way once per turn...
  These rules about ignoring the Honor Requirement for Gold, Clan discount, and buying for Honor do not apply to Personalities brought into play outside the player’s own Dynasty Phase."
  A player could (without Only Actions Speak or such interfering and with enough gold), use the Limited ability on each of 3 different dead Houhous in his discard pile during his Action Phase, then buy for Honor in his Dynasty Phase a Personality with 3PH, and then will have gained a total of 12 Honor for doing all that. Brook Cunningham, "Negating Houhou's honor gain with Only Actions Speak", 5 Sep 2010
• Q: Only Actions Speak Text Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card. Battle: Choose your performing unbowed Personality: Bow a target enemy card with lower Force and without attachments. Bow its unit if your Personality has 7 or more base Force.
  Deeds and Words Bow this holding: Produce 2 Gold. Reaction: Before a player gains or loses Honor during the Action Phase, destroy this card: Reduce the gain or loss to 0.
  Hi,
  I bowed my Acrobat Troupe to gain 2 Honor. My opponent reacts with Only Actions Speaks. I react with my Deeds and Words, negating my Honor gain to 0.
  Question: 1) Will he still draw a card? 2) Can I still gain any honor afterwards, since the wording on Only Actions Speaks, he didn't negate any honor gain per se since I negated it via Deeds and Words.
  Thanks!
  A: The interactions of these cards have been discussed before, here: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=84015
  Search box is everyone's friend. Even I don't give it enough love. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speaks and Deeds and Words", 9 Aug 2010
• Q: If a copy of Only Actions Speak has already been played for its reaction this phase, and a second copy is played in response to an honor gaining action what copy of Only Actions Speak causes the negation of the honor gain? The first card? The second card? May the player draw a card because of successful negation? Does the active player choose which card effect causes the negation?
  A: I'm going to assume that the first Only Actions Speak in your question negated a gain before end of the resolution of the action whose announcement triggered it, thereby creating a new Honor-negation effect that lasts until the phase ends. So, along comes another Only Actions Speak creating another negation effect that lasts until another action's resolution ends.
  Now, despite expiring at different times, both these negations come from Indefinite Conditional Effects and both have the same trigger, so the active player would decide which is applied first. If he decides the first Only Action's Speak's negation is applied first, the second's negation would then do nothing, and no card would be drawn. If he decides that the second's is applied first, then a card would be drawn. Brook Cunningham, "Multiple copies of Only Actions Speak", 27 Jul 2010
• Q: Because of the timing, after an action is announced but before the effects occur, is this considered a successful negation by the second copy?
  A: Sorry, I don't understand this question, but I hope my above answers cleared everything up. Brook Cunningham, "Multiple copies of Only Actions Speak", 27 Jul 2010
• Q: Let's say I have Faint Praise and Only Actions Speak in my hand. It's my opponent's action and they lobby for the favor.
  I play Faint Praise.
  They bow Acrobat Troupes to gain to honor. As they announce it, I play OAS. Both actions (FP + OAS) seem to have an ongoing negation effect. So which one happens first?
  Relevant text: Faint Praise Political Open: Before the next time this turn a player gains Honor during his Dynasty Phase or from one of his own actions, he loses that amount of Honor instead of gaining it. Only Actions Speak Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
  [Mod edit: Thread title. Please do not use acronyms, abbreviations, and nicknames. Thanks! - ZF]
  A: The Timing Sequence says: If two or more reactions, triggered traits, or rules procedures are triggered at the same point in time, follow this sequence from A through C to decide their order. B. Anything that is triggered at this point but is not a Reaction happens now. This includes triggered traits, delayed effects, indefinite conditional effects, triggered rulebook effects (such as losing Honor after a dishonourable Personality is destroyed). If more than one of these things conflict, the active player decides the order in which they happen.
  Because Only Actions Speak negates all Honour gains for its duration, it is considered to create an Indefinite Conditional Effect, whereas Faint Praise creates a delayed effect (that triggers only once). Both of these are applied at step B, above, and as they conflict, the active player - which isn't you - decides which applies first. Alex Jones, "Faint Praise vs. Only Actions Speak", 24 Jul 2010
• Q: Is it legal for The Thriving Light's reaction to reduce Only Actions Speak's honor negation to 0...?
  A: No. A negation isn't a loss or a gain. Brook Cunningham, "Only Actions Speak + The Thriving Light", 13 Jul 2010
• Q: I announce Steel on Steel being performed by Kakita Hideo xp, and my opponent reacts with Only Actions Speak... (W)ill Only Actions Speak negate that honor gain?
  A: Yes. Winning is at step H in this sequence, well before the action resolves. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak and Kakita Hideo xp", 29 Jun 2010
• Q: i really think that OAS can be "negated" with deeds and Words or The thriving light
  A: Not in the scenario you describe.
  As noted above, Only Actions Speak is always going to take effect before the Reaction in your step 3. That you are the active player does not matter here.
  Also, I would like to point out that you significantly changed the question. In the original question in this thread, the person announcing the action was not the one playing Only Actions Speak; in your question, they are one and the same. Changing the active player can change a lot in L5R; it doesn't in this case, but I just wanted to make note of it. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak and The Thriving Light", 14 Jun 2010
• Q: If one OAS negates the honor gain, is there any honor gain left for the second to also negate?
  A: Nope. Zen Faulkes, "Multiple Only Actions Speak", 12 Jun 2010
• Q: In regards to http://alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=84151
  The question was whether the action would bow Kuon if it had originally targeted the scout armor. The scout armor is a legal target (has less force than Utogu performing the action). Utogu has the requisite base force, so the action now bows a unit without targeting the unit, it would appear.
  Obviously Kuon cannot be targeted by the action, but the attached scout armor being targeted should bow Kuon's unit, correct?
  A: Correct, but no mention of Scout armor, or any similar attachment was made in the original question.
  Hida Kuon's unit would bow, and his trait would not be triggered. Dan Jacobson, "Only Actions Speak vs Hida Kuon (exp 6)", 10 Jun 2010
• Q: If i use Only Actions Speak (the battle action) that was performed by Utogu no Oni to target an attachment on Hida Kuon (exp 6) as my first battle action where Kuon is the only defender, will Kuon be bowed by it?
  A: No.
  Assuming no other bonuses or penalties, Hida Kuon xp6 is not a legal target for Utogu no Oni via Only Actions Speak.
  He must have less force than Utogu no Oni's for Only Actions Speak to be legal to play.
  Assuming some sort of force penalty or bonus prior to the action was in effect, Hida Kuon xp6s trait would make all the effects of Only Actions Speak's Battle action fail, if Hida Kuon was the card targeted. Dan Jacobson, "Only Actions Speak vs Hida Kuon (exp 6)", 10 Jun 2010
• Q: Relevant texts: ONLY ACTIONS SPEAK (OAS) Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card. DEEDS AND WORDS Reaction: Before a player gains or loses Honor during the Action Phase, destroy this card: Reduce the gain or loss to 0.
  I gain honor during the action phase, my opponent uses OAS reacting to my announcing the honor gain.
  Can I use Deeds and Words to negate my honor gain before I gain honor? If I negate my own honor gain using Deeds, will OAS negate all Honor gains until the end of the phase and draw a card?
  A: Please use the search function before asking questions.
  See here. Alex Jones, "Deeds and Words vs. Only Actions Speak", 10 Jun 2010
• Q: Is the negation of an honor gain considered to be an honor loss?
  For example: If Only Actions Speak is used on an action during the action phase (lets say Acrobat Troupe's action), can I then use Deeds and Words to prevent the honor negation and still gain the 2 honor that Acrobat Troupe's action would normally provide?
  A: No. Negation of a gain is not treated as creating a loss. Alex Jones, "Only actions Speak & Deeds and Words", 5 Jun 2010
• Q: OAS reacts when the action is announced... and has a delayed effect that triggers AFTER the action's resolution.
  A: It also has an immediate effect that lasts until the action resolves. The immediate effect is in play, and negates Honor gains at that time before The Thriving Light affects it. Just as the previous answer said. Zen Faulkes, "Only Actions Speak and The Thriving Light", 4 Jun 2010
• Q: Hello!
  I announce an action that will produce an honor gain, like Wall of Honor for example. My opponent reacts during the announcement of the action with Only Actions Speak. Before the resolution of the action, I react with The Thriving Light. Now, which of the two reactions will affect the honor gain first? Does it matter whose turn it is? And if my Thriving Light reduces the gain to 0 before O.A.S. affects it, am I right to think that the rest of my honor gains for the phase will not be affected either? Thanks a bunch!
  Relevant Texts: The Thriving Light Reaction: Before an action's resolution: Until that resolution ends, reduce the next Honor gain or loss by 5 (minimum zero)
  Only Actions Speak Reaction: After an action is announced: Negate all Honor gains until after the action's resolution. At that time if this negated any gains, negate all Honor gains until the end of this phase and draw a card.
  A: Only Actions Speak "wins".
  See Timing sequence: If two or more reactions, triggered traits, or rules procedures are triggered at the same point in time, follow this sequence from A through C to decide their order. A. Apply any ongoing or continuous effects that negate, prevent, or substitute the occurrence that defines the trigger, making the occurrence not happen in the first place. ... B. Anything that is triggered at this point but is not a Reaction happens now. ... C. Reactions may now be taken following an action round procedure. ... The order of resolution means that triggered effects that come first, due to the above order, the order of Reactions, or the active player’s decision, can negate or otherwise make impossible triggered effects and Reactions that come later. When this happens, Reactions to the now nonexistent trigger may not be taken, and other triggered effects fail to occur. The reduction of a change to a number to zero (for example, reducing a loss, gain, bonus or penalty) by a non-Reaction effect timed “before” the loss or gain has a special interaction with these timing rules. Such a reduction is not a negation or prevention, so it is not applied at step A. It is instead applied at step B.
  Only Actions Speak negates the honour gain so it triggers in step A; The Thriving Light reduces the honour gain, so it would trigger in step B, except that Only Actions Speak has already negated it. Alex Jones, "Only Actions Speak and The Thriving Light", 4 Jun 2010
• Q: question with Only actions speak. If my personality has more than 7 base force, but it has now lower force than the enemy personality, can I bow his unit?
  A: Unfortunately, "its" in the second sentence would refer to the entire modified noun in the prior sentence, so "a target enemy card with lower Force and without attachments". If it is not such a thing, neither effect can happen.
  (Replying to a player: "So, example, base force 7, reduced to 5, targets a card with 3 Force (let's say a Follower since I'm assuming attachments count), then bows the unit. Would that be a correct rules interpretation?") "Base" means "printed", so yeah, that still all works as you described. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 23 Dec 2024