Barren Fields

Legend of the Five Rings card from Winds of Change

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Keywords

Terrain

Card Text

Before this battle's resolution: The Attacker must target and bow cards in his army until the number of unbowed cards in his army is equal to or less than the number of unbowed Holdings he controls, or until the only cards remaining in his army are those that will or cannot bow. Then, the Defender must target and bow cards in his army until the number of unbowed cards in his army is equal to or less than the number of unbowed Holdings he controls, or until the only cards remaining in his army are those that cannot bow.
Battle: If there are no Terrains at the current battlefield: Put this card into play there.

Focus Value

1

Legality

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

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• The defender's bowing is based on his gold-producing Holdings, not all Holdings. [ZF, 29 August 2003; JA, email, 30 August 2003] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 7
• Effect must be applied as much as possible, but its effect ends if the only cards left cannot be bowed (e.g., Experienced Shadow Dragon). [JA, email, 24 May 2005] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 7
• Q: How does Barren Fields work? A: If there are more unbowed attacking cards than the Attacker has unbowed Gold-producing Holdings, the Attacker bows attacking cards until these numbers are equal. Then, if there are more unbowed defending cards than the Defender has unbowed Gold-producing Holdings, the Defender bows defending cards until these numbers are equal. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, April 26, 2004, p. 12

Rules Q&A

• Q: A *Moneylender* with no tokens on it is still considered a "gold-producing holding" for the purposes of cards like *Crystal Mine* and *Barren Fields*,
  A: Yes. 0 Gold is still gold production for the game's purposes. Martin Lund, "Rules for 10 July 2004", 13 Jul 2004
• Q: 1. Can I use Armed & Ready to straighten my personalities bowed by Barren Fields?
  A: Yes. Barren Fields is a Delayed Terrain, and according to page 82 of the Diamond Edition Rulebook, you resolve the effects of Delayed Terrains immediately before the Battle Action Segment ends. That means it bows you befor ethe Resolution Segment.
  Meanwhile, Armed and Ready says that you play it at the beginning of the Resolution Segment. That means Barren Fields is always done bowing cards before you can play Armed and Ready. Martin Lund, "Rules for 2 June 2004", 6 Jun 2004
• Q: How does Barren Fields works in a multiplayer game??? If the attacker has all holdings bowed him and all allies have to bow everything???
  A: Allied players' cards in an attacking army are still attacking cards. Allied players' cards in a defending army are still defending cards.
  So, yes, Barren Fields can make the Attacker or Defender bow the cards of his or her Allies in their Army that battle to make the numbers match up (unbowed cards vs. unbowed holdings) Martin Lund, "Rules for 12 April 2004", 13 Apr 2004
• Q: Hello... Well, maybe it's a silly question but... If someone plays barren fields and all my personallities have a weapon, may I play Armed and Ready to prevent them bowing?
  A: Armed and Ready says:
  "Reaction: Play at the start of a Resolution Segment to straighten all your Personalities at this battle with a Weapon or an Armor (or both)."
  So it does not prevent anything. It'll unbow Personalities, but that isn't the same as preventing them from bowing. That's an important distinction for effects that key off of becoming bowed or straightening (like Fires of Dishonor).
  As for the timing of these cards, Delayed Terrains (like Barren Fields) take place immediately before the end of the Battle Action Segment. (basically, after all players pass in a row on their opportunity to play an Open or Battle action)
  The Battle Action Segment comes before the Resolution Segment, so Barren Fields will bow a bunch of cards, and then you can play Armed and Ready to straighten Personalities with attached Weapons and / or Armor. Martin Lund, "Rules for 31 March 2004", 2 Apr 2004
• Q: You have one Wedge personality in the battle and no unbowed gold producing holdings. You play Barren Fields. The battle ends and you can't target the Wedged personality correct?
  A: Correct. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 18-19 Feb. 2004", 20 Feb 2004
• Q: This includes the bowing due to Barren Fields?
  A: Correct. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 18-19 Feb. 2004", 20 Feb 2004
• Q: Player A attacks with one Personality. Player B defends and plays Barren Fields. A has no straight Holdings, but has a Rokuro at home. He negates the bowing. Player B demands that he continues to bow, as per card text of Barren Fields. Player A claims that he already fulfilled the terrain. Who's right?
  A: Player B. ("The Attacker must bow attacking cards in this battle until the number is equal" -- the number's not equal, is it? Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 16 December 2003, Part 3", 17 Dec 2003
• Q: Do you really have to bow all your cards even if it's more than the number of holding then you control even though there all bowed.
  A: Yes, you really do. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 11 November 2003", 12 Nov 2003
• Q: If Barren Fields resolves against an opponent who has no unbowed gold-producing holdings (whether Attacker or Defender), does that opponent end up having to bow all of his or her cards at the battle?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 24 September 2003", 24 Sep 2003
• Q: My friend told me that there was a general ruling stating that whenever a "If..." condition is not verified, you just ignore the rest of the card.
  A: As Jeff Alexander said, there's no such rule.
  Whenever someone says that, ask where the ruling was. Rulebook? Rules Archive? Local tournament judge? Somebody on IRC? I worry about there being a lot of dodgy information out there. I selfishly worry about my name getting attached to it, too. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 10 September 2003, Part 2", 11 Sep 2003
• Q: Scenario: I am attacking my opponent with an army consisting of solely Karachu with no attachments, and have no unbowed holdings in play.
  My opponent drops Barren Fields into play, and then we both consecutively pass to end the Battle Action Segment. What happens then?
  a.) I target and bow Karachu as per the text of the terrain, and then he immediately straightens and stays that way through resolution.
  OR
  b.) I target and bow Karachu as per the text of the terrain, and he immediately straightens. Since I now have more unbowed cards in my army than unbowed holdings, I have to target and bow a card...etc, etc.
  Cards referenced: Barren Fields - http://www.imperialassembly.com/oracle/#cardid=709 Asako Karachu - http://www.imperialassembly.com/oracle/#cardid=551
  A: In this particular case, Barren Fields' provision of its effect ending when the only cards remaining are those that "cannot bow" should be more loosely interpreted.
  So, the effect would end with Karachu straight, since he "cannot [stay] bow[ed]". Brook Cunningham, "Barren Fields vs. Asako Karachu", 31 Aug 2012