Legend of the Five Rings Discussion

[Chris Brady]

Having read the 3rd and 4th, it's mostly the spelling errors and shoddy editing that sucked in 3e.  4e copies most of 3e, and words it better.  Which is an improvement, thank God.

[Pumpkin Seeds]

If I remember correctly, which I might not since I have a migraine right now, 2nd edition was very difficult.  People complained that 2nd was too hard and that skills were undervalued.  Then in 3rd edition they made everything very easy and skills became powerful, but also easy to acquire and complex to keep track of all the bonuses.  4th appears to have tried to strike a balance between the two.

[Ephiral]

If I remember correctly, which I might not since I have a migraine right now, 2nd edition was very difficult.  People complained that 2nd was too hard and that skills were undervalued.  Then in 3rd edition they made everything very easy and skills became powerful, but also easy to acquire and complex to keep track of all the bonuses.  4th appears to have tried to strike a balance between the two.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. 2nd completely altered the core mechanic, stripping away a lot of dice without adjusting difficulties. This made it ridiculously difficult to do anything meaningful. 3rd made it ridiculously easy to just go off the RNG in the other direction. 4th has the virtue of actually functioning. Also, damn those are some pretty books.

[Pumpkin Seeds]

They really are gorgeous aren't they?

[Pumpkin Seeds]

:: tries to raise the dead::

What do people think of a Shosuro acting troupe?

[Tamhansen]

That could be one scary acting troupe if done right. But even as just actual actors it could be fun to play

[Chris Brady]

:: tries to raise the dead::

What do people think of a Shosuro acting troupe?

If I must play a Scorpion, I'd rather be a Bayushi Ninj-er, Samurai.  ;D

[Pumpkin Seeds]

I had been considering something set in the Gozuku period.  Then I got to reading about the Yasuki War and was thinking how interest that would be for a delegation of Scorpion to be moving about between the two Clans, sewing deceit and confusion during their peace talks.  The Scorpion trying to prolong the war to hurt both their enemies while reaping the profits.  Then I started thinking about the delegation and how this might best be handled by a courtier traveling with a prestigious acting troupe. 

Dunno, sort of my train of thought there.

[Chris Brady]

Well, I figure they would as long as it doesn't hurt the Empire.

[BraveEarth]

I know they are considered a joke among the Scorpion but a Bitter Lies Swordsman is still pretty scary

[Pumpkin Seeds]

So wanting to play an Akodo for some reason.

[Pumpkin Seeds]

:: casts a spell of Resurrection::

I have a desire to run a Legend of the Five Rings game 4th edition set during the year 384, placing the game just before the First Yasuki War and also during the initial stages of the Gozoku Conspiracy.  My original intent has been to involve the characters with the Yasuki Family and Crane Clan’s discussions that lead to their split.  This would of course also happen during the time of some fighting between Crane and Crab.

The themes I would like to approach here are ones of political maneuvering, subterfuge, paranoia and dynasty building.  This, to me, is a time of great change as the Empire is beginning.  So I would want to build on these concepts.  What I’d like feedback about is what people would be interested in playing.  Some of the ideas I’ve had are as follows.

Scorpion Acting Troupe – Group of Scorpions acting as an escort to an acting company or troupe, but really they are there to carry out the will of the Scorpion Clan.

Magistrates – Investigation and uncovering the truth to safeguard the Emperor…or the Conspiracy

Soldiers – Fighting on one side of the war or the other, their rank and abilities giving them pull inside the political world.

I am not limiting myself to these ideas, but just throwing them out there for review.  So does anyone have any input for me as I attempt to build a L5R game in this time period and with these themes?

[kckolbe]

I think what I love most about L5R is that it almost requires characters to not be one trick ponies.  A character that knows nothing but battle will fall faster than a weak smooth-talker.  I have been disappointed in the history from 1159 to the "present day," though.

[HairyHeretic]

I enjoy playing Scorpions a lot :) Given your themes, maybe something like a Winter Court setting .. courtiers from different clans, lots of opportunity for intrigue, politicing and seduction of all kinds :)

[Pumpkin Seeds]

I was looking to set the first adventure at the Winter Court, perhaps in a border town between the Yasuki Family and the Crab Clan.  Thinking this might be a hotbed of political activity this particular year as there would be a good deal of underhanded dealings just outside earshot of the larger Winter Courts.

[Chris Brady]

I think what I love most about L5R is that it almost requires characters to not be one trick ponies.  A character that knows nothing but battle will fall faster than a weak smooth-talker.  I have been disappointed in the history from 1159 to the "present day," though.

If you're a one trick pony 'talker' you can get through most situations much more easily than a Battle master.

[kckolbe]

I think it depends on the campaign.  If you are playing a shadowlands excursion, talking gets you almost nowhere.  In most of Rokugan, though, you are absolutely right.  Still, though, a talker who is lacking in lore or art or other skills is still ridiculed.  Even the Kakita, known for single-minded pursuits of excellence, still have to demonstrate some usefulness outside their specialty. 

[Ephiral]

That's because their specialty is androgyny.

...uhh, I'll be on the Wall. *flees*

[Pumpkin Seeds]

:: chases after Ephiral while wearing a white wig:: Get back here!

[Pumpkin Seeds]

Seems like people would enjoy a bit of a political free for all.  Each character playing with or against the characters of others to achieve separate goals.  Guessing this might work well for the first adventure and perhaps the group becomes unified with the coming of the Yasuki split or the growing of the Conspiracy, depending if they are for or against the Gozoku Conspiracy.

[BraveEarth]

Oh this hasn't been Cremated yet? So it must be sleeping! ;D

I'm preparing to run the Topaz Championship for a bunch of my friends either late this month or next year. It was the choice of this or do a Single campaign game but I was told that Topaz is more forgiving of the two.

So I'm in full on L5R study mode, any random things that people might want to throw at me that I could use? (Or, someone could help me with my indirect talk, as an Autistic it can be hard sometimes.)

[kckolbe]

I've tried running that twice now!  My biggest suggestion is to tweak the events somewhat so that the players feel real competition.  It's fun when almost anyone can win.

[BraveEarth]

Well the only real way to win is to be good at Iaijutsu cause all the other things are just Gempukku related, all who pass can enter, so I'm going to recommend having that skill, and if anyone plays a Kakita Duelist I will pray for them to not explode. But yeah fresh Rank 1s are hard to balance, I kind of want someone to play a Shugenja and by fate have them win. I'm doing 2 NPCs per Great Clan and 2 Minor Clans, no Ronin for the other Competition.

[kckolbe]

It is possible to lose at iaijutsu and still win if they won enough points beforehand.  Just something to keep in mind.

[BraveEarth]

I read it as the POint were for just the Gempukku, ie they get their Daisho, and that gets them a ticket into the Tournament Also why the Iaijutsu Tournament is the only portion of the Championship that allows Spectators. Although I'm reading the 4e Tweak