https://www.mediafire.com/folder/vx477quhxz4vt/Regend5Ling#btf4cvsidtj6ff
So discussion topic of the now: How great are rural traps? So great. But should your Kaiu Engineer be allowed to know how to make a tiger trap because he knows how to build a house? Can you just duel your GM to get your way? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
>>48149466
Rural traps are great for both capturing/killing game or humans. The Kaiu were never really as good at hunting as the Hiruma, but might have some study in what those nutters do. Abuse the duel and the GM has that one guy with a skill of fuck you, I win crush you like an ant. The world may never know.
>>48149584
I was implying literally dueling them to let you use engineering in game. It was a Crane joke. Because my image was a Crane.
>>48149618
Every time you roll against someone else's roll is a duel. It's just that the GM is making most of the rolls you are rolling against.
>>48149466
Rural traps, given their lower construction times, their inexpensive costs, and suitability to a wide range of environments, are much better suited for seeing normal play than traps such as underfoot meat grinders, swinging ceiling blades and trap doors. The latter will only ever come into play in long-term fortification scenarios, whereas the former can show up when hunting a monster, fighting bandits, shaking off pursuers, and more. If a character takes Engineer (Traps), then it seems cruel to cut them off from the most convenient type of trap-making and make Hunting the best trap skill. Hunting is already the tracking skill as it is exclusive access to rural traps isn't necessary to make it worthwhile.
From a practical standpoint, if a person has the technical know-how to make a ballista or an absurd counter-weight and pulley system meat-grinder, then using a rope to create tension in a stick is surely not beyond their realm of expertise. Similarly, if they know how to set up the foundation of house and dig out a siege tunnel, then the ability to create a hole in the ground is really not that grandiose.
>>48149759
>Not acquiring two katanas and doing it properly in the garage
>>48149803
I don't want any more trouble with the police.
>>48149818
just wear your boots of escaping
>>48149796
Additionally, it fits the lore, where the Kaiu are responsible for battle-field traps on short notice, which could hardly be elaborate clockwork monstrosities, but would more likely be more modest traps dug out with shovels and some premade parts.
>>48149803
man why you gotta remind me about that dog, man?
fuck
>>48149466
The Daidoji always make me sad. They're proper, pragmatic warriors stuck in a Clan that wastes all of its energy on zero-sum court games. Iron Crane coup when?
>>48150005
>Iron Crane coup when?
When FuFu finally gets his KYoD
>>48149796
I disagree with changing rural trapmaking from Hunting to anything else.
Merely knowing how to sharpen a stick and make it hold tension is not enough. You have to be able to actually hide it from your potential victims and get it done with minimal tools and time.
Rural traps are not a battlefield thing. They're a scout vs scout thing. And the Kaiu are not scouts.
The Daidoji, Hiruma, and other scouts are and should be better at low-tech traps than anyone else.
>>48150005
Harriers pissed me off. Daidoji were always this heavy infantary spear wielding tanks, and then someone somewhere thought it would great to take their defensive tactic focus and use that as a justification to turn the family into blue ninjas. And now the harrier bullshit is seemingly the only thing people connect with the Daidoji.
Its kinda like what happened to the Unicorn and the Moto, just not nearly so bad. The Unicorn got turned into full on mongol gaijin barbarians because AEG is retarded.
>>48150230
That's because everyone remembers the bastards who ninja'd their way in and blew everything up with super illegal bombs over the guys who do what 90% of all Bushi are doing most of the time.
The Harriers are still a very minor part of the family, vastly outnumbered by the normal soldiers and normal military scouts.
>>48150158
The point isn't that Hunting would lose the ability to make Rural traps, just that Engineers with the Trapmaking specialization should gain it as well. They know how to hide and conceal engineered traps of a larger scale, so the hiding part is parcelled in with that skill as is.
If rural trap equivalents aren't a battlefield thing, then what traps are the Crab bringing to the field? Is a small hidden trap full of spikes a different beast completely from a large hidden trench full of spikes?
The Daidoji scouts will still be better at it than anyone else, because they specifically get damage bonuses from their techniques to their rural traps. At rank four they're adding +2k1 to all rural trap damage, along with skill bonuses they get for setting them up. Considering they're also good at the stealth elements and the scouting elements, they'll still be the undisputed masters of skulking about in the woods and setting up traps behind enemy lines. the Kaiu will be able to build these things, but will lack the maneuverability to deploy them in the fashion that you talk about.
Can you 'snipe' in L5R?
As in could a Harrier or an Infiltrator get multiple uses of their "attacking an unaware opponent" techs?
That Phoenix ninja path in Void offers a bonus to hiding on a battlefield, so I assume it's possible.
>>48150409
> so the hiding part is parcelled in with that skill as is.
When you're directing a team of workmen and working with a blueprint, masonry, steel, the full array of construction methods and tools known to Kaiu, and as much time as you need.
Doing it yourself and working with wood, dirt, and whatever tools you have on your person in the moment is an entirely different beast.
>>48150385
Do the harriers even exist anymore? I was under the impression Domotai told them all to get lost
>>48150481
But that would be like breaking up Craft: Shipwright into Craft: Shipwright Overseeing and Craft: Hands on Shipwrightmanship
They should overlap.
>>48149584
>The Kaiu were never really as good at hunting as the Hiruma, but might have some study in what those nutters do.
The tunnels under the wall are filled with the most lethal traps the kaiu can devise. I'd allow one to build equivalents to rural traps by engineering, but not without proper resources, stable ground, time.
>>48148659
I'd expect the setting's napalm equivalent wouldn't be used on samurai (even thigh the Dragon did), and the damned are "vs shadowlands only", but I'm not quite convinced on anything else.
>>48150409
>then what traps are the Crab bringing to the field?
Usually none. If the Crab are fighting in the field, they've done something wrong. They excel at defensive fighting. They don't bring traps, they pick battles where they had traps all along.
The only traps they bring are whatever the Hiruma decide to use against the other side's forward elements in the lead up to the battle.
>>48150482
>Do the harriers even exist anymore?
Yes, it's just now they also officially hide from Crane Magistrates/
>>48150511
Craft: Masonry and Craft: Carpentry are different skills, even though they are both used to construct buildings.
>>48150511
Engineering has always been a management and command skill.
If you're using Engineering, you're carefully designing blueprints and directing teams of masons, carpenters, and laborers to build something grand.
If you're doing it yourself, it's either a Craft skill or Hunting.
I'd say the (Traps) emphasis for Hunting should be considered a Craft skill for the purposes of effects that modify Craft skills (Like Soul of Artistry: Crafts)
>>48150481
>>48150597
By rules as written (as seen in Great Clans, page 32) an engineer can construct traps by themselves using the Engineering skill. A trap door can be made in a minimum of eight hours, the Kaiu "Grinder" in 12, and so on. Ingredients are the nebulously defined "extensive stoneworking" tools.
That said, there is some ambiguity in the rule set there, as the presented legendary Kaiu trap-maker in the book has "Crafts: Traps 9" and doesn't even have an emphasis on Traps for his engineering skill.
I would let Engineering (Traps) work for rural traps and so on, for the simple reason that there's no need to bully artisan and craft-focused characters, they're useless enough as it is. There are practical arguments that can be made on the grounds seen above, but mostly I'd allow it for gameplay reasons.
>>48150781
>for the simple reason that there's no need to bully artisan and craft-focused characters, they're useless enough as it is.
That's harsh, anon-sama.
>>48150879
What mon is that?
>>48150914
Toturi's Army/Wolf Legion?
>>48150914
It was never issued by an emperor and is not officially recognized, but that is the generic mon for ronin.
Anyone can just make up their own personal mon if they really want to. Some ronin use that one.
I want to make ablindvoid specialist shugenja. Is there any way to make that happen without going Phoenix/Isawa? I'm not familiar enough with other shugenja schools or non-corebooks to know where to start looking.
>>48150970
Pretty sure the Ishiken school in Fenix only, but they make a point of hunting down any void touched in the empire and 'taking them in for training before they become a danger to themselves and others'. The Fenix are 'compassionate' like that. They also tend to claim that any void touched obviously have Isawa blood from somewhere, so of course they're welcome in the school of the Void.
>>48150970
There are two ways to do it without strictly being Phoenix'd.
One: Have a hell of a lot of connections with the Phoenix and justify it as them babysitting you through your normal School. Probably a max Obligation, Allies, ect. You're still going to be heavily tied to the Phoenix.
Option two: Void Mystic. Rather than deal with the political bullshit with the Phoenix, your family kicked you to the curb or you wandered away in a Void daze and never found your way back. Or you were a ronin or peasant to begin with anyway.
Void Mystics literally can only use the Void and are usually a little insane. And the Isawa become really, really interested in them if they find out they exist.
>>48151035
They actually claim that nobody else can correctly train an Ishiken and they're usually right. A connection to the Void is dangerous and the Phoenix would rather deal with it than allow it to exist outside of their control.
Usually the family gets compensated anyway, or the Phoenix lay on political power and the weight of tradition to get the kid. Sometimes they'll even just straight kidnap someone and hope the Elemental Masters can worm their way out of repercussions.
>>48151081
There's also a few nascent void traditions elsewhere. It was deliberate setting change that supposedly more and more ishiken are being born. I think the Scorpion were developing one tradition at least. Really though this is a situation that calls for the Book of Void. Since this is an ultra niche concern.
>>48151081
>They actually claim that nobody else can correctly train an Ishiken and they're usually right.
I've read both, but it's been some time.
>>48151040
After a certain point in the story arcs, void shugenja start becoming more common in other clans, and the Phoenix stranglehold on ishiken loosens somewhat.
>>48150230
Now see I love the dynamic of the Daidoji being both the heavy infantry reliable Crane that even the Crab respect while also having in their ranks blue terrorists who use gaijin pepper. Because it says a lot about how the Crane operate. It's all that surface appearance bullshit.
I like bringing up that conflict of appearances in games set near the Crane Lands, and it has been an important plot point twice. The Harriers have been disavowed and some characters have history with them and it is a matter of loyalties. Because to a lot of the characters the Harriers were just following orders given to them by their masters elsewhere in the Clan--to have them be punished for following orders and doing their duty bothers some Crane. While others in the Daidoji are disgusted because they had some hand near it but were honorable and busy being a public face that's now tainted by association.
So the Harriers come across as these "true patriots" who disagree with the new leadership because they know what needs to be done to keep people safe and to defeat their enemies; because they were this close to oblivion many times when Harriers were able to handle things that could've gone sideways. Whereas everyone else in the Crane Clan sees them as dissidents and terrorists, not enough to cause a civil war but enough to hurt some people and expose their own filth.
But that could be boring in non-Crane games and I only like working with it because I like the burnt spy angle.
>>48151727
>the Harriers come across as these "true patriots" who disagree with the new leadership
The harriers were always about plausible denial. They knew their shit would get them killed if discovered, and operated out of a barely remembered castle that burnt down hundreds of years ago. They even had the place declared a gaijin embassy in some deeply buried Otomo record, so their gunpowder wasn't technically on Rokugani soil.
Lore: Maho, Lore: Shadowlands, and Lore: Underworld are all Low Skills. Merely thinking about such topics causes a loss of Honor, even if one is a Jade Magistrate or Emerald Magistrate investigating bloodspeaker cults, incursions of evil spirits, or criminal gangs and trying to know thy enemy.
All four Legend of the Five Rings 4e GMs I have played with in the past have defended this.
Why is this allowed?
>>48150482
Probably, but not officially. I'd imagine there are still Harrier 'cells' operating as if nothing changed, though admittedly doing so with a little less gaijin pepper.
>>48151975
I'd probably not cause an Honor loss if such knowledge was used for good, like being a Jade/Emerald Magistrate. And if I did cause Honor loss, it'd probably just be a .1 per skill per session maximum, because unless one is using that knowledge to act in the interest of evil you're really just occupying your mind with thoughts on unclean subjects.
But I don't run that way and I think your GM is being weird about it. Maybe if it was the implication, such as your samurai happens to know about Maho and by knowing the right thing to say to confront Maho his allies and masters view him as someone who might be a little less honorable than they might once have viewed?
What was the situation?
>>48151928
I totally didn't know about that, and that'll be of use to me.
>>48151975
I wouldn't go so far as to say that just thinking about them is dishonorable enough to actually warrant honor loss, but they are actually dishonorable, and talking about it definitely can be. Demonstrating knowledge is as good as admitting to using it from most Rokugani perspectives, which is a big part of why the Kuni have such a sinister reputation and a big part of why nobody wants to hear about how Shadowland beasts work or how to fight them aside from "use jade".
>>48152044
>Maybe if it was the implication, such as your samurai happens to know about Maho and by knowing the right thing to say to confront Maho his allies and masters view him as someone who might be a little less honorable than they might once have viewed?
>What was the situation?
Using the Sage advantage to know about the enemies under investigation.
>>48150879
>>48150914
I don't know about her mon, but I'm pretty sure she's a fox.
>>48151975
Because a *LOT* of L5R GMs are objectively terrible, selectively-reading imbeciles who are incapable of recognizing a non-RAW, independent thought if it were to jump up on a table, strip naked, paint itself purple, and start singing "what a lovely independent thought I am!"
>>48151975
What you're looking for is Secrets of the Empire, p49 (wild fox doctrine), and Core, p144. (low skills used in GM-sanctioned honourable fashion do not cause honour loss)
>>48152114
>Sage
Yeah, no. Fuck that shit, if you're using your knowledge and your buddies KNOW you're not tainted/bloodmagicing, knowing about it isn't too big of a deal, especially if your duty is to hunt down said beasties. Talking about it openly in court? Sure, that's an honor loss because people look at you and go 'Why the hell are you talking about this shit in polite company!?'. At least, that's how I'd run it, but I'll probably never GET to run L5R (or play it).
>>48152114
I could see how that might implicate you in a very McCarthyist style investigation. Knowing one too many things and you might just be part of the KGB/Kolat as far as the people watching you are concerned. I'd say unless you were using knowledge of their files/history, it could be viewed as possibly being attached to the enemies in a delicate or painful investigation---but that'd be more of a cool plot element to go into than a static honor loss.
I guess it also depends on how your character knew aside from the Sage advantage; like had he read their files? Or was he in the loop as far as legal matters are concerned? I'm assuming you were playing a Jade or Emerald Magistrate.
I wouldn't have docked you honor on it. Those GMs are playing too straight with the books and penalizing you for the little things. You were in the right near as I can tell here.
>>48152122
>selectively-reading imbeciles
Might be true.
>who are incapable of recognizing a non-RAW, independent thought
Also might be true, but doesn't matter when there's a RAW out on the honour loss.
>>48152193
Rokugan is a rather McCarthyist sort of setting in that regard.
If you know exactly why the maho user is trying to kidnap people and where he's most likely going to do his unholy ritual, people assume it's because you've been there, done that. It's not enough to actually implicate you legally, but it is enough for you to lose honor and gain suspicion (And maybe even Infamy).
Veiled words, "I don't know, but I have to guess..." and gut feelings are how you need to communicate things like that without taking small hits to honor. The gain from successfully saving the day is almost certainly larger than whatever you might lose anyway.
>>48152262
The RAW out on Low Skills is that the GM can make exceptions if he judges the skill to be used in an honorable fashion, and there are some built in exceptions anyway.
>>48152262
>Also might be true, but doesn't matter when there's a RAW out on the honour loss.
>>48152193
> Those GMs are playing too straight with the books and penalizing you for the little things.
Found one of the GMs playing too straight.
By RAW:
-GM (playing the lord) asks PC (Emerald Magistrate) to discuss the Shadowlands beast he just killed.
-PC obeys his lord
-GM deducts Honor because the PC is CLEARLY thinking about Shadowlands stuff (since he's talking about it).
-Repeat ad infinitum until the PC's Honor is in the ground or he disobeys his lord and gets Ronin'd (NPC) or seppuku's.
-GM shrugs and says "not my fault, it's RAW."
There are times to say FUCK RAW.
>>48152044
>>48152193
>>48152268
Honor and Glory are different things.
Honor is purely internal. You still lose Honor for using Low Skills.
In modern Western culture it is generally accepted that a person can learn something and intellectually know about it without actually believing in it. One can learn a philosophy or a religion and understand it on an intellectual level without internalizing it as a personal belief. Any abstract concept can be learned and known; practicing the concept is not necessary.
This is not the case in Rokugan. To the Rokugani, a student cannot divorce learning and practice, because knowledge, true knowing, ultimately cannot come from external influences. It comes from “true insight,” which cannot be taught, only experienced. A student can study swordplay, read every existing text on the subject, recite Kakita’s The Sword from memory, and observe a thousand duels. This will make him an intellectual expert on the subject. But he cannot truly understand swordplay until he picks up the sword and practices it for himself. A warrior can read Akodo’s Leadership, understand its teachings, and know exactly how to utilize every lesson contained within its pages. But until he actually leads men into battle, he cannot possibly know what it is to be a general. Without practice, a student in essence learns nothing. Experience is how one develops “true insight,” the only way to actually know anything.
>>48152373
This is why sensei are generally chosen for their experience, not necessarily their intellect or learning. It is also why an appeal to authority is not considered a fallacy in Rokugani culture. Conversely, to teach something or claim wisdom on a subject which a person has never actually practiced is known as “Wild Fox Doctrine.” In essence, a sensei who tries to teach something on which he has no true insight is no better than a wild fox, leading his students in pointless circles in a chase that ultimately goes nowhere.
This is also why showing knowledge concerning the Shadowlands, maho, and other unsavory subjects is seen as harmful to a samurai’s reputation. If a samurai demonstrates insight on these subjects, there is an inherent assumption that he has actually practiced them.
>>48151975
Those GMs NEA was talking about in >>48152122?
Here they are:
>>48152193
>>48152262
>>48152268
>>48152364
>>48152300
>>48152337
>>48152389
Good work, double 0. You the whole thing in reading comprehension.
>>48151975
Here's a potential defense: it comes from a non-consequentialist view of morality. Handling corpses to bury them is both necessary and dishonorable, relegated to eta. Regardless of whether something is necessary, the idea is that of moral pollution. Knowing these things makes you impure, just like the eta making sure everyone doesn't die of a billion corpse related diseases is impure.
>>48152603
Oh, but in case it wasn't clear I wouldn't dock honor for this. Maybe that's my modern morality speaking though.
>>48152632
I wouldn't dock honor for touching a corpse either if you had to, just glory.
>>48152389
You should maybe read the posts you're trying to insult before you jump to support a namefag who doesn't know one of the basic mons used in the game.
Only one of those is what you said.
Your katana is an extension of your body. Therefore, killing someone with your katana is always a Honor loss since you're touching filthy body fluids and probably corpses with it. Poisoning on the other hand can be justified in the context of duty and loyalty and doesn't involve Honor loss that way.
(Never play with Scorpion GMs.)
Acting is a High Skill and is never a Low Skill. Acting covers disguises.
There is no entry in the Honor table concerning such deception.
Therefore, it is never dishonorable to pretend to be someone you are not.
Why is this allowed?
>>48150879
Harsh yeah, but can anyone really say otherwise? People talk about how they can curry favor with fancy gifts, but so can Yasuki Courtiers and they get a bunch of social and commerce benefits on top of it. Letting actual crafting be useful and important in the game requires setting up the campaign in such a way that characters have down time, and maybe restricting items in such a way that being able to make stuff is an asset to the party.
>>48152813
Because it makes for a great story that can later be turned into a play when found out.
>>48152813
>Being accomplice to a major crime, being accomplice to a minor crime, breach of etiquette major, lying to bolster your reputation, manipulating another into dishonorable behavior, using false courtesy to gain an advantage
Delete as appropriate.
>>48152872
Disguise is not a crime, a breach of etiquette, lying to bolster reputation, etc.
>>48152884
Impersonation of a samurai (without that samurai's consent) is certainly a crime .
>>48151035
>>48151040
After looking some things up, Void Mystic seems like the way to go - and the GM seems sympathetic to how totally fucked ronin are by RAW, so hopefully he'll be gentle. Time to be a qt seer with no Status.
>>48152884
It's failing to identify yourself, which is a breach of both Honesty and Sincerity, since you are not owning your own actions or legacy, a breach of travel laws, and will almost certainly be treated as an attempt to impersonate another samurai, which is a direct crime against them and their family.
Using acting for anything other than putting on a play or maaaaybe running some kind of sting operation will result in honor loss and probably legal consequences.
>>48152813
L5R requires the group to have basic knowledge on the tenets of Bushido and they are(n't) following them, rather than expecting a single page list to cover every possible honour gain/loss.
>>48152955
It might also be considered an attempt to harm the reputation or steal the secrets of another School if you're pretending to be a student of theirs, which is seriously something you might get executed for if they really think you were going after secrets that are not yours.
>>48152955
>maaaaybe running some kind of sting operation
That's more likely to mitigate honour loss than ever be a straight up honour gain.
>>48152746
Uh, I think you missed the joke. He's not saying she's Fox Clan, he's CALLING her a fox. As in "attractive".
Fail harder.
>>48153062
That's a terrible joke that really doesn't work when someone is asking about identification and he uses an objectively wrong one as the punchline.
Suck the namefag's dick harder.
>>48153062
Doesn't change the fact that you're wrong.
>>48153141
>>48153248
>>48152872
>>48152364
>>48152262
You know, once AEG closed their forums, I'd wondered how long it would take for the failures and autists to find a new home. Welcome! Enjoy your stay. Try not to destroy this community the way you fucks destroyed the one you were from.
It's basically like herding cats.
>>48153300
>Using acting for dishonorable purposes that are definitely illegal doesn't give you honor loss
If this was 6 months ago, I'd be posting bait.jpg.
>>48153300
>Y-you're all just trolls from offsite
Are you even trying?
>>48153367
No, anon. Four months ago you couldn't keep an /L5R/ general bumped for 300 posts. Believe me. Something terrible has happened.
>>48153402
>Believe me. Something terrible has happened.
Summer vacation?
>>48153402
He wanted to know why disguises and deception didn't seem to have any honor loss and I showed him all the potential ways why that would be wrong and then myself and another anon explained exactly why.
Accusing people of being "objectively terrible, selectively-reading imbeciles who are incapable of recognizing a non-RAW, independent thought" when they are literally saying the exact opposite of that doesn't exactly make you a quality poster. Defending the person who said it is also not good. You're either one or both of those, which makes you far worse than whatever your boogeyman of the month is.
Instead of all of this, let's talk about the mass combat system! All of the flavor in Fan & Blade and so on gets ignored in the RAW, which in both the core rules and the optional Diamyo rules in Emerald Empire boils down to contested Water-Ring rolls with opportunities for characters to have sword-fights. Heroic opportunities: good. The rest of the battle system? Bad. The battles in the text are very flavorful and have a concept of counters and specific stratagems, but all of this comes down to "Roll Battle and look at the chart!" in the rules.
A simple battle system that falls short of a full war game while still allowing for heroic opportunities in the skirmish mode of the normal system is the goal. Anyone else done any work on this front, or know a good set of rules that would work well with this?
>>48153545
I've never really needed to, since I've never had PCs in command of battles. They've been in or near battles, but never actually making those command rolls.
>>48153545
>>48153660
> I've never had PCs in command of battles.
This. If you're letting PCs control enough forces to warrant a mass Battle roll, then you're probably GMing wrong. PCs aren't supposed to be the ones telling other samurai to do things; that's what the published characters and the GM's own NPCs are for.
You should read this and follow its advice rather than letting your PCs get away with that sort of thing.
>johnwickpresents.com/product/play-dirty/
>>48153906
Anon, in any other thread I'd tell you off but this is a L5R thread and I'm concerned this is your honest opinion.
>>48153906
how dare those PCs become anything other than menial grunts
Does anyone recall how much of a mess the old AEG forums for the L5R RPG were?
The developers had an "ask the developers to clarify rules and/or errors" thread, but their near-universal answer to everything was "L5R your way," which truly made one wonder what the point of the thread was in the first place.
How would this have played out in Rokugan?
>>48154191
There would be no plane.
They would have cut his head off after arresting him before they even got there.
If Bane was a samurai he might have been offered a chance to commit seppuku and die with his honor intact depending on his lord and his crimes.
>>48154191
>>48154231
Like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSRylVSfxyw
>>48154231
If it had to play out similarly, the plane scene would be replaced with him pretending to commit seppuku and then completely slaughtering his captors with just the seppuku wakizashi. And then probably burn it all down to hide what really happened and/or fake deaths.
>>48154172
They got so tired of being called their endless errors in Japanese culture and language, errors that could be fixed just by going and visiting Wikipedia or using Google for a day or so, that they basically gave up and stopped trying to be better rather then communicate constructively anymore.
Shame that, but perhaps to be expected.
Being good at something is hard work, being correct is harder, and most people don't have the fortitude for either.
>>48153906
>If you're letting PCs control enough forces to warrant a mass Battle roll, then you're probably GMing wrong. PCs aren't supposed to be the ones telling other samurai to do things; that's what the published characters and the GM's own NPCs are for.
Unless you play this way, John Wick will come to your house dressed in pirate garb, and hit you with a cardboard scythe
>>48154276
Rokugan Your Way isn't exactly new (Although I think it was usually worded more along the lines of "your Rokugan" back before it became a catchphrase). It was always sort of implied. They just made it an official tagline so people would leave them alone.
>>48154285
The world will be an emptier place when he leaves it.
Physically I mean.
Because he's fat.
>>48153660
Yeah, I know most campaigns aren't affected by that sort of thing. Doesn't mean their couldn't be a campaign that sees the players taking command.
>>48153906
>If you're letting PCs control enough forces to warrant a mass Battle roll, then you're probably GMing wrong.
Changing typical game dynamics isn't GM'ing "wrong," it's just different. If you prefer a more guided approach to your games, then that's fine for you, what matters is that everyone has fun.
>PCs aren't supposed to be the ones telling other samurai to do things; that's what the published characters and the GM's own NPCs are for.
:| Okay, maybe in your campaign. Characters can still have higher ups and follow their directives while leading in engagements larger than can be feasibly managed by the skirmish rules. The fact that the current battle rules don't allow for meaningful choices and agency outside of the heroic opportunities isn't a positive feature, even if it doesn't matter for most groups. For those that want to get their Sengoku Jidai on in Rokugan, there might need to be some houserules to keep things fresh, which is all I'm saying.
>You suggest I buy a book
No lol
>rather than letting your PCs get away with that sort of thing.
That's a very adversarial view of the situation. I'd like to get a nice middle ground rule-set of the battle rules precisely because it sounds like an interesting sort of campaign to run.
My current train of thought is towards a war-gamey system of modelling units with base strengths and relative advantages. Battle rolls would serve to bolster units, negate advantages, and so on with various contested rolls. Heroic opportunities would still be semi-random, but based off where the characters were in the war-game, and their results would help either their unit or the whole army depending on what happened. I'll start making up a rules list and post it later when I have something worst posting.
>>48154306
But why did "L5R your way" suddenly extend to ambiguous and/or poorly-written rules upon 4e's release?
>>48152746
Grief, NEA's not a bad namefag, so far's they go. He's just not as toxicly weeb as some of you lot.
>>48154351
Because it was easier to just throw out a RYW than actually adjudicate rules.
4e tried to get away from 3e's rule bloat, and in most ways it succeeded. It only really fails where it went too far.
>>48154401
You say "toxicly weeb" like it's a bad thing. I say that we're being true to the spirit of L5R, the community, and the example set by the writers and volunteers.
>>48154405
>Because it was easier to just throw out a RYW than actually adjudicate rules.
Then why start an "ask the developers to clarify rules" thread in the first place if the vast majority of the answers would be "L5R your way"?
>>48154435
Because there actually was a significant amount of real responses. Almost every piece of errata in Imperial Archives was first said by a dev in response to a question.
>>48154191
>Rekai, I'm the Emerald Magistrate
>She wasn't alone
>Uh, you don't get to bring retainers
>They are not my retainers
>Don't worry, no Koku for them
>And why would I want them?
>they work for the Spider, the one who wears the mask
>Daigotsu?
>Get her on board, I'll send a runner
>The sailplan I listed to the Emerald Champion lists me, my Samurai, Rekai, but only one of you. First one to talk gets to stay on my Bune
>Who paid you to duel Rekai?
>He didn't swim so good! Who wants to try next?
>Tell me about Daigotsu, why does he wear the mask?
>A lot of loyalty for a hired Ronin
>Or perhaps he's wondering why you would cut a man before throwing off a Bune
>At least you can speak, who are you?
>It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our Clan
>No one cared who I was until I put on the porcelain mask
>If I pull that off, will I get taint?
>It would be extremely dishonorable
>Your a Honor 5
>For you
>Was getting caught part of your plan?
>Of course, Rekai refused our patronage in favor of yours. We had to find out what she told you
>Well congratulations, you got yourself caught. Now what's the next step in your master plan?
>Crashing this Bune with no survivors
>>48154471
Just think.
Just fucking think.
Some poor fucking blacksmith actually had to make a katana for a giant ogre.
Seriously look how big that dude is.
That katana is probably longer than a small building.
A blacksmith had to forge that into one fucking piece and fold it a billion fucking times.
It must weigh like fifty pounds.
Fucking Spider Clan.
>>48154471
>Rekai
Lel. This exists?
>>48154433
The spirit of the community and the examples of the volunteers were incestuous. When it imploded, little of value was lost.
There was a tightknit insular group who mocked any outsider who dared to even think of ways of making the contests more accessible to the general public.
>>48154285
I'm glad that story is making more rounds. People need to realize how crazy of a turboneckbeard Uikku-san is/was. I'm a bit shocked that even with other authors massaging his stuff and filtering the crazy out anything he does manages a big playerbase.
>>48154285
>>48154607
What story is this?
>>48154435
Most answers were not, "lalala, RYW!', though. They just happened to include RYW as the final option, putting the onus of choice back on the gm. A lot of it went into the imperial archives book.
Considering 3e and the extreme rules lawyering of the jourei bengoshi, which 4e was a serious attempt to avoid, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone ... yet, here we are.
>>48154655
How back in the early days of 7th Sea LARP, Wick would show up as Reis (an extremely overpowered SO COOL AND EDGY 90s grade metaplot pirate) and fuck with people who weren't playing the LARP as he thinks 7th Sea should have been done.
>>48154655
I don't know details, but John Wick used to show up at 7th Sea LARP's dressed as Reis, and kill people for not RP'ing correctly. Reis as an NPC is basically designed to be a GM stick to kill errant PC's, considering the rules attached to him he basically kills anything he hits - even in a game where PC death isn't a part of the rules
>>48154471It's fune, anon-kun.
>>48154655
About 10-15 years ago, wick was known to show up occasionally into the 7th Sea and L5R larps at Origins and Gencon and fuck over people who he felt weren't playing to his "lofty standards." IIRC the guy running the 7th Sea larp quit running it altogether because of it.
I've heard stories about this from 3 or 4 different people over the last few years as I've gotten to be a part of the L5R community, and most of those are people whom I trust, and frankly, I believe it. Likewise, I've heard from Bob Hobart's mouth (the guy who ran the Heroes of Rokugan living RPG campaign) that Wick wasn't welcome in that campaign for doing exactly that sort of thing.
>>48154732
Sengoku-bune, anon-kun
>>48154762
>Bob (Rob) Hobart
Never liked that guy either. Something about the way he shat on Way of the Open Hand (100% deserved it mechanically, but Hobart just wanted to end any trace of the book, and I would have liked the setting info or even some of the martial arts to survive into 4e), or his apparently hardline stance on anything that isn't a katana or heavy weapon not being worth using.
>>48154926also, I never had particularly fun experiences with HoR modules
>>48154763
That's the compound form, anon-kun. 船 is ふね and 千石船 is せんごくぶね. Same reason 太刀 is たち but 野太刀 is のだち.
>>48154961
I like 'em, but I don't think I've ever run them raw. I just hack plot points and mechanics from them and put them in stuff I make.
>>48154926
Yeah, the different martial arts in that were pretty sweet. Many of them eventually trickled up to 4e, most as simple Paths rather than complicated Schools.
>>48154992
>>48155019
Kaze-do, Mizu-do, Hitsu-do, Sumai? Those were all 1e/way of clans. The open hand stuff was all ditched.
>>48155401
Kobo Ichi-Kai is in as an entire School called the Hida Pragmatists
Sagasu-do is not in
Resplendent Crane Yarijutsu is most likely covered by Crane Elite Spearman path, but is not explicitly in
Magari-yarijutsu is in by name as the Lion Elite Spearman. It is in a setting suplement where you wouldn't expect an entire School though so it's easy to miss
"The art of the sword" is not in
Drunken Mantis is in as the Mantis Brawler School
Himitsuheiki might also be part of Mantis Brawler. Your mileage may vary.
Kinenhi is not in
Ninjutsu has been broken down into skills and roleplaying and is functionally N/A for the purposes of this list. The Scorpion specific style probably still exists with the Shosuro Infiltrators
Marumojutsu isn't in
Bariqu Wrestling is in as a Path
Shiotome-do is not in
Mochatchikkan is not in
Nagai Michinori is not in
Chisaijutsu is in as the rank 1 ronin path The Tessen
Sainika is not in
Unless all the ones that made it in were from something else first, I'd say a good amount of the material there came through eventually.
>>48154191
http://pastebin.com/M2i13z6W
Gave it a shot.
>>48155721
>Master Tiger
You get points for this alone.
Could use better formatting for dialogue though. 7/10.
>>48155721
>CIA killing prisoners for real
Wow dishonorable.
>>48155721
>can't decide between present tense and past tense
Commit seppuku.
>>48155907
Its like 1 in the morning where I'm at and I've spent all day doing game prep for a session tomorrow. I'll inform my second.
>>48155673
Sainika is in. It's in Second City the People and has an entire school devoted to it.
>>48155721
Neat. 8/10.
>>48155673
Add Tasaii-do, Tenshi-do, and Sebun-do to the list of 'not in', under Brotherhood. To be clearer, these (Sebun-do particularly) were what I was talking about.
Doku-do and Tsume-do under Lost/Spider.
Kukan-do under Phoenix.
Tsuchi-do under Dragon.
Etc etc ... There's a lot that didn't pass on, even if some (occasionally with some questionable squinting) did.
>>48156226
Kukan-do is actually mentioned in Book of the Void, but is described as a philosophy with any martial art calling itself Kukan-do as not truly being Kukan-do.
>>48156226
I imagine the Brotherhood ones weren't added because of how Monk schools work. Especially Tasaii-do. It's supposed to be the basic martial art that almost the entire Brotherhood uses, so turning it into a Path would be a little counter-intuitive, and having the whole thing wrapped up as some kind of Kiho wouldn't really fit the tone of what Kiho are.
>>48156283
Smells like Hobart.
>>48156299
Actually, I take back Tasaii-do. It's in BoW as a kiho.
>>48152173
>I'll probably never GET to run L5R (or play it).
Some guy put a game up a couple of threads ago and I think they already started the campaign. If you look for L5R players you'll have your hand bitten off, GMs are like golddust.
>>48157977
It'll still fall to attrition, the way online games do.
Excluding the Togashi and other GC related schools; can monks ever use a daisho? I wanted to make a wandering duellist, but it's kind of hard to use iaijutsu without a katana.
>>48158861
Unfortunately, no.
Monks are not part of the Buke, therefore swords are something that is illegal for them to own even if they were samurai in their secular lives. In actual Japanese history this was not actually the case with sohei warrior monks, but they were from an era where swords were important and valued but not actually official marks of legal status as per Edo Period laws that Rokugan most strongly borrows from.
You could just make a ronin who practices a duelist school of your preference instead.
Are there any books about rokugan.?Never played the card game and am reading the rpg books.
Would like to know, in there is anything else to read, before i play.
>>48159800
The book of Earth in the l5r core rulebook is a good place to start to get a feel for the game.
In terms of rpg books (check the mediafire link in the OP), Emerald Empire, Sword and Fan, The Great Clans and Strongholds of the Empire all expand upon the setting further, looking in depth about the greater clans.
As for novels about L5R, there was the second city comic, but that's kind of hard to find. There are, however, a number of official short stories which have been written within the l5r saga at different points, available here: https://www.l5r.com/fictions/ and http://www.kazenoshiro.com
>>48159800
In terms of what you need to know, here's a short quick list:
>Get a grip on the Book of Earth chapter of the main rulebook
>A general idea of each great clan and how they operate (in game, you won't know every
>A general understanding of Bushido, which is available here: http://l5r.wikia.com/wiki/Bushido
>A general understanding of court proceedings - the best way to learn about these is through reading some of the fictions or the crane section of the great clans. Atsuhime (the 2008 drama series) is a good example as well.
>This may vary from GM to GM, but there is a core principle to eastern drama which applies to l5r. While western heroes are those which defy their place and do the right thing regardless of their role, in Eastern dramas it is more heroic to be juxtapositioned between what's honourable, what is demanded of you and your role. Understanding to appreciate the clash between multiple demands upon your character - while you may know that your lord is a tyrant, the clash between your lord's demands and honour's demands is an interesting one to follow, even if you eventually decide to commit seppuku in protest.
>One last thing: your characters may die fast, and that's okay.
I've been meaning to write up a beginner's guide to L5R, but until I get that done that should be a good list. If you can find a copy of the film 47 ronin(1962) or the Twilight Samurai(2002), those will also help.
>>48155721
Beautiful. Kolat was an inspired touch
>>48160151
>This may vary from GM to GM, but there is a core principle to eastern drama which applies to l5r. While western heroes are those which defy their place and do the right thing regardless of their role, in Eastern dramas it is more heroic to be juxtapositioned between what's honourable, what is demanded of you and your role. Understanding to appreciate the clash between multiple demands upon your character - while you may know that your lord is a tyrant, the clash between your lord's demands and honour's demands is an interesting one to follow, even if you eventually decide to commit seppuku in protest.
A friendly advice: don't follow this. Eastern drama very heavily relies on theatrics and thus it is VERY cheesy in an interactive environment and/or when someone dares to apply common sense to it.
Not to mention that the first character who cuts the knot and decides to gun for Honor 11.0 will break the game and become the absolutely insufferable fun police of the story.
>>48162026
Do no listen to this poster, he is obviously a villanous gaijin.
Any good resources for character art? L5R has a pretty particular aesthetic and I have no idea where to start.
>>48162026
I think it works fine if you have a group that all actually likes Eastern drama - if your whole player base also watches period dramas, then you're probably safe with that. Most Western players are not going to be interested in playing around with that kind of theme for very long, though, so GMs should be prepared to use elements of both styles of drama at a minimum.
>>48162026
>>48162830
>>48163670
And this is why I say it varies from GM to GM. Some GMs will revel in it, some won't bother, but being able to adapt will help your chances of finding a game.
>>48163670
I tend to go looking at art from the more recent Nobunaga's Ambition games, or just look at card art for l5r. I know there's a database for it, but I can't remember the name.
threadly reminder that jews fear the samurai.
>>48164500
What if the Jews are samurai? *cough Yasuki*
>>48164812
What if the Samurai are British?
>>48157977
Fine then, I'm not the best GM but I'll give it a shot.
Email me if interested. We can start a discord or some shit.[email protected]
>>48165884
Why do you think the Crane host it?
>>48165884
Gee, the Crane are rigging something in favor of themselves. Whoda thunk it.
>>48165884
1) Yes.
2) Depends on quite a few factors. Mechanically speaking, of a group of identical characters the kakita have an edge, but depending on the ruleset the Kakita still has to get to that final event. Other schools have advantages the other ten events and can theoretically dedicate more XP into more relevant dueling stats (reflexes is the worst of the dueling stats easily)
>>48165884
Yes.
Yes.
Most Topaz Champions are bushi. However, because all contestants are young, the gap isn't as extreme as it would be with full adults. A courtier or shugenja can win it, because even the most tricked out dueling specialist there has no more than one Technique.
>>48165952
They have to have at least the ILLUSION of competition.
>>48165953
Also, to follow up on this, between two mechanically identical characters where one is a kakita and the other has no relevant dueling skill, the kakita's win % is still in the 60s. It's not in the bag by any means, especially if he had to use up all his void on hard matches previously and his opponent did not.
my yasuki courtier became topaz champion without even showing up
it was great :D
>>48165498
I'm interested but my game schedule is exceptionally poor, do you have any idea when you'd want to play?
>>48166130
what, how!?
>>48166132
Weekends most likely, or Friday nights. Once I'm back at uni things might change slightly regarding friday nights though.
>>48166153
I did well during all the events leading up to the tournament, but the day of the tournament I was 'made the guest of' some hired thug. I bought him out (basically by just telling him he'd be able to go free) but the damage was done when I ended up being a no-show for my first match (which I had intended to simply forfeit anyway). It turned out I'd be facing a bayushi courtier, and part of his scorpion gempukku was to disgrace a randomly chosen target, in this case me.
Instead, however, a 40-ish year old ronin we met (another PC) jumps in and declares himself my champion. There wasn't anything in the rules disallowing this, so after a lot of deliberation it was allowed. He then proceeded to school everyone he faced (humiliating the young scorpion in the process), and I showed up at the end to take all the credit.
>>48166277
> He then proceeded to school everyone he faced (humiliating the young scorpion in the process), and I showed up at the end to take all the credit.
All I can think of now is that line from Air Bud - "There's nothing in here saying a dog can't play basketball."
>>48166338
that was basically how it went
they also made sure to fix the loophole immediately so nobody else could pull that
i now control half the trade in rokugan so it's worked out well for me i think
>>48166491
Become Adam Smith, help Rokugan move away from feudalism.
>>48166648
That might actually end up happening. We're in the middle of the destroyer war (with a lot of changes from canon) and the destroyers have taken over heaven. The empress (Iweko I) does whatever the heavens tell her to, which has so far included opening the seals between Ningen-do and the various spirit realms (she later changed her mind), and allying with the Goju. We're now working on overthrowing her, but there aren't any other decent replacements so I'm angling for a Kolat victory (not that i'm telling the rest of the party this).
>>48166769
>and the destroyers have taken over heaven
You need to construct Outer Heaven then.
>so I'm angling for a Kolat victor
That's a first step I guess.
>>48166849
Ocelot is the Scorpionest dude. Backstabbing like crazy and somehow still being LOYAL only not really only yes really only not yes wait what are we talking about
>>48166769
>We're now working on overthrowing her, but there aren't any other decent replacements so I'm angling for a Kolat victory (not that i'm telling the rest of the party this).
To be frank, the Kolat won already when Toturi I ascended to the throne. It's just a matter of making it stick next time.
>>48167290
there is actually a Toturi descendant running around with a ronin army but i don't think she's going to further my dream of a capitalist rokugan so i'm not sure if i want to back her or not.
she's off working for the new shogun for now (a 17 year old Shinjo who has no idea what she's doing) at my recommendation so we'll have to see how that works out.
In the meantime, somebody's killing Scorpion family daimyos during winter court at Kyuden Bayushi and we have to solve it! ...But I have no idea what I'm doing and the only player that does confessed to the most recent murder attempt (to preserve the honor of another party member) and is in jail ;_;
I hate Toturi. I have Toturi and his stupid plotline so much.
>>48167540
Back her anyway. You can still control the economy.
>>48167694
At least he's not Kachiko!
Hahahaaaaaaaah. Hah.
(Kachiko is the fucking worst.)
>>48167969
Wasn't Kachiko a forum roleplayer? Or am I thinking about a different story?
>>48167969
>>48167997
No, Kachiko is entirely a John Wick thing, despite his self insert character being someone totally different.
John Wick is honestly THAT GM, except he can write a game and sometimes doesn't act like a complete douchenozzle. Sometimes.
A slight interlude.
I just got done writing Way of Scorpion for AEG. In that book, a character named Yojiro meets with another character named Kachiko. Now, while many folks know who Bayushi Kachiko is, not a whole lot of folks know who Yojiro is.
He’s the character I used during the playtest of L5R RPG. So, in a way, he’s me. The authorial intrusion. The quiet joke. Richard Blake. Peter Frigate. Oh, never mind.
So, at the end of the story, Kachiko rewards Yojiro with a lock of her hair in the most erotic scene ever written for any Five Rings product. There’s no sex in the story. But there’s a lot of… suggestion.
That’s the set-up. What you need to know to proceed. Let’s do so.
* * *
So, anyway, I’m getting married.
Marcelo Figueroa is running it. He asks me if I want a stripper at my bachelor party. I say, “No.” My bachelor party is about me and my friends. That’s it. Me and my friends. Having a stranger show up to my bachelor party didn’t feel right. This was a secret time for Us. No outsiders.
Little did I know what Marcelo had in mind.
He called a friend of mine. Told him his plan. He got together with my wife and made sure it was cool. Not only did my wife think it was cool, she even paid for my friend to fly in. This is why I tell everyone I meet that I have the coolest wife in the world. You’ll see why in a couple of moments.
So, it’s my bachelor party.
In the middle of the party, he takes me to a small room. Places me in the center in a chair. Tells me to hold tight
and Kachiko walks in.
She smiles. Wishes me well. Asks me if I love the girl I’m about to marry. I say “Yes.”
She says, “Too bad.”
And she gives me a lock of her hair.
That’s all I’m gonna say about that night.
Some things only remain sacred as long as they remain secret.
I still have that lock of hair.
And it’s magic.
(By the way, my wife and my old friend had lunch the next day. Jennifer invited her to the wedding. I love my wife.)
>>48159800
>Are there any books about rokugan.?
The Clan War novels, but they were pretty shit
>>48167694
Everything past the 2nd Day of Thunder was terrible.
>>48168118
>So, at the end of the story, Kachiko rewards Yojiro with a lock of her hair in the most erotic scene ever written for any Five Rings product
I uh, I what. WHAT.
>>48168222
This is a real excerpt of Wick's diary.
>>48168118
What the fuck
>>48168183
True facts. I'm trying to figure out what sort of alternate history to run my game in.
>>48168222
Read it, its actually a pretty neat story.
Kachiko is a fine character as long as she's the only one showing skin in Rokugan. It gets silly as fuck when everyone becomes a harlot showing shoulder and leg all the time.
Of course, Kachiko has got nothing on O-ushi, who is written as a bawdy soldier girl who drags random samurai into her tent to fuck when shes bored.
>>48168249
Have you read the entry about Wick and Ree? Haven't been able to find it again.
>>48168284
What about one where the worst Hantei was made Immortal by the heavens and so Rokugan becomes part 1984 while working out how to defy heaven?
>>48168284
>I'm trying to figure out what sort of alternate history to run my game in.
Shattered Empire, in Imperial Histories 2 - all the thunders die except Hitomi, and she doesn't want to be empress.
>>48168313
>worst Hantei
Which one was that?
>>48168284
>I'm trying to figure out what sort of alternate history to run my game in
http://johnwickpresents.com/updates/livejournal/play-dirty-bizzaro-rokugan/
>>48168313
best hantei*
>>48168118
>He’s the character I used during the playtest of L5R RPG. So, in a way, he’s me. The authorial intrusion. The quiet joke. Richard Blake. Peter Frigate. Oh, never mind.
What, was Uikku not enough?
>>48168339
Hantei XVI probably.
>>48168339
XVI, probably. XXXIV and XX being second and third in the best-at-being-the-worst competition.
>>48168367
>>48168374
Steel Chrysanthemum?
I ran a campaign set during that time a long time ago. It was basically "Man in the Iron Mask" L5R style
>>48168386
Yes.
XXXIV is the little shit who got himself possessed and lost the throne, and XX was the guy in charge of the Great Famine. XXXIV was a shit all on his own aside from the possession thing.
XX was vindictive and made the worst choices at almost every junction in his reign. Clans that were literally starving were given punitive taxes for daring to ask for relief and clans who tried to help out were punished for insulting the Emperor's judgement.
>>48168339
I forgot his nickname, but I was referring to Hantei XVI, referred to as the Steel Chrysanthemum, if only because Samurai disliked him.
>>48168386
Not having access to imperial archives on hand, what about the Iron Rokugan setting?
>>48168461
Iron Rokugan is set soon after White Stag, which went in a different direction.
It's the "Rokugan with guns" episode.
just do emerald stars imo (i think that was the setting)
rokugan in spaaaaaaccccceeeeee
>>48168461
>if only because Samurai disliked him.
If I remember correctly, Hantei XVI was called the Steel Chrysanthemum because he had a torture fetish, and fed samurai into a steel meat grinder if they gave him any lip. He was basically King Joffrey in Hantei\Samurai form.
Also, cool enough to try again, even after death. War of the Spirits was actually a cool idea, even if everything after 2nd Day of Thunder was shit.
>>48165498
Same guy here, to clarify the game will be Scorpion clan focused, and based around returning a wayward area back into law and order - and all the difficulties politically and socially that entails.
Here's the discord: https://discord.gg/BAXkK
I kinda like the idea of an industrial revolution rokugan. Still no gaijin influences, but there's no reason why a Kaiu couldn't hit on the idea of a steam engine. The Crab would adore the concept of trains. They'd be running troops and supplies up and down the Wall at lightning speed. And then they'd probably end up selling the plans to a forward thinking member of another clan in exchange for more supplies and it'd spread out from there.
>>48168222
>>48168249
>>48168362
Dammit. I remember Bayushi Yojiro and now EVERYTHING about his character makes sense.
Hilariously, he's a super special snowflake Scorpion character who is basically the EXACT kind of character Wick hates to see in his players.
>>48168362
Uikku eats ass, as we all know.
>>48168573
Joined
>>48168640
So would the Crane specialize or use some of their peasants to mass produce high quality kimonos?
I dislike Kachiko as much as the next guy, but at least what we got out of her is the tradition of Scorpion women being whores.
>>48168640
I was in a shortlived campaign a long time, with a modern day (roughly 1980's) campaign. It was so long ago, that I can't remember shit. All I remember was that I played a Kakita detective who was being pulled in two different obligation directions, and my boss was trying to get me to marry his daughter - camapign was about a murder mystery, rise of bloodspeakers, something like that, and involved a Mantis smuggler, and a Crab\Hiruma ex-special forces Sniper with PTSD issues
>>48168729
Remove Genzoman remove Genzoman.
>>48168729
Amen
>>48168729
Which is hilarious considering the 1st edition sluts were in other clans
Who else is absolutely hype for /L5RG/ to be overtaken by LCG players the same way Star Wars General is a mishmash of the LCG, X-Wing, and the various RPGs?
>>48168715
I would guess that the Crane would have factories, but actually end up focusing on their high quality, handmade stuff. Sure, a factory kimono is functional, but a kimono made by Kakita Whatsherface is fabulous, fashion setting, and made from the highest quality silk money can buy.
>>48168729
Tbh the girls on the either side look better...
>>48168808
No one even plays the card game, stop making up shit
>>48168813
Agreed.
>>48168825
It's going to be an LCG made by Fantasy Flight. Even if it's absolute dogshit (And I doubt it will be, since FF is competent at LCGs), it will have a LOT of players. People buy games made by them for no reason other than the Fantasy Flight brand. I guarantee that their game will bring in a lot of new people. Whether that's good or bad is something we can't predict.
>>48168445
>XXXIV
Hantei 39th. XXXIX, no?
>>48168879
Yeah, that.
I'm not sure why I put the V there instead of the X.
>>48168573 Here, I'm half full already. Holy shit, GM's really are like gold dust.
>>48168850
It'll depend on how places like this control the discussion - if we allow them to basically walk all over the conversations and basically kill discussion of the rpg side, then we're fucked. But if we can either find a balance or incorporate lcg talk into rpg talk (forecast says unlikely), then we might be able to prevent any major damage.
>>48169082
Shit, already?
>>48169082
I'm the other guy. I had a total of 13 people at least look at my page. Got a bit more than half of those in applications.
>>48168813Clearly it's the mother of two twin daughters who are about to join one of the daughter's new husbands in bed so she can properly teach them how to be good Scorpion wives.
>>48169116I smell dark secret(incest) on the Horizon.
>>48169093
Yep.
And the easiest way to integrate RPG into LCG talk is simple: Sourcebooks, sourcebooks sourcebooks. People are interested in lore, give them lore.
>>48169110
Jesus, I'm pretty impressed.
>>48169116Aw yusss
>>48169138It's just called "puberty" at Kyuden Bayushi.
>>48168640
>there's no reason why a Kaiu couldn't hit on the idea of a steam engine
Find the Kaiu's diary. The Crab still haven't reached his level of expertise.
>>48169175
Heyoo!
>>48169242
What I'm trying say is that Scorpion women are sluts who can't ever get enough cock.
Wasn't sure if that was properly conveyed.
>>48169265
Pretty loud and clear, Bayushi-sanI have not slept properly in weeks due to Kachiko's bullshit, help me
>>48169431
>>48169265
Kachiko is pure!
Its her body double, Yogo Asami, who is the real slut
>>48169460
Wick, no
>>48169431
Cut your junk off and become a monk.
That should help.
>>48169460
Cut your junk off and become a monk.
That should help.
>>48169460
In Rokugan they don't even call it anal sex.
They just call it "Kachiko".
>>48169518
Don't forget the Dirty Hoturi.
>>48169518
But what do they call the Dotomai?
>>48169573
A persimmon.
Blame Wick.
Apologies if this is not the place for it, I'd like to play L5R- are there perhaps any online tables or what not that might be willing to entertain a relative newbie?
>>48169649
There's the one with the discord chat that's advertised here. Check 'em out.
So, just recently got into L5R and watched those classic samurai movies the back of the book told me to watch and some more after that besides. This shit is fucking awesome and now I love this genre.
Here's the thing though; all of their suggested viewing pretty much constantly contradicts all the advice they give about storytelling in the back of the core rulebook, and I mean ALL of the advice they give. It's all wrong, but that "Eastern versus Western" storytelling thing is by far the absolute worst of it.
There's two types of Jidaigeki cinema I've watched so far and I'm fairly deep into this shit now: there's stories where samurai are either unrepentant corrupt villains or unwavering and near-invincible paragons of Bushido who effortlessly live up to the rules of it (Honor 10 all around), or post-Seven Samurai stories where samurai are just regular human beings who have an honor code that some follow and some don't and most take about as seriously as most impossible ideals people are supposed to live up to, namely not very seriously at all.
There's almost nothing in between at all.
The closest "submission of the individual to Bushido and duty" story is Lone Wolf and Cub, and though basically EVERYONE is incredibly stoic and excellent samurai devoted to their lords (which brings them into mutual conflict), it's not actually portrayed in the story as a good thing at ALL and ultimately the story seems to be about how inherently self-destructive the lifestyle is.
So what I guess I'm meaning to ask is, should I actually have never watched anything to familiarize myself with the genre in the first place?
>>48169917
No, it's fine. Just don't treat L5R as a Japanese style samurai story. L5R is mostly wrapped within the romance of Bushido and all that jazz. Treat it like that.
>>48169917
This is going to sound a little ridiculous, but the best jidaigeki you can watch for L5R is ninja movies. Seriously. I'm not talking Enter The Ninja but stuff like Shinobi no Mono, Castle of Owls or Samurai Spy. L5R actually has precious little to do with samurai fiction (which is where you get the "Wick based L5R on half a samurai novel" zings) but ninja historical fiction is full of grim people in no-win situations trapped between love, duty and loyalty. Pre-Battles Without Honor Or Humanity yakuza flicks like the Showa Zankyo-den series are also great fodder.
>>48169917
If you enjoyed it how can it have been a waste of time?
Also what >>48169965 said.
>>48169917
>it's not actually portrayed in the story as a good thing at ALL and ultimately the story seems to be about how inherently self-destructive the lifestyle is.
This at least is fairly accurate to L5R. Rokugan samurai fuck themselves and each other all the time in tragic ways because of it. Finding ways around it without getting yourself killed or dishonored is a common part of the game.
>>48169965
So, basically all the recommended watching and reading are bad ones?
We seem to make heavy use of the stuff I saw in my home game, but from what you say that might be the exception to the rule rather then the norm then?
>>48169978
Shinobi no Mono is next on my list already actually.
>>48169991
No, it's not a waste of time.
I was just wondering if maybe I was missing something and wrong in my initial assumption that the setting basically gets the genre it's emulating almost completely wrong.
>>48170027
From what I've read a lot of that isn't really anything to do with honor and more to do with...well, I can't be sure because I'm haven't a part of this fandom long, but it looks to me like shitty writing.
Like, a character does one thing and then does the other even though Bushido says otherwise and even though everything they did before already contradicts this one thing but the plot requires them to do this thing so they do it because reasons.
Sorry if I'm wrong about that.
>>48169917
>The closest "submission of the individual to Bushido and duty" story is Lone Wolf and Cub
House of Five Leaves?
>>48170106
>So, basically all the recommended watching and reading are bad ones?
Yes. The writers are mostly up their own asses when they compare Rokugan to real japan. Like Faerun or another geneneric DnD setting, it's only loosely based on real life.
>>48170420
Okay, so if I treat it as a generic fantasy setting where Honor is a big keyword then the fluff will make sense to me, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks anon.
I guess I kinda got confused what with the content of my home game being different from the material and being used to playing that other Asian fantasy fiction RPG that more accurately emulates it's genre.
>>48170106
>Like, a character does one thing and then does the other even though Bushido says otherwise and even though everything they did before already contradicts this one thing but the plot requires them to do this thing so they do it because reasons.
You're welcome to your opinions, but you're being exceptionally non-specific. Even were you not, I get the sense I'd disagree with your interpretations of events and motivations.
>>48170464
Not quite. I feel like you may have missed my point.
In Rokugan what's the typical age of marriage?
I know the Crab are supposed to have lots of kids, is there pressure put on Crab women to take on roles in the Clan that they can perform while also raising children (courtier roles and so on)? It seems that if you need high fertility rates to balance the high attrition rate of the wall, you'd need women to step back from martial roles.
>>48172544
There's probably a bit of a now vs. then tradeoff thinking about it. You can have a woman be a warrior now (just as effective as the men because tabletop rpg system fantasy world), or potentially have several more warriors down the line if she lives the family life. Crabs apparently have mad respect for mothers, so who knows really.
>>48172544
Depends on family.
As soon as you pass gempukku you're an adult. So about 14 is the earliest, probably. If you had to pick a "typical" age that Rokugani get married, it probably defaults to something that conforms to western sensibilities, like late teens to early twenties.
As for kids, depends on family. A samurai would probably refrain from having kids if it would infringe on their current duties. I suspect that Crab women specifically must ask permission, or perhaps they're ordered to settle down. Then again, I can't find anything in canon, so Rokugan Your Way ^tm.
>>48172544
Unstated, but usually before or at the age of 22.
The vast majority of marriages have one partner be the stay-at-home parent. It's not a passive role, since they also control the entire household's budget, all day-to-day decisions of the house, deal with visitors, whatever small time trade goes on, and everything else that needs to be done to keep a roof over your head, but it isn't really something that a PC should be doing, since it is sedentary and usually doesn't involve intrigue or violence.
Usually, this position is taken by the wife, since it just makes sense that the person who is incapacitated by pregnancy gets the position where they can still function with morning sickness, an infant in their arms, and/or all the other niggles of having kids. The Crab have a higher percentage of their women in this role, because it also works out better for stress relief (Coming home to a perfect home run by a perfect wife is pretty good for the mental health of men who risk their lives every day for weeks on end) and the birth rate. If the wife is out smashing heads on the wall, then her husband fills that role.
High ranking samurai will often have underlings for the management aspect and both partners will be actively serving.
In the end though, there's nothing stopping a player from being a woman bushi and it's not seen as particularly strange.
