Legend of The Five Rings 4e

[Feathersnow]

Yahenni, Daughter of The Bat

Spoiler: Build

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Clan- Ronin
Family- Komori (technically, not acknowledged)
School- Komori Shugenja

Rank 1
XP 60/60
Insight 146

Earth (2) Stamina 2 Willpower 2
Air (3) Reflexes 3 Awareness 3
Water (2) Strength 2 Perception 2
Fire (3) Agility 3 Intelligence 3
Void 3

Honor 4
Glory 1
Status 0
Taint 0
Infamy 0

Skills-
Stealth 2 5k3 (Agility)

Acting 1 4k3 (Awareness)
Courtier 2 5k3 (Awareness)
Etiquette 2 5k3 (Awareness)

Calligraphy (cipher) 4k3 (Intelligence)
Lore (Heraldry) 4k3 (Intelligence)
Engineering 4k3 (Intelligence)
Lore (theology) 2 5k3 (Intelligence)
Spellcraft 2 5k3 (Intelligence)
Divination 1 4k3 (Intelligence)

Meditation 4k3 (void)
Tea Ceremony 4k3 (void)

Investigation 3k2 (perception)

Spells-
Universal:
commune 1
Sense 1
Summon 1

Air:
Yari of Air 1
Blessed 1
By the light of the moon 1
Call upon the wind 2
Benten's touch 2

Fire:
The Raging Forge

Water:
Speed of waterfall 1
Clarity of purpose 1

Advantages:
Absolute direction (-1)
Friend of the Air (-3)

Disadvantage:
Dependant: my mum (+1)
Gaijin Name (+1)

Spoiler: 20 Questions

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1. What Clan does your Character belong to?

Yahenni was the child of the late Lord Yomori and a Ivory Kingdom immigrant of no special status who he kept as a mistress. She was trained as a Shugenja due to her natural aptitudes and Bloodline, but her father's plan to adopt her was ended with his premature death. Her Half-Sister, the new head of the Bat Clan, resents Yahenni and encouraged her to leave the capitol district.

2) What family does your Character belong to?

Though a Komori by blood, Yahenni's only acknowledged relative is her elderly mother, who she supports.

3) Is your character a Bushi, Shugenja, or Courtier?

Yahenni is a Shugenja, though she has basic training in many courtly arts, as a nameless bastard cannot risk giving offense.

4. How would others describe your character's appearance?

Yahenni has a beautiful figure, and an exotic cast to her features from her Gaijin Mother.

5. What is your character's primary motivation?

Yahenni wants a stable life for herself and her mother. Being accepted as a vassal of a lord is an important step to this.

6. Who is the person your character trusts most in the world?

Definitely her mother. Yahenni has no lord or confidants far from home, but her mother relies on her.

7. What is your character's greatest strength and weakness?
Strength- Yahenni is an optimist who will never give up.

Weakness- Yahenni is terrified of falling pregnant and leaving a child in an even worse spot than she is in. This leads her to avoid male attention, despite the paradoxical fact that, were she to marry a noble, most of her immediate problems would be solved by default. Perhaps she is rationalizing...

8. What does your Character think of Bushido?

Bushido is how the world works, and, being exposed to no other life and her Half-Sister's rejection of her being really a failure rather than a consequence of the system, she has had neither cause nor consequence to question it.

9. What is your Character's opinion of her Clan?

The Bats are insular and arrogant, and she is unlikely to have dealings with them again. Ronin, like she is now, are pitiable given they're caught between being peasants, who have few obligations, and being nobles, who have the actual means to fulfill their duties.

10. Is your character married?

No. Yahenni is not a desirable prospect for a wife, and she embraces that fact to be largely celibate.

11. Does your Character have any prejudices?

Yahenni has a dislike for the Imperials. They totally ignored both her father keeping a second family and her Half-Sister dispossessing them on a Whim. This strikes her as hypocritical and it hurt her personally.

12. To whom does your Character owe the most Loyalty?

Her mother, who never let her down.

13. What are your character's most and least favorite things?

Most favorite- candy. Sweets make her happy and she often incorporates them into ritual offerings.

Least favorite- dealing with her hair. She finds it deeply involved, not least because her hair is thicker and oilier than is common in this part of Rokugan, so few normal servants have experience in helping her. She also dislikes attracting attention, but dressing up requires that mindset.

14. Does your Character have any recurring mannerisms?

She always is chewing pine resin or sucking on a sweet. She offers similar treats to her friends regularly.


15. What about your character's emotions?

Yahenni is very anxious and unsure, and she hides this well. She has romantic preferences for other women, which is while not illegal or even particularly frowned on, in her culture, is secretive, and her previous girlfriends all live in the Capitol, which is far away. Meeting women of a similar mind in this district has been difficult, especially since it has had to be a secondary priority to securing a livelihood dir herself and her mother.

16. How would Yahenni deal with a subordinate's improper behavior

As a Ronin Shugenja, this may well never come up, but her first priority would be to restore face. She needs a good reputation to find a secure job for herself and her mother. A shameful act on her behalf would be a detriment to that.

Conversely, she would be inclined to ignore impropriety that avoid attention.

17. How would her parents describe Yahenni?

The Late Lord Yomori thought Yahenni was a good student and worthy of the honor he died without bestowing on her. Yahenni's mother loves her daughter fiercely and has a glowing image of what she is like

18. What is your character's highest ambition?
She would like very much to be adopted into a Clan on her merits as a Shugenja.

19. How religious is your character?
Yahenni is quite religious even fir a Shugenja, often praying and thinking about things in spiritual terms.

20. How will your character die?

Of old age, as the valued advisor of a minor noble.

[Bearon]

Is it possible to start the game with the Master of Games path if we start at rank 2? So in my case Tsuraya would be Bayushi Courtier 1//Master of Games 1...

You did say that Nanashi Mura is close by. It is possible some of our characters have already made friends there and have done some learning there?

Yes, you can start at rank 2. Yes, you can start with a path. It does mention being a resident, so you probably would have had to have lived there a bit, so you may need to add that to your backstory. If you want friends or some mechanical justification as to why they'd teach you a technique, it might be worthwhile to look at the Allies or Well-Connected (Nanashi Mura) Advantages.

1. Quick thing about his family and attributes. Yoritomo fits the narrative perfectly, but the +1 Stamina messed up the whole character. So, if you're okay with me giving him +1 Strength instead of +1 Stamina, that would be awesome (and I'll spend XP on Awareness and Reflexes). If that's not okay, then I'll make him a Kitsune who grew up with the Yoritomo, take the +1 Awareness, spend XP on Reflexes and Strength, and give the backstory a quick update.

(also, am I crazy or should the Yoritomo totally get +1 Strength? They're absolutely the wateriest of families and it synergizes so well with their Shugenja school)

This is part of why I prefer the way 5e does families: they give you a choice between two rings instead of a singular trait. Unfortunately, though, I'll say that we'll just stick with how 4e does it. I will say that vassal families are also an option, and those usually present enough other options for folks to build around.

Ehh, I mean I guess Stamina represents tough and sturdy, but 5e sees em as Fire/Water.

2. I have 13 points of Disadvantages. They all fit the character well and I especially liked the combination of Lingering Misfortune and Cursed by the Yomi Realm as the reason for his Ronin-hood, and then both Daredevil and Overconfident leading from that.

Going over 10 points of Disadvantages is perfectly fine, though it'll still only grant a maximum of 10xp.

As for Cursed by the Realm: Yomi, I really dislike it mechanically; for most builds, it's basically just free points. Not gonna say you can't take it, but I'll try and tie in other more narrative consequences/interactions from it.

3. I might switch "Fame" one out for Friend of the Elements. Depending on whether or not you think Fame will be much of a factor in the game.

Glory will definitely matter, but you'll be able to accrue it just by doing things around the province. You'll need a certain amount for certain jobs or to meet certain individuals, so the main benefit of starting with a higher Glory would be to fast track that process. Well, that, and I guess having already done some noteworthy things in your backstory.

I hear that L5R 5e is much more narrative focused, but the dice system is much different. I do like the concept of each character having a Strife though.

True. I actually like the dice system more in 5e; it's still roll and keep, but makes choosing which dice to keep more interesting than just going with the highest number. It also makes it less common for failed rolls to cause nothing to happen, even in combat.

Yahenni, Daughter of The Bat

Hey, thanks for the sheet! Quick question, do you have an xp breakdown?

Air (3) Reflexes 2 Awareness 2

Would you mind updating the traits so that they're 3 to match the ring?

Disadvantage:
Dependant: my mum (+1)

I'll say that Yahenni's mother as a dependent is worth 2 points instead of just one. If she's maybe not in the best health or very advanced in her age, it'd probably be worth 3.

[Feathersnow]

Thanks for the quick reply. I can write out a points cost list after work

[truemane]

As for Cursed by the Realm: Yomi, I really dislike it mechanically; for most builds, it's basically just free points. Not gonna say you can't take it, but I'll try and tie in other more narrative consequences/interactions from it.

Yes, please, by all means lay it on. Pretty much all of my Advantages/ Disadvantages are very narrative-based. And I'm here for however it shakes out.

Okay, sheet updated. Removed Overconfident, Daredevil, and my second rank of Athletics.

I think I balance now.

Just have a couple of spells left to pick.

[NontheistCleric]

Yes, you can start at rank 2. Yes, you can start with a path. It does mention being a resident, so you probably would have had to have lived there a bit, so you may need to add that to your backstory. If you want friends or some mechanical justification as to why they'd teach you a technique, it might be worthwhile to look at the Allies or Well-Connected (Nanashi Mura) Advantages.

Is the residence requirement going to be a thing if we want to learn techniques on gaining new insight ranks? I was considering taking Master of Games at rank 2 because it's really the only path with any relevance to a courtier and you said there would be people who could teach techniques to us, but if the residence is needed then maybe I should swap some of Yu's traits around so he can also start at rank 2 and have lived in Nanashi Mura before moving on to Naishou, since it wouldn't be possible to be a resident of Nanashi Mura while in Naishou.

Unless you don't want two people with the same technique anyway, in which case, fair enough.

[Frosty]

Is the residence requirement going to be a thing if we want to learn techniques on gaining new insight ranks? I was considering taking Master of Games at rank 2 because it's really the only path with any relevance to a courtier and you said there would be people who could teach techniques to us, but if the residence is needed then maybe I should swap some of Yu's traits around so he can also start at rank 2 and have lived in Nanashi Mura before moving on to Naishou, since it wouldn't be possible to be a resident of Nanashi Mura while in Naishou.

Unless you don't want two people with the same technique anyway, in which case, fair enough.

I don't see any reason why we can't both have the same technique. If we both get picked them we might even know each other!

[NontheistCleric]

I don't see any reason why we can't both have the same technique. If we both get picked them we might even know each other!

True, that would be fun. Let's see what Bearon says.

[Frosty]

My sheet is totally done. Even the gear is bought.

[Feathersnow]

Cost breakdown:

Spoiler: cost

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Attributes
Agility +12
Reflexes +12
Void +18
(42)

Acting +1
Courtier +2
Divination +1
Engineering +1
Etiquette +3
Lore (Heraldry) +1
Lore (Theology) +2
Stealth +3
Investigation +1
(15)
Extra spells
(2)

Dependant -2
Gaijin Name -1

Absolute Direction +1
Friend of the Elements +3
(+1)

[Frosty]

Reposting everything here so everything is in one place. Working on writing the scene where she gets expelled from the Scorpion clan.

Bayushi Tsuraya (now just Tsuraya): Disgraced courtier who is driven to regain her family honor.

Spoiler: 20 questions

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1. What clan does your character belong to?
Scorpion (formerly)

2. What family does your character belong to?
The Bayushi family (formerly), but her and her all of her immediate family members have essentially been cast out and their name erased from the clan records. This is due to a massive failure (not Tsuraya's) that her parents took responsibility for. The failure was so large that even with her parents committing seppuku, the DISHONOR was not erased. Tsuraya and her siblings were allowed to live on, but stripped of their family name and cast out, but the story is more complicated than that…

3. Is your character a bushi, a shugenja, or a courtier?
Tsuraya is a courtier by training, having trained in a Bayushi dojo for courtiers.

4. How would others describe your character's appearance?
Tsuraya is on the smaller side, with long, silky black hair. Many others have described Tsuraya as having a cute, innocent face. This is in contrast with her very feminine and voluptuous body, equally hidden and highlighted by her carefully selected kimonos. This combination has been very deadly in the courts, where Tsuraya had flourished before the unfortunate event leading to her family being cast out.

5. What is your character's primary motivation?
Tsuraya is DRIVEN to restore her family’s name. At the moment she and her family were cast out, she was taken aside by one of her superiors. She was told how much the contested (formerly Phoenix) means to her clan, and it’s implied that she can find a way to tip the scales so that the Scorpion clan can gain control it, then her family’s honor and name would be restored. After reading the subtext of the conversation, Tsuraya also wonders if the entire dishonoring of her family is an elaborate ruse and misdirection play by her clan, and that perhaps her parents are actually alive and sent elsewhere undercover. Regardless, the courtier is utterly determined to effect a Scorpion takeover of the contested province so she and her family can eventually go back to life as normal.

6. Who is the person your character trusts most in the world?
Tsuraya trusts few people completely. Her sister Suki is one of those people. They led different sorts of lives, given that Suki trained as a bushi, but the two have always aided each other when needed. Suki has beaten away physical threats to Tsuraya (such as from bandits), and Tsuraya has sweet-talked people in court to overlook faux-pas from Suki.

7. What is your character's greatest strength and weakness?
Tsuraya can be a bit overconfident in her social abilities, not having tasted major defeat yet in her time in the courts. Her physical abilities are also lacking. Her greatest strength include her alluring beauty, and her gift for deception while appearing honest.


8. What does your character think of Bushido?
It is convenient group of lies that holds back the undisciplined behavior of most humans. Duty is the only thing that truly matters. One’s life, reputation, wealth, and even personal relationships can be sacrificed for the sake of mission accomplishment to serve the good of the Emerald Empire. One tenet of bushido in particular baffles Tsuraya even more than the others. The concept of Meyo (honor) has never made sense to her. It never made sense for oneself to be the only judge of whether one is acting correctly or not. It allows for too much room to disobey orders.

9. What is your character's opinion of her clan?
Tsuraya completely agrees with her clan’s tenets. She isn’t even bitter about her family being cast out (possibly for something that wasn’t their fault), although she is driven to reverse that situation.

10. Is your character married?
She was not married. She was never even betrothed. Perhaps the clan found her a better weapon if she were single.

11. Does your character have any prejudices?
None that she’d admit to herself, although she has no respect for anyone that shirks their duty.

12. To whom does your character owe the most loyalty?
Her siblings. They were cast out along with her. Should they need help, she would go assist them unless it would mean impeding her in her mission to help the Scorpion gain control of the contested province. She also recognizes and appreciates the need for strong bonds of friendship, especially since she doesn’t have any official support from her (former) clan now. Therefore, she would do right by anyone she works and travels with, assuming they would do right by her.

13. What are your character's favorite and least favorite things?
One of Tsuraya’s favorite pastimes is going to the theater to enjoy a play. She enjoys the more dramatic kinds of plays, but she can appreciate the other kinds as well. Tsuraya also enjoys practicing her flirting and seduction, as she enjoys the sense of power she gets from having others wrapped around her finger.

Tsuraya dislikes people that are boring. When she speaks with someone, she hopes that even if they won’t be friendly towards her, there will be some interesting secrets for her to learn (and possibly to use against them in the future). She also dislikes physical labor. It makes her sweat too much and she likes to remain smelling clean and fresh.

14. Does your character have any recurring mannerisms?
Tsuraya tends to caress her sternum when she is idle or lost in thought.

15. What about your character's emotions?
While she no longer wears a Scorpion’s mask, she is good at hiding her emotions. Most of the time, she is in control of herself, although sometimes she will let a bit of frustration show when she fails to make progress towards her goal or task at hand, or when she is confronted by someone for whom bushido and honor actually works well (she just can’t understand it).

16. How would your character handle a subordinate's improper behavior?
Reprimand the first time. After that, she makes the lessons more painful by engineering embarrassing situations designed to showcase what the subordinate did wrong.

17. How would your character's parents describe her?
Her parents would describe her as a dedicated and talented samurai-ko, and someone who is a credit to her family and clan. They may be slightly concerned at how much and how well she has taken to using her beauty as a weapon, but they would still describe her as “successful” because her methods have worked.

18. What is your character's highest ambition?
To restore her name and her family’s name and honor. After that, to be the best courtier she can be, perhaps one day even outperforming the deeds of the legendary Bayushi Kachiko.

19. How religious is your character?
She pays respect to the various Kamis and fortunes as much as the average samurai, but she is not overly concerned with the spiritual world. She knows the Crab will handle the defense against the oni, and the monks and shugenja can answer any spiritual questions she may have.

20. How will your character die?
Either from overconfidence as she overreaches (perhaps a seduction where she hadn’t read the target correctly beforehand) in trying to accomplish her goals, or from an order from the Scorpion clan to get herself killed as part of a maneuver to advance her clan’s goals.

Spoiler: picture of Tsuraya

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Spoiler: Backstory (done)

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Bayushi Tsuraya and her twin sister Suki were born to Shosuro Nanami, a skilled infiltrator, and Bayushi Sozen, a fearless bushi would let nothing stand in the way of his service to the Scorpion clan. Even though the two were identical twins, Tsuraya and Suki had vastly different interests. Suki took after her father, loving all manners of sports and sparring, while Tsuraya loved pretending to be characters and figures from plays and history. Both Tsuraya and Suki completed their gempukku ceremonies with flying colors, earning them their face masks.

Tsuraya was considered a talent courtier, and her dangerous beauty made her most useful to seducing secrets out of unwitting targets. She and her twin sister remained close. Tsuraya would use her gift of gab to keep Suki out of trouble if Suki accidentally gave offense, while Suki would protect Tsuraya physically from any uncouth man who tried to bother Tsuraya.

Tsuraya was seen to have great potential, until one fateful day when she was told that her parents had both committed seppuku over an egregious failure. Because the failure of duty and the shame were so great, even the seppuku of her parents were not enough to preserve the honor of the family. She and her sister were to be cast out from the clan, and their names erased from the family histories.

Her superior implied that should Tsuraya and her sister perform some great service to the clan, then there is a chance that they could rejoin the Scorpion clan and their name would be restored. A great service, such as helping the Scorpion clan gain control over Naishou Province. Tsuraya and Suki, now homeless and clan-less, decided to travel to Nanashi Mura, a city run by ronin, in order to figure out their next moves.

Suki and Tsuraya managed to find a place in Nanashi Mura,and spent half a year settling in and getting used to life without the support of a clan. Suki feels betrayed by the Scorpion clan, and is not sure about trying to get back in the good graces of the clan. Tsuraya, on the other hand, never wavered in her belief that either the clan was right because of the huge failure of her parents, or her parents and the clan were pulling and elaborate ruse faking their deaths for the purpose of some other mission. Either way, Tsuraya is still determined to find a way to serve the clan, and in turn, restore their name.

In these months, Tsuraya continued practicing and honing her skills. She also made some friends, attempting to build an information network of her own. One friend of note is Yue, a successful local geisha in Nanashi Mura. Yue introduced Tsuraya to various people, including the Masters of Games who would teach Tsuraya how ronin courtiers operate.

Finally, word reaches Tsuraya that Naishou province is truly up for grabs. Even minor clans are sending delegates to make their case, and there is great demand for ronin to advance the interests of various parties in the region. She says her goodbye to her twin for the time being, trusting Suki to take care of herself but also telling Suki that if Suki needs help, Suki can always call upon her. With that, Tsuraya heads towards Naishou Province.

Spoiler: The fateful night (coming soon)

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Placeholder

Spoiler: Exp costs

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Attributes
Intelligence 2-->3, +12
Reflexes 2-->3, +12
(24)

Skills
Acting 1-->3, +5
Courtier 1-->3, +5
Etiquette 1-->3, +5
Forgery 0-->1, +1
Investigation 1-->2, +2
Kenjutsu 0-->1, +1
Kyujutsu 0-->2, +3
Lore (Heraldry) 0-->2, +3
Sincerity 1-->2, +2
Sleight of Hand 0-->1, +1
Stealth 0-->1, +1
Tea ceremony 0-->2, +3
Temptation 1-->2, +2
(34)

Advantages
Allies (1 Influence, 2 Devotion): Geisha at Nanashi Mura +3
Dangerous Beauty +2
Sage +4
Sensation +3
(+12)

Disadvantages
Driven (to restore her family to the good graces of her clan) -2
Dishonored -5
Failure of Bushido (Honor) -3
(-10)

Total exp spent: 70.
Starting exp = 40 base + 10 (disadvantages) + 20 (20 questions) = 70

[NontheistCleric]

Updated the table and decided to go with the insight rank 2 version of Yu for now.

Didn't make any change to his backstory, since it wasn't really comprehensive coverage of his ronin career in the first place, only showing how he got set on that path, but he would have been in Nanashi Mura at some point to learn the rank 2 technique, prior to coming to Naishou.

Player	Character	Former Clan	Former Family	Insight Rank 1	Insight Rank 2
Chambers	Chen	None	None	Forest Killers [Bushi]	Not reached
JollyChris	Kenshin	Crane	Asahina	Kakita Bushi [Bushi]	Not reached
Harmony	Sayaka	Scorpion	Aotora	Bayushi Bushi [Bushi]	Not reached
truemane	Tenzin	Mantis	Yoritomo	Yoritomo Shugenja [Shugenja]	Yoritomo Shugenja [Shugenja]
Frosty	Tsuraya	Scorpion	Bayushi	Bayushi Courtier [Courtier]	Master of Games [Courtier]
Feathersnow	Yahenni	None	None	Komori Shugenja [Shugenja]	Not reached
NontheistCleric	Yu	Crane	Doji	Doji Courtier [Courtier]	Master of Games [Courtier]
Janwin	Zaya	Unicorn	Moto	Utaku Battle Maiden [Bushi]	Shinjo Magistrate [Bushi]

[Frosty]

Thanks for updating! Tsuraya is also insight rank 2, with Master of Games path.

[Frosty]

Anyone been in contact with Bearon? Is he on vacation or something?

[JollyChris]

i was wondering that myself.

[Feathersnow]

I honestly am not expecting to make the cut, but I am still hoping.

[NontheistCleric]

Well, don't underestimate yourself. Anyway, nothing to do but wait and see.

[truemane]

Not related to the game itself, but because I'm geek-cited and have no one else to share it with:

I finally found a physical copy of Sword and Fan both in good condition and not going for hundreds of dollars. Which means that I am now only missing a single book of the L5R 4E line (Book of Void).

They're very pretty books, inside and out, and I love owning them (even if they almost never get used in a real game).

Spoiler: SQUEE

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[NontheistCleric]

Oh, wow! Funny, I was just reading that book yesterday to get into a Rokugan-ish mood, in case this game actually does take off.

[truemane]

Oh, wow! Funny, I was just reading that book yesterday to get into a Rokugan-ish mood, in case this game actually does take off.

I am pretty much always in a Rokugan mood. I love this game (and this setting) very much.

You couldn't surprise me with a game of L5R if you tried. I'm always ready for one to appear.

If this game doesn't take off, I'm considering starting one myself.

[Janwin]

Not related to the game itself, but because I'm geek-cited and have no one else to share it with:

I finally found a physical copy of Sword and Fan both in good condition and not going for hundreds of dollars. Which means that I am now only missing a single book of the L5R 4E line (Book of Void).

They're very pretty books, inside and out, and I love owning them (even if they almost never get used in a real game).

Spoiler: SQUEE

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Man, I didn't realize my massive stack of 4e books were that valuable now...

Agreed on how nice the books are/were. By far the best edition produced for the game, with the best art.

[Frosty]

They're very pretty books, inside and out, and I love owning them (even if they almost never get used in a real game).

Spoiler: SQUEE

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Owning books is also a hobby (problem) of mine I have so many DnD 3.5 books that'll never get used again, but it's nice to have...

I am pretty much always in a Rokugan mood. I love this game (and this setting) very much.

You couldn't surprise me with a game of L5R if you tried. I'm always ready for one to appear.

If this game doesn't take off, I'm considering starting one myself.

Ooh, what ideas do you have, Truemane?

[truemane]

Owning books is also a hobby (problem) of mine I have so many DnD 3.5 books that'll never get used again, but it's nice to have...

SAME. I really try to restrict my collecting to books that make me happy to look at (I'm never going to play it, but every time I see my "World of Xena and Hercules Adventure Game" Box Set on my shelf I smile and smile).

Ooh, what ideas do you have, Truemane?

See, the thing is, I tend to fall into L5R game hard. I find it difficult to run a quick, casual, low-stakes game of L5R (like I can with D&D, for example). So I'm not 100% sure I have the spoons for it.

BUUUUUUUUUUT (because you asked):

The Long Way Home
A mixed group of young samurai, travelling together on their way home from the Topaz Championship, find themselves trapped in a castle that's not on any map, embroiled in a mystery that tests their minds, bodies and even the very limits of Bushido.

Spoils of War
You are contacted by a samurai of some fame and distinction (with whom you've had some dealings in the past). They have been granted a governorship that looks like a great honour but is, in reality, a deadly trap. No one expects them to make it a full year. They are determined to succeed. And they would like your help.

Petals on the Water
The Sanmyaku Valley lies under a recent, fragile peace after centuries of conflict. This isolated (but important) territory is officially ruled by the Dragonfly, but they rule only with the consent of the Lion, Unicorn, and Scorpion Clan, who all have some claim. Recently, the roads and borders were closed and the valley shut itself off from Rokugan. Then, rumours started that every member of the Tonbo Clan, the entire political and administrative ruling apparatus of the Valley, all committed seppuku simultaneously. Someone has to find out why.

And I have a half-baked fourth idea. A sort of L5R: Lower Decks where young, inexperienced (possibly even screw-ups) are forced to manage a situation behind the scenes at an important summit.

[Frosty]

I really love the “Spoils of war” idea! If you could develop that further I would love to join that game.

[Janwin]

"Petals on the Water" also sounds super fun if you ever run it. I love those deep plot investigate/mystery type of games in L5R. There's just so much you can do with them.

[JollyChris]

They all sound like fun ideas.

[NontheistCleric]

I still remember the 'Long Way Home' game you ran a couple of years back, although sadly it fell apart right at the start. I might even bring back my old character from that one if you run it again, though all the ideas sound good!

[truemane]

I still remember the 'Long Way Home' game you ran a couple of years back, although sadly it fell apart right at the start. I might even bring back my old character from that one if you run it again, though all the ideas sound good!

That's the one. That actually totally shocked me. Everyone was all into it all through the intro and opening scenes, and then as soon as I got to the Good Part (what I thought was the good part anyway), everyone vanished.

[Frosty]

Does the “Long Way Home” game also involve social challenges?

[truemane]

Yeah. It does. They all do. Each of them is, in their own way, a tightly-bound sandbox with an entry point, a dilemma, and no clear way forward.

But any L5R game I run would have lots of social challenges. The social part is, in my mind, what makes L5R the game it is. You can have a swordfight anywhere. You can even have an honourable swordfight anywhere. But only in Rokugan does everyone, everywhere, have such strong, well-articulated, intractable, conflicted opinions on swordfighting.

For me, the essence of L5R is that you're a person with a job. And that job has a lot of rules. And every single one of those rules says "This rule is EXTREMELY important if you break it EVER, even a little, you die."

But every rule also has a little footnote that says: "Unless you break it for a really good reason."

So what happens when you break a rule for a really good reason but your boss has a really good reason why your really good reason isn't a really good reason? Well, you better come up with a really good reason why HIS really good reason isn't a really good reason.

And so on. And if you lose even a single debate your life is over. AND you've got 12 bosses. And no one can agree on which bosses get to boss the other bosses. So if a boss tells you to do something (OR YOU DIE), and then another boss says do the opposite (OR YOU DIE), you better come correct.

And, of course, no matter what, you can always try to win any debate by hitting someone with a sword one micro-second before they hit you with a sword.

For me, living in Rokugan is like playing high-speed, high-stakes poker all day, every day. To the death.

Anyway. As I said, I'm a big fan.

Still can't promise I have the spoons to start something up, but I'll take a look at my notes and see where I am with them.

[Frosty]

Your description of Rokugan is both accurate and funny