Interest Check: Legend of the Five Rings

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griever

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Original post here.


All:


Relatively green GM here wanting to run a small group (at least 3, no more than 5) through a Legend of the Five Rings adventure using Play-by-Post mechanics.


For those of you who aren't aware of what Legend of the Five Rings is: L5R is game system based off of Roll-and-Keep dice mechanics set in a stylized version of the Orient. One of the merits (or flaws, YMMV) of the system is a heavy focus on the social back-and-forth between your character and his betters as well as his lessers. Essentially, everyone will be Samurai fighting, Kung-fu fighting, and some manner of the above.


The reason for this thread in particular though is to gauge the interest of the players, forewarn all of you interested about my own shortcomings as a GM, and to give myself a good basis for what type of characters to build this story around.


That last point in particular is a concern of mine. I've seen far too often a player alienated because he/she is unable to contribute in combat. Or he/she is unable to contribute as a skill monkey. By talking ahead of time, I figured we might be able to nip that in the bud so no one feels left out when it comes to it.


Anyways, without further ado, interest check! Go!
 
I am rather interested- I'm in a Chat-L5R Game right now, as it stands. I'd want to know what Time Period in Rokugan your running in before showing too much more interest; If it's another civil war era one, I'll not be so interested. Most other Era's, I should be.


Though, this system is /insanely/ lethal.
 
Oh boy L5R, Roll and Keep is one of my favorite Mechanics. I'd love to play a Scorpion or perhaps a Lion---or maybe a Crab, ------lol so many chocies. 4th edition I assume?
 
SephirothSage said:
I am rather interested- I'm in a Chat-L5R Game right now, as it stands. I'd want to know what Time Period in Rokugan your running in before showing too much more interest; If it's another civil war era one, I'll not be so interested. Most other Era's, I should be.
Though, this system is /insanely/ lethal.
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Part of the purpose of this Interest Check will actually be to gauge not just how many players are interested in this system, but also what era the majority of those players would like to play. If you have any suggestions (i.e. non-civil war era) then feel free to voice them :)

hellrazoromega said:
Oh boy L5R, Roll and Keep is one of my favorite Mechanics. I'd love to play a Scorpion or perhaps a Lion---or maybe a Crab, ------lol so many chocies. 4th edition I assume?
Click to expand...
Yes. We'll be using 4E. Given that I have just the Core Rulebook at my disposal, I would ask that we try to keep to just the material in it.
 
I love L5R. Might be down for this - I tend to go for Scorpion, but I might play against type as a Crane or Dragon.


I take it there's no using the metaplot for playable Spider monks...
 
I'm also interested, but I'm still a relatively new player to the system.


There's a game on MythWeavers I'm involved in that takes place during the Four Winds Era and it's been....interesting.
 
I want to be a Kakita duelist! Well, either that or his Dragon best friend/rival.


Honestly speaking, I'd go for any bushi.
 
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I can adapt to just about any era. Rokugan has such a rich history, Sure some parts are a downer but that just makes the RP interesting IMO.
 
Very Interested- and I don't want to play in the Civil War, not because it's not interesting, but because I am already in a Civil War Era game, as we speak- I'd prefer to be in another Era for this game.


Not that I'd skip out if everyone else wanted to do Civil War Era anyway.


I really like the Alt Timeline where Fu Leng one- lot's of chances for desperate Heroism and Badassery.


That is to say, it has five times the death rate of any other period!
 
I'm all right with any time period. Just need a short time for my head to adjust to whichever we use. Although, depending on the era, I might go for a different character type. Bushi tend to sit idle in long years of peace while courtiers tend to get sidelined during the Thousand Years of Darkness.
 
If I had to pick I'd say do it in the default time period of 4th edition, right after the new Empress is chosen.


1) I think it is kind of cool for the characters to be a part of history rather than just backdrop and since that part of history has not been "made" yet it is wide open. This period allows you to come up with your own plot lines, even world defining ones (should that be your goal), with out worrying about what else may be going one in Rokugan.


2) For the same reason you don't have to worry about anyone second guessing your calls about this or that part of the existing history. I know many of us have been in a game with that guy who's always saying things like "Well that could happen becasue at 12:35:16 on this day the Emperor was at his Summer Palace in the baths on the 3rd level next to the auxiliary kitchen." (I exaggerate but you know the guy I mean). Not saying anyone here would do that but in all my years of gaming I've found the more a new GM can head off stuff like that before it crops up, the more he or she can focus on getting into their groove as a GM.


3) The current period is open to just about every option unlike some periods where the are no Mantis, or no Scorpion or not Unicorn for instance.


Anyway that is my free advice that, as always, is worth exactly what you paid for it.
 
L5R was one of those games I always wanted to play, but never had the chance. Still, it seems like you have a very solid core, and I don't want to tax a new GM with a brand new player needing a lot of help. I would probably offer to lurk this one.
 
Just remember that you will die.


It's not a matter of preparing for it. You're going to die. Probably in an embarrassing way. So don't do like I did and get attached to your character.
 
If you run the stock system, yes very deadly. You can however steal a few simple ideas from 7th Sea which uses a variant of the Roll and Keep system to make heroes more survivable. If you want a less lethal more heroic game that is.
 
Also, if you choose me, I'd like to play a ronin if possible. Depends on the kind of game you're running though, as ronin can be tricky unless the plot allows one to work with the group for some reason (deputized by a magistrate the others work for being a valid reason, or something along those lines) Plus, I have a bit of a plot twist with him that I'd like to discuss in private, :D
 
I will be PMing the DM, I believe- I may join you in the Ronin Club.


Or I'll go '"FUCKK IT!" And make a Pheonix Clan Ishiken-Do.
 
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