D&D 5E Adventures in Rokugan Arrives August 5th

Adventures in Rokugan is Edge Studios' official 5E version of Legend of the Five Rings, announced last year. Legend of the Five Rings is an East Asian inspired setting which goes all the way back to the 1990s, and was purchased by Fantasy Flight Games in 2018, before being moved over to FFG's sister company, Edge Studios in 2020 (which has taken over all the TTRPG operations from FFG, including Star Wars).

The 5E version includes new classes -- Shinobi, Pilgrim, Courtier, Ritualist, Bushi, Duelist, Acolyte -- and various new shapeshifting animal species.

It's coming out on August 5th and will cost $49.99.

Adventures in Rokugan brings the famous setting of Legend of the Five Rings to the ever-popular ruleset of the 5th Edition SRD. Players can explore this rich setting in a whole new light, and the familiar rules promise to engage an entirely new audience of roleplaying fans. Alongside a new focus on roleplaying activities such as dungeon delving and monster hunting, Adventures in Rokugan promises to provide something for all fans of Rokugan.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I agree that the rules are very cool. Some of the npc/monster stat blocks are very clever as you said.

I’m excited to see if they release a separate Rokugan bestiary. the 3.0e monster book was absolutely brilliant. But if it could be updated to modern production values with this level of ingenuity then it could be a tour de force.

Define "modern production values" in this context.

 

[TheSword]

Define "modern production values" in this context.

Art of the quality seen in the book so far. The previous Creatures of Rokugan book was black and white and while still very very good, it was only black and white.

The soft back paper quality was also a bit reduced in some of the 3e era books.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

If this book is sold very well, and I guess this will happen, we shouldn't be surprised with a future Monster Compendium after this, and maybe with more PC races/lineages/heritages.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Can multi-attack/sneak attack/rage etc be used in duel?

 

[Weiley31]

Can multi-attack/sneak attack/rage etc be used in duel?

This! and how would something like the Battle Master's Superiority Dice work along with it? I mean, since this book is going full hog with telling you multiclass combos in the quick builds, a Duelist/Shinobi class would find themselves in a duel with Danger Dice, Duelist subclass features AND the Shinobi's SRD Sneak Attack variant: Merciless Strike. A Duelist/Bushi would have Focus Points, so on and so on.

Or is the Dueling subsystem STRICTLY restricted to the Duelist class since the entire name of the whole thing is almost pretty much on the tin there.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Is there a list of the monsters in the book? Are they well-designed, or do people just like the art?

 

[Weiley31]

Is there a list of the monsters in the book? Are they well-designed, or do people just like the art?

Apparently, according to a few people in this same thread, the Crime boss stat block is really awesome/superb in design.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Apparently, according to a few people in this same thread, the Crime boss stat block is really awesome/superb in design.

That's just one though. What else do they have?

 

[overgeeked]

Duels are full combats. They just use new rules to alter initiative (picking numbers and stance) and make them quicker (danger dice).

 

[cbwjm]

One of the things of note is that the monsters/villains section needs another passover. Plenty of mistakes in regard to ability bonuses or incorrect proficiency bonus that need fixing. I mean, it isn't the end of the world and you could easily use any of the monsters with the bonuses they've been assigned, but it seems pretty glaring when looking through them all and seeing multiple errors in the stat blocks.

 

[KentDT]

I was hoping for more information/rules on the Shadowlands taint. I've gotten the PDF and the term "taint" doesn't appear at all. A cursory skim revealed the "wrath of the corrupted elements" table and other bits and pieces on the effects of the Shadowlands (found mostly in the included adventure) but I was hoping for more. I'll have to crack open my Shadowlands sourcebook for L5R 5e (I have it and the core rules because I wanted to read the lore) and do a more detailed comparison. Maybe the table of effects actually is a decent translation into D&D5e. There's also the chance that more will be in the 32 page DM facing booklet that comes with the screen due later this year. Only 32 pages, though . . .

 

[Dragonhelm]

So, I’ve finished the book, and these are my initial thoughts.

TLDR: While the setting changes are sloppy and present a Rokugan unlike ever before — one that is based off of pan-asian fable, myth, and fairy tale instead of court drama and clan intrigue — the classes, feats, martial techniques system, new invocation spellcasting system, new conditions and weapon properties, and information design of this book are all absolutely superb. It has the best pure martial classes so far published for any 5E game.

<snip>

Thank you for the review.

I bought the PDF and was a bit saddened that it didn't have D&D-style spellcasting and that they created new classes. I was going to buy the physical book, but decided against it.

However, I don't think I have looked at it close enough or given it a proper shot.

I'm good with anime undertones. I'm hoping it has a bit of a wuxia feel (as described in the DMG). I'm also okay with elements from other east Asian cultures being added. We combine cultures with D&D already, so I don't see that as a big deal.

I played a bit of L5R 2e in the Heroes of Rokugan organized play, and I found that I liked only about half the games. Turns out, I have a thing against saving face and politics over doing the right thing. Maybe it's time to play an L5R where I can be a hero.

Giving this another shot.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

Been going through my copy I picked up at GenCon slowly but surely and I am in love with the magic.

There’s have this class called the Ritualist. Shintoism based class. Idea is spirits in all natural things that grant you magic when you asked, in return for favor which is represented by a favor point system.

Rather than spells it’s invocations.

Thing is that each invocation (again not spells) allows you to be granted bonus free points to be spent based on Situation and surroundings. Like one fire invocation says if you can see the rising sun, get a bonus point towards this spell.

Spend more points, make it less resource usage to cast or make it stronger in effect.

And I LOVE this idea as a replacement Druid. I have long been a bit unhappy with the idea that while not all of the “nature casters” are drawing off the land, every single one apparently is transforming into animals.

Personal lore: I see druids and clerics in D&D as two sides of a similar coin. Both worship gods or powerful forces and gain their power based on such. Druids are more primal, like many settings use old gods as being more unforgiving and brutal and such.

Druid is like old world and cleric is modern worship, basically. But different.

It should FEEL different. And this Ritualist feels different yet on brand.

Plus PLUS multiple ways to scale up invocations, rather than just “+1 level = more damage”. Extend range, numbers of targets, damage, etc.

I love it for any 5e game.

 

[Weiley31]

Been going through my copy I picked up at GenCon slowly but surely and I am in love with the magic.

There’s have this class called the Ritualist. Shintoism based class. Idea is spirits in all natural things that grant you magic when you asked, in return for favor which is represented by a favor point system.

Rather than spells it’s invocations.

Thing is that each invocation (again not spells) allows you to be granted bonus free points to be spent based on Situation and surroundings. Like one fire invocation says if you can see the rising sun, get a bonus point towards this spell.

Spend more points, make it less resource usage to cast or make it stronger in effect.

And I LOVE this idea as a replacement Druid. I have long been a bit unhappy with the idea that while not all of the “nature casters” are drawing off the land, every single one apparently is transforming into animals.

Personal lore: I see druids and clerics in D&D as two sides of a similar coin. Both worship gods or powerful forces and gain their power based on such. Druids are more primal, like many settings use old gods as being more unforgiving and brutal and such.

Druid is like old world and cleric is modern worship, basically. But different.

It should FEEL different. And this Ritualist feels different yet on brand.

Plus PLUS multiple ways to scale up invocations, rather than just “+1 level = more damage”. Extend range, numbers of targets, damage, etc.

I love it for any 5e game.

So, the Ritualist is basically the Shinto Priest/Shrine Maiden?

 

[Shardstone]

So, the Ritualist is basically the Shinto Priest/Shrine Maiden?

Yes!

 

[This Effin’ GM]

So, the Ritualist is basically the Shinto Priest/Shrine Maiden?

Yeah and sort of acts as a catch all for all casters, with archetypes to be a bit more specific for popular archetypes like the artisan

 

[TheSword]

Adventures in Rokugan is currently number 1 best selling title on Drive Thru RPG.

Electrum title in only 4 days.

 

[TheSword]

Thank you for the review.

I bought the PDF and was a bit saddened that it didn't have D&D-style spellcasting and that they created new classes. I was going to buy the physical book, but decided against it.

However, I don't think I have looked at it close enough or given it a proper shot.

I'm good with anime undertones. I'm hoping it has a bit of a wuxia feel (as described in the DMG). I'm also okay with elements from other east Asian cultures being added. We combine cultures with D&D already, so I don't see that as a big deal.

I played a bit of L5R 2e in the Heroes of Rokugan organized play, and I found that I liked only about half the games. Turns out, I have a thing against saving face and politics over doing the right thing. Maybe it's time to play an L5R where I can be a hero.

Giving this another shot.

I’m pretty sure it’s intended to be played alongside regular PHB classes.

 

[Weiley31]

Do they have ofuda talismans or rules for them in the book?

 

[TheSword]

Do they have ofuda talismans or rules for them in the book?

Yes, though they are bundled under the section of charms, which can be refreshed at a shrine and generally give a one use power. You can carry more as you go up in levels.