Grim Tales-Bushido

[Wrathamon]

Pirates own Ninjas!

 

[GlassJaw]

Pirates own Ninjas!

Blasphemer!!!

 

[barsoomcore]

Their fighting had little to do with unarmed combat.

Untrue. Not only would samurai have been well-trained in grappling, strikes and so on, they were also specifically trained in yoroi-kumiuchi -- fighting empty-handed in armor. There are also many forms that supply "sword-taking" methods -- how to take your enemy's sword away from him.

 

[ragboy]

I am working on a feudal Japan campaign like the old Bushido RPG and I want to use the Grim Tales rules for it. I think it would be a perfect fit. I want to steer clear of Five Rings and have a more gritty samurai style game with some fantasy and supernatural elements mixed in. I am thinking of adding some feats from OA and coming up with some new talent trees. Maybe a Ninjitsu talent tree? Also I am going to add a honor system like the one found in Unearthed Arcana.

I am looking for some feedback and suggestions on my idea. Would it work?

While I'm unfamiliar with how Grim Tales would be used with a feudal Japanese campaign, I'd highly suggest that you grab the books from this game:

http://www.sengoku.com

It's in the Fuzion system, but the information in the main sourcebook alone will have you reeling with joy and probably working like a dog to reproduce in d20 (I know Mark Arsenault's next move with the game is to publish a second edition in Action! System and d20 -- though it's on indefinite hold at the moment).

I have no affiliation with Gold Rush or this product, but I can't stress enough that this is the definitive role playing book for the period and region (IMHO -- of course). You can take or leave the Fuzion system (I never could convince my lazy players to learn it) but I promise you won't care about the game system if you're looking for gritty, low magic Sengoku-era source material.

 

[mmadsen]

I'm no expert but I believe the concept of ninjas were of Chinese origin. Samurais in feudal Japan were horsemen, archers, and of course, swordsmen. Their fighting had little to do with unarmed combat.

Ninja does not mean master of unarmed combat -- except in 1980s action movies. A ninja or shinobi is simply a spy, saboteur, or assassin.

 

[mmadsen]

Untrue. Not only would samurai have been well-trained in grappling, strikes and so on, they were also specifically trained in yoroi-kumiuchi -- fighting empty-handed in armor. There are also many forms that supply "sword-taking" methods -- how to take your enemy's sword away from him.

In a sense, I think you've made his point. The emphasis of a samurai's martial arts training would have been on armed combat. His unarmed training would have emphasized getting armed again. (Really no different from a medieval or renaissance knight's training...)

Most modern martial artists, of course, emphasize unarmed striking skills or, increasingly, grappling skills -- with a dash of weapons training. The emphasis has changed.

 

[Krieg]

I strongly second Ragboy's endorsement of Sengoku. It is a very nice product.

FWIW Sengoku has conversion notes for AD&D and is easy enough to tranlate into 3E.

 

[trilobite]

I got the Sengoku rulebook and it is quite impressive. I treasure trove of information on feudal Japan. A great sourcebook!

Now what rules should I use. I don't think I want to use the Fusion rules since I am not very versed in them and I would rather use a d20 system anyway. I really think adapting Sengoku to the Grim Tales ruleset would really work out. I also like the flexablity of the Call of Cthulhu d20 rules. Maybe something like that but built up for the Senjoku setting. So many ideas....