Psion
Adventurer
Secrets of the Crane
Secrets of the Crane is a book in the series of dual-statted d20 Rokugan/L5R books detailing clans in the L5R setting. Secrets of the Crane covers the elegant Crane clan. As my interest is primarily in d20 (and I strongly prefer it to the L5R classic system), this review will focus primarily on the book as a d20 product.
Secrets of the Crane is written by Rich Wulf, Shawn Carman, Seth Mason, Travis Heerman, Aaron Medwin, Jed Carlton, Chris Hand, and Roger Giner-Sorolla.
A First Look
Format: 96-page perfect-bound softcover book priced as $24.95.
Art: The front cover of the book depicts a 3/4 view image of the bust and head of a female (I am guessing – the full lips look effeminate, but the jaw look masculine) with striking white hair. The cover actually wraps around, revealing the rest of the woman's face and shoulder. The art is by Matthew S. Armstrong. The interior art is black and white, by Chris Dornaus. Most of the art is the familiar pencil style used throughout the d20 Rokugan line.
The layout is clean and easily read, and the writing is good. The interior uses a conservative sized body text font and the line and paragraph spacing is close. Mechanical material (characters, etc.) for the L5R 2e system is offset with blue text.
A Deeper Look
(Spoiler Warning: Some secrets contained in the book are alluded to in this review.)
Secrets of the Crane adheres to the format typical of the series: a single introductory chapter with a few basic details about the clan, several chapters dedicated to the major families of the clan (but there are five chapters, more than previous books), a location chapter detailing a particular site in the clan's holding, and a secrets chapter defining some nominally secret information about the clan for use by the GM. Also typical for the series, there are many fiction passages in the book.
The introductory chapter contains details on Crane customs as they differ from other clans, the history of the Crane clan, and a few character options specific to the Crane such as feats and courtier class abilities. Amongst the clans of Rokugan, the Crane are a characterized by their sophistication and grace. This is reflected in the specific feats and courtier abilities they have access to. For example, the Speed of Death feat allows the crane use their dexterity modifier instead of their strength modifier in melee with traditional samurai weapons.
The five major families described in the book are the Asahina, the Doji, the Daidoji, the Kakita, and the Yasuki. Each of these chapters has a similar format, describing locations and holdings of the clan (including adventure hooks at those locations), major NPCs of the clan, and new character options for the clan such as new prestige classes and new ancestor feats. This includes prestige classes such as the Daidoji Heavy Regular (who gains bonuses when fighting alongside other Cranes) and the Empress' Guard (with bodyguard style abilities). Anscestor feats include Selfless Sacrifice (which allows you to spend honor points to gain bonuses) and Honor Guard (which provides a resistance bonus equal to your honor to resist any effect that would make you act dishonorably.)
Perhaps the most unusual family of the Crane is the Asahina, who are devout pacifists, and only recently began to take up arms against the Shadowlands. However, the Yasuki's delicate political situation is probably the most ripe for exploitation for campaign ideas and character backgrounds, as the family is split between the Crab and Crane clans.
The featured location of this book's location chapter is Shiro Giji. Like many such locations in other clan books, Shiro Giji is a secret place, known to few. It was once the site of a castle that had a brief history. In truth, the shrine that remains on that spot is the training grounds for the Daidoji Harriers, the Crane clan's own Ninjas.
Finally, the behind the veil chapter discusses secrets of the clan. In this book, the secrets are unveiled include the Great Sea Spider or the Kumo (introduced in Creatures of Rokugan) which feeds on and feeds the hate of the Daidoji (and feats allow characters to tap into this power), the tradition of emerald and jade magistrates among the crane, the madman bent of the destruction of the Crane known as the False Hoturi, and the creature known as the nightmare of the Crane.
Conclusion
As with other books in the series, Secrets of the Crane seemed interesting to me, but not too functional in game terms. If you are a Rokugan enthusiast and/or appreciate detailed histories and factoids about the clans, you should like this book.
Overall Grade: C+
-Alan D. Kohler
Secrets of the Crane is a book in the series of dual-statted d20 Rokugan/L5R books detailing clans in the L5R setting. Secrets of the Crane covers the elegant Crane clan. As my interest is primarily in d20 (and I strongly prefer it to the L5R classic system), this review will focus primarily on the book as a d20 product.
Secrets of the Crane is written by Rich Wulf, Shawn Carman, Seth Mason, Travis Heerman, Aaron Medwin, Jed Carlton, Chris Hand, and Roger Giner-Sorolla.
A First Look
Format: 96-page perfect-bound softcover book priced as $24.95.
Art: The front cover of the book depicts a 3/4 view image of the bust and head of a female (I am guessing – the full lips look effeminate, but the jaw look masculine) with striking white hair. The cover actually wraps around, revealing the rest of the woman's face and shoulder. The art is by Matthew S. Armstrong. The interior art is black and white, by Chris Dornaus. Most of the art is the familiar pencil style used throughout the d20 Rokugan line.
The layout is clean and easily read, and the writing is good. The interior uses a conservative sized body text font and the line and paragraph spacing is close. Mechanical material (characters, etc.) for the L5R 2e system is offset with blue text.
A Deeper Look
(Spoiler Warning: Some secrets contained in the book are alluded to in this review.)
Secrets of the Crane adheres to the format typical of the series: a single introductory chapter with a few basic details about the clan, several chapters dedicated to the major families of the clan (but there are five chapters, more than previous books), a location chapter detailing a particular site in the clan's holding, and a secrets chapter defining some nominally secret information about the clan for use by the GM. Also typical for the series, there are many fiction passages in the book.
The introductory chapter contains details on Crane customs as they differ from other clans, the history of the Crane clan, and a few character options specific to the Crane such as feats and courtier class abilities. Amongst the clans of Rokugan, the Crane are a characterized by their sophistication and grace. This is reflected in the specific feats and courtier abilities they have access to. For example, the Speed of Death feat allows the crane use their dexterity modifier instead of their strength modifier in melee with traditional samurai weapons.
The five major families described in the book are the Asahina, the Doji, the Daidoji, the Kakita, and the Yasuki. Each of these chapters has a similar format, describing locations and holdings of the clan (including adventure hooks at those locations), major NPCs of the clan, and new character options for the clan such as new prestige classes and new ancestor feats. This includes prestige classes such as the Daidoji Heavy Regular (who gains bonuses when fighting alongside other Cranes) and the Empress' Guard (with bodyguard style abilities). Anscestor feats include Selfless Sacrifice (which allows you to spend honor points to gain bonuses) and Honor Guard (which provides a resistance bonus equal to your honor to resist any effect that would make you act dishonorably.)
Perhaps the most unusual family of the Crane is the Asahina, who are devout pacifists, and only recently began to take up arms against the Shadowlands. However, the Yasuki's delicate political situation is probably the most ripe for exploitation for campaign ideas and character backgrounds, as the family is split between the Crab and Crane clans.
The featured location of this book's location chapter is Shiro Giji. Like many such locations in other clan books, Shiro Giji is a secret place, known to few. It was once the site of a castle that had a brief history. In truth, the shrine that remains on that spot is the training grounds for the Daidoji Harriers, the Crane clan's own Ninjas.
Finally, the behind the veil chapter discusses secrets of the clan. In this book, the secrets are unveiled include the Great Sea Spider or the Kumo (introduced in Creatures of Rokugan) which feeds on and feeds the hate of the Daidoji (and feats allow characters to tap into this power), the tradition of emerald and jade magistrates among the crane, the madman bent of the destruction of the Crane known as the False Hoturi, and the creature known as the nightmare of the Crane.
Conclusion
As with other books in the series, Secrets of the Crane seemed interesting to me, but not too functional in game terms. If you are a Rokugan enthusiast and/or appreciate detailed histories and factoids about the clans, you should like this book.
Overall Grade: C+
-Alan D. Kohler
