The End of Rokugan d20

[ivocaliban]

I guess it simply comes down to a matter of opinions about how the NPCs would/should/could have acted in the given circumstances, etc etc...to me, it doesn't make much sense. :\

Yes, I agree. NPCs are often nothing more than plot elements to move the storyline along. Sometimes they seem to do surprisingly foolish and contrary things. Still, it's worth pointing out that the CCG isn't necessarily to blame for that...as it tends to occur in fantasy novels quite often. It may also be worth noting that human beings are surprsingly foolish and contrary things, as well.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Yes, I agree. NPCs are often nothing more than plot elements to move the storyline along. Sometimes they seem to do surprisingly foolish and contrary things. Still, it's worth pointing out that the CCG isn't necessarily to blame for that...as it tends to occur in fantasy novels quite often. It may also be worth noting that human beings are surprsingly foolish and contrary things, as well.

You can say THAT twice.

I'm so looking forward to the face of my players. I'm planning on having them hunt down Asahina Yajinden through the Tomb of Iuchiban at the same time that Fu Leng, in the body of a prince long prepared in an unknowingly corrupted monastery, murders the current Emperor and crowns himself. They will reach the central tomb just as Yajinden has finished his ritual, sucked out most of Iuchiban's powers, and vanishes with them...only to find out later that he also took most of Iuchiban's madness with him. The characters will be left with a nearly powerless Iuchiban who, through his mindlink with Yajinden, knows of Fu Leng's plan, and has just enough energy to get them all out of a collapsing Tomb.

And then the only group of Emerald Magistrates who know that Fu Leng sits in the new Emperor's body, and who by then will have found out that Iuchiban actually is of royal blood, will have a very interesting decision to make...which will, hopefully, end with them supporting Iuchiban in getting Fu Leng from the throne and, after getting to know him during the time of undercover ops, replace him with Iuchiban.

Most of that is rough cut ideas and images in my head...but I think it'd make for a nice twist.

 

[ivocaliban]

And then the only group of Emerald Magistrates who know that Fu Leng sits in the new Emperor's body, and who by then will have found out that Iuchiban actually is of royal blood, will have a very interesting decision to make...which will, hopefully, end with them supporting Iuchiban in getting Fu Leng from the throne and, after getting to know him during the time of undercover ops, replace him with Iuchiban.

Most of that is rough cut ideas and images in my head...but I think it'd make for a nice twist.

Well, you're certainly being true to one aspect of the Rokugan metaplot: The dung is always hitting the tessen. Good luck to your players!

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Well, you're certainly being true to one aspect of the Rokugan metaplot: The dung is always hitting the tessen. Good luck to your players!

Thanks...now all I need is the time to actually get it all to play out.

Funny...I actually wish there was some kind of board for L5R like ENWorld...I mean, even remotely similar. But I guess me playing 1E still, and not being too impressed with the metaplot, would end me up like on Dumpshock...smiling at some of the posts, but having no connection to the game that's being talked about. Ah well...

 

[ivocaliban]

Funny...I actually wish there was some kind of board for L5R like ENWorld...I mean, even remotely similar. But I guess me playing 1E still, and not being too impressed with the metaplot, would end me up like on Dumpshock...smiling at some of the posts, but having no connection to the game that's being talked about. Ah well...

Well, Alderac has their own forum for L5R, but (like most company forums) it's not nearly as popular as ENWorld. Besides, with all the division among L5R fans here about which edition is superior, d20 or Roll-And-Keep, the CCG versus the RPG, metaplot or not...I'm not sure how informative an L5R board would be. Still, I'd like to see it. Maybe someone there could answer my questions about some of the more recent dual-stat books.

 

[Ranger REG]

I sent in a request for such a forum on their messageboard but I guess it got lost in the bandwidth.

 

[ivocaliban]

For those who are interested in L5R 3rd edition, the third part in the designer's diary is up. It deals with how skills will be treated in the upcoming edition and can be found here.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Hmmm...parts of it sound good, parts of it sound like they are going the same downward route (in my eyes) 3E went when they tried to rules-control everything too much.

On the other hand, I don't mind my players choosing for their characters to become well-versed in a variety of skills, I'm quite able to weed out redundant skills myself, and if the authors of some supplements weren't able to fit enough skills in as far as Insight for NPCs went, and they have to rule around that now because it posed a problem...well, it's not a problem I have. The most fascinating thing is that my players regularly comment on the merit of having more dice to roll. Sure, if you can keep more, that's great too, but the combination of both is what gives you fabulous success.

But before I sound like diaglo here ...I'm darn happy L5R is kept alive and well, because I regard it as one of the best games that ever graced my shelves.

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm darn happy L5R is kept alive and well, because I regard it as one of the best games that ever graced my shelves.

I hope they go back to the original format and offer one singular core rulebook with a pullout map in the back. I'd gladly drop $40 for it.

 

[warlord]

Now that Rokugan d20 is dead is Wizards going to make a 3.5 version of Orienal Adventures set in Kara-Tur?