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Like the title says, I was wondering what edition is the best 4th or 3rd and what is the difference before I get into it, since I only have 4th edition book but I'm reading it and it seems cool but some people say 3rd edition was more powerful or had more fluff in it, and 4th is simplified and very little fluff/lore wise.
Like the title says, I was wondering what edition is the best 4th or 3rd and what is the difference before I get into it, since I only have 4th edition book but I'm reading it and it seems cool but some people say 3rd edition was more powerful or had more fluff in it, and 4th is simplified and very little fluff/lore wise.
4th ed L5R is better than 3rd ed. 3rd ed was a very meh edition.
As for lore...it is probably about the same...L5R has always lots of lore. Also the other 4th edition books are really just a bunch of lore with a little bit of mechanics in it.
I'm not sure about the difference between editions but I have some of the 4E books and they seem pretty solid. Have not played it yet, but plan to someday soon (been painting samurai minis). The books are beautiful, the fluff is pretty good, and the rules are clear and understandable (at least I think so before having put them to the test at the table). Don't know if they'll support the line but I expect you can use 3E supplements with the 4E books with a little modification. Not sure if this helps you or not, since it doesn't answer your question directly...
M
3rd edition had a problem with stacking bonuses and crazy skill/trait rolls. 4th edition toned that down a lot, stream-lined a few things and removed some options. The changes are deep enough and prevalent enough that it would be a lot of work to just house rule 3rd to work the same way. Overall 4th is better.
Now if they'd sell their PDF's for a reasonable price I'd consider getting back into it (you can buy a physical copy from amazon for the same price AEG charges for the pdf).
3rd ed has INSANE bonus stacking that leads to problems. Which is unfortunate, because it's an AMAZING system otherwise. 4th edition is nerfed to the point that you can't just waltz up to your rival(read: anyone) and slaughter them with a double handful of dice, but I preferred a lot of the storylines(FOR THE KHAN!!!!!) and a few of the discontinued options/pseudo-feat-thingies from 3rd edition(at least from what I've seen, EVERY beautiful person in 4th has Benten's Blessing or the equivalent, there were a few more options in 3rd, not to mention I really wanted to get into Legend of the Burning Sands, which seems to have been forgotten in this latest edition). I am glad that 3rd and 4th work well together with a minimum of muss and fuss and translation, however.
Hey, I loves me some Kolat. I think they got the shaft in their not-too-recent ass-kicking, and I'm not too enamored of their rumored return due to the "their worshipping WRONG!!!" angle as they are supposed to be psuedo-atheists, but that's just me.
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I ran both 3rd and 4th ed for many years, 4th is by far the best edition so far. The books are beautiful and the rules are very clear. My one and only objection to L5R is the story. Because the story is made by the card players, it's fairly neurotic at best. They are coming out with a book that details the various eras of play, my recommendation is to either set your story in the past or not bother with the current story arc and make your own. Merchandise driven background changes make for a dynamic setting, it just doesn't make much sense sometimes.
If you have 4th edition rulebook there is really no point in going back and getting 3rd edition core for the rules. AEG learned from previous editions and improved mechanics, removing certain overpowered options (like Mirumoto Hit-me with myriads of attacks).
I remember that 4th edition was intended to be divorced from any specific period of time and be more generic.
I never meet anyone who would be interested or liked storline past the early Toturi reign. Myself I prefer times just after the Scorpion Coup but before Second Day of Thunder.
I am a huge kolat fan and thought that more should have been done by that shadowy organization to promote the toturi reign and the ascension of Yoritomo, but card game players can be annoyingly halcyon at times.
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The 4th edition is by far the best when it comes to divorcing the rules from the story. There are specific clans and schools and they make it very clear which schools exist in which period and which family exists in which clan based on what time period you play in.
My biggest pet peeve with the story is the forced recycling of the NPCs. 100s of named NPCs, all of whom change every few years. The story itself has no unified theme or grander purpose because it can change based on how well somebody plays in a tournament. I just homebrew the story, whatever happens happens. You're almost always better off not playing in the latest era because they don't release rules for it until the arc is done. Want to play a battle against the Destroyers or Army of Fire? Can't, arc isn't done so they don't have stats. As long as I have to come up with my own rules I might as well come up with my own story too.
Having said that, the rules for 4th are very tight and well crafted. Stances are well done, and the sheet contains everything you need to successfully play the game. I also advise skipping the 4th edition DM screen and crafting your own, unless you want the adventure that comes with it. The screen itself is fairly shameful, being thin and containing only a few tables of use (my opinion of course, tastes may vary).
I know I've listed some complaints here but the take away is this is a very good system and very fun game, and anybody looking for a fun samurai and ninja game that isn't Pathfinder will not go wrong with 4th edition L5R.
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I would like to suggest that fans of 4E L5R check out Heroes of Rokugan, the officially-sanctioned living-style campaign for L5R 4E. At the risk of blowing my own horn, it's pretty awesome.
I would like to suggest that fans of 4E L5R check out Heroes of Rokugan, the officially-sanctioned living-style campaign for L5R 4E. At the risk of blowing my own horn, it's pretty awesome.
I have to say it is a mixed bag....the earlier adventures this year were pretty awesome...lately though they have degraded to lets-hold-the-cloak-of-some-uber-NPC-while-they-do-all-the-cool-things type of adventures. It is like playing in a campaign with a GMPC.
They are useful...but expect heavy modifications on most of them....
** spoiler omitted **
I wished this forum had PM. I am not good with the titles but we are meeting and playing tomorrow and I'll bring it up to the group.
I'll say this for now. I am not a big into organized play as the adventures usualy seem to generic. But I and everybody in the group loved the adventure with Go tournament and the winter court were some of the best published modules I have seen in a long time.
On the other hand the adventure which feature the Oracle of Earth being the freshest in my mind was kinda of bad. As the NPC shugenja completely overshadowed the PC shugenja and the ending felt like I was being read a story by the GM. Which to me is not what a RPG is about.
Maybe the GM ran it wrong...or we are missing something. But I don't think so.
Anyway I'll be happy to give you more feedback if you want to e-mail me at johnkretzer@hotmail.com so we don't clutter up this thread.
I am a huge kolat fan...
Of what do you speak? This lowly monk has never heard of this "Qolat". Here, samurai-sama, let us retire to this tea house and you can tell me more.
*poisons Freehold DM's tea*
First rule of the "independent merchants of Rokugan" is that you do not discuss the "independent merchants of Rokugan". ;)
Anyway, I truly enjoyed my L5R experience as both a player and GM, in 1st and 3rd edition. I have yet to try 4th, but I have heard good things from other players. It fixes a lot of the issues of 3rd, such as b0Rken combos.
Anyway...
LOOK, A NINJA!
*backstab*
Urk!
