Man I'm opening a can of worms with this one.
Anyone interested in doing a campaign set in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, namely Rokugan? Yeah, yeah, I know, I just play Rokugan with just 4th edition or the upcoming 5th edition -- blah, blah, blah. However, with all the sales Pathfinder has received over the years -- I hope you reconsider and try it with Pathfinder.
You do need at least Oriental Adventures (3e) -- while the Rokugan campaign setting (d20) really has you cooking with gas -- to play. This game requires a fast and loose conversion guide that I'm not ready to get into at this point.
Lets just say that your class choices are woefully curtailed to fit the setting. Oh, your race choices are also curtailed. HOWEVER, this is a game of Samurai drama. Rokugan is a land based off Sengoku Japan and has some elements from China, Korea, and India to make it work. So you can't play a wizard and expect the Rokugani to shower you with love and affection.
Playing in Rokugan can be fun. Just realize that there are some classes you just can't pick. And some Races you just can't be. Oh yeah, just one thing, Rokugan has no similarities to Naruto, so you can't play a ninja and be out in the daylight.
In my last Legend of the Five Rings game, a player of mine actually did play a ninja and pulled it off. So if you REALLY have to play a ninja with a cherry on top, do your research. Buy Way of the Ninja off of Drivethru (from FFG no less) and read up on it.
Okay, can of worms opened, so lets see who is interested.
Interesting. I never actually got to play. The Ratling was cool in that game. Still I would love to try a Monk of the Empty Hand in this game or Some sort of Ratling rogue/spell caster
Ratfolk are one of the allowed races.
Is Path of War viable? What would creation rules be?
Would you consider other third party, speaking of? I'd be very interested to play a Guru or a Rajah, both also from Dreamscarred Press. I'll have to find it, but I've definitely got some of the oriental adventures stuff.
They're both Magic of Incarnum style classes, which I always thought could have a fun niche in Rokugan, or most systems, for that matter. Guru is focused around nonlethal combat, while Rajah is more focused around supporting allies and commanding from the back lines, so to speak.
Is Path of War viable? What would creation rules be?
Pages long. Even fast and loose, it would take at least one page to work out. I was thinking about creation rules today and how it would work out. They are still half baked, so I'm just gauging interest right now.
For instance, I was thinking on how the alchemist class might fit. Given that the Agasha shugenja use alchemy. I'm pretty much a Rokugan purist -- despite not using the official rules set.
Would you consider other third party, speaking of? I'd be very interested to play a Guru or a Rajah, both also from Dreamscarred Press. I'll have to find it, but I've definitely got some of the oriental adventures stuff.
They're both Magic of Incarnum style classes, which I always thought could have a fun niche in Rokugan, or most systems, for that matter. Guru is focused around nonlethal combat, while Rajah is more focused around supporting allies and commanding from the back lines, so to speak.
Not right now. I'm trying to think on how just to make Pathfinder and Rokugan fit together with the two sources. Adding other 3rd party materials would not make a good soup right now. Using food as a metaphor.
Interested, regardless. Once I dive back into the Rokugani supplements, I'm sure I'll get some kind of an idea.
I'm happy you're interested. :)
Now how am I going to do the conversions. I'll have to think harder on this.
I would love to play Atsuko again. The GM running the last game went away before we got far along. What do you think?
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Well first fighter,barbarian,ranger,rogue fit in just fine.
To do the shujenga, I would say shaman,arcanist,witchs could work.
Cavaliers would be samurai.
I think Ninjas would be similar to Vigilantes
Could do Elemental Wizards and such. I also think the occult classes pose good chances in Rokugon.
Alchemists, bards, skalds, ect. Could be hedge wizards
Cavaliers as Samurai have a problem. That problem is Kenjutsu. In Sengoku Japan there were over a thousand different styles of Kenjutsu. The Samurai class is really a one trick pony. You don't get enough bonus feats with the Samurai class from Ultimate Combat to simulate Kenjutsu's versatility. The Samurai Class from Ultimate Combat can only represent one Clan's school, and not all of them.
I would love to play Atsuko again. The GM running the last game went away before we got far along. What do you think?
Neat.
dot, dot, dot, definitely interested! Unfortunately, I've only played pathfinder and don't know anything about the Legend of the Five Rings setting. But who doesn't want to play a samurai! if you can make pathfinder work I'd be game. Do you know what races?
dot, dot, dot, definitely interested! Unfortunately, I've only played pathfinder and don't know anything about the Legend of the Five Rings setting. But who doesn't want to play a samurai! if you can make pathfinder work I'd be game. Do you know what races?
Yeah.
Human and Ratfolk. Anything else would be completely wrong for the setting.
What about the Hengeyokai, or Spirit Folk?
dot, dot, dot, definitely interested! Unfortunately, I've only played pathfinder and don't know anything about the Legend of the Five Rings setting. But who doesn't want to play a samurai! if you can make pathfinder work I'd be game. Do you know what races?Yeah.
Human and Ratfolk. Anything else would be completely wrong for the setting.
Aren't Kitsune and Tengu both eastern creatures? Not that I'm not totally happy playing a human.
What about the Hengeyokai, or Spirit Folk?
They were never in the original setting as player characters. Hengeyokai (of which the Kitsune is included) can be player characters at the GM's option, per Fortunes and Winds page 16.
Aren't Kitsune and Tengu both eastern creatures? Not that I'm not totally happy playing a human.
Yes they are. Tengu are a part of Rokugan, and Kitsune are a part of the Hengeyokai.
Dot for interest.
I believe one of the Dragon clan families were pretty much Investigators?
I've played Oriental adventures, and some of the early L5R so I like the setting.
Path of War has the versatility you want for Kenjutsu. They even have archetypes that tie into the Japanese theme. Just like Atsuko here who is a Bushi Warlord. I took maneuvers that focused on her single attack being stronger just like a Crane School Duelist.
Path of War has the versatility you want for Kenjutsu. They even have archetypes that tie into the Japanese theme. Just like Atsuko here who is a Bushi Warlord. I took maneuvers that focused on her single attack being stronger just like a Crane School Duelist.
Yep, can of worms opened.
I have that (WoT RPG). It's in storage right now, though.
I think this will mostly depend on how "purist" you want to be when following the L5R setting, and depending on the Timeline you choose also can have many effects.
I would say for ease to settle on a single clan party or why not the Minor Clan Alliance.
I think Monks in the Rokugani setting are more like the Brawler Class with many different fighting styles (Style Feats).
Samurai, I would use the old d&d 3.5 L5R edition Samurai Class which is basically a fighter with special rules for their "Daisho" katana+wakizashi.
Shugenja are Elemental sorcerers mostly that commune with the Kami or can even be Oracles for every element.
Void element has no element nor its negative or positive energy so you have to consider what type it is or pick an element.
Most players have the LN/LG/LE alignment unless they are ronin. I woudl advise against having a Ronin PC unless they are all ronin, because of the social problems and stigma it has. This does not stop a PC that is member of a good ronin otodake like the Disciples of Sun Tao, Eyes of Nanashi, or Tessen.
Also choose a type of campaign before it gets crazy, is it a Investigation campaign all PC are magistrate working under an Emerald Magistrate, Warfare campaign where players are officers and a few fight in the court at the same time. A court campaign where PC have specific mission plus whatever else drives them there. An otodake of Great/Minor Clan men that are dispatched on a mission (this is a short adventure usually).
Ah. Someone thinking close to what I was thinking.
:)
I would really use the d&d 3.5 rokugan book as the basis for feats and other stuff like spell perhaps or classes that you can just port to pathfinder or find one that does the same thing. I would totally remove:
Barbarians
Bards
Bloodrager
Cleric
Druid
Gunslinger
Magus
Paladin
Shaman
Skald
Summoner
Warpriest
Witch
Wizards
Some classes would be unique to certain clans like:
Alchemist - Agasha Family, Dragon Clan
Cavalier - Unicorn Clan or use Fighter Rough Rider Archetype.
Ninja - Certain Ronin Otodake, Shoshuro Infiltrators, Spider Clan Ninube or Goju.
Brawler - Brotherhood of Shinsei, with style feats to represent their specific brotherhood
Arcanist - IF you keep it would be an Isawa Family, Phoenix Clan?
The hard part is "Kiho" and monks which would be like a strange combination between Magus and Monk using his fists as the main weapon.
I it just my opinion that you first choose the type of game, and then if it's a single clan, orodake of various clans, ronin, or Minor Clan Alliance which can be fun. Yes I enjoy playing the underdog Minor Clans.
I am really interested. I am familiar with the world of Rokugan (Clans, Society, Religions...) but not at all with the huge storyline or the families.
I can picture a Slayer from the Mantis with duals kama. Maybe Unchained Barbarian could fit with the Berserkers from the Lion Clan or the tough guys on the Wall from the Crab?
I would really use the d&d 3.5 rokugan book as the basis for feats and other stuff like spell perhaps or classes that you can just port to pathfinder or find one that does the same thing. I would totally remove:
Barbarians
Bards
Bloodrager
Cleric
Druid
Gunslinger
Magus
Paladin
Shaman
Skald
Summoner
Warpriest
Witch
WizardsSome classes would be unique to certain clans like:
Alchemist - Agasha Family, Dragon Clan
Cavalier - Unicorn Clan or use Fighter Rough Rider Archetype.
Ninja - Certain Ronin Otodake, Shoshuro Infiltrators, Spider Clan Ninube or Goju.
Brawler - Brotherhood of Shinsei, with style feats to represent their specific brotherhood
Arcanist - IF you keep it would be an Isawa Family, Phoenix Clan?The hard part is "Kiho" and monks which would be like a strange combination between Magus and Monk using his fists as the main weapon.
I it just my opinion that you first choose the type of game, and then if it's a single clan, orodake of various clans, ronin, or Minor Clan Alliance which can be fun. Yes I enjoy playing the underdog Minor Clans.
This is just an interest check thread, remember?
Anyway, I won't be working on a conversion document until this sunday anyhow. Saturday is a day of rest.
I would be interested, never have had a chance to play L5R but a hulking Crab samurai wielding a tetsubo or nodachi would tickle me pink.
I would be interested, never have had a chance to play L5R but a hulking Crab samurai wielding a tetsubo or nodachi would tickle me pink.
Neat. I'm still going over the mental gymnastics of putting together a pathfinder version. So it might appear in a new thread.
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Definitely interested. Played in Rokugan a LONG time ago (long enough that I don't even remember which ruleset :-)).
I think that I'd need more information about the campaign (single clan, etc) before even coming up with a character concept. Too many "Vaguely oriental" concepts would probably not fly.
But, if left to my own devices, Kitsune would definitely be high on my list of possibles.
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Dot for great interest, Oriental games have always been high on my to do list, and I would love to play something like this, and depending on what's allowed I'd likely try something like a Monk or a brawler, I wanna do a martial of some sort.
As for my own knowledge on this setting, I have no idea ×°×
But if you need me to I can supply you with Oriental adventures (3e) as well as most of the 3e books :P
I'm definitely thinking a vanara Monk who uses a quarterstaff, emulating the monkey god :P
Dot for great interest, Oriental games have always been high on my to do list, and I would love to play something like this, and depending on what's allowed I'd likely try something like a Monk or a brawler, I wanna do a martial of some sort.
As for my own knowledge on this setting, I have no idea ×°×
But if you need me to I can supply you with Oriental adventures (3e) as well as most of the 3e books :P
I'm definitely thinking a vanara Monk who uses a quarterstaff, emulating the monkey god :P
That will be wrong for the setting, William Nightmoon. There isn't a "Monkey King" in L5R. No Monkey kami, if it were. But certainly a Shintao monk would fit the setting using Monkey Kung Fu.
Monkey Style: Renowned for its speed and agility, monkey style blends jumping strikes, rolling blows, and ground fighting into a continuous onslaught aimed at disorienting and damaging an opponent through superior mobility.
Feat Path: Monkey Style, Monkey Moves, Monkey Shine.
I realized that I'm curious (I'm interested regardless :-))
Why aren't you just running under the 3.5 rules? It would seem to be a lot less work for you :-).
Well, it would. But then where's the fun in that? Use the second edition books and everything, even has rules for playing Nezumi (ratfolk) right in OA. And rules for playing Kitsune in Fortunes and Winds. The challenge is actually coming up with rules on how to play. There's a lot of precedent for actually using Pathfinder.
For instance, the first Ikoma was a brawler who impressed Akodo (not as much as lady Matsu did, but hey). The Agasha are refined alchemists. Not to mention that the monks get access to style feats for martial arts styles. The only thing is, to make everything work right for the setting, is going to take some work.