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SH6 SH3 LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS RPG, 4TH EDITION
Matt Strout, Liza Strout, Joe White, Terry “Dingo” Moore, WRITTEN BY: Shawn Carman, Robert Hobart, jim pinto, & Brian Yoon Eric Newlin), Team 8 (Robert Knight, Mathieu Brebouillet, Aaron Rubman, David Whitney, Richard Whitney, Stuart Biggs, EDITED BY: Robert Hobart, Todd Rowland Edward Reynolds, Ryan Gossens, Jean-Phillipe Lanfond), Team 10 (Luke Martinez, Joseph Schuster, Andrew Snow, PROOFREADERS: Eoin Burke, Jim Chatham, Christopher Myers, Michael Neer, Paul Siebuhr, Ryan Flynn), Mason Crawford, Daniel Dineen, Team 11 (Cory Mills, Caitlin Mills, Molly Poole, Darren Walters, Erykah Fassett, Laura Harvey, Lynne Ahlgren, Jeremy Bullens, Albert Koenig), Team 12
Daniel Jacobsen, John Merholtz, (Don Eisele, Kate Adams, Matt Ussary, Janet Bozarth, Legend of the Five Rings RPG, 4th Edition Jen Oney-Hooven, Todd Stites, Nate Hedrick, Mike Shimek, Chester Decker), Team 13 Ralph Tropeano (Howard Hooven, Jen Oney-Hooven, David Farmer, Scott Smith, William Hart, Gentry Trimble, Kevin Witt), Team 14 RPG RULES TEAM: Dace, Mason Crawford, (Stephanie Dane, Mikael Brodu, Greg Krywusha, Bob Martin, Aaron Rubman Reginald Garth, Ryan Reese, Elliot Smorodinsky, Randy Schneider), Team 15 (Mason Crawford, Allen Cantrell, ART DIRECTOR: Todd Rowland Julien Vallette, Kristof Parker, April Hamilton, Mark Butler, Luis Fernando de Vasconcelos), Team 17 (Tom Lewis, Jamie Kipp, COVER DESIGN: David Ardila Gavin O’Hearn, Shawn MacLean, John Taylor) GRAPHIC DESIGN: David Ardila SPECIAL THANKS: SH AW N THANKED everyone in the Foreward, but thanks again LAYOU T : Edge Studio anyway! ARTISTS: Christopher Appel, Steve Argyle, Gonzalo Ordonez Arias, Mathew S. Armstrong, Daren Bader, BRIAN WOULD LIKE TO THANK: Drew Baker, Jason Behnke, Tom Biondolillo, Leonardo Borazio, c My best friends, who’ve stayed by my side and fueled my Beet, Manuel Calderon, Mike Capprotti, Paul Carrick, love of L5R and gaming for over ten years. Love you, 1 Miguel Coimbra, Audry Corman, Ed Cox, Edwin David, guys. Molly Denmark, Thomas Denmark, Randy Elliot, Steve Ellis, c My family, who’ve always believed that I could do CREDITS Jason Engle, Anthony Francisco, Carl Frank, Randy Gallegos, everything I want. Joachim Gmoser, Anthony Grabski, Troy Graham, c The Fourth Edition team, writers and playtesters. We’ve Andrew Hepworth, Jeff Himmelman, Quinton Hoover, created something to be proud of. David Horne, IFS, Paul Prof Herbert, Jonathan Hunt, c Angela, who listens to me complain about esoteric gaming Llyn Hunter, Hugh Jamieson, Michael Kaluta, Michel Koch, issues. Michael Komarck, Heather Kreiter, Amandine Labarre, Stephanie Law, April Lee, Monika Livingston, Eric Lofgren, ROB WOULD LIKE TO THANK: Anson Maddocks, Slawomir Maniak, Thomas Manning, c My wife Rebecca, who always believed I would get to write Britt Martin, David Martin, Malcolm McClinton, Patrick McEvoy, for L5R someday. Peter Mohrbacher, William O’Connor, Glen Osterberger, c My first L5R gaming group – Jaime, Allen, Keith, Jason, Jim Pavelec, Ben Peck, Ramon Perez, Eric Polak, Mark Poole, and Tim – especially our GM Jaime, who introduced me to Angga Satriohadi, Erich Schreiner, Chris Seaman, L5R way back in 1997. Douglas Shuler, Steve Snyder, Ron Spencer, Beth Trott, c The players, writers, and GMs of Heroes of Rokugan, for Charles Urbach, Luis Vasquez, Diana Vick, Franz Vohwinkel, ten years of glorious samurai drama. Byron Wackwitz, Corene Werhane, Mario Wibisono, Matt Wilson, c Shawn Carman and the rest of AEG, for giving me the Jarreau Wimberly, Wackwitz & Daily chance to work on this project. c PRODUCTION MANAGER: David Lepore John Wick, for creating such an amazing world and game for all of us to play in. SENIOR BRAND MANAGER: Todd Rowland JIM WOULD LIKE TO THANK
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: John Zinser c you — the reader — for taking the time to read this part of the book. HEAD PLAYTESTER: Brian Bates TODD WOULD LIKE TO THANK PLAYTESTER: Team 1 (Dave Smith, Patrick Chen, c My wife Kathy, who still sits patiently as I talk about Aien Elmi, Jason kang, Ki Chang Kim, Roger Liang, magical samurai. Arthur Nguyen), Team 2 (Lucas Twyman, Lee Masheter, c Mike Webb and the Mungbeasts who ran the first L5R RPG Amanda Martyn, Chad Kirby, Andrew Flynn, Lauren Murray), game I ever played in back in 1st Edition. Team 3 (Kit LaHaise, Catherine Pickett, Bret David Hewes, c Everyone on this credits page, you all went above and Francois Martineau), Team 4 (Becca Hobart, Todd Stites, beyond. Will Stampley, Kevin Blake, Lewis Fleak, Daniel Briscoe), Team 6 (Dace, Erykah Fassett, Tracy Pinkelton, Daniel Walters, EDGE STUDIO WOULD LIKE TO THANK: SampleLaura Harvey), Team 7 (Jason Shafer, Nathan Shafer, c To Yayoi-san, for her help writing the Kanji. file
LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS AND ALL RELATED MARKS ARE © AND ™ ALDERAC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ™ WWW.L5R.COM The Three Sacred Substances . . . . . 41 Table The Tenets of Bushido ...... 42 The Concept of Face (On) ...... 44 of Contents Shame and Disgrace ...... 44 Seppuku ...... 45 Poli ti cs ...... 46 Economics ...... 47 Book of Fire Crime and Punishment ...... 48 Character Creation ...... 99 Dueling ...... 49 Blood Feuds ...... 52 Character Creation War in Rokugan ...... 52 Quick Summary ...... 99 Armies and Tactics ...... 53 Character Creation, Expanded . . . . . 100 Introduction The Game of Twenty Questions . . 100 Sieges ...... 53 Example of Character Creation . . . .103 Welcome to Rokugan ...... 7 The Great Clans of Rokugan ...... 55 Improving Your Character ...... 104 Welcome to the Emerald Empire ...... 8 The Crab Clan ...... 56 The Great Clans ...... 105 What is a Role-Playing Game? . . . . 8 The Crane Clan ...... 58 The Crab Clan ...... 105 But Why The Dragon Clan ...... 60 The Crane Clan ...... 109 is it Called “Role-Playing”? ...... 9 The Lion Clan ...... 62 The Dragon Clan ...... 112 Why Use Dice? ...... 9 The Mantis Clan ...... 64 What is Rokugan? ...... 9 The Lion Clan ...... 116 The Phoenix Clan ...... 66 Why Play The Mantis Clan ...... 120 The Scorpion Clan ...... 68 Legend of the Five Rings? ...... 9 The Phoenix Clan ...... 123 What is in This Book ...... 10 The Unicorn Clan ...... 70 The Scorpion Clan ...... 126 The Unicorn Clan ...... 129 Skills ...... 133 Emph ases ...... 133 Mastery Abilities ...... 133 Skill List ...... 133 High Skills ...... 135 Legend of the Five Rings RPG, 4th Edition Bugei Skills ...... 139 Book of Air Merchant Skills ...... 143 2 Book of Earth The Emerald Empire ...... 13 Low Skills ...... 144 The Birth of the Universe ...... 13 General Mechanics ...... 75 Advantages & Disadvantages ...... 145 The Fall of the Kami ...... 14 Basic Mechanics: Subtypes ...... 146 Pre-History of the Empire ...... 14 The Roll & Keep System ...... 75 Advantages ...... 146 The History of an Empire ...... 15 Target Numbers ...... 76 Disadvantages ...... 156 The Geography of Rokugan ...... 24 Magic & Spells ...... 163 Rings & Traits ...... 76 Social Classes Spell Casting Rolls
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE Skills ...... 79 and the Celestial Order ...... 26 & Spell Target Numbers ...... 163 Raises ...... 79 Rituals of Life ...... 29 Actions & Casting Time ...... 163 Types of Rolls ...... 79 Day-to-Day Etiquette ...... 31 Affinities & Deficiencies ...... 164 Visiting ...... 32 Skill Rolls, Expanded ...... 80 Spell Descriptions...... 164 Gift-Giving ...... 33 The Combat Round ...... 81 Universal Spells ...... 164 Time and the Seasons ...... 34 Definition of Terms ...... 81 Air Spells ...... 167 Fo o d ...... 35 Sequence of Events ...... 81 Hair ...... 35 Earth Spells ...... 1 73 Attack & Defense ...... 82 Clothing ...... 35 Fire Spells ...... 180 Wo u n d s ...... 82 D wellings ...... 36 Water Spells ...... 187 Stances ...... 84 Tr a v e l ...... 38 Void Spells ...... 193 Men and Women ...... 38 Actions ...... 85 Equipment ...... 198 Religion and Philosophy ...... 39 Maneuvers ...... 85 Armor ...... 198 Kharma and the Celestial Wheel . . 39 Iaijutsu Dueling ...... 87 We a p o n s ...... 198 The Spirit Realms ...... 40 Grappling ...... 88 Bo ws ...... 199 Conditional Effects ...... 89 Chain Weapons ...... 200 Fear ...... 90 Heavy Weapons ...... 200 Honor, Glory, & Status ...... 90 Knives ...... 201 Honor ...... 90 Ninjutsu Weapons ...... 201 Glory ...... 93 Polearms ...... 202 Status ...... 93 Sp ea rs ...... 203 Staves ...... 203 Sample fileSwords ...... 204 War Fans ...... 205 Miscellaneous Equipment ...... 205 Clothing & Accessories ...... 207 Kata ...... 259 Myths: The GM as Entertainer Kiho ...... 261 / The GM as Adversary ...... 313 Utilizing Kiho ...... 261 Actions Have Consequences . . . . .314 Air Kiho ...... 262 The Rules as a Toolbox ...... 314 Earth Kiho ...... 263 Changing the Rules ...... 315 Fire Kih o ...... 264 Alternate Playstyles ...... 315 Water Kiho ...... 265 Anime Style ...... 316 Book of Water Void Kiho...... 265 Cinematic Style ...... 317 Advanced Mechanics ...... 211 Maho ...... 267 Grim Realism Style ...... 317 Learning Maho...... 267 The GM’s Toolbox ...... 318 The Spider Clan ...... 211 Using Maho ...... 267 The Minor Clans ...... 215 Creatures of Rokugan ...... 318 Maho Spells ...... 268 Creature Statistics ...... 318 The Badger Clan ...... 215 The Shadowlands Taint ...... 2 74 Special Abilities: ...... 319 The Bat Clan ...... 216 Living with the Taint ...... 2 76 Standard Special Abilities . . . 319 The Boar Clan ...... 217 Gaining the Taint Natural Creatures ...... 320 The Dragonfly Clan ...... 218 – Active Infection ...... 2 76 The Falcon Clan ...... 218 Protection From the Taint ...... 277 Dog (Inu) ...... 320 The Fox Clan ...... 219 Effects of the Taint ...... 277 Dog, Unicorn War Dog . . . . . 321 The Hare Clan ...... 220 Levels of Taint Infection ...... 277 Fa l co n ...... 321
The Monkey Clan ...... 221 Legend of the Five Rings RPG, 4th Edition Calling on the Power of Jigoku . . . .279 Horse, Rokugani Pony . . . . . 322 The Oriole Clan ...... 222 Shadowlands Horse, Unicorn Riding Horse . 322 The Ox Clan ...... 223 Powers and Mutations ...... 279 Horse, Utaku Battle Steed . . . 323 The Snake Clan ...... 224 Lion ...... 323 The Sparrow Clan ...... 224 The Tortoise Clan ...... 225 Ox ...... 323 The Imperial Families ...... 227 Wolf (Ookami) ...... 323 The Miya Family ...... 227 Monsters and Nonhuman Races . . .324 The Otomo Family ...... 227 Bog Hag ...... 324 The Seppun Family ...... 227 Gaki (Shozai-Gaki) ...... 325 The Brotherhood of Shinsei ...... 231 Ghost (Yorei) ...... 326 Monk Schools ...... 231 Book of Void Goblin (Bakemono) ...... 327 The Four Temples Monk . . . . . 231 the Game Master’s Chapter Kappa ...... 327 The Order of Heroes Monk . . . 232 Ogre ...... 328 3 The Shrine Running an L5R Campaign ...... 285 Oni (Ugulu no Oni) ...... 328 of the Seven Thunders Monk . . . . . 232 Playing a Samurai ...... 285 Ratling (Nezumi) ...... 329 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Temple Types of Campaigns ...... 286 Tsuno (Tsuno Warrior) . . . . . 330 Magistrates ...... 286 of Kaimetsu-uo Monk ...... 232 Undead Revenant ...... 330 Imperial Legionnaires ...... 286 The Temple Zombie ...... 331 The Shadowlands Campaign . . . . 286 of Osano-Wo Monk ...... 233 Po i so n ...... 332 Arbiters/Regents (Shikken) . . . . . 287 The Temples Dripping Poison ...... 332 Imperial Cartographers/Scouts . . . 287 of the Thousand Fortunes Monk . . 233 Fire Biter ...... 333 Otokodate (Band of Brothers) . . . 288 Ronin ...... 233 Night Milk ...... 333 The Restricted Campaign ...... 288 Clan Ronin ...... 234 Venom ...... 333 The Rank 0 Campaign ...... 289 True Ronin, Option 1 ...... 234 Two-Player Games ...... 289 Emerald Empire Location Guide . . . .334 True Ronin, Option 2 ...... 234 The Sun and Moon: Balancing Provinces of the Crab Clan ...... 334 Optional Systems ...... 236 Characters and Campaigns ...... 2 91 Provinces of the Crane Clan ...... 337 The Mass Battle System ...... 236 Adventures and Structure ...... 2 91 Provinces of the Dragon Clan . . . 340 Heroic Opportunities ...... 238 Writing Your Own Adventure ...... 2 93 The Provinces of the Lion Clan . . .343 Ancestors ...... 241 Types of Adventures ...... 2 93 Provinces of the Mantis Clan . . . . 346 Cra b An ces to rs ...... 242 Starting the Adventure ...... 297 Provinces of the Phoenix Clan . . . 348 Crane Ancestors ...... 242 Adventure Structure: Act Two . . . 297 Provinces of the Scorpion Clan . . . .351 D ragon Ancestors ...... 242 Plot Constraints ...... 298 The Shadowlands and the Lion Ancestors ...... 242 Rewards for Success: Provinces of the Spider Clan ...... 354 Mantis Ancestors ...... 243 Experience Points ...... 300 Provinces of the Unicorn Clan . . . .357 Phoenix Ancestors ...... 243 Building Stories: Minor Clan Holdings ...... 359 Scorpion Ancestors ...... 243 The 36 Writer Plots ...... 301 Unaligned / Imperial Holdings . . . 363 Spider/Shadowlands Asian Versus Geographical Features ...... 366 Ancestors ...... 244 Western Storytelling ...... 309 Sample Adventure Seeds: Unicorn Ancestors ...... 244 The Hero in Asian Stories . . . . . 309 Challenge, Focus, Strike ...... 369 Alternate Means Death and the Samurai ...... 310 A Complete Sample Adventure: of Rank Progression ...... 245 The Role of Tragedy ...... 310 Tournament of the Samurai ...... 372 Advanced Schools ...... 245 Making Villains: Resources and Inspirations ...... 384 Alternate Paths ...... 245 Black and White in Rokugan ...... 311 Non-Fiction ...... 384 Sample Fiction and Stories ...... file. .384 Great Clan Advanced Schools . . . .247 Honor, Glory, Great Clan Alternate Paths ...... 251 Infamy, and Status ...... 312 Film and Television ...... 384 Miscellaneous Alternate Paths . . . 256 The Art of Being Character Sheet ...... 389 Basic Crafting Rules ...... 258 a Good Game Master ...... 313 In dex ...... 394 Sample file