Sample file Credits EXPANSION DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Tim Huckelbery with Max Brooke WRITING AND ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT Robert Denton III, Lisa Farrell, Jordan Goldfarb, Dustin Hall, Josiah “Duke” Harrist, and D.G. Laderoute EDITING Christine Crabb PROOFREADING Jeremiah J. Shaw and Megyn Johanson RPG MANAGER Sam Gregor-Stewart LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS STORY REVIEW Daniel Lovat Clark and Tyler Parrott CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF STORY AND SETTING Katrina Ostrander EXPANSION GRAPHIC DESIGN Scott Nicely GRAPHIC DESIGN COORDINATOR Joseph D. Olson GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Christopher Hosch FRONT AND BACK COVER ART Mauro Dal Bo INTERIOR ART Daniel Alekow, Imad Awan, Francesca Baerald, Lukas Banas, Stu Barnes, Sergio Camarena Bernabeu, Cassandre Bolan, Marius Bota, Matt Bulahao, Joshua Cairós, Alexander Chelyshev, Calvin Chua, Mauro Dal Bo, Stanislav Dikolenko, Jason Engle, Shen Fei, Felipe Gaona, Lin Hsiang, Amélie Hutt, MuYoung Kim, Pavel Kolomeyets, Alayna Lemmer, Joyce Maureira, Jorge Matar, Reiko Murakami, Billy Norrby, Chris Ostrowski, Borja Pindado, Polar Engine, Stormbrush, Nikolay Stoyanov, Darren Tan, Alberto Tavira, Halil Ural, Nino Vecia, Mario Wibisono, and Robin Wouters ART DIRECTION Jeff Lee Johnson MANAGING ART DIRECTOR Tony Bradt QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR Zach Tewalthomas PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Justin Anger and Jason Glawe VISUAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brian Schomburg SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER John Franz-Wichlacz EXECUTIVE GAME DESIGNER Nate French HEAD OF STUDIO Chris Gerber PLAYTESTERS Roger Ashton-Winter, Cady Belicki, Joe Belicki, Howard Brandon, Martin Brimacombe, Ernie Brow, Lucinda Charles, Stephen Calomino, Lachlan Conley, Nicole Conley, Sam Davies, Zak Estrada, Jon Ferenczy, Jim Friedman, Adam Fry, James Gibson, Marty Hehman, Matthew Hehman, Stephen Hehman, Laura Heilman, Sean Holland, Ian Houlihan, Brian Lewis, James “Jamie” Lewis, Fraoncois Martinez, Michael Molyneaux, Tom Nys, John Pope, Dan Pritchard, Kyle Pritchard, David Robotham, Karol Rybaltowski, Tony Somerville, Jon Stachon, Marie Stachon, Erik Strijbos, Joris Van der Vorst, John Vilandre, Kris Van Beurden, and Thomas van den Berg FANTASY Fantasy Flight Games 1995 West County Road B2 FLIGHT Roseville, MN 55113 GAMES USA UK: Asmodee United Kingdom EU: Asmodee Nordics Asmodee The Netherlands Unit 6 Waterbrook Road Valseholmen 1 Vossenbeemd 51 Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2UD 2650 Hvidovre, Danemark 5706 CL Helmond United Kingdom The Netherlands © 2021 Fantasy Flight Games. Legend of the Five Rings, the L5R logo, and the white FFG logo are trademarks of Fantasy Flight SampleGames. Fantasy Flight Games and the blue FFG logo are registered trademarks of Fantasy Flightfile Games. ISBN: 978-1-63344-374-7 Product Code: L5R14 Printed in China For more information about the world of Rokugan and Legend of the Five Rings, visit us online at www.FantasyFlightGames.com/en/Legend-of-the-Five-Rings-Roleplaying-Game table of Contents 5 WELCOME TO THE 108 CHAPTER 3: BATTLEFIELD aCts of war 6 CHAPTER 1: 109 Expanded Mass Battle Rules glorious histories 118 Battle Zones 122 New Terrain Types 7 Armies of the Empire 123 Running Military-Themed Campaigns 14 Great Clan Army Styles 127 Outfitting an Army 17 Armies in Action 131 New Titles 19 Bastions of History 138 Spending Opportunity in Times of War 26 The Empire at War 140 Tenets of Bushidō: Honor 45 The Lion Clan 142 New Demeanors and NPC Templates 45 Families of the Lion 64 CHAPTER 2: defenders of the empire 65 The Badger Clan 72 New Schools 82 New Advantages and Disadvantages 86 New Samurai Heritages 88 Weapons 90 Personal Effects 92 Blessed Treasures 93 Item Patterns 95 New Techniques Sample file 3 14th Day of the Month of Shiba, 1120, on the Plains of Honor Akodo Saburō could see the battlefield as though he This was what it meant to be a leader, to have the were standing among his generals, the dry wind of the fates of many in his hands, to end lives without draw- plains ruffling his hair. Across the level ground stood ing a sword. The outcome of this battle, perhaps the an army led by his old teacher, Matsu Chihiro, famed safety of the Empire itself, would depend on the deci- for her wise words, sharp tongue, and relentless drill- sions he made, and a single mistake could lose him his ing. He did not fight her by choice, but duty and honor strongest fighters, and his own good name. One wrong demanded they face each other, and only one could move, or a right move made at the wrong time, could claim victory. put a sudden end to his ambition. He would defeat her today. Lion facing Lion, his war- His teacher’s generals brooded where they were; riors reflected hers, but though they looked the same, they did not attempt to escape his foot soldiers, and their maneuvers would be different. Saburō knew how so he set up an attack to claim his victory, sending his she thought; her tactics would be tried, tested, and lancers behind enemy lines. Yet when her own lancers tired, while he had a few tricks and surprises ready for threatened one of his generals in turn, he realized he her. Today, he would prove he had studied hard and could not get his units back there in time. He couldn’t learned well—and had become a worthy opponent. just run them through the foot soldiers, who suddenly All his bushi were ready to fight and die, but before seemed more of a hindrance than a help. There was Saburō could give the order to charge, he must fortify nothing he could do. his defenses, protect his most precious general, and One of her generals put himself in a vulnerable position his lancers to make best use of their range and position, but was it some sort of trap? An invitation speed. Small changes in formation now, while there for him to seek vengeance, and make a terrible mis- was still time, could make the difference between ulti- take? Saburō tried to remember what she had said of mate victory and defeat. Across the plain, his teacher’s sacrifice in their lessons. Hadn’t she always said sacri- forces shifted as though in response to his. Whatever fice was a lazy path to victory, that a true leader found she was planning, she did not commit to it yet, only another way? He took a gamble and sent a cadre of prepared her warriors to withstand his attack when it foot soldiers in to eliminate the weakened general. He came. He could see no other plan in her movements, was honest with himself; it felt like just retribution for but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. his own loss. While he was still contemplating her intentions, Her mounted samurai came out of nowhere, and she sent her mounted samurai to attack his, forcing a he lost another general. How had he missed them? He retreat. Despite the sting of her small victory, the attack should have held back some of those soldiers, but it was hardly devastating. He had far more foot soldiers, was too late now. His last general put up a courageous and his plan was to send them forward, to use their fight, but inevitably fell. The battle was lost; the game numbers to surround and pin her generals. It would was over. surprise her, that he let so much ride on his weakest “An entertaining game for me,” Chihiro said, “and force. He had always believed in the strength of the hopefully, an educational one for you, Saburō-kun.” common soldier, their courage and determination He bowed his head. making up for their weaker armor, their lesser training. “Thank you,” he said. She had warned him before that soldiers are merely “And what have you learned here today?” their leader’s tools, like the duelist’s sword or smith’s He paused, sure she would tell him the correct hammer. Their value would come from how he used answer, whatever answer he gave. them. So he must use them well. “Never to assume I can predict your moves,” he said. “Even a Lion might advise one path, yet take another,” she said. “Remember, on the shōgi board, all actions are honorable.” They reset their units on the SamplePlains of Honor for another game.file 4 INTRODUCTION RUMORS AND Welcome to the Battlefield adventure seeds LEGENDS Since the dawn of the Emerald Empire, conflict has Throughout this book, Throughout this book, you’ll find sidebars like you’ll find sidebars embroiled the realm. Ambitious provincial lords raid this one presenting adventure seeds for GMs. presenting just a few of rival territory, daimyō struggle for dominance and If you’re a player, you might want to avoid the tales in circulation glory, and enemy invaders have attempted to conquer reading these, as doing so could spoil things about a particular loca- tion or group. As a GM, Rokugan. To defend their borders, the generals of the should your GM adopt the ideas! If you’re a Great Clans marshal their best warriors, and when all you might use these for GM, you can expand on these seeds to create inspiration when PCs of Rokugan is threatened, the Emperor marches the fully fledged adventures, take bits and pieces, inquire about any local grand host of the Imperial Legions to war. On the fields or simply use them for inspiration. gossip or anecdotal of battle, legends are forged and destines are decided. reports. Following up 一 Hook This hook provides the context on such rumors could for starting the adventure and introduces even form the basis for what’s in this book? the important NPCs. We also provide a sug- an adventure. Fields of the Victory is a guide to Rokugani warfare and gested way to involve the PCs in events, As with all tales, it is the Lion Clan, whose generals and soldiers are military which you can tailor to fit your campaign.