Chimera Productions CHIMERA PRODUCTIONS LEGEND OF THE FIVE R INGS LARP VERSION 1.3, APRIL 2013 CHIMERA PRODUCTIONS LEGEND OF THE FIVE R INGS LARP LEAH BIFFIN , MARK BIFFIN, MEGAN BUSHBY , LUKE WILKINSON 2013 Contributing Authors Leah Biffin Mark Biffin Megan Bushby Luke Wilkinson VERSION 1.3, JANUARY 2013 Re LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS material: The authors of this document acknowledge that LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS and all related marks are © and ™ Alderac Entertainment Group Inc. (AEG) All material relating to the LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS including text, artwork, world, characters, story and setting are the property of AEG and its respective creators. LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS material is used by Chimera Productions and the above-mentioned contributing authors with permission from AEG, for the purposes of creating a not-for-profit live-action role-playing game. Copyrights to all LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS specific material belongs to AEG and its respective creators. Copyright to other original material is reserved by the contributing authors. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the following for their contributions: For their inspiration, the authors would like to thank: Alderac Entertainment Group Robert Hobart Rebecca Hobart The Philosopher’s Guild BIF Lorien Trust NERO LRP, Chicago Chapter The Victorian LRP forum members For their invaluable assistance, the authors would like to thank: (in alphabetical order) Elizabeth Coarser Rachel Duyvestyn Wayne Duyvestyn Joon Hur Cathie Jackson Christopher Lee Jane Loutit Adam O’Connaill Ookami Louis Parkinson Cameron Picton Madeline Read E. T. Benjamin Wong TABLE OF CONTENTS LIVE ACTION ROLE-PLAYING .................... i CHARACTER CREATION ......................... 31 What is Live Action Role-playing? i Character Creation Steps ............. 31 Age Restrictions .............................. i Clans and Families .......................... 33 Statement of insurance ................ ii Schools ................................................. 33 First Aid & Medical conditions . ii Crab Clan ............................................. 35 Alcohol and intoxicants ............... ii Crane Clan ........................................... 37 LEXICON ........................................................... iv Dragon Clan........................................ 39 Lion Clan .............................................. 41 FUNDAMENTAL RULES ............................... 1 Phoenix Clan ...................................... 43 The Spirit Of The Game ................ 1 Scorpion Clan .................................... 45 In and Out of Character ................ 1 Rings & Skills ..................................... 47 The No-Touching Rule .................. 2 Rings Descriptions .......................... 47 Safety and Safety Calls .................. 2 Skill Descriptions ............................ 49 Combat Safety ................................... 4 Backgrounds ...................................... 58 Game Play Calls ................................ 6 Weapons Kata ................................... 62 Time and Counting Time ............. 7 Character Advancement ............... 64 Equipment Safety and Standards 7 Casting Magic ............................................................ 65 GAME RULES .................................................... 9 Universal Spells ................................ 69 Rings, Skills and other abilities 9 Air ........................................................... 71 Tests and Challenges ..................... 10 Earth ...................................................... 75 Void Points ......................................... 11 Fire ......................................................... 79 Honour ................................................. 11 Water..................................................... 83 Glory and Infamy ............................ 14 Void ........................................................ 87 Status and Social Position ........... 15 ITEM CREATION RULES............................ 90 Money and Trade ............................ 15 Gifts and Favours ............................ 15 Crafting Items ................................... 90 The Taint ............................................. 17 Armour ................................................. 94 Death and Kharma .......................... 19 Artwork ................................................ 94 Common Items .................................. 94 COMBAT RULES ........................................... 20 Forgery ................................................. 95 Damage ................................................ 20 Poisons ................................................. 95 Wounds and Hits ............................. 21 Traps ..................................................... 97 Armour and Defence ..................... 21 Weapons .............................................. 98 Dying and Ring Penalties ............ 22 INDEX ............................................................... 99 Healing ................................................. 23 Magic in Combat .............................. 24 Combat Calls, Damage Effects ... 25 Fear Effects ........................................ 26 Carapace .............................................. 26 Duelling ............................................... 26 Poisons and Diseases .................... 28 LIVE ACTION ROLE-PLAYING WHAT IS LIVE ACTION ROLE-PLAYING? A role-playing game (RPG) is a cooperative experience between multiple participants. At its simplest, it can be described as an organized form of group make-believe, with a set of rules and procedures to keep things consistent and fair. The goal is not to win – there are no real “winners” in a role-playing game – but simply to have a good time. A Live-action role-playing game (LARP) involves participants Live action role-playing should not physically acting out their characters' actions. This includes be confused with historical re- interacting with other characters through conversation, exploring the enactment. environment, and potentially taking part in physical combat with specially designed props and weapons. Participants will most often A LARP game is meant to be an wear costume appropriate to the setting of the game, carry with them imaginative fantasy game. The all the gear their character may need to use, and are expected to events take place in a fictional maintain their character’s persona in all situations. The game may be world, with a fictional history and characters. The world, story, anywhere from a few hours to two days in duration, so participants characters and experience are not are asked to bring all costume, props, etc., that they may think intended to replicate any real applicable to each game type. historical period. There are rules and guidelines in place to ensure the game proceeds in Rokugan is a fictional kingdom, a a fair manner, and all participants are expected to follow these and vast Empire whose history, myths, answer honestly to any questions put to them in relation to the rules. and culture draw heavily upon the real-life history and culture of ancient and medieval Asia, Chimera Productions aims to create a safe environment in which primarily Japan but also including everyone can participate in all aspects of LARP. This book contains China and Korea, among others. details of these game rules, guidelines for behaviour whilst at an However, it is not and never event, and some information on the setting of the game. For further purports to be real Japan or information on the world of Rokugan please see AEG’s Legend of the Japanese history. Five Rings Role-playing books and supplements. AGE RESTRICTIONS / WHO CAN ATTEND? Chimera Productions wishes to allow anyone to become involved in LARP who has an interest to, but there are a few restrictions on types of involvement depending on age. These restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of all participants. Anyone over the age of 18 can be involved as a player character (PC) Mature content or non-player character (NPC) at their own discretion. Each adult participant is expected to make their own decisions about their type of The Legend of the Five Rings involvement – choosing to be a non-combatant, informing Organisers setting and games involve at times (Orgs) of medical conditions which may influence their participation, adult themes. These may include or removing themselves from situations in which they would be violence, sexual references, drug uncomfortable. and alcohol use and reference to death and suicide. Some content Children aged 15-18 (youths) may participate as PCs or NPCs only may be upsetting to some with the express written permission of their parent/guardian. Contact participants, especially youth. information for guardians must be supplied to the Orgs prior to the Any Chimera Productions L5R beginning of play, and details of any medical conditions that may game should be considered to be influence participation should also be provided. Youths accompanied rated MA according to Australian at an event by a guardian will not need written permission, but are standards, unless specifically expected to provide similar information of medical conditions etc. advertised otherwise. Youths will be held responsible for their own actions and participation in the same manner as any adult. i Children aged 14 and under may attend events only if accompanied by a parent/guardian. Children must remain under the supervision of this guardian,