|
Post by Houndin on Dec 29, 2013 20:49:41 GMT -8
If I wanted to both play in and run L5R games, Other than the core 4ed book, which seems lacking in Clan information (as compared to how the novels portray the different clans), what books should be top on my list?
I found 'The Great clans" but it's absurdly expensive at over $150 on amazon.
Any advice would be appreciated.
|
|
fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
|
Post by fredrix on Dec 30, 2013 1:41:16 GMT -8
I guess you want a dead trees book, but the PDF is a lot cheaper. That said, I don't miss detailed info on fluff. I bought the new Secrets of the Empire book recently because I'm about to play a Monkey clan PC. It's lovely, but in fact I'd already imagined pretty much everything the book had to tell me about the Monkey clan. So the paragraph or two in the main book are enough for me.
Instead I find the the scenarios far better value (and this is a major about-face for me, because I normally find published scenarios very poor value). Get Naishu province and the GMs screen which comes with another scenario. (Or check out Second city, which comes with a GMs screen).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2013 1:51:25 GMT -8
I would try having a search of various FLGS websites, you should be able to get hold of it for cheaper than that. If not then there's always drivthruRPG.
For other books the main ones I picked up were: Great Clans Emerald Empire Enemies of the Empire
The first two are great for setting material and are really enjoyable reads. The last is good if you plan to use threats other than normal samurai against the party (including spirits, oni, maho users etc).
I would say though that none are essential, everything you absolutely need is in the core book and while the extra books have additional mechanics it's actually the fluff where they really excel.
|
|
maxinstuff
Supporter
Posts: 1,939
Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Species of Monkey: Proboscis
|
Post by maxinstuff on Dec 30, 2013 2:55:28 GMT -8
If I wanted to both play in and run L5R games, Other than the core 4ed book, which seems lacking in Clan information (as compared to how the novels portray the different clans), what books should be top on my list? I found 'The Great clans" but it's absurdly expensive at over $150 on amazon. Any advice would be appreciated. It didn't ever RETAIL for $150 did it? I would just buy the PDF, and then before running any games (as I must have a tome at the table) get it done in a nice hard cover from lulu (or similar). I think mook had a very nice GURPS tome done a while back. It was beautiful, the whole basic set in one epic bullet stopper.
|
|
|
Post by Houndin on Dec 30, 2013 9:03:29 GMT -8
]It didn't ever RETAIL for $150 did it? I would just buy the PDF, and then before running any games (as I must have a tome at the table) get it done in a nice hard cover from lulu (or similar). I think mook had a very nice GURPS tome done a while back. It was beautiful, the whole basic set in one epic bullet stopper. I hadn't thought of Lulu. I did get Dyson's Delves from there, and the cover is good. I'm just a little disappointed about the weight of the interior pages. They seem very flimsy. But it's definitely something to keep in mind. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Houndin on Dec 30, 2013 9:04:33 GMT -8
I would try having a search of various FLGS websites, you should be able to get hold of it for cheaper than that. If not then there's always drivthruRPG. For other books the main ones I picked up were: Great Clans Emerald Empire Enemies of the Empire The first two are great for setting material and are really enjoyable reads. The last is good if you plan to use threats other than normal samurai against the party (including spirits, oni, maho users etc). I would say though that none are essential, everything you absolutely need is in the core book and while the extra books have additional mechanics it's actually the fluff where they really excel. I'd prefer them in dead-tree, but I could go with PDF and manually print it. I'll take a look at pricing on DriveThru for those. Thanks
|
|
|
Post by Stu Venable on Dec 30, 2013 12:36:51 GMT -8
The books I used most often and found most useful, in order:
Core Book. Enemies of the Empire. Emerald Empire. Great Clans.
The core book is obvious.
Enemies of the Empire provides you will lots of generic NPCs and some monsters. This came in very handy for me -- especially in the beginning -- as I didn't understand the system enough to get a good feel for game balance. It also gives you lots of ideas for conspiracies, etc.
Emerald Empire was my go-to book when there was a part of Rokugani society that I either didn't understand or needed more detail on.
I would look at Great Clans before I introduced a new clan to the game, as their explanations are far more in-depth than the basic book, but honestly, the basic book would probably have been enough for our purposes.
|
|
SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
Ask me about the Drizztmas Exchange!
Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
|
Post by SirGuido on Dec 30, 2013 15:40:46 GMT -8
I can't add anything new to what's already been said except to say that Emerald Empire is by far the most useful book for anyone new to this type of world. It covers all the day to day cultural stuff you would likely have any questions about.
|
|
merryprankster
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 243
Favorite Species of Monkey: Howler
|
Post by merryprankster on Dec 30, 2013 16:11:27 GMT -8
Personally I like Enemies of the Empire since it sparked the most story ideas for me. It gives a nice description of various nefarious forces as well as a few stat blocks to help out. In my opinion this is the only "must have" for running the game.
I also enjoy reading into The Great Clans since it helps me better understand the clans and I find it an interesting read in it's own right. (though in no way is it worth $150, and honestly the info in the core book is probably enough).
Truthfully I did not really like Emerald Empire since it is just too specific and I prefer just the general guidelines for society found in the core book (plus I find it an unstoppably boring read). But I am not really an L5R scholar and I prefer not to get too bogged down in some of those details. If you really wanted to faithfully recreate every facet of Rokugan this book would be super handy, but generally I prefer to not get to pedantic about the minutiae of the day to day society.
I also really like the setting stuff in The Second City (plus it come with all sorts of fun goodies), though I haven't actually read the campaign. I also think I am going to get the new Naishou Province thing since I like specific setting stuff.
|
|
|
Post by joecrak on Dec 31, 2013 12:32:34 GMT -8
as a GM Emerald Empire is great, and Enemies of the Empire is super useful for idea inspiration.
as a Player, I adore Great Clans, just for the added schools, and details about the clans. I long for a modern Minor clans book though.
The various element books are fun, but by no means necessary.
If you really want to get wild though Imperial Histories 2, provides info on running Rokugan in SPACE! as well as a delightful Iron Empire, which can have awesome duels on steam trains. (IH2 is all about alternate timelines) but as i said, its a book for fun, by n means needed
|
|
|
Post by mook on Dec 31, 2013 17:26:04 GMT -8
I think mook had a very nice GURPS tome done a while back. It was beautiful, the whole basic set in one epic bullet stopper. Why yes - yes I did.
|
|
fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
|
Post by fredrix on Jan 1, 2014 0:15:45 GMT -8
I long for a modern Minor clans book though. Secrets of the Empire not good enough?
|
|
|
Post by joecrak on Jan 2, 2014 4:23:16 GMT -8
I must have it!
|
|
|
Post by yojimbohawkins on Jan 6, 2014 16:00:56 GMT -8
Strongholds of the Empire is quite good. It provides you with a ready-made location for each great clan, with plot hooks and key NPC's. Relatively cheap too,when compared to the other books!
|
|
SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
Ask me about the Drizztmas Exchange!
Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
|
Post by SirGuido on Jan 7, 2014 5:12:46 GMT -8
I'm somewhat bitter about Strongholds because back when I was writing/editing on Musha Shugyo(L5R fan zine) there was some talk that the city we'd been building in the magazine would be featured in the book. Instead our editor in chief dropped us like a sack of potatoes and ran and wrote for them directly.
|
|