Return of L5R

Our favorite setting / system here at the Jade Lantern has been reissued in its fifth edition. Now published by Fantasy Flight Games, L5R now uses custom dice in a mixed roll-and-keep / Genesys-dice system.

I’m looking forward to reading through, and hopefully letting folks know our impression. And ideally taking it for a play or two …

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Dundracon 2015: Broken Against the Waves

After a long hiatus, we return to Dundracon in 2015, with a new game (one of the Dundracon 2015 Spotlight games). Wayne and I are pleased to offer the following:

Time: Saturday, 2/14/15, at 4 PM in Room 608 for 6 hours
Type: RPG
System: Samurai Tales (L5R inspired)
Edition: Homebrew
Players: 12
Provided: Characters created for game
Variations: elements of improv and LARP
Rules Knowledge: Beginners Welcome
Game Content: Mature Themes

Five years ago, your Clans were been brought to heel by the Shogun. Now, summoned to the Shogun’s winter court on the wild coast, opportunity.

Return to a mystical feudal Japan in a tale of loyalty, honor, and treachery. How will you ensure you Clanâs future?

About this Game

Broken Against the Waves is tabletop game, with some elements of tabletop and strategic gaming. This is a two GM event. Rules will be taught as needed. Costumes are not required. The game is based on a non-canonical version of the Legends of the Five Rings setting, Rokugan – the Emerald Empire. The rules, Samurai Tales, are a variant of the Fate rpg.

About the GMs

‘Broken on the Waves’ is the latest DDC offering from Wayne Ogle and Brian Isikoff, following previous, highly successfully events such as ‘Test of Might,’ ‘Lion at Autumnâs Gate’, and ‘Gift of Earth.’

RandomCon – July 2010

I’ll be visiting friends at RandomCon, in Phoenix, this summer, and I’ve submitted two games to run. The two games are (dates and times subject to change):

Event Time: Friday (7/9), 8 pm – 2 am
Game Title: A Surprise for General Gage
Game System: Colonial Gothic
Minimum Players: 3
Maximum Players: 6
Maturity: Serious tone; teen and up

It is 1775, and the flames of independence begin to catch in Colonial America. Boston, one of the world’s greatest trading ports, is under siege. The Massachusetts Militia controls the land surrounding the city, while the Royal Navy controls the sea and British troops fill the streets.

Odd circumstances cause your strange band to be in place to lend a hand to the fledgling Revolution – or deal it a setback. From the Old Post Road to the streets of Boston, it’s a small thing that might be heard ’round the world; a surprise for General Thomas Gage.

PCs provided; rules taught.

and

Event Time: Saturday (7/10), 8 pm – 2 am
Game Title: Carrion Hill
Game System: Dragon Age / AGE
Minimum Players: 3
Maximum Players: 6
Maturity: Serious tone; teen and up

By salty winds and odd stars, a dreadful recrudescence rises from the depths of buried nightmare in the vaults below the strange coastal city of Carrion Hill. Recently arrived from Freeport, your band of buccaneers and rogues are pulled into the nightmare which has a monster stalking the twisted alleys of the city, spreading panic before it and leaving destruction in its wake. Can you solve the mystery of Carrion Hill before it ends you?

PCs provides; rules taught.

About this adventure: Carrion Hill is originally an Pathfinder adventure by Richard Pett, and inspired from the popular writings of H. P. Lovecraft. This adventure adventure has been adapted to use Green Ronin’s AGE / Dragon Age rules, and set in the world of Freeport. The stars are right, matey. Yarrrrr!

Good Omens MiniCon – 7/17/2010

In keeping with the spirit of July 4th, I will be running a game of Colonial Gothic for the July 2010 Good Omens Mincon at EndGame. The game is set for a 10 am to 2 pm spot. Colonial Gothic is a supernatural historical horror roleplaying game set during the dawn of the American Revolution.

Scenario Name: A Surprise for General Gage
Game System: Colonial Gothic
Characters Provided: Yes
Variations (if any): n/a
Power Level (if relevant): Low but Strange
Time slot (morning, afternoon or evening): Morning
Number of Players: 5
Description: It is 1775, and the flames of independence begin to catch in Colonial America. Boston, one of the world’s greatest trading ports, is under siege. The Massachusetts Militia controls the land surrounding the city, while the Royal Navy controls the sea and British troops fill the streets.

Odd circumstances cause your strange band to be in place to lend a hand to the fledgling Revolution – or deal it a setback. From the Old Post Road to the streets of Boston, it’s a small thing that might be heard ’round the world; a surprise for General Thomas Gage. 

If you’re going to be in town for the 17th, I highly recommend attending the minicon.

EndGame Minicon – 4/3/2010

I had two games at the recent EndGame MiniCon, in the 10 am and 3 pm spots. They were:

Scenario Name: The Five Elemental Apes of Ancient China
Game System: Heroquest
Variations: n/a
Power Level: n/a
Number of Players: 6 of 6 Seats Available (zero people on waitlist)
Characters provided? Yes, and finished at the table

Thousands of years ago, in an ancient China only somewhat like our own, the 1000 Provinces were ruled by Bandit Kings and worse. There, the Five Elemental Apes – raised from babies and trained by their Kindly Shaolin Master in elemental kung fu – deliver justice for the people, and righteous-ass-kicking to the wicked. By Fire, Water, Metal, Air and Wood; Fist, Foot, and … Tail!?

About this game: The Five Elemental Apes of Ancient China is an original scenario of kung fu, magic and mayhem in bandit ridden ancient fantasy China. The Heroquest rpg is one of the founding games in the story-game movement, and is newly rewritten and refined by Robin Laws, the original author.

And:

Scenario Name: With the Band
Game System: Chronica Feudalis
Variations: n/a
Power Level: Rising Stars
Number of Players: 6 of 6 Seats Available (zero people on waitlist)
Characters provided? Characters quickly generated at table.

“We’re an American Band,
We’re coming to your town,
We’ll help you party it down!
We’re an American Band”

Groupies, roadies, and record contracts. Sex, drugs, rock’n’roll; wine, women, and song. Rising stars – booking arenas and clubs, riding into town and committing musical mayhem.

All the perfect cover for fighting crime, solving mysteries, and investigating the supernatural. Crazed cultists, maniacal monsters, and savage slashers – the Band hunts them down and takes them out. Have fun, rock out – and kick supernatural ass!

About this Game: With the Band is a player-driven scenario in the theme of Scooby-Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It uses (misappropriates might be the better term) the Chronica Feudalis rules engine to facilitate some fast and fun play.

Dundracon 2010: Rise from the Ashes

We hope to have the following event featured at the upcoming 2010 Dundarcon. This year, we are running a slightly smaller (14 player), more focused event – similar in style to our early DDC Scorpion games.  Unique to this year’s offering is a supernatural / Phoenix heavy base. Update (12/25/09): It appears we are will be scheduled for Saturday night at 6 pm.

Rise from the Ashes

The Dark God has been thrown back, leaving the world in ashes. The Kami have departed. There remain many places where the taint must be cleansed and the land purified.

The Phoenix must rise from the ashes.

Set in the early days of the Emerald Empire, this game will involve two table groups of Phoenix Clan players competing to reclaim “tainted” land for their families. The game will contain both cooperative as well as competitive elements between the groups. Players will have opportunity to customize the pre-generated characters  to their preferences.

System: Samurai Tales (Fate)
Time: TBD (but hopefully Saturday night)
GM: Wayne Ogle and Brian Isikoff
PCs: All characters provided by GM and rules will be taught.
Power Level: Phoenix Clan
Variations: historical, non-canonical, Rokugan (L5R)

Program Book Description

Crops spoil and animals are stillborn. Screams and battle sounds echo from the woods. The land must be cleansed by the Phoenix, claimed by your family. The little girl watches.

About This Game

Rise from the Ashes is tabletop game, with some elements of tabletop and strategic gaming. This is a two GM event. Rules will be taught as needed. Costumes are not required.  The game is based on a non-canonical version of the Legends of the Five Rings setting, Rokugan – the Emerald Empire. The rules, Samurai Tales, are a variant of the Fate / Spirit of the Century games.

About the GMs

Rise from the Ashes is produced by Wayne Ogle and Brian Isikoff. Producers of previous successful convention events Test of Might, Lion at Autumn’s Gate, The Eaters of Sin, and Gift of Earth, Wayne and Brian have returned with a new tale of the Emerald Empire.

A Gift of Earth is sponsored by EndGame and 2d6 Feet in a Random Direction podcast.

Updating the Lantern

Greetings!

It’s been some time since the House of the Jade Lantern (HoJL) has been updated, outside of the occasional convention posting. With the loss of our long-time web host (and the move to Word Press), I’m viewing this as an opportunity to dust off, update, and repurpose the HoJL.

The House of the Jade Lantern has been around since at least 1998. The site was launched in the early days of the first edition of the Legends of the Five Rings rpg as a campaign site and general L5R support site. A static website, HoJL was one of the oldest L5R sites, and contemporaries with long-lost sites such as Shinjo Killbeggar’s Palace and Scott Gearin’s Phoenix Palace. Part of the reason HoJL as remained up has been out of tribute to such contemporaries.

However, I have also been running L5R – or more properly L5R-themed – games using Spirit of the Century, and now our own house Samurai Tales rpg rules – at local DundraCon and KublaCon conventions.

With the desire to continue to develop and produce successful fantasy samurai-themed rpg events, and retain the existing long time campaign documentation, the site will be retooled to support my Jade Lantern Productions efforts.

I look forward to future updates here and successful rpg events throughout the Bay Area California.

Thanks for your continued support!

Brian (aka “The Monk”)

KublaCon 2008: A Gift of Earth

A Gift of Earth
The Emperor’s prize would greatly enhance the reputation of your small clan. But others seek the honor. Minor clans, great clans, even bureaucrats. To whom will the Emperor’s favor go?

Opportunity and Danger are two sides of the same coin. The Emperor, the Great Hantei, has unvielded the presence of a new jade mine. Located in the Biwa Valley, this jade mine requires stewardship, most likely drawn from one of the minor clans with lands along the Valley. It would greatly enhance the prestige of your clan to win this stewardship, but others seek the honor. Minor clans, great clans, even bureaucrats. Who will gain the Emperor’s favor? Read the rest of this entry »

DunDraCon 2008: Dark Heresy

Unfortunately, we will not be offering our usual “Big Event” for the L5R setting this year at DDC. However, I will be offering two sessions of the brand new, soon to be released Dark Heresy: Warhammer 40,000 roleplay. The extended write-ups are as follows:

What Rots from Within?

There is Purity of Purpose in the Faith of the Just

An Acolyte in the service of the Inquisition, your duty is to root out the foul stench of heresy, hunt the vile alien, and purge the twisted influence of Chaos. You will tread where others fear, venturing to distant planets, ancient space hulks and the unsavory depths of the hive cities.

Newly pressed into the service of the Emperors’ Inquisition, you are charged to assist and protect a senior Inquisitorial agent in an investigation. You will travel by the ship the Brazen Sky to the barbarian world of Iocanthus, where you will meet Agent Nicodemus.

About this Game

Dark Heresy: Roleplaying in the Grim Darkness of the 41st Millennium. Newly released from Black Industries, Dark Heresy is the much awaited game set in the dark, gothic future of Warhammer 40,000. Similar in tone and system to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Dark Heresy features investigations, action, horror and combat in a dark future.

The game has theme and setting similarities to Call of Cthulhu, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and Mutant Chronicles.

About the GM

An experienced local GM and co-host of the gaming podcast 2d6 Feet in a Random Direction, Brian has produced several successful DDC events, such as A Gift of Earth, Test of Might, Lion at Autumn’s Gate, and The Eaters of Sin.

and

In the Wake of Malice

The difference between heresy and treachery is ignorance

An Acolyte in the service of the Inquisition, your duty is to root out the foul stench of heresy, hunt the vile alien, and purge the twisted influence of Chaos. You will tread where others fear, venturing to distant planets, ancient space hulks and the unsavory depths of the hive cities.

Pursuing leads about the Brotherhood of Malice has led you the mining world of Sepheris Secundus. Before you can truly investigate, you must secure the goodwill of the Commissar of the Imperial Guard detachment which oversees the world – the man called Zurial.

About this Game

Dark Heresy: Roleplaying in the Grim Darkness of the 41st Millennium. Newly released from Black Industries, Dark Heresy is the much awaited game set in the dark, gothic future of Warhammer 40,000. Similar in tone and system to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Dark Heresy features investigations, action, horror and combat in a dark future.

The game has theme and setting similarities to Call of Cthulhu, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and Mutant Chronicles.

About the GM

An experienced local GM and co-host of the gaming podcast 2d6 Feet in a Random Direction, Brian has produced several successful DDC events, such as A Gift of Earth, Test of Might, Lion at Autumn’s Gate, and The Eaters of Sin.

If you’re are DDC and enjoy the WH40k setting, I hope you’ll consider one of the above games.

KublaCon 2007: A Gift of Earth

Confirmed for KublaCon, May 26, 2007:

A Gift of Earth
The Emperor’s prize would greatly enhance the reputation of your small clan. But others seek the honor. Minor clans, great clans, even bureaucrats. To whom will the Emperor’s favor go?

Opportunity and Danger are two sides of the same coin. The Emperor, the Great Hantei, has unvielded the presence of a new silver mine. Located in the Biwa Valley, this silver mine requires stewardship, most likely drawn from one of the minor clans with lands along the Valley. It would greatly enhance the prestige of your clan to win this stewardship, but others seek the honor. Minor clans, great clans, even bureaucrats. Who will gain the Emperor’s favor? Read the rest of this entry »

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