After a long break from running L5R, the author finds he is ready to begin a new campaign. Good friends are ready to get back to Rokugan, and enjoy some deep, immersive, action-packed roleplay. Since many of the e-mails I receive seek advice on how to get groups together, it seems reasonable to make the construction of the campaign an open book (doubly applicable since the campaign in play will also be likewise documented). Read the rest of this entry »
DDC 2003: Lion at Autumn’s Gate
March 4, 2003 at 8:30 am (Dundracon, From the Lantern)
Another enjoyable ‘Con. Our event this year was a change from the prior two years’ Scorpion-based games. This year, we proudly presented “Lion at Autumn’s Gates”:
“Lion at Autumn’s Gate. The castle may be breached, but honor shall remain intact. This is a proper end for a bushi of your status. You will meet the enemy at the gates, and make them pay dearly for every step. Your name will be remembered.”
A two GM event scheduled for a total of 12 players (6 and 6), our Satursday evening, 8pm start time (prime time, as they say) saw a large waiting list of hopefuls. I hate to turn away folks from a game … and so, grew my portion to 11! Luckily, I always prepare more PCs than needed. The total event ran for 6 hours, and I believe was enjoyed by all. The House of the Jade Lantern salutes our players – the bold Matsu bushi and the esteemed and honors Ikoma bards – and of course, our brilliant co-GM, Wayne!
As in the prior two years, the GMs were:
Brian Isikoff: Master of the Jade Lantern, author of the “12 Diplomats of Bayushi Risako” event at DunDracon ’99, and the co-author of the “Eaters of Sin” events at DunDracon ’01 and ’02.
Wayne Ogle: GM of a regular L5R campaign on the North Bay, as well as the author and GM for the epic “Anvil of Despair” events at DunDracon ’99 and ’00, and the co-author of the “Eaters of Sin” events at DunDracon DC ’01 and ’02 .
DDC 2001: The Eaters of Sin
March 4, 2001 at 8:31 am (Dundracon, From the Lantern)
The Eaters of Sin
“Some call it Journey’s End City and some call it the City of Green Walls. In the end, it is Ryoko Owari Toshi: the City of Lies. Behind every smile, a lie. And behind every lie … honor? A Scorpion’s paradise is sometimes its pain as well.”
The above image is an artist’s rendition of the Bayushi enforcer group from the Eaters of Sin storyline. The kanji in the top half of the art correspond to the names of the characters – clockwise around the table from the left they are: Hungry Moon the Assassin, Wind the bushi, Five Thunders the impersonator, Empty Wind – courtier and ringleader, the other bushi Big Fortune, the duellist Hollow Eyes, Void the shugenja, and Smoke the saboteur. The artist played Empty Wind. Domo arigato to Ms. Zimmer for the outstanding artwork (which is not in the public domain)!!
The Eaters of Sin – a DunDracon 2001 event – was an “all Scorpion” story with characters provided. Two sessions of this event were be run (simultaneously) with two separate storytellers on Sunday (2/18), at 8:00pm.
Each PC group was a capable band of Scorpion enforcers – Bayushi and Soshi. They had been summoned and assigned the tasks of escorting the younger brothers of the recently arrived Daidoji Magistrate to Ryoko Owari.
A fun time was had by all! Thanks to all the players who attended!!
See the DunDracon website for full details about the convention.
The GMs were:
Brian Isikoff: Master of the Jade Lantern, author of the “12 Diplomats of Bayushi Risako” event at DunDracon ’99, and the co-author of the “Eaters of Sin” events at DunDracon ’01 and ’02.
Wayne Ogle: GM of a regular L5R campaign on the North Bay, as well as the author and GM for the epic “Anvil of Despair” events at DunDracon ’99 and ’00, and the co-author of the “Eaters of Sin” events at DunDracon DC ’01 and ’02 .
Handout Madness
January 19, 2001 at 12:42 am (Behind the Mempo)
Ranking high among the feedback from visitors are questions rtegarding the making of the Lantern, and specifically the fonts used herein (and the Master receives much feedback indeed – a thank you to all those who have taken the time to send their kind words and regards!).
Rather than provide an article on nothing but fonts, today we talk about handouts. The Master simply loves handouts of all types: maps, listings of characters, terminology and slang, stories, geneology charts, etc. Players usually enjoy and appreciate such (see the “warning” below, however).
Like background music – among other techniques – handouts are an opportunity to reinforce the “reality” of the game world, and assist in communicating a common picture of the Rokugan you and your players visit. And making good, evocative handouts is not as difficult – or expensive – as one might think. Read the rest of this entry »
2nd Time Around
December 25, 2000 at 1:06 am (Behind the Mempo)
You may have heard; you may have noticed.
Legend of the Five Rings is being republished in its new Second Edition. The core rulebook – which has been sold out for some time – is being reissued in two volumes: a Player’s Guide and a Game Master’s Guide. The basic cover for the Player’s Guide is shown at the right (the only image on this site, we might add, which has been…ahem…liberated from AEG).
And, yes, the Player’s Guide has arrived. The Master – lucky monk that he is – picked himself up a copy only two days ago. The Game Master’s Guide is soon to follow (January, perhaps).
As befits a 2nd edition, there have been some changes … Read the rest of this entry »
Shout and Cry
December 24, 2000 at 1:08 am (Behind the Mempo)
Players spend a great deal of time detailing their characters; indeed, one could say that players know them intimately. In the Master’s humble opinion, it is the goal of most, if not all, players to create living, breathing characters with depth and detail. Some succeed; some do not…
NPCs (non-player characters) represent all the characters within your Rokugan other than those of the players’. Given the countless hordes of such NPCs in the average L5R campaign, how exactly does an ST ensure that they are all flavorful and distinct. And indeed, should they be? Couldn’t we just get tea from a plain old server at the tea house and be on with it anyway?
In short: no. Read the rest of this entry »
Unwriting the World
March 15, 2000 at 6:50 pm (Behind the Mempo)
Ah, happy now are the days when there is more published support for L5R than when the game first came out, yes?
Yes, certainly. More of the world vision is communicated, more ideas. Generally, the material is quite good. While there is not an overwhelming amount of it, much is documented: the Great Clans, Winter Courts, Naga and so on. The Master generally finds this good stuff: the bookshelf is most packed with it.
However, there is a certain weight to it as well. In size, yes. Beyond that, there is can be an anchor effect. With so much of the world written, where is there room for your vision? Read the rest of this entry »
House of the Jade Lantern 