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Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game.

Posted by Norwood
Norwood
member, 263 posts
Wed 30 Sep 2015
at 12:30
  • msg #1

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

All right. After a recent binge of reading up on a (relatively small) bit of the expansive lore surrounding this game, I've been growing increasingly eager to explore this world. The detailed setting, political interplay of the clans (as well as the limits the code of bushido places on proper action), and the natural and unholy threats that surround the kingdom on all sides has me itching to explore the world as a samurai of rokugan.

All that said, I don't think I'd like to embark on this sort of story alone. At the same time, a large group isn't really what I'm after, either. After much of my reading, I think the idea that resonates with me the most is the story of a Yojimbo and their charge, braving the vipers nest that is court, traveling the countryside, and facing whatever evils lurk in the shadows. There's something appealing about the story of an unlikely pair of samurai, bound together by honor, duty, dependence (and perhaps an eventual growing affection) that I find really intriguing.

I'd be willing to play either side of the pairing, so what I'm mostly looking for is another player willing to collaborate on two characters who could create some interesting drama between them and, of course, a gm to help us tell a story in the mystical world of Rokugan.

Thanks,

-Norwood

NEWS AND UPDATES

A partner and I got to talking and have started developing a slightly different, but very detailed Five Rings story that we'd like to pursue. Ideally, we'd like to find an ST who shares our interest in this personal, character driven story and is ready to work with us to make something unique.

This is the story of a newly married couple. The husband is an upstanding member of Crane. His new bride, however, is a beautiful Scorpion . . . one that gives every appearance of being a dutiful wife to her new husband and clan. Despite appearances, however, she remains a scorpion born and raised, and in fact was trained by her clan to serve more shadowy purposes.

Her devotion to her new husband, however, is genuine, which leads to her managing his household and working behind the scenes to insure his safety and the advancement of his goals. Dishonorable deals are made behind closed doors, using whatever means necessary. Threats to his person or agendas are dealt with quickly and efficiently, his enemies occasionally turning up dead or simply disappearing altogether.

Always, however, his wife maintains appearances. She no longer wears the mask traditional to members of her former clans. As she often reminds him, however, "there are many masks a scorpion might wear, and they are never without at least one."

* * * *

This is obviously a slightly unusual premise for a Five Rings game. Rather than two samurai able to travel freely, this story would necessitate a largely confined setting. The couple is the centerpiece, and so their home and the personages there are important. The station of the husband, however, is also important. His role at court and the esteemed but scheming personages there are every bit as essential.

Though their conflicts might seem largely separate, they are, in fact, two sides of the same coin, joined through their marriage. Their stories are intertwined. I'm picturing lots of little scenes of them speaking in private, the Crane asking vague but pointed questions about the mysterious events around court. All the while, the scorpion deftly evades the truth, speaking in circles. Perhaps he knows what is happening, but honor keeps him from saying anything. Perhaps not.

This might (rightly so) sound like a lot of work, but while I can't speak for my partner, I can promise any prospective ST that I will be only too happy to furnish them with plenty of character information (including some NPCs and plot hooks) to fill out this world. It's not right for you to have to cut such a personal world from whole cloth, after all.

If you have any questions about this, I'd love to answer them to the best of my ability over rmail. I'm far more likely to notice that in a timely fashion than I am a post to this thread.
This message was last edited by the user at 12:44, Wed 07 Oct 2015.
Hexariah
member, 41 posts
Wed 30 Sep 2015
at 14:57
  • msg #2

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

I don't know a terribly great deal about the system, but I bought the book a while back for a game that imploded before character creation was over.  I'd love to have the opportunity to look into LotFR in a small environment, especially with such a strong emphasis on character connection.

My question to you is, would you be okay with a noob?
Tyr Hawk
member, 92 posts
You know that one guy?
Yeah, that's me.
Wed 30 Sep 2015
at 16:35
  • msg #3

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

I'm always in for an L5R game, even a small one. I've had several years experience with the system and know an extensive bit of the lore, but, right now, I'm not in a position to GM it for anyone. So, I suppose this is me throwing my lot in as a potential player as well, just in case that makes a GM any more interested in the idea.
ChbiMikru
member, 8 posts
Wed 30 Sep 2015
at 20:52
  • msg #4

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

Hey! I'm also a noob that discovered the world of l5r via the card game (I'm a Spider Clan player).

I picked up the rulebook a while back as well and I was quite eager to explore it and play a game, but no opportunities came up and then I left rpol for a while.

Also, I quite like your idea of a Yojimbo and their charge, so I'd love to be involved in whatever comes from this post. I'm even tempted to try and run the game with the little experience I have just to have a hand in the dynamic playing out.

However, I doubt I'm qualified or good enough of a GM that I would be able to make it interesting for you, and seeing you have two other people already expressing interest, I doubt I would even be able to be the second player.
I wish you good luck finding a game though, and I hope this idea takes off. :)
Novocrane
member, 218 posts
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 00:23
  • msg #5

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

While I'm not interested in playing or running more than I currently am, I may want to watch the game that comes out of it.
Norwood
member, 264 posts
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 01:23
  • msg #6

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

Hey guys,

I certainly appreciate the interest, on all fronts.

@Hex: Are you interested in playing or running? Just to clarify. I'm not opposed to a "noob" in either scenario, though that might make running the game difficult. I'd never say it couldn't be done.

@Tyrr: That's an imressive legacy with the game. I'm only recently getting into all of the lore, so keeping the many major events straight is a tad difficult. What eras would you recommend for play? The different periods of history all seem to have very different elements on offer, which gives them each their own virtues. It seems that either the clan war, or the initial infiltration of the spider clan (before Iweko's decree) might be the most interesting/accessible.

For those interested in discussing possible character ideas for a yojimbo/charge pair, feel free to rmail me. We might have a bit of a wait for an interested GM to show up . . .
Hexariah
member, 42 posts
Thu 1 Oct 2015
at 12:03
  • msg #7

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

Oh, I definitely don't feel comfortable enough with the setting or the mechanics to try and run this game.  o_o
efuenmayorv
member, 7 posts
Mon 5 Oct 2015
at 16:59
  • msg #8

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

I might be willing to give this a shot. I have a couple of ideas that might work with a a party of just 2.

What exactly are you looking for, thoug? A more courtly game? More intrigue?
Hexariah
member, 43 posts
Tue 6 Oct 2015
at 02:49
  • msg #9

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

I think intrigue would be the number one theme.  Court and combat would assist the overarching intrigue theme.  Why are the two traveling through Rokugan?  Why can't they rely on any other allies?
Norwood
member, 266 posts
Wed 7 Oct 2015
at 12:44
  • msg #10

Legend of the Five Rings (4e) - A duo game

*A bump to draw attention to the updates added to the opening post.
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