[Setting conversion] Rokugan

[aegis]

Constrictor is bad-ass. Maybe too much. I'd drop the Str bonus, grab being already powerful... Or maybe simply drop grab, if that's not enough.

I don't like the idea of a PC having feral as in Crippled Bone. It's just a personal opinion, though.

In Green-Green-White, the PC cannot benefit from the circle of power ability, but since sorcery is not used, that shouldn't happen anyway. However, it works for Paths.

Other than that, I think it's alright. I really like those!

[EmptyOwl]

The work being done here is exceptional.  I don't know the system well enough to judge how balanced things are yet, but the quality and application of the conversion seem phenomenal!

[Morgenstern]

Flashy and Thrifty actually may be irrelevant in the context of this setting if traditional Rokugani economics are in play.

Heh. Traditional Rokugani economics are irrational. I'm hoping to to add some historical insight. Not enough to make it "accurate" or even "realistic" but enough to make it "plausible" and interesting to game with

Elsewhere, the worst I currently foresee is a very Thrifty Wizard gaining a couple extra magicks from his Spell Library feat and that is unlikely to derail a campaign.

Ooo. Nice trace . I tend to agree that that's an acceptible outcome.

Is balance the overriding concern in placement of benefits on the lists?

Functionality is the number one concernn - does getting "benefit A" on both sides create a dead bonus? There's a LOT of safety netting in place where getting 2 of the same thing prompts a re-pick (proficiencies, origin skills, feats), but some benefits like enlightened skills don't work well with re-picks so the option can Only occur on one side (Species and Talents for that one).

Balance when double stacked is the next major concern. Hints and Step In don't stack - they are discrete events and having more chances to invoke them is an advantage proportionate to the cost. extra starting action dice on the other hand would be cumulative benefits, and so are first scrutinized, and in that case then prohibited by locking them to one side only (Specialties).

Are there guidelines when designing new options that reference things you are versus things that you do?

Philosophical guidelines, yes. Some mechanics lend themselves to one side or the other of that divide, but many things can span it. Things representing alternate body-layout like mulit-armed and prehensile tail go in the Species/Talent side, but I could probably explain away the underlying mechanics by changing the name of the benefit.

How do you discern at what point a benefit is better suited as a class ability or as the basis for a feat?

Gonna have to start a new thread for that one . It's a rather long chat and not directly pertinent to this thread.

[glimmerrat]

Crab: Nothing changed

Crane: Pasted in the amended Kakita

Dragon: Dragon has exchanged Decisive with Always Ready

Lion: Nothing changed

Mantis: Reordered the abilities for Mantis into alphabetical order.

Phoenix: Phoenix have had More than Luck switched out and replaced with Fortunate, and gained Arrow Cutting since it seems spooky and mystical. Asako have swapped Paired Skills for Last Chance.

Scorpion: Generic Scorpion have been rejigged. Soshi have lost Grace Under Pressure and gained Iron Will instead, and the Scorpion have had Decisive replaced with Always Ready. I don't like it but i'll stick with it until I get a better suggestion. Shosuro have had catfall recosted to 0.5, and gained inscrutable.

Unicorn: Unicorn have had More than Luck switched out and replaced with Fortunate - it does the same thing anyway. Also, male and female Unicorn have been differentiated and the Shinjo have lost Paired Skills in exchange for Basic Skill Mastery (horseman). Also, the Naive ability has received an edit (cheers Scott). Horiuchi have just had an overhaul too.

Naga: Constrictors have had weaknesses added.

Nezumi: Green-Green-White have had the reference to circle of power removed.

*EDIT* I'm fairly sure that's everything solved. Unbreakable has been swapped for Sterner Stuff in a lot of builds.

[Morgenstern]

I have lovely, horrible idea for the Shosuro school .

Back soon.

COVERT FEATS

1,000 Masks Basics
Do not act like the character. Be the character.
Prerequisites: 1 or more ranks of Bluff
Benefit: Each time you enjoy a downtime of 1 day or longer you may ‘take on a role’ by choosing an alignment and 2 studies. You may go into and out of character playing that role as a full action. While ‘in character’ you gain the chosen interests and any attempt to determine your alignment reveals the chosen alignment instead of your actual alignment. You may only take on one role at a time.

1,000 Masks Mastery
The mirror asks no questions and offers no lies.
Prerequisites: Alignment (Scorpion Clan), 1,000 Masks Basics
Benefit: When you take on a role you may choose one additional study and a Basics/Mastery/Supremacy feat chain that has your chosen alignment as a prerequisite (typically as part of the “Mastery” feat for Rokugan alignments). While you are in character, you gain the chosen “Basics” feat as a temporary feat if you meet all of its prerequisites other than alignment.

1,000 Masks Supremacy
The secrets of your enemy become your secrets too.
Prerequisites: 1,000 Masks Mastery
Benefit: Once per adventure you and your teammates may spend a total of 5 action dice to allow you to take on a new role as a free action. While you are in character, you also gain the “Mastery” feat you chose for your role as a temporary feat if you meet all of its prerequisites other than alignment.

[Big_Jim]

Naga need their footprint defined. are they large (2x2) or large (1x2)?

Large (1x2) make the Naga from my Clan War minis usable as is...

[glimmerrat]

Naga need their footprint defined. are they large (2x2) or large (1x2)?

Large (1x2) make the Naga from my Clan War minis usable as is...

Done

[Big_Jim]

Excellent! 

[aegis]

Guess what? Updaaate! 

http://www.le-scriptorium.com/uploads/file/Aides_de_jeu/Mastercraft/l5r_conversion_guide.pdf

Seems like almost finished. I'm gonna start asking a few illustrators if they would let us use a picture or two to lighten this doc a little bit.

[glimmerrat]

So, Minors and Imperials, and i'd better do the Ronin families and schools, the Monk Orders and the Shadowlands schools.

Apparently, the Kitsune family have joined the Mantis. Tut. 

[Morgenstern]

So, Minors and Imperials, and i'd better do the Ronin families and schools, the Monk Orders and the Shadowlands schools.

Apparently, the Kitsune family have joined the Mantis. Tut. 

It depends on the time period. I'd expect to list them in both places. Same thing happens with the Agasha and Yasuki. The Yasuki even have some subtle differences depending on where they are listed (the Crane Yasuki have higher base honor).

[Morgenstern]

Put some thoughts on battlefields and troops over in a seperate thread. The Iron Mountain school should make more sense after reviewing that.

[aegis]

Soooo nice job! I love the concept, but I still have a hard time picturing what such a battle will look like in my head. Shall I add this to the doc, maybe with an example? We now need Akodo tactician feats!

[Morgenstern]

Soooo nice job! I love the concept, but I still have a hard time picturing what such a battle will look like in my head. Shall I add this to the doc, maybe with an example? We now need Akodo tactician feats!

I'd leave it out for the moment - the text is still growing and changing pretty quickly as I figure out what all I can extract from the CCG and minis game.

But more feats with duel and battlefield benefits are almost certian to follow .

[aegis]

True, as soon as I have spare time again, I shall look into this (after the promised specialties and elemental feats!). Also, I should already add an example duel confrontation. Soon, I hope ...