L5R 4th edition=2 thumbs up | Legend of the Five Rings (4th Edition)

Ethan Thomas

(Estarriol)

United States

Massachusetts

I've spent the last several weeks perusing, reading, and studying the core rules for Legend of the Five Rings 4th edition, and I have only one thing to say.

Wow.

However, in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that this has been my first trip to Rokugan. I never played the CCG, and was only vaguely aware of the L5R system. I've never picked up (much less read) a previous edition of L5R. So my perspective is, for all practical purposes, a virgin one.

The reason I mention this is because prior to purchase, I did quite a bit of research on L5R. I wanted to find out what the system was like, some background on the setting, the basic mechanics of play, and the rudiments of character generation. And, of course, what other people thought about the game.

So I set about scouring Internet forums and web pages to see just what people were saying. The vast majority of reviews were very positive, but what struck me were the negative reviews and how, well, negative they were.

Let's be honest: you don't need me to tell you how stunning the production and artwork is, or how the content is so well-organized. Just about every review I read mentioned these as positives, even the reviews that were negative overall.

What really stood out to me was how angry some L5R players we're about this edition. Now, don't get me wrong, I get it. If you're a hardcore fan and they release a new edition and you don't like it then well, its natural that you'll be disappointed, maybe even furious. I've experienced the exact same feeling with systems I'm fond of. It leaves a bad taste in one's mouth, and it tastes like betrayal.

But I've found that there is one universal tonic to such feelings and it is simple: just keep playing the edition you've already invested in. Even better, keep playing the edition you love and borrow whatever you want from the new edition. Because, technically, even if your edition is no longer supported, the system and setting still are. And that is a good thing.

Most of the reviews I read were by players of the 3rd edition, and while the majority were positive, there were some that were downright angry. But from my (virgin) perspective, some of their complaints sounded more like petulant whining than actual constructive criticism. Some paraphrased examples below (and my rebuttal).

"There's not enough information provided on the Great Clans"
Well, aside from the obvious rebuttal (they're going to release a supplement on the Great Clans) this just rings false to me. Is there a decade-by-decade detailed history of each clan provided? No, but they dedicate a full page to each clan in the Book of Air, and flesh out the families a bit in the Book of Fire. Could they have put in more? Of course, but as a first-time visitor to Rokugan I got a pretty good feel for what each Great Clan is about, their basic worldview, and how they interact with the rest of Rokugan. As a new player I don't want to be bogged down in too many details just yet, just give me the broad strokes. It will get filled in through play, supplement, and research.

"The character types are too balanced, they're too "cookie-cutter"
Really? Let's see, you get 40 experience points to spend how you wish when you generate your character, some of which you can spend on Advantages and Disadvantages. That in and of itself gives players plenty of opportunity to "break the mold" right from the start. Throw in Kata, Advanced Schools, Alternate Paths, and Kiho, and I'm fairly certain that 2 bushi starting at Rank 1 from the same school won't look the same by Rank 3.

As far as balance, to me its just necessary. Players are smart: if there is a way to create a more powerful character from the start, they'll sniff it out. And that just cheapens the whole experience, because "why would you want to play a Mantis Bushi when a Crab bushi is sooo much more powerful.."

"They cheapened the whole setting because they divested it from the CCG"
As a new player let me tell you: I wouldn't have made this purchase had AEG not made it independent of the goings-on of the CCG.
Wait, wait!! Before anyone jumps all over that comment let me clarify: I, as a new player, wouldn't have bothered. That's not to say that tying the setting to the CCG is a bad idea. It's actually a pretty cool idea, if you're into the CCG. I'm not, and I certainly don't want some CCG tournament determining what happens in MY campaign. A source for inspiration, absolutely. A plot that gets forced down my throat, no thanks I'll pass. Just give me information on the setting, culture, and history (which they do pretty well, btw), and as a GM I'll take it from there. It's part of the job, after all.

"They changed some of the mechanics and I don't like some of the changes"
Again, I never played 3rd edition, so I can't compare mechanics for myself, but the mechanics in 4th edition are clean. The greatest bane to the mechanics of any RPG are exceptions, and there are very few in L5R 4th edition. As far as probabilities, failure rates etc., in my mind its all relative since everyone will be utilizing the same set of mechanics. Besides, the system itself gives a GM some leeway when it comes to this: Target Number determination. Think your players are failing too often at certain tasks, lower the TN a bit, or be a bit more generous with that bonus.

Now don't think that I don't have a couple of criticisms of my own. I really wish that they had included a functional map. The one provided on the inside covers is pretty and all, but several smaller maps in the middle of the book would have been very well received. And the character sheet is really nice, but a sample of one filled out along with a more detailed example of character generation wouldn't have hurt either. I was also a little disappointed with the index. I admit, I love a beefy index and its one of my personal hang-ups, but when you need to find something quickly in the heat of play nothing beats a detailed index.

But, aside from that, I'm really happy with this game. So happy, in fact, that I've already bought Emerald Empire and Enemies of the Empire. So whether you like it or not, I've found a home in Rokugan, and I'm here to stay.