for Out of Character discussion

Okay, here were my rolls for the Heritage.  I spent two CP to make 3 total rolls.  I rearranged the rolls here to group them together with the rolls each went with.

20:04, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 6 using 1d10. Heritage Roll 1.
20:05, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 3 using 1d10. Distinguished Past Roll 1.
20:06, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 5 using 1d10. Battle Veteran Roll 1.

20:04, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 6 using 1d10. Heritage Roll 2.
20:09, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 7 using 1d10. Distinguished Past Roll 2.
20:09, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 6 using 1d10. Glorious Death Roll 2.
20:09, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 2 using 1d10. Great Battles Roll 2.
20:09, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 9 using 1d10. Killed In Battle Roll 2.
20:10, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 1 using 1d10. Bonus to Glory Roll 2.

20:05, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 6 using 1d10. Heritage Roll 3.
20:14, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 4 using 1d10. Distinguished Ancestor Roll 3.
20:14, Today: Kakita Ukyo rolled 7 using 1d10. Great Battles Roll 3.

So here's what I have so far for my Iaijutsu Duelist:

Name: Kakita Ukyo    Clan: Crane    School: Kakita Bushi

Rank: 2   Insight: 163

Rings:         Traits:

Earth: 3       Stamina: 3
               Willpower: 3

Water: 2       Strength: 2
               Perception: 2

Fire: 3        Agility: 4
               Intelligence: 3

Air: 2         Reflexes: 4
               Awareness: 2

Void: 4


Skills         Emphases        Ranks      |      Advantages     Disadvantages
Etiquette                        2               Quick           Bad Health
Iaijutsu                         6                               Driven (Prove
Kenjutsu       (Katana)          2                               worthy to
Kyujutsu                         1                               family)
Defense                          5
Meditation     (Void Recovery)   3
Tea Ceremony                     1
Athletics                        2
Lore: Shadowlands                1
Battle                           2

Kata: Striking as Earth
Techniques: The Way of the Crane, The Sudden Strike

Roll to Attack is 9k4
Defense (unarmored) of 25
Init is 7k4 + 10
Glory 1.1
Honor 3.5
Status 1


Does this look okay?  I haven't made a character in this game before so it's all new to me.  Any suggestions?  Did I make him weak?  Strong?  Average?  I was trying to make him somewhat well rounded but still be quite good in a Duel.  Did I hit my goal?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Sun 04 Feb 2007.

Clarification: She doesn't show her shoulders, but this was the closest portrait i could find to what I was going for. So: Use your imagination to think she's got full kimono on :P

I'm just putting the finishing touches on Sakura right now. I think she'll be a fun part of this campaign ...

Out of curiosity ... these characters know each other, right?

Sakura's public history: she was once the daughter of a minor Daidoji vassal family, however her family was destroyed in a raid on the outlying village. The sole survivor of that bandit raid, she was adopted into the main line, ostensibly because of her "fierce bravery" but in reality because of her "fierce beauty". Anyone who knows her well will realize that she takes the Daidoji motto, "we do what must be done", very seriously. Anyone who knows her very well will probably have heard her reveal knowledge of an "unsavory sort" on rare occasions.

Sakura is a self-taught Shugenja who communes with the Kami through song. Her adopted family was so busy trying to arrange a "suitable match" that they almost missed her talents.

Sakura is an incredibly talented musician, and while not quite as good as a Courtier she's also a very good orator.

Sakura's private history: Really Shosuro Kasumi, she was trained in the Soshi Shugenja schools specifically for her role -- that of a "Deep Cover" Scorpion agent. She is an idealistic Scorpion who takes her job seriously: protect the Honorable from that which they cannot see.

Everyone considers her a Daidoji (the small tattoo on her wrist helps) at this point and she does her best to make sure no one questions her allegiances.

Konichiwa Crane-samas,

While technically one isn't supposed to ask about a monk's background, seeing as Musashi is a former Crane samurai who still owes obligations to certain Crane while having Moderately influential & loyal Crane Allies... it is possible that people might know something about Musashi.

He was originally born Asahina Musashi, the eldest of 2 sons to the respected shugenja sensei Asahina Takezo.  Asahina Takezo lent his healing to the defenders of Kyuden Doji during the Clan War & died bravely in the breech of the East Wall by the Crane Clan during the siege of Otosan Uchi on the Second Day of Thunder.

Sadly, despite his wish to follow his father's footsteps, it was his brother Asahina Yoshitaka who could commune with the Kami but not Musashi.  In honor of his late father's pacifist beliefs, Musashi chose not to take up the sword of a bushi.  Musashi did not feel that the life of a Courtier led to the Path of Enlightenment and thus he was able to persuade his Daimyo to grant him permission to become a Monk.  However as his own feelings on martial discipline were not quite as strong as his father's pacifism, Musashi chose to enter the Temple of Osano-Wo to become a Sohei.

Musashi is quite skilled in Jiujutsu and knows several Kiho.  He is also a fairly decent Instructor in Jiujutsu.  He has in fact returned to Crane lands to follow his father's path as a Sensei.  He hopes to pass on the wisdom of the Tao as well as the respect for the Fortunes (in particular Osano-Wo, the Fortune of Fire & Thunder) as both a teacher & a spiritual advisor.

Question: Would any of the Crane PCs be interested in having Musashi as a sensei and/or an advisor (perhaps arranged either as part of Musashi's Obligation or by his Crane Allies)?

Oh and it might be known that there is a particular Togashi Tatooed Monk named Togashi Seijuro who was beaten in a Jiujutsu Tournament held in Crane lands who carries something of a "nasty grudge" against poor Musashi.  ;)

Naru, Naru, Naru...

Naru is young for a Courtier so accomplished. Few can match her knowledge of Etiquette and she is accomplished as a Calligrapher, in the field of Origami, and her flower arrangements are some of the best to come from Castle Doji...

But the one thing she isn't yet is married. With the chaos of recent years there hasn't been much thought put into it. With peace now in Rokugan it looks like that will change, but not until her parents feel ready.

Naru is an expert at navigating the intrigues of Rokugani court, telling better half truths out of sincerity than the best Scorpian liars. She is intelligent, erudite, cultured... She is the perfect wife it would seem. Now if she can just be kept on a short leash until they find her a husband...

Perhaps I could use you in such a capacity.  Seeing as I am so new to L5R, it wouldn't be just my character that you're advising.  ;)

Perhaps there's a way to tie him to Ukyo by way of his frail health.  By advising and teaching him in areas other than fighting he is helping to round him out into an even more distinguished, well-rounded samurai.  Perhaps this was done via an obligation.  Maybe one of Ukyo's instructors at the academy saw how hard he worked and knew his situation, and that instructor was someone you owed the obligation to.  He cashed it in by asking you to help me.

Just a thought off the top of my head.  :)

For my background, I have come up with this so far:

Kakita Ukyo has a lot to live up to.  His ancestors have all been distinguished, well known heroes of battle, in particular they have fought in the Battles of White Stag (where his ancestor died a glorious death, fighting bravely to save his comrades), the Cresting Wave, and the Sleeping River.  Every male of his family is born and trained in the arts of war and is expected to uphold the family tradition of great prowess in battle.

Then Ukyo was born.  His health was frail from the start.  Many believed he wouldn't survive infancy.  If nothing else, Ukyo is a fighter.  His family looked upon him with shame, as they believed he would not be able to uphold the family's martial tradition.  Seeing as he was the eldest, their fears may not have been unfounded.

Ukyo persevered and managed to secure a place in the Kakita Dueling academy, becoming an accomplished swordsman, known for his quickness, despite his frail health.  Yet in spite of that, his family was still not convinced.  He is driven to prove to them that he is good enough to uphold the family tradition as eldest son.  He believes that by adhering to Bushido, and honing his skills even further, he will attain the Glory and Honor he seeks to show his family that he is not worthless.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Sun 04 Feb 2007.

Well Ukyo, I'm certainly open to your suggestion.  ;)

Actually one of Musashi's Kiho is Chi Protection, which is something of a "healing kiho".  Also I'm considering taking at least a couple of ranks in Medicine.

Of course Musashi's current Instruction is in Jiujutsu... for some reason you can't use Instruction without taking Emphases!  Just by Ranks, I could probably teach Meditation and/or Defense (or even Instruction!) but buying a 2nd & 3rd Empahsis is just too costly right now.

It is odd that Instruction is the only skill that can't be used without taking Emphases (basically buying Instruction alone seems useless?).  ;(

Sachi is recently returned from his musha shugyo.  Might it be possible to have met Musashi during his travels as well?

Sachi has an obligation that is yet undefined and working with you sounds like a good way to place it into the game.

Certainly Sachi, I'm sure that Musashi is reasonably well traveled and he would have considerably respect for a samurai on a Musha Shugyo (in a way his joining of the Order of Osano-Wo is something of a "life long musha shugyo" for Musashi).

So I am certainly open to that idea.  ;)

If I might make a few suggestions?

First off, by my calculations, you actually have a higher Insight.
140 (Rings) +25 (Skill Ranks) +4 (Rank 5 Skill Mastery for Iaijutsu & Defense)= 169

You probably don't need Defense at 5.  You get to add Defense to your TN to be Hit at Rank 3.  The extra +2 isn't probably worth the 9 CP/XP you spend to raise Defense from 3 to 5... at least not right now.

Also you probably don't need Iaijutsu at 6 right now since you gain the Mastery Abilities at Rank 5 and again the added die for 6 CP probably isn't needed.

If you lower Defense to 3 & Iaijutsu to 5, you get 9+6= 15 CP/XP back just to start with.  I really think you should consider raising your Awareness to Rank-3.  Not only is Awarness an important skill for an Iaijutsu Duelist (after all, it is involved in evaluating your opponent, the better the Awareness/Iaijutsu roll the more info you get and the better choice you can make for what Trait/Ring your opponent has to use)... BUT... it'll raise your Air Ring to 3, giving you +10 Insight (at the cost of only 5 Insight from the lost ranks of skills & the last Rank 5 Mastery for Defense).

This will put you at 174 Insight... only +1 Insight more and you're Rank-3!! ;)

What is more, since it only costs 12 CP to raise Awareness to Rank-3, you still have +3 CP/XP to spend from lowering Defense to Rank-3 & Iaijutsu to Rank-5.

Basically all you need to do is either buy a new skill at Rank-1 or raise an existing skill by 1 rank... and you're at Insight 175 which is Rank-3 (and thus you gain your Rank-3 School Technique).

What you do with the 3 CP is up to you.  If you bought a new skill at rank-1 for 1 CP, you could afford a 2 CP Kata or a 2 CP Advantage or buy a skill emphasis for 2 CP (just to name a few ideas for CP/XP spending).

FYI: I'm not sure if you're aware of the Errata but in the 3rd Edition book there is an error for the Kakita Bushi School.  Etiquette is listed twice.  One of those Etiquettes is supposed to be Meditation.

According to the AEG L5R Story Team Lead, the correct skill list for Kakita Bushi is:

Thanks for the suggestions.  Defense was originally purchased to 3, but my Heritage roll bumped it to 5 (2 skill points in a Crab school skill).  Good suggestions though, I think I'll make the changes you suggested.

Ahh... then this may make things a little trickier.  Since the 4th & 5th ranks of Defense aren't bought with CP/XP... then when you lower Defense to 3 (by 1 rank with 1 CP & +2 for Heritage)... you'll only get back the CP/XP for ranks 2 & 3... namely 5 CP.

If you lower Iaijutsu to 5 you get back 6 CP.  This means you'll have only 11 CP rather than 15 CP.

So you'll need to make a few more "adjustments" to make Rank-3.

First you need 1 CP more to get the 12 CP to raise Awareness to rank 3 (as an Iaijutsu Duelist, I really do recommend this and not just for the Air Ring increase but because Awarness is useful both for Duels & for social situations).

Then you'll need to free up a few more CP to get the 175 Insight (which I think is worth it since it looks like most of the PCs are going to be starting at Rank-3).

The ways that you can do this are: 1. Look over the Disadvantages and see if any others fit your character concept.  2. Consider reducing Etiquette or Meditation or Atheletics or Battle (unless they also are coming from your Heritage rolls).  3. Consider not taking the Void Recovery Emphasis (at least not right now).

Again just some suggestions to consider.  ;)

Speaking of Erratta ...

Okay, given that the GM can override anything:

Re: Heritage Tables.

In the Erratta they give an example using heritage tables. The short version is that the Heritage results are rolled before character creation and, therefore, applied before creation as well. So, a Kakita Bushi who's school lists "Defense 1" would start with a defense of 3. And, just to really screw things up a bit these added two ranks do count against maximums.

So, the defense from 3 to 5 would have had to be XP anyway.

Don't worry, I'm a bit confused myself.

Personally, I've never liked heritage tables -- they seemed to penalize those who create detailed conceptions.

Musashi-San:

I can think of a few things you might be helping Sakura with, actually. One of the things on her "to learn" list is Jiujitsu (or Jujutsu, or whatever ...), and she does a lot of meditation. I'm assuming that he could help with "Void Building" exercises, ne? Sakura is going to need a lot of void!

She's a lot more interested in such things than one might guess based on her honor (or lack thereof ...).

Well Musashi is certainly qualified to teach/Instruct Jiujutsu.  ;)  Technically Musashi has enough ranks in Meditation (including the Void Recovery Emphasis) to teach it... but since you can only teach/Instruct skills for which you have the Instruction Emphasis... Musashi will have to wait a bit to teach Meditation.

Musashi's strongest Ring happens to be Void, so he should be good in teaching that.

What is more... I am taking the "Brotherhood Wayfinder" path/Technique at Rank-2, so he can even lend Void aid to other people's skill uses.  ;)

As for Heritage Tables... I've always assumed that with my luck I would end up rolling badly and get stuck with negative background problems that I'd have to weave into my PC's background.  It is much easier to work in positive Heritage but negative Heritage can really screw one over.

So I tend to prefer keeping "chance" out of character creation if possible.  ;)

However if others want to risk it, well that's their choice.

I've always found that heritage tables are best for roll-players who know how to build characters but aren't as sure how to create a detailed background for their characters, for people who aren't intimately familiar with the setting and need some ideas to jump start their character creation, and for people who just like the flavor the Heritage tables add to their characters

Please understand (everyone)... I am not knocking the Heritage Tables.  I can understand people liking to use them and that's cool.

I was just saying that I'm pretty much unfamiliar with them because I always hate letting chance dictate the "baggage" my PC will have to carry around.  But that's just my personal preference.  ;)

I didn't mean to come across as negative towards the use of Heritage Tables in general.

I have always loved lifepath tables.  I don't know why.  I can make a detailed hook heavy character background on my own, but I like the randomnes sof lifepath.  Afterall... when we're born, we didn't get to choose what our family history was.  The element of randomness simulates that.  Of course, maybe I just like to gamble.  i guess I lucked out on having all distinguished ancestors in major battles.  :)

Hiya guys, just letting you know am the next lucky player to join this game. Looking forward to playing alongside all you guys.
I've still got a few character details to sort out but basically, Doji Fumimaro is a rich, high standing young man who was trained in the Kakita Bushi school but still retains skills from his Doji family heritage. My character is cool, calm and collected, never appearing to lose his temper. He is useful in both social and combat situations. This character will be quite a change for me as im used to playing a Matsu beserker and a Tsurichi archer so we shall see how my new roll turns out. lol :-)

I've found a portrait for my character (Just ignore the pointy ears!) It was the only one i could find with the typical Crane white hair and that looked right.