I have to admit I kind of launched into this campaign with more enthusiasm than preparation. I thought I’d whip up some maps of the empire and local regions around where the players were starting… figure out some names for the major clans and their relationships… and on we’d go… So far I’ve been just flying by the seat of my pants.
Well it’s been two months since we started and I have done no such things. I guess I still could. I dug out my old AD&D oriental adventures and two of the adventure modules I had for it – and then picked up two more off of ebay. I originally thought I’d sort of use it as a resource and fit the adventures into the world I had devised. Then I got to thinking maybe I should just say screw it and read ALL of their background and set the campaign in Kara-Tur (the original setting of the AD&D Oriental Adventures…).
I had also started picking up some more Legends of the Five Rings Clan War minis off of ebay… and then picked up a couple of the L5R RPG reference books – for further “inspiration”… but now I’m wondering if I should maybe just set the campaign in Rokugan…?
There are bonuses and pitfalls to either making my own or using someone else’s setting. If I use my own I can just make stuff up as I like – rough out the general locations of things and some of the big picture items and add detail as required… but that takes some work…
Using someone else’s takes less envisioning and thinking up of stuff. The players could read some of it on their own and not require that I spell out for them every little detail of the culture during the game. The Legends of the Five Rings Rokugan setting seems to have a fully detailed background and stuff . But the downsides are a) there’s a lot of books one could potentially have to BUY, b) I’d have to get around to READING them all, and c) players that can read faster, or have more time, could potentially end up knowing more about the setting that I do….
I’ll try and figure out what I’m doing by next week. As for this week…
SITUATION
After staying at the Temple of Wah for a few days to recover their strength our heroes were set off again on their wanderings againg. Daichi decided to stay at the temple a few more days so the others decided to go wandering on there own to explore the region.
They hadn’t gone far when a samurai came riding up the road and told them the next village had been attacked by a band of goblins that came down out of the mountains. He knew which way they went but couldn’t take them all himself. As our heroes looked like capable sorts he demanded they follow him and join the pursuit.
SCENARIO
The Samurai and some followers, along with the characters, have followed a raiding party of goblins to a remote mountain pass. When the goblins stopped there for a breather their pursuers decided to make their move…
FORCES
Akira - Amanda
Ag d10, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 7(+1), Toughness 6
Skills: Fighting d10(+1), Notice d8(+2) , Stealth d6, Throwing d6, Tracking d4, Survival d6, healing d6, Climbing d6, Repair d4, Knowledge (Sword Making) d4
Edges: Alertness, Ancestral Sward (+1) Acrobat
Hindrances: Loyal, Code of Honour (Bushido)
Gear: Kimono, Kantana (ancestral sword – Str+d6+3, AP2), Wakasishi (Str+2)
Isamu - Rick
Ag d10, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 7
Skills: Fighting d10(+1), Shooting d8, Notice d19, Stealth d4, Survival d8, Tracking d6, Healing d4
Edges: Brawny, Ancestral Weapon
Hindrances: Loyal, Code of Honour (Bushido), Death Wish?!
Gear: Kimono, Kantana (ancestral sword – Str+d6+3, AP2), Wakasishi (Str+2)
Hayato - Jackson
Ag d6, Sm d10, Sp d8, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6, healing d8, Survival d6, Knowledge (Arcana) d6, Spellcasting d12,
Edges: Arcane Background (Wu Jen – Element: Air), Power Points N,
Hindrances:
Gear: Robes, Staff (Str+d4, parry +1, Reach 1), 2x Knife (3/6/12, Str+d4), Waterskin, Flint&Steel, Trail Rations (10 days), Backpack, Bedroll,
Powers: Elemental Manipulation, Armour (Whirlwind), Stun (Whirlwind)
Kohaku - Samurai NPC
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d10, St d8, Vg d6,
Pace 4, Parry 7, Toughness 5 (9)
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d4, Intimidate d10,
Edges: Combat Reflexes, Command, Marksman, Dodge
Hindrances: Loyal, Heroic, Code of Honour
Gear: Full Armour (+4), Bow (20/40/80, 2d6), Katana (Str+d6+2)
Ashigaru Followers (4)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5 (7)
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d4, Stealth d4,
Gear: Light Armour (+2), Bow (20/40/80, 2d6), Sword (Str+d6)
Oni
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d12, Vg d12,
Pace 7, Parry 6, Toughness 11
Skills: Fighting d8, Notice d4, Intimidate d8,
Edges: Sweep
Gear: Big Sword (Str+d10)
Goblin Warriors (4)
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5 (7)
Skills: Fighting d8, Notice d6,
Gear: Light Armour (+2), Big Axe (Str+2, AP1, Parry-1)
Goblin Archers (6)
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6,
Gear: Bow (20/40/80, 2d6), Sword (Str+d6)
THE GAME
(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)
The Oni and the Goblins sitting around having a bite to eat…
Careless Ashigaru alerted them to the pursuers approach.
Kohaku looses an arrow at the Oni, but it glances off his thick hide. Akria, Isamu, and Hayato approach through the denser foliage.
The Ashigaru archers take down a number of the goblin archers.
The Oni and Goblin Warriors charge!
The Oni thumped on Kohaku pretty good. Kohaku burned all his bennies just surviving the intial charge!
Akira leaps out of the brush and cuts down one of the Goblins. Isamu, Kohaku, and Hayato are locked in combat with their respective assailants.
With a wild swing another goblin wounds Akira and throws her off balance.
A second wilds swing tkes her down before she can recover from the first blow!
The Oni Knocks down Kohaku with a fearsome blow. Hayato bashed in the head of the goblin attacking him and Isamu found himself fighting TWO! Though he was beating them back – knocking one off balance before receiving the renewed attack of the other.
Finally Isamu took down one, and then finished off the other.
The Oni charged – intimidating Isamu with a fearsome battle cry! (successfully intimidated but the Oni’s next attack roll was a 1… bennied that and hit, caused two wounds, but both were soaked…)
Having finished off all but one of the Goblin archers – who was set to flight – the Ashigaru joinin the battle against the Oni. While a terror in single combat the Oni was no match for FIVE!
Both Isamu and Hayato did a terrific job at treating Kohaku and Akiras wounds (both got raises – despite the -4 due to their grievous wounds!) and so both were able to walk back to the nearby village where they were able to rest some time and recover.
For his bravery and exceptional ability Kohaku awarded Isamu with a very fine bow and declared himself indebted to them all.
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