Mail de : freelance@onemain.com (Shawn Carman)
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Howdy folks.
I see that the cat is out of the bag! Someone posted the 2004 release schedule and discussion (as well as the inevitable speculation) has already begun. The team had hoped to break this news to your very soon, but honestly we've been tinkering with the book plans as recently as the last couple of weeks. One changed names just the other day. We've been changing This, tweaking That, and adding just a dash of that ever so delightful Other Thing you hear so much about. Some parties are already passing judgement (on the Internet, no less!) on something that's not even been written yet, so I thought I'd drop in here and present a little bit more information for your enjoyment.
I'd like to emphasize that point again: we're only just finishing up the first book for next year. The others haven't even broken ground yet. You have the opportunity, via this list, to make suggestions and offer up your thoughts on the books' direction. Please take the opportunity. The team would love for these books to reflect what the fanbase is interested in. Keep in mind, however, that anything that begins with the sentence "omg this book is for leet d20 munchkin haxxorz" will be deleted without hesitation. I have done it before and I will do it again! I feel neither remorse nor pity in this matter!
It goes without saying that all books slated for release next year are planned as dual-stat releases. So I won't say it. Also, please forgive me if my enthusiasm for these books is a bit much. I enjoy my work.
The Exotic Weapons Guide
This is the book we're about to finish up as I type this. (I should probably be working on it right now, actually.) This is an exhaustive guide to weapons and armor found in Rokugan and the surrounding area. There is a chapter covering nemurani, but the vast majority of the book deals with the equipment used every day by bushi all throughout the Empire. This book will -dramatically- increase equipment options for characters in both
systems. Have you ever felt stymied in d10 that your armor choices are Light or Heavy? Or, if you are particularly fortunate, Fine Light or Fine Heavy? Not any more. This book not only discusses the different mechanical effects of various weapons and armor, but discusses their development and creation as well. If you have ever played a bushi character, there is something in this book for you.
Way of Martial Arts
Personally, I'm very excited about this book. I have found that martial arts are an integral portion of many Asian or psuedo-Asian setting that I have enjoyed in my gaming career, and now we're finally bringing that to Rokugan. We're going to examine groups and sects in this book that practice martial arts without necessarily being tied to Great Clans. We're going to examine groups within the clans that focus on martial arts instead of the sword. We're going to look at combat not from the perspective of one soldier lost amid a sea of a thousand screaming warriors, but from the perspective of one honorable combatant facing another. This will also contain (in theory!) revised and expanded versions of all the martial arts that have appeared previously, including kaze-do, muzi-do, and kobo ichi-kai jiujitsu. I hope those of you who are already naysaying this book take the time to give it a look when it hits the shelves. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Way of the Monk
Could we have gotten more requests for this book? I think probably yes, but only if there was a telethon that involved the entire Indian subcontinent. Seriously, people have asked repeatedly for this book, and now they're getting it. It will be patterned roughly after the Secrets series, with sects instead of families. The Brotherhood of Shinsei, the Seven Fortunes Monks, and other such groups will be examined, detailing what influence they hold in Rokugan, where their key holdings are, what their customs and particular beliefs are... the whole nine yards. And yes, there will be information on Shinsei, Enlightenment, the Elemental Acolytes, the Master of Five... all that good stuff. Just typing all this makes me want to run out and get one of those Shinsei 3:16 shirts John Wick used to wear. But I won't.
Way of the Daimyo
What's that, you say? You don't want to run a campaign for soldiers and magistrates? You're looking for something more... challenging? This book is for you. Folks on this list have been clamoring for something like this for years, and it's high time we answered. This book will have everything you need to run in-depth, high-profile court sessions among the powerful and elite of Rokugan. This will let you lead your own armies, govern your own provinces, oversee your own cities, and command your own courts. Break out your old Rank 5 characters for something new. And leave that tetsubo at home. It won't help you where you're going.
Way of the Yakuza
The title of this book has changed several times. I would tell you what the current working title is, but this one is so far from release that I'd feel like a moron if it changed a few more times between now and then. So let's just pretend it's still called Way of the Yakuza. This book is meant to delve into the criminal enterprises in Rokugan. Not the clans who are doing something naughty to fulfill their duty. Not a conspiracy who wants to overthrow the children of heaven. This is about the folks who are in it for the money. The bank. The coin. Bling bling. You get my meaning. Smugglers, opium cartels, bandit groups... the works. And, by nature of contrast, this book will serve as a 'how to run a magistrate campaign' for all of you who may be looking for new ideas and inspiration for the sacred magistrate game that we all know and love from our first days with the game. Nothing supernatural in this book, folks. It's all about knives, backs, and blood money.
And that's it from me for now. More later!
Shawn Carman
L5R Story Team
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