Legend of the Five Rings 5th Edition Review

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 · 65 ratings  · 10 reviews

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Oct 14, 2019 Travis rated it it was astonishing

Information technology took this long for L5R to circle back effectually to the quality of the starting time couple of editions, and 5E has not only met the level of excellence of creator John Wick'southward early on work, it may have actually exceeded it. This reboot reads beautifully and evocatively, plunging the reader into the Japanese fantasy globe of Rokugan and dumping a couple of hundred story and character hooks on them for good measure.

The rules, despite succumbing to FFG's fetish for custom dice, are make clean, versatile, and off-white

It took this long for L5R to circle back effectually to the quality of the outset couple of editions, and 5E has not just met the level of excellence of creator John Wick's early work, it may have actually exceeded it. This reboot reads beautifully and evocatively, plunging the reader into the Japanese fantasy world of Rokugan and dumping a couple of hundred story and graphic symbol hooks on them for skilful measure.

The rules, despite succumbing to FFG's fetish for custom dice, are clean, versatile, and fairly intuitive, and the grapheme options are many, varied, and circuitous (one of the failings of 1st and 2nd ed was a relative famine of available graphic symbol types).

Perchance most important for an sometime apostle like me, the meta-narrative's timeline has been reset back to around 1st ed, meaning all the accrued detritus of decades of coups, approved campaign play, CCG fallout, plots, dynastic struggles and what have you has been swept away. For a proficient decade at present L5R has been almost-impenetrable for new fans and while the old guard may bitch, resetting the table was absolutely necessary to keep the game viable in the marketplace. Grab the main book, track down a copy of old 1st edition City of Lies box set, and go have some fun.

...more than

May 29, 2021 Diz rated it liked it

For samurai themed roleplaying, this is the near well-known game. In this latest edition, the Genesys system is used. For those who are unfamiliar with the system, it is the same system that is used in the latest version of the Star Wars RPG. The thing that I like about this game is character creation, which is based on a series of 20 questions. It's an approach that creates well-fleshed out characters and which makes players think almost the backstory of their character while making information technology.

All the same,

For samurai themed roleplaying, this is the most well-known game. In this latest edition, the Genesys system is used. For those who are unfamiliar with the system, it is the same arrangement that is used in the latest version of the Star Wars RPG. The thing that I like nearly this game is character creation, which is based on a series of 20 questions. It'south an approach that creates well-fleshed out characters and which makes players think well-nigh the backstory of their grapheme while making it.

Nevertheless, this is a organisation that has too many rules to do besides many things. For case, there is a whole section on holding duels. To be honest, duels don't need a separate fix of rules, just utilise the regular combat rules. Also, there are a lot of abilities and options that are a chip as well specific. In club for this to work, GMs would have to program their campaigns specifically around the abilities that the players have (which is something that is unfortunately a bit rare unless y'all take an amazing GM). Otherwise, gainsay characters will get a lot of action, but characters with other skills won't.

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December 02, 2018 Taddow rated it liked it

As of the time of this review I have not played any edition of the Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) part-playing game (though I have played the pre-Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) version of the menu game a few times, so I am a little familiar with the setting). As a previous player and Dungeon Chief of Dungeons & Dragons 1st Ed. Oriental Adventures, I have been on the wait-out for a game system and setting that would give what I was looking for in Oriental Adventures, merely with more thematic opportuni As of the fourth dimension of this review I have non played whatsoever edition of the Legend of the 5 Rings (L5R) office-playing game (though I have played the pre-Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) version of the card game a few times, and so I am a lilliputian familiar with the setting). As a previous player and Dungeon Main of Dungeons & Dragons 1st Ed. Oriental Adventures, I have been on the expect-out for a game arrangement and setting that would give what I was looking for in Oriental Adventures, only with more thematic opportunity, hence my interest in L5R. Initially I was looking at the 4th Ed. of this game, simply with FFG owning the license, and coming out with a 5th Ed., I naturally gravitated to this 1 since information technology has been recently released. I was a fiddling hesitant on FFG making this game considering, while I admittedly love and enjoy what they did with their Warhammer 40,000 rpg, Night Heresy, I did not enjoy their Star Wars rpg.

In that location is a lot of rules crunch to this version with a lot of charts for reference. The system is flexible making it great for players that want a narrative experience, but open to abuse by players who want to work the system to justify ever getting big dice pools to roll. Without getting into the mechanics and details of the book for this edition too much in this review, I'g going to direct you to the review by Strange Assembly (https://www.strangeassembly.com/2018/...) which illustrates a lot of the pros and cons of the system.

Despite some of my apprehensions with the game mechanics, I believe that L5R has a rich setting and the potential to be a fun and unique feel for players looking for a magically feudal Japan-fashion setting (with some inspiration from Chinese and Korean civilization), and I promise to run a campaign in the future.

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Nov 09, 2019 Paul rated it really liked it

I enjoyed the fine art and the concepts, merely the system is a large question marker. Maybe I'd prefer to gear up a campaign in Rokugan and use dissimilar rules. That'south my humble stance. I enjoyed the art and the concepts, but the system is a big question mark. Mayhap I'd prefer to set upward a campaign in Rokugan and apply different rules. That's my humble opinion. ...more

Nov 28, 2020 Jeremy Blum rated information technology actually liked it

This is a beautiful book full of exquisite illustrations of Rokugan, the fantasy version of Japan that Legend of the Five Rings is prepare in. Yous'll have to become it if yous desire to play fifth edition L5R, but be aware that the Beginner'south Box is a better introduction to the game, for the cadre rulebook is laid out in a strange mode that will take you flipping all over the place just to design one character.

The cadre rules also seem rushed in places and could do good from some tweaking and streamlining,

This is a beautiful book full of exquisite illustrations of Rokugan, the fantasy version of Japan that Fable of the V Rings is set in. You'll have to get it if you desire to play 5th edition L5R, but exist enlightened that the Beginner'south Box is a better introduction to the game, for the cadre rulebook is laid out in a foreign manner that will have you lot flipping all over the place just to blueprint one character.

The core rules likewise seem rushed in places and could benefit from some tweaking and streamlining, since a lot of stuff is fluff masquerading as crunch - ie, the anxieties/passions system, where a graphic symbol can be agape of various things or passionate about stuff but the mechanics backside rolls are exactly the aforementioned for everything.

More context on the lore and legends of Rokugan (they want you to purchase another supplement, Emerald Empires, for this) as well as guidelines for portraying a culture heavily steeped in real-globe Japanese history would as well have been appreciated. Later playing through a scattering of L5R adventures I quickly learned that Rokugan is a setting that frequently teeters on the edge of falling into an abyss of cultural insensitivity, mostly because it's an Asian earth designed past well-meaning white folks who however are dealing with a game that had its original editions rooted in heavy orientalist ideas. fifth edition excises many of these, merely L5R is withal an feel flirting with stereotypes well-nigh Japanese people, with award, accolade and more honor popping up at every turn.

Players who manage to find a good, sensitive group (and ditch the honor mechanics) tin find much to enjoy here, though, so I'grand giving this 3.five out of 5 stars - rounded upwardly to 4.

Finally, best clans are Crab Clan and Mantis - who should have been included in the primary volume simply were instead delegated to DLC on the Fantasy Flight website!

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Feb 02, 2019 Garrett Henke rated it it was amazing

Wow - This is a pleasant surprise. I've been a fan of L5R since 1st Edition in 1997. A college student, I drove all around Texas running this game at various conventions and preaching its various glories. That being said, I wasn't a fan of second or 3rd Edition. quaternary seemed to bring information technology all dorsum and I believed I finally had the perfect rule set for this beautiful game. Then Fantasy Flight Games got the L5R IP...

I have not been a fan of FFG'southward RPG systems. I discover their Star Wars system to exist lackluster

Wow - This is a pleasant surprise. I've been a fan of L5R since 1st Edition in 1997. A college pupil, I drove all around Texas running this game at various conventions and preaching its diverse glories. That existence said, I wasn't a fan of 2nd or 3rd Edition. 4th seemed to bring it all back and I believed I finally had the perfect rule gear up for this beautiful game. So Fantasy Flight Games got the L5R IP...

I accept non been a fan of FFG's RPG systems. I observe their Star Wars system to exist lackluster at all-time. Their Warhammer 40k books were an absolute mess. I honey their miniature and board games, but skilful RPGs seem to escape them. As a effect, I was highly wary of this new completely reworked edition of L5R. Still, I bought it thinking that even if I hated it, I could just go back to 4th Edition.

Only I don't hate it. This is an absolutely incredible game. It takes everything amazing almost L5R and builds the systems around it instead of vice versa. Each subsystem intertwines and works beautifully. From gainsay to ladylike intrigue, everything is scenic. They even managed to keep the essence of the Roll and Proceed system while fixing the attributes being manner more than important than skills which has traditionally plagued L5R. This is a monumental gaming accomplishment. Impressive work FFG...impressive work.

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Jan 28, 2020 Mike Cook rated it it was amazing

An first-class new edition of the RPG that'due south almost hard to pay attention to with all of the cute illustrations throughout. Not but a very entertaining book, but a existent looker on the shelf.

What an extraordinary upgrade from the previous books.

This is a great sourcebook. Both in the aesthetic as in the content. It's corking that they managed to remove all the westernism and orientalism that had plagued previous editions, with some breathtaking panoramas and landscapes.

The rules are explained with great particular and ordered quite in a manner that makes them very piece of cake to sympathize, forth with a presentation that makes them attractive to the middle. The options are expansive for any blazon o

What an extraordinary upgrade from the previous books.

This is a great sourcebook. Both in the aesthetic as in the content. It'due south great that they managed to remove all the westernism and orientalism that had plagued previous editions, with some breathtaking panoramas and landscapes.

The rules are explained with great detail and ordered quite in a manner that makes them very easy to understand, along with a presentation that makes them attractive to the eye. The options are expansive for whatever type of (basic) play i would want for Rokugan and honestly, one of my favorites sourcebooks so far. Loved that the showtime story, the introduction of the setting, is a quiet scene of the drama that can occur between Honor and Ninjo.

My only criticism is that in the last section, that of NPC, it simply gives mechanics for the antagonist without detailing actual characters, with no history or presentation of the drama of desires and duties. Also that, its I call up the best corebook on the unabridged line by far.

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Una edición de lujo para esta ambientación que tanto adoro desde que la conocí. Tanto el libro a nivel maquetación, traducción como de contenido es sobresaliente.
Probablemente la mejor edición a nivel de sistema y un libro básico totalmente agnóstico al trasfondo de manera que lo puedes usar en la época que mejor te interese (ya hay otros libros que se encargan específicamente del trasfondo del Imperio Esmeralda en inglés y pronto sale en español)

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