RPG Name: Legend of the Five Rings Role
Description: Legend of the Five Rings Role RPG -Playing Game Alderac Entertainment Group Asian-themed RPG
What are your reviews for this category of role-playing game? Would Legend of the Five Rings Role play by post work well? Do you think you can play this easily for a first time get together or are the rules too intense?
Played As: Legend of the Five Rings Role PBP RPG? or
I've played the AEG and D20 versions of this game. They both have their merits. The AEG version is deadly, but as they said in the 1st edition rules, when you carry a three foot long razor, also called a katana, and fight with them, chances are the fights will be deadly. I prefer the D20, Oriental Adventures/Rokugan Campaign Setting version. It's 3E/3.5E stuff and it's great, in my humble opinion.
Some of the key points is that this provides quite a Japanese flavor, with a hint of China and India. Alignment isn't as important as honor. This is something one tracks, and it influences your ability to maintain your class. Regarding classes, they add quite a few. Samurai, Ninja, Shugenja, and Courtier are a few of these new classes. They also add quite a few Prestige Classes. And then there are supplements regarding the various families in power and fleshing out the new classes.
The story itself is very in depth, well thought out, and has 1000 years of timeline. A GM can pick anywhere in that timeline to drop some characters. Again, this is a great game.