- Location
- Australia
[X] The Phoenix Clan
Empire of the Emerald Stars (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Thread starter Maugan Ra
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Still runs into the basic issue where, if you start with a single, awesome province, then adding a little nowhere podunk drek province actually makes you significantly less capable. Given our starting status as the Phoenix, this is potentially quite pertinent.
- Location
- United States
There should be some influence to having a huge population in the quantity of your top tier.
maybe this:
# heroes = Highest stat + # provinces at or above average stat - 3
~ every 2 territories after the first gives an extra hero. start with max stat -2 heros
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Sirrocco
Pedantic
My suggestion actually covered that. One of the options suggested that if you get a province up to a certain point, and it can support a hero. Below that point, it can't. It also avoids any weird shenanigans where bumping up the average can actually hurt you.
Beyond that, though, I'm not convinced that a large population *should* give out a whole bunch of heroes. It kind of depends on what heroes do (aside from adding a few situational bonuses), and what their overhead cost is. We specifically *don't* want to make this an unmaintainable nightmare for our QM.
- Location
- United States
there should probably be a max on the number of heroes, but it makes 100% sense that more pop = more exceptional people. maybe not right away, but definitely a generation or two down the line.
fair
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Sort of?
- This game probably isn't going to be entirely simulationist. This is Rokugan, where, bare minimum, things like Fate have a real impact, and the Kami are real things that exist.
- Even if simulationist, "More population to draw from means better people" can be expressed as 'more elites" (increased hero numbers) or "better elites" (the heroes you have get more/better bonuses to apply)
- Arguably, the more spread-out you are, the more you need your potential elites keeping the system running. Management overhead is a thing.
- This is not population. It's Samurai. Does adding additional colonies get you additional Samurai, or does it mean you have to spread out your family more because you need to have representatives of the Divine Blood around to keep the heimen under control? Can your familial breeding program keep up?
I'm just saying that it could reasonably go either way... and part of it depends on @Maugan Ra's preference on how the game should go. Should the Lion/Mantis/Unicorn have way more heroes to choose from than we do? If no, it should be based entirely on the Family Seats. If yes, then individual provinces should be able to contribute to a degree.
- Location
- Australia
THE SPICE MUST FLOW.
The Scorpion probably do trade in Spice
But it is a pretty standard 'don't disrupt the stability of the Empire' clause, really.
- Location
- Leeds
A sentiment we can all get behind.
I'm so glad that we're the Phoenix. Although this does add a point to Siroccos argument, what happens if we don't have a high enough Family Void to have all the members of the Elemental Masters as charectars?
- Location
- Quezon City, Philippines
I'm getting flashbacks to the Sci-Fi Channel mini-seres. I'm also getting images of Unicorn Bushi riding sandworms.
I will now present the standard political situation for the Phoenix, for the pat 3000 years.
Isawa: I'm going to magic the thing
Shiba: The thing is unpredictable and this will end poorly
Isawa: Fuck you I'm magic, bitch
Asako: You know you should really listen to the Shiba
Shiba/Isawa: Shut up Asako
Asako: Fine then, I'll go back to my books
Isawa: You do that you magicless nerd...wait what's that sound?
*Inevitable magic backfiring*
Isawa: Sooooo someone, definitely not us, made everything terrible, please fix.
Shiba: *Sigh* As you wish
Agasha: Can I come out of my hole now?
Everyone else: NO!
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] The Phoenix Clan
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Too late but you won anyways.
Night
Widow Null
- Location
- Hoff
To everyone else, a Shiba yojimbo is the best bodyguard that you can have.
To an Isawa, they're a terrible curse because they object to meddling in things Man Was Not Meant To Tamper With.
Choose your Champion
- Location
- London, England
The Phoenix are an old and noble Clan, one tied into the very fabric of Rokugan's society in a way that few others can match. Akodo might have defined bushido, and the Lady Doji helped lay the foundations upon which all of samurai society might be built, but it was Shiba who transcribed the Tao. Where once there were a multitude of conflicting faiths, Shiba wove together a common creed that all could accept, and in so doing bound together not just the samurai, but all the men and women of Rokugan.
When the Kami first descended from heaven to the mortal realm, most saw only land to rule and subjects to command. They carved for themselves an Empire and set about elevating their chosen servants to positions of authority, creating an aristocracy of warriors bound in service to them and their children. Shiba, however, was different. He saw the worth and quality in even the humblest of mortal souls, and so when the time came for him to establish his own Clan and take his place in his brother's empire, he chose a different path. He went before Isawa, first and mightiest among the mages of the varied tribes nominally aligned to his banner, and he knelt. With word and deed he pledged to always protect the tribe of Isawa from their enemies, and in return he asked only that the tribe accept membership in the great Empire that his siblings sought to build.
Stunned by the sight of a god upon his knees, Isawa accepted, and in so doing set the course of the Phoenix Clan for the next three thousand years. In every generation, the five wisest and most powerful Shugenja of the Isawa family are elected to the position of Elemental Master, and between them they determine the current and future policy of the Clan. These decisions are then passed to the head of the Shiba family, the Clan Champion of the Phoenix, to enact as best they may. It is a profoundly unusual system of governance and one that the other Clans have never fully understood, but it is one that the Phoenix have maintained for over three thousand years.
Nor is that the only way in which the leadership of the Phoenix Clan differs from the norm, for unlike every other Clan in Rokugan, the current Clan Champion only rarely finds themselves bound by blood to the previous one. Instead, the Champion is chosen by the Soul of Shiba - the collective wisdom of every Champion in the history of the Clan, going all the way back to the Kami himself, which makes itself known to the samurai best suited to lead the Phoenix in any given generation. This occasionally leads to some very strange promotions, such as when a castle guard is promoted to a position of authority over millions of older and more experienced samurai, but the Soul has never yet failed to choose the best leader for the challenges currently facing the Clan.
Three weeks ago, the previous Champion Shiba Daisuke fell in battle against the samurai of the Unicorn Clan. Two weeks ago, the Soul of Shiba selected you to be his replacement. One week ago, the Elemental Masters tracked you down and confirmed your appointment. And today... today you take up the reigns of power for the first time.
All the eyes of the Empire are upon you. What do they see?
In Rokugan, there is no real difference between men and women save for those biology imposes. Both genders may serve as warriors, diplomats or figures of authority, and aside from the oft-tangled and complicated matters surrounding childbirth and inheritance society sees little difference between the two.
Article: Are you Male or Female?
[ ] Male
[ ] Female
While the name of your family and the deeds of your ancestors are by far the most important things about you, there is little denying the individual nature of one's own honour and glory. Having come of age, samurai are generally allowed to choose the name by which they will be known for the entirety of their adult life. Some choose to take the names of past heroes, others aim for something symbolic or thematically appropriate, and more than a few simply pick something that sounds good when spoken aloud.
Article: What is your personal name?
[ ] Write in
The Soul of Shiba is not a particularly discriminating influence, and as far as anyone has been able to tell the only common factor in its previous selections for the position of Champion is that they have all been bushi of the Shiba family. The Phoenix are the smallest of the Great Clans by far, but even so this criteria encompasses tens of millions of samurai spread across a great many worlds, and such a population can give rise to a tremendous amount of variety.
Article: How have you served your Clan to date?
[ ] The Order of Chikai. As a yojimbo to one of the Elemental Masters themselves, you enjoy a unique insight into how the Phoenix Clan is run. The Masters know and trust you, as do a great many of those who have dealt with them over the years. On the other hand, you are trained as a bodyguard, not an administrator or general.
[ ] The daimyo. Prior to your appointment you already served the Clan as a minor lord, in charge of the administration and defense of one of your Clan's provinces. Your new duties are greater in magnitude, perhaps, but they are familiar all the same, and your Clan will likely benefit from your steady hand at the helm. Of course, your perspective before this point has always been somewhat limited...
[ ] The Elemental Legions. The Phoenix do not often go to war, but when the need is great they hold at their disposal some of the mightiest Legions in all the Empire. You commanded one of these Legions, and as such you have an impeccable understanding of military tactics and the respect of many of the Empire's more martial Clans. The craft of peace, however, is not one that is overly familiar to you...
[ ] The Courtier. Although you were initially sent to court as a bodyguard for one of your Clan's true diplomats, you managed to distinguish yourself and were rewarded with independent assignments of increasing complexity. You have met just about every major daimyo and courtier in the Empire at one time or another, and many of them have a positive impression of you as a result. That said, your understanding of domestic issues might be somewhat lacking...
[ ] Write in.
Of course, name and duty cannot tell you everything about a samurai, not even one as dutiful and accomplished as you. There are always more details to find on the canvas of one's life, and given your new position you suspect your life will soon come under more scrutiny than most.
Article: Choose up to two of the following:
[ ] Blessing of the Seven Fortunes. Something about you has drawn the attention and subsequent approval of one of the mightiest of all the fortunes, and they have showered you with their blessings.
- [ ] Write in which Fortune (optional)
[ ] Hero of the People. You are beloved by the lower classes, and find all of your dealings with them to be much easier and more productive. As a Champion you might only rarely find this coming into effect, but the worth of even the humblest soul should never be discarded outright.
[ ] Heart of Vengeance. Your heart burns with enmity towards one Clan in particular, and you cannot rest until you see justice done for the ways in which they have harmed you. You know their strengths and weaknesses like few others can, and will likely find welcome allies among their foes.
[ ] Write in which Clan
[ ] Imperial bonds. You are directly related to the Emperor himself, and he has been known to call upon your counsel from time to time. This gives you a potentially staggering amount of influence and the direct protection of the Son of Heaven, but you must exercise care when calling upon either, for the favour of the Hantei is swiftly withdrawn if abused.
[ ] Paragon of Bushido. Compassion. Courage. Courtesy. Duty. Honesty. Honour. Sincerity. To you, these are not merely words, but the pillars around which you have built your life. Such strength of character will serve you well in the days to come, and draws approval from many quarters of the Empire.
[ ] Prophet. You have dreams sometimes, strange and frightful dreams. In them you see the clues to the future, small glimpses of your own destiny and that of others. While interpreting such things in time to be of use is never certain, you have never known your dreams to be wrong in the past.
This is a heavy burden you must bear, and there will be many challenges ahead, not least of which is negotiating an end to your current conflict with the Unicorn Clan. At times you begin to doubt whether you are capable of such leadership as your Clan deserves... but each time you waver, the comforting glow of the Soul of Shiba is there to reassure and support you. It would not have chosen you if you could not rise to the challenge. Now it is up to you to prove it.
May the Fortunes smile upon you, samurai, and may you make your ancestors proud.
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Nix's Warden
Welcome to Hades
- Location
- United States
Well I suck at L5R Chat Gen, so I'll see what other people come up with, but I have hope it will be something entertaining.
- Location
- his hidden lair
Alright, I really want to be an Elemental Legionnaire, because not only does it align with our goals of expanding the clan territory it allows for some awesome character development in regards to a professional soldier being expected to rule a nation of pacifists.
Plus, considering the Soul of Shiba determines the best leader for the clan, it's entirely possible our choice here will help determine what challenges we face in the days to come- and a Pheonix Clan that knows the Soul of Shiba chose a militaristic badass as their champion is probably going to be less pacifistic than usual.
That and Unicorn just kicked our shit in so the various Great Clans might sense blood in the water. It's a really weird character build for a Phoenix bu that only makes it more interesting and unique for me. We'd be the kind of guy who demonstrates for all that the Phoenix hold themselves somewhat apart, they aren't to be trifled with.
[X] Plan: From the Ashes, Fiery Vengeance.
[X] Male
[X] Hiraku
[X] The Elemental Legions. The Phoenix do not often go to war, but when the need is great they hold at their disposal some of the mightiest Legions in all the Empire. You commanded one of these Legions, and as such you have an impeccable understanding of military tactics and the respect of many of the Empire's more martial Clans. The craft of peace, however, is not one that is overly familiar to you...
[X] Hero of the People. You are beloved by the lower classes, and find all of your dealings with them to be much easier and more productive. As a Champion you might only rarely find this coming into effect, but the worth of even the humblest soul should never be discarded outright.
[X] Blessing of the Seven Fortunes. Something about you has drawn the attention and subsequent approval of one of the mightiest of all the fortunes, and they have showered you with their blessings.
- [X] Bishamon
Plus, considering the Soul of Shiba determines the best leader for the clan, it's entirely possible our choice here will help determine what challenges we face in the days to come- and a Pheonix Clan that knows the Soul of Shiba chose a militaristic badass as their champion is probably going to be less pacifistic than usual.
That and Unicorn just kicked our shit in so the various Great Clans might sense blood in the water. It's a really weird character build for a Phoenix bu that only makes it more interesting and unique for me. We'd be the kind of guy who demonstrates for all that the Phoenix hold themselves somewhat apart, they aren't to be trifled with.
[X] Plan: From the Ashes, Fiery Vengeance.
[X] Male
[X] Hiraku
[X] The Elemental Legions. The Phoenix do not often go to war, but when the need is great they hold at their disposal some of the mightiest Legions in all the Empire. You commanded one of these Legions, and as such you have an impeccable understanding of military tactics and the respect of many of the Empire's more martial Clans. The craft of peace, however, is not one that is overly familiar to you...
[X] Hero of the People. You are beloved by the lower classes, and find all of your dealings with them to be much easier and more productive. As a Champion you might only rarely find this coming into effect, but the worth of even the humblest soul should never be discarded outright.
[X] Blessing of the Seven Fortunes. Something about you has drawn the attention and subsequent approval of one of the mightiest of all the fortunes, and they have showered you with their blessings.
- [X] Bishamon
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Nix's Warden
Welcome to Hades
- Location
- United States
Huh.....I like that idea. We are going to have to expand militarily, so Karugus's build is great for that, but it doesn't really give us an advantage when it comes to forging alliances or setting up deals.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Okay. For those who didnt' catch it, this is a major shaping choice. In addition to how it will shape our abilities, it will also shape the years of our rule. The Soul of Shiba picks whoever is best for the coming time. By extension, the coming time will be whatever we are best for.
[x] Plan: First, look within
[x] Female
[x] Diamyo
[x] Paragon of Bushido
[x] Prophet
Diamyo is a pick for peace. It means continuing to forego expansion (the Diamyo is good at defense, but not at attack) while building up the productivity of our existing lands. We are as likely to pick up provinces by trading for them as we are to take them in war. Paragon of Bushido has benefits in the courts (where respect is due to the truly honorable), in keeping the Isawa from getting all corrupted again, and possibly in facing a more general corruption threat - from the Nothing, from Jikogu, or wherever. This is a vote for a game that involved looking after our own house for a time. Prophet seals the deal on Dark Things Coming.
I don't see why we have to expand our territory. Why must we do this thing?
[x] Plan: First, look within
[x] Female
[x] Diamyo
[x] Paragon of Bushido
[x] Prophet
Diamyo is a pick for peace. It means continuing to forego expansion (the Diamyo is good at defense, but not at attack) while building up the productivity of our existing lands. We are as likely to pick up provinces by trading for them as we are to take them in war. Paragon of Bushido has benefits in the courts (where respect is due to the truly honorable), in keeping the Isawa from getting all corrupted again, and possibly in facing a more general corruption threat - from the Nothing, from Jikogu, or wherever. This is a vote for a game that involved looking after our own house for a time. Prophet seals the deal on Dark Things Coming.
I don't see why we have to expand our territory. Why must we do this thing?
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- Location
- his hidden lair
Crab, Lion, basically anyone somewhat martial is going to respect and get along with my plan. It's great if we want to buddy up with the Crab or use the Lion as military allies.
As Sirroco said- this shapes what kind of game we play, and my plan is all around a coming conflict, and the Phoenix proving their martial worth in the days to come. I want to be the 'pacifists' who absolutely, and undeniably push the shit in out of everyone who fucks with them. And we're still reeling from/possibly at war with the Unicorn, so a militaristic start certainly has its merits right from the get go.
Hero of the people is a way to have Hiraku, for all his militarism, be a pretty decent person who wants what's fundamentally best for the clan despite having major differences in opinion over what's best for the Phoenix.
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I flat-out don't think the Sould would choose someone like that, though. I like Imperial Ties because we can use measured pressure to negate the blood in the water risks.
Nix's Warden
Welcome to Hades
- Location
- United States
[X] Plan: From the Ashes, Fiery Vengeance.
[X] Male
[X] Hiraku
[X] The Elemental Legions. The Phoenix do not often go to war, but when the need is great they hold at their disposal some of the mightiest Legions in all the Empire. You commanded one of these Legions, and as such you have an impeccable understanding of military tactics and the respect of many of the Empire's more martial Clans. The craft of peace, however, is not one that is overly familiar to you...
[X] Hero of the People. You are beloved by the lower classes, and find all of your dealings with them to be much easier and more productive. As a Champion you might only rarely find this coming into effect, but the worth of even the humblest soul should never be discarded outright.
[X] Blessing of the Seven Fortunes. Something about you has drawn the attention and subsequent approval of one of the mightiest of all the fortunes, and they have showered you with their blessings.
- [X] Bishamon
Eh I'm good with this then. But yeah we definitely want to ally with the Crab or Lion ASAP. We are going to need the bodies.
[X] Male
[X] Hiraku
[X] The Elemental Legions. The Phoenix do not often go to war, but when the need is great they hold at their disposal some of the mightiest Legions in all the Empire. You commanded one of these Legions, and as such you have an impeccable understanding of military tactics and the respect of many of the Empire's more martial Clans. The craft of peace, however, is not one that is overly familiar to you...
[X] Hero of the People. You are beloved by the lower classes, and find all of your dealings with them to be much easier and more productive. As a Champion you might only rarely find this coming into effect, but the worth of even the humblest soul should never be discarded outright.
[X] Blessing of the Seven Fortunes. Something about you has drawn the attention and subsequent approval of one of the mightiest of all the fortunes, and they have showered you with their blessings.
- [X] Bishamon
Eh I'm good with this then. But yeah we definitely want to ally with the Crab or Lion ASAP. We are going to need the bodies.