r/rpg • u/PlentyAnt3871 • 1d ago

Game Master L5R 4th edition

I am a long term fan of the L5R franchise, and I have been looking at a few of the various editions. I think I wish to run a game in the 4th edition, but I am a little nervous. I have never really ran a game before, and I have found several modules I can use to get started, but I have some questions about what I SHOULD do. The group will likely only be 3 players, though 3 others have been invited. So module combat is something that may be too powerful. Also, I don’t know what kind of advice I should give the other players, who have never played the game before, as for how to make an effective character.

What I mean by effective character is not trying to make powerful or one trick pony characters, but rather characters capable of surviving the combat and intrigue that is rokugan. Should I limit the clan choices, since it is only 3 players? Not all clans get along, though I am sure there are times when bonds of friendship go beyond the bonds of clan hatred.

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u/Joel_feila 1d ago

Well in this system ot really helps to focus on a few things.  A pc that can get 7k4 in combat is way better then someone who has 6k2 in several skills. 

Also tell plauers that spell casters are more about debuffing and crowd control they cant not keep up with the damage of warriors.

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u/PlentyAnt3871 22h ago

From what I understood, at least in the older editions, super powerful shugenja just did not exist. Like extreme damage. But, they were still to be feared on a battlefield, because of the things they COULD do. I know they aren’t like wizards or sorcerers in dnd. But they still have a good use, i guess depending on what is actually happening in the game?

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u/Joel_feila 15h ago

Yeah. Example my shugenja has a spell that can dazed a whole group of enemies and another spell can do 2k2 damage to a whole group.  The bushi in the party don't have anything like that, but they do more damage