Heroes of Rokugan
A Legend of the Five Rings Campaign
Final Version 1.7, October 2009
Rules of the Campaign
All Heroes must conform to the most recently printed
Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) rules, as amended
here. Characters are limited to those rules published
in the Revised 3rd Edition L5R rulebook, the Four
Winds handbook, the Art of the Duel book, the
Masters of War, Masters of Court, and Masters of
Magic books, the Fealty and Freedom book, the
Vacant Throne book, and the Prayers & Treasures
book. Content from the eight Secrets of the Clans
books is also used except where it has been revised
in later books or on the Alderac website. The first
four AEG web updates to older rules (which are
available on both the Alderac website and the
Heroes of Rokugan website) are likewise used in
those cases where they have not been superceded
by later published books. Some rules from the
Emerald Empire book are used, as outlined below.
Check the Heroes of Rokugan web-page
(www.heroes-of-rokugan.com) for the latest details,
house rules, and updates.
You are responsible for bringing to the table
any of the sourcebooks (other than the main
rulebook) needed to run your Hero.
Character Creation
All characters must be humans and samurai of the
Emerald Empire (no gaijin, Brotherhood of Shinsei
monks, peasants, Naga, or ratlings). Kolat
characters are also forbidden. Exceptions to these
restrictions are allowed only when authorized by a
Certificate of Honor (a “cert”).
Choose a Clan
You may choose to play a character from any of the
eight Great Clans: Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion,
Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, or Unicorn. You may
also choose to be from one of the active Minor Clans
(the Badger, Fox, Hare, Monkey, Ox, Sparrow, Tiger,
and Tortoise).
Please note that the Minor Clan of the Dragonfly no
longer exists (it has been absorbed into the Dragon
Clan), nor does the so-called Spider Clan. Also note
that in Heroes of Rokugan the Oriole Clan has been
disbanded and is once again merely the ronin Tsi
family. The Minor Clan of the Tiger is exclusive to
the Heroes of Rokugan campaign, and details on it
can be found on the House Rules page of the
campaign website.
You may also opt to forego a Clan and belong to one
of the three Imperial families (Seppun, Otomo, or
Miya).
Finally, you can choose to a Ronin, a masterless
samurai, although this will make your career much
less pleasant. Ronin characters automatically get
the disadvantage Social Disadvantage: Ronin for no
points.
Character Creation Guidelines
Choose a Family
Heroes may choose to belong to any of the major
families and vassal families from their Clan.
Belonging to a family awards a +1 bonus to a
particular Trait, as defined in the L5R rules. The
following campaign-specific restrictions and
exceptions apply:
Dragon: the Dragonfly Clan has been
absorbed into the Dragon Clan, and the Tonbo are
now a Dragon Clan family name.
Lion: the Kaeru ronin family are now a vassal
family of the Ikoma (Lion Clan). More information on
the Kaeru may be found in the House Rules.
Mantis: the Komori family (Bat Clan) are now
a vassal family of the Yoritomo (Mantis Clan), and the
Komori Shugenja School is now a Mantis school.
Minor Clans: the Yotsu (formerly ronin) are
now the family name of the Tiger Clan. More
information on the Tiger Clan may be found in the
House Rules.
Heroes who belong to a Minor Clan may
choose whether or not to take their Clan’s family
name.
A ronin PC may choose to take the ronin family
names Maeda (+1 Perception) or Tsume (+1 Agility).
More information on these families may be found in
the House Rules. The Tsi family name is not
normally available to player characters (except when
given special permission from the Campaign Admin),
and the Yotsu and Kaeru families are now parts of
Clans.
A ronin PC who chooses to go without a family
name gains 8 Character Points.
Choose a School
All schools published in the Rules of the Campaign
are legal, except as noted below.
A starting Clan Hero may choose to attend any
of the schools from his Clan. Note that your
family does not necessarily dictate your destiny; you
can, for instance, be a bushi who was born in the
Isawa family. However, characters almost always
attend a school within their own Clan. In order to
attend a school from another Clan, a Hero must take
the Different School advantage. (SPECIAL CASE:
Due to a recent treaty, the Scorpion and Mantis may
take Different School with each other for one less
Character Point).
Imperial PCs may attend the schools of their
own family for free, but must take Different School in
order to attend another family’s school or a Clan
school.
Clan PCs who wish to attend an Imperial
School must take both the Social Position and the
Different School advantages.
Ronin PCs are normally restricted to taking one
of the Ronin schools. (A Clan ronin starts with the
basic techniques of his Clan school but then must
switch to a ronin school for future advancement.) If
they choose not to take a school at all, they gain an
extra 15 Character Points.
Any Clan or Imperial PC may choose to start
with a ronin school. This represents a character
who chooses a self-taught path or who follows a
minor dojo rather than conventional Clan teachings.
Also, see “Multiple Schools” under “Advantages,”
below, for more options regarding ronin schools.
Prohibited Schools
The following schools are prohibited for player-
character Heroes: Bayushi Saboteur, Daidoji
Harrier, Damned Berserker, Goju Ninja, Heichi
Bushi, Kaiu Engineer (paths of Anvil and Steel), Ki-
Rin Moto Nomad, Kitsu Sodan-Senzo, Moto Bushi
(pre-Hidden Emperor), Ninube Ninja, Ronin Master
of Games, Ronin Silken Promises, Shosuro Shinobi,
Tsi Blacksmith, and Toturi Bushi.
Obviously, all Shadowlands schools and
Spider Clan Schools, and any and all other Schools
which are nonhuman in nature, are prohibited.
Modified School: Characters who are in the
Agasha Shugenja school may create Agasha
potions (no other characters may do so). Potions
are created at the start of each adventure and must
be used by the end of the adventure or they are lost.
A character may create a maximum number of
potions per adventure equal to his Insight Rank +1.
Effects of Schools
Belonging to a school grants your Hero a Trait
bonus, several free Skills, a Rank 1 School
Technique, and an Outfit of basic equipment.
Record this information on your character sheet
under the appropriate sections (Traits, Skills, and
Techniques).
Schools always conform to their most recent
printing in any L5R product. The Tiger bushi school
and the Maeda ronin New Path conform to the rules
published on the House Rules page of the Heroes
of Rokugan website.
Choose a Dojo
Heroes may opt to spend 2 CPs to attend a specific
dojo from their Clan (as listed in Emerald Empire,
the Masters books, or the Secrets books), if they
wish. This grants the Hero one or two minor bonus
abilities. All dojos listed in the Campaign Rules and
the Emerald Empire book are legal choices, except
for dojos which teach prohibited schools.
Shugenja Heroes
Heroes who choose a shugenja school must
choose their starting spells from the selection
available to their school. Each school shows the
number of spell scrolls of each element that are
available to the shugenja. The shugenja may only
select spells from the 3rd Edition rulebook, the Four
Winds book, the Prayers & Treasures book, and
their Clan Secrets book (excluding any spells
prohibited in the House Rules).
Shugenja cannot pick spells which exceed their
current Mastery Level. Spells published in other L5R
books which are not part of the Campaign Rules are
not available, nor are Maho (black magic) spells.
Only Phoenix characters may take the spells listed
on pages 115-118 of Masters of Magic.
Character Points
All characters start with 45 Character Points with
which to customize their characters. True Ronin
characters who choose to forgo a family name gain 5
more CPs, and can gain another 10 CPs by
choosing to start without a school.
You may gain up to 10 additional Character
Points by taking Disadvantages. CPs gained by
lowering your starting Honor count against this total.
You may spend your points any way that you
wish, within the following restrictions: you cannot
raise a Trait by more than 2 Ranks (free Trait boosts
from School and Family do not count against this
limit), or a Skill by more than 2 Ranks (again, free
skills from your School do not count).
Character points may be spent to increase
Skills, to learn new Skills, or to increase Traits or the
Void Ring. The costs for these purchases are listed
in the L5R 3rd Edition Rulebook.
Raising a character's Honor Rank by one costs
3 Character Points. Lowering a character's
Honor Rank by one likewise gains the
character 3 Character Points. The Honor Rank
cannot be raised or lowered by more than one.
The Social Position advantage causes your
character to gain one Rank of Status (see
Status below). You cannot purchase more
than one rank of Social Position.
Kata may be learned according to the standard
costs listed in the L5R Rulebook.
Learning a spell as an Innate Ability costs a
number of points equal to the spell’s Mastery
Level.
Rolls on the Heritage Table are not allowed.
Skill Restrictions
The Instruction skill and the various Craft skills are
forbidden in the Heroes of Rokugan campaign
(except for the Craft: Sailing skill, which is allowed).
The Explosives skill is restricted to PCs from the
Scorpion, Mantis, and Tortoise Clans, and the
Agasha and Tamori families.
Please remember that the standard L5R rules apply
for taking and using Low Skills, e.g. PCs who take
Low Skills will lose a number of Honor points equal
to their Rank in the skill.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages and Disadvantages are limited to those
printed in the official rules of the campaign (as
outlined earlier and updated on the Heroes of
Rokugan web-site). The costs and effects of these
Advantages and Disadvantages conform to their
most recent printing in those books.
Regardless of how an Advantage or
Disadvantage is listed in the L5R rulebook, in the
Heroes of Rokugan campaign no Advantages and
Disadvantages can be acquired after character
generation unless they are specifically awarded by an
adventure or by the Campaign Admin.
Prohibited Advantages
The following Advantages are prohibited to starting
characters in the Heroes of Rokugan campaign:
Allies, Blackmail, Blessing of Blood, Blissful
Betrothal, Blood of Spirits, Blood of Toturi,
Correspondance, Darling of the Court, Ear of the
Emperor, Forbidden Knowledge, Friendly Kami, Fu
Leng's Blessing, Glib Tongue, Great Destiny, Hand of
the Shadowed Tower, Higher Purpose, Inheritance,
Izaku Librarian, Misugusuri Master, Sacred Weapon
(including the special weapons in Art of the Duel),
Sacrosanct, Tamashii, and Viper's Tongue.
Restricted/Modified Advantages
Different School: PCs from the Mantis or Scorpion
Clans may take Different School with each other’s
Clan for 1 less point. Clan PCs who wish to attend
an Imperial school must also purchase Social
Position. Clan/Imperial PCs may start play with a
Ronin school without buying Different School.
Imperial Spouse: The PC gains 5 points (half a
rank) of Status, and adds 3 Koku to the amount in
his/her starting outfit.
Kharmic Tie: PCs may only take Kharmic Ties with
other PCs, and both players must agree to the Tie.
Multiple Schools: Multiple Schools is normally
prohibited (unless specifically awarded by an
adventure or the Campaign Admin). However, any
bushi or courtier PC may take Multiple Schools to
attend one of the Ronin bushi schools. Or, if they
started play attending one of the ronin schools, they
can take Multiple Schools to go into one of their own
Clan schools. Ronin bushi PCs may freely switch
between the Ronin bushi schools without purchasing
the Multiple Schools advantage.
Social Position: Social Position causes the
character to start with an extra rank (10 points) of
Status. Social Position costs 1 less point for Imperial
PCs. No PC may purchase Social Position more
than once.
Prohibited Disadvantages
The following Disadvantages are prohibited to
starting characters in the Heroes of Rokugan
campaign: Bad Fortune, Bitter Betrothal, Black
Sheep, Dark Fate, Forced Retirement, Hostage, and
Nemesis.
Restricted/Modified Disadvantages
Bad Reputation: A PC with Bad Reputation starts
play with one full rank (10 points) of Infamy (see
Glory and Infamy, below).
Social Disadvantage: Each rank (3 points) of Social
Disadvantage reduces a PC’s starting Status by 5
points. Status cannot be reduced below zero. All
ronin PCs get a special no-point “Social
Disadvantage: Ronin” which eliminates all Status for
them.
Sworn Enemy: PCs may normally not start play with
Sworn Enemy. However, a player who desires a
short but difficult life may opt to take one of the major
campaign NPCs, such as a Family Daimyo or Clan
Champion, as a 5-point Sworn Enemy. These
NPCs are listed on the “Rokugan 1500” page of the
Heroes of Rokugan website.
Ancestors
Ancestors are a special form of Advantage which
represents guidance from the spirits of great heroes
of the past. Heroes of Rokugan does not use the
optional ancestor rules which Alderac published on
their website. Instead, Ancestors are acquired in
play as certed benefits, due to characters
performing notable deeds which attract their
attention.
A player who wishes to represent the fact that their
Hero is already burdened with the guidance and
attention of a minor Ancestor can do so by taking
the Haunted disadvantage.
Prohibited Spells
The following spells are forbidden in Heroes of
Rokugan: Crystal’s Awakening (Secrets of the
Crab), Anvil of the Kami (Secrets of the Dragon),
Shadowed Caress (Four Winds), Evil Ward (Prayers
& Treasures), Stand Against the Waves (Prayers &
Treasures), Detect Lineage (Fealty and Freedom),
and all Maho spells.
Modified Spells
Strength of the Kami: Duration is in rounds, not
hours.
Wind-Borne Slumbers: Caster may Raise to
increase the TN of the resistance roll (one Raise per
+5 TN) and to increase the strength of the penalty
(+5 additional TN penalty per two Raises).
The Heritage Tables
Rolls on the Heritage Tables (pages 153-155 of the
L5R 3rd Edition Rulebook) are not allowed in Heroes
of Rokugan.
Monks and Kihos
Monk characters are not allowed in the Heroes of
Rokugan campaign unless the player has a
Certificate of Honor (“cert”) authorizing such a
character. Likewise, Kihos (pages 253-260 of the
L5R 3rd Edition rulebook) are not allowed unless
awarded by a cert.
Tattoos
Dragon tattooed men may take any tattoos which
are printed in the campaign rules except for the
Moth tattoo, which is not allowed.
Ronin
There are two types of Ronin: Clan Ronin and True
Ronin. Clan Ronin are samurai that started as part
of a Clan, but lost their status for some reason.
True Ronin were born as such and never had a
Clan or master.
Clan Ronin characters are created in the same
manner as a normal Clan character, but get the
disadvantage “Social Disadvantage: Ronin” for no
points. They start play knowing the Rank One
Technique for a Clan school, but cannot learn any
more Techniques of that School, and must attend
ronin schools in future.
 True Ronin characters must start with one of
the Ronin schools, or do without a school. If they
start play without a school, they gain 10 Character
Points.
Insight and School Rank
Your character’s Insight represents how powerful
and well-known they are in their Clan and school
and, consequently, whether they can learn their
school’s more advanced techniques, represented by
School Rank abilities.
Insight
All characters have a total of Insight Points. A Hero’s
Insight is equal to the total of (10 times total of all
Ring ranks) plus (all Skill Ranks). However, skill
ranks of 1 do not count for Insight until the skill has
reached at least Rank 2. Also, higher skill ranks can
award bonus Insight, as explained in the L5R 3rd
Edition Rulebook.
NO CHARACTER MAY START PLAY WITH AN
INSIGHT HIGHER THAN 149.
Whenever a Hero gains a Rank in a Ring, he or she
also gains 10 points of Insight. Likewise, each
additional Rank in a Skill earns an additional point of
Insight, plus any “Mastery Bonuses” for reaching
higher ranks (see L5R Rulebook).
Insight Rank
A Hero who gains Insight is improving and bringing
glory and fame to his Clan and School. The higher
their Insight, the more they can learn. This is
represented by Insight Rank.
Rank 1 0 – 149 pts
Rank 2 150 – 174 pts
Rank 3 175 – 199 pts
Rank 4 200 – 224 pts
Rank 5 225 – 249 pts
Rank 6 250 – 274 pts
Rank 7 275 – 299 pts
Rank 8 300+ pts
When a character reaches a new Insight Rank, they
learn the new Technique of their School (if they are a
bushi or courtier) or learn two new spells (if they are
a shugenja). Other aspects of the character also
improve, such as their Initiative roll for combat, and
their spellcasting roll if the are shugenja. Thus, even
if a character has no School, there is still a benefit
from increasing Insight.
Increases in Insight Rank take place
automatically between adventures.
Experience Points
At the end of each session, the GM will award your
Hero a number of Experience Points (typically about
4 per session). These points can be used to
increase your character's Traits and Skills, to make
spells into Innate Abilities, or to get rid of
Disadvantages.
It costs 1 Experience Point to learn a new skill
at Rank 1.
To increase a Skill to the next Rank, spend a
number of EPs equal to the new Rank. Thus,
raising a Skill from Rank 2 to Rank 3 costs 3
EP’s.
To raise a Trait to the next Rank, spend a
number of EPs equal to four times the Rank to
which you are raising the Trait.
To raise the Void Ring to the next Rank, spend
a number of EPs equal to four times the new
Rank of the Ring.
To make a spell your character knows into an
Innate Ability (meaning you won’t need the
scroll to cast it), spend EP equal to the spell’s
Mastery Level.
To learn a kata, spend EP equal to the cost
listed in the appropriate book.
To “buy off” a Disadvantage, spend a number of
EP’s equal to twice the original point value of
the Disadvantage. A Disadvantage which was
acquired in play, or which represents a
permanent physical disability (such as Missing
Limb), cannot be bought off.
Advantages can typically only be purchased
after character generation if an adventure or a
cert specifically permits it. The only exception
to this rule is the ability to purchase Multiple
Schools in order to attend one of the ronin bushi
schools.
New Paths
As a Hero advances, certain special one-rank or
limited-rank “New Paths” may become available.
Each Clan has several of these, and characters may
attend them by fulfilling the entry requirements. A
few of them are even available to starting characters,
such as the Crane Clan’s Daidoji Trading Council, the
Unicorn Clan’s Moto Death Priests, or the Kaeru
ronin family’s Machi-Kanshisha Technique (found on
the House Rules page of www.heroes-of-
rokugan.com).
However, several of these New Paths represent
elite schools which only a select few can attend. The
following New Paths are restricted, and cannot be
attended by a Hero unless the player has a Cert
authorizing them to do so: (Crab Clan) Champion’s
Guard, Guardian of the Bear, Hida Elite Guard,
Watcher of the Damned, Yasuki House Guard,
(Crane Clan) Doji Elite Guard, Empress’ Guard,
Emerald Magistrate, Fetishist, (Dragon Clan)
Jotomon’s Shinrei, Mirumoto Elite Guard, Tamori
Alchemist, (Lion Clan) Akodo Elite Guard, Fujimaro’s
Legion, Kitsu Spirit Legion, Matsu Elite Guard,
Tsuko’s Heart, (Mantis Clan) Ivory Sahir, Sons of
Kaimetsu-Uo, The Hidden Weapon, Yoritomo Elite
Guard, (Phoenix Clan) Chosen Phoenix, Defenders
of Uikku, Order of Chikai, Shiba Elite Guard, Temple
of the Golden Arm, (Scorpion Clan) Bayushi Elite
Guard, Ichiba’s Consortium, Shosuro Yojimbo,
(Unicorn Clan) Master of the Winds, Shinjo Elite
Guard, The Vigilant, (Imperial) Jade Magistrate,
Naseru’s Technique, Seppun Magistrate, (Ronin)
Canopy of Knives, Cutting the Weave, The Eyes of
Nanashi, Nanashi Duelist, The Forest Killers, The
Hidden Sword, Law of the Heavens, The Red Dawn,
The Serpents of Sanada, The Scales of the Carp,
The Silent Current, The Tessen, The Unbroken, The
Weavers, Tsi Smith, Wolf Legion.
The following New Paths are modified, as
described below:
• Kitsune Spirit Guide is considered a
Fox Clan path.
• Tsume Pikemen: Is now a ronin
technique restricted to the Tsume ronin
family.
• Falcon’s Strike: Toritaka bushi who
enter this Path may add a normal bow
(yumi) and 20 arrows to their standard
equipment Outfit.
• Daidoji Iron Warriors: May substitute
Daidoji Bodyguard for Daidoji Harrier in
their entry/exit paths.
• Moto Death Priest: May exit to the ronin
Militant Shugenja school (representing
those priests who remain closer to the
Shi Tien Yen-Wang rather than the
Rokugani religion) or to the Baraunghar
Ghost Guard school.
• Bayushi Defiler: May only exit to
Bayushi Courtier 3.
• Bayushi Violator: May exit to Bayushi
Bushi 3.
• The Folding Leg: May exit back into
Bayushi Bushi.
• The Poisoned Frog: Is now a Lion Clan
New Path restricted to members of the
Kaeru family.
• Suitengu’s Children: Is limited to
members of the Mantis Clan.
• The Sword of Yotsu: Is now a Tiger
Clan New Path. Path of entry/egress is
changed from Ronin School to Tiger
School.
The following New Paths are prohibited: Oriole
Craftsman and all Shadowlands Spider, and non-
human New Paths.
Shugenja New Paths award two new spells
just as though the Hero gained a Rank in their
normal shugenja school.
Advanced Schools
The Four Winds book, the Art of the Duel book, and
the AEG web updates contain Advanced Schools
which characters can enter by achieving various
prior qualifications (typically minimum levels in
certain Rings and Skills). Advanced Schools are all
“invitation only” schools, and a character will not be
allowed to attend them unless this privilege is
attained during play (due to adventure outcomes or
metagaming achievements). In game terms, this
means entering one of these schools requires a
Certificate of Honor (a "cert").
Please note that the Machi-Kanshisha
Advanced School no longer exists in the Heroes of
Rokugan timeline – it has been replaced by the
Machi-Kanshisha New Path in the campaign House
Rules.
Honor
A Hero’s beginning Honor Rank depends on their
School (see the appropriate rules in the Campaign
Rules). This number can be increased or
decreased during character generation. Your
character’s Honor will also change during play, rising
or falling depending on your actions.
Glory and Infamy
Glory reflects how well-known a Hero is for
performing courageous, impressive, and noteworthy
deeds. Infamy reflects how well-known a Hero is for
performing dishonorable, embarrassing, or criminal
deeds. All characters begin the game with a Glory
Rank of 1 (10 points) and an Infamy Rank of zero
(unless they took Bad Reputation).
Glory and Infamy can be increased – or
decreased – during play as a result of your Hero’s
actions, much like your Honor.
Characters gain Glory by acting courageously,
skillfully, and with honor. Most adventures award
Glory for success, and the GM can also make small
Glory awards for exceptional deeds. On the other
hand, a PC can lose Glory for failing to complete an
assigned task, for committing minor breaches of
etiquette, losing duels or other contests, and so
forth. Glory is also lost for inactivity – any time a PC
completes an adventure without gaining any Glory,
the PC instead loses 1 Glory point. (However, this
cannot reduce a PC’s Glory rank below their Insight
rank.)
Glory can never be lower than zero, and can
never rise higher than rank 10.
PCs gain points of Infamy by committing
dishonorable, cruel, disgusting, or criminal deeds,
such as stealing or getting caught in a lie. Even if
the PC manages to avoid any direct legal or social
consequences for the act, some Infamy may still
accrue, as the PC becomes known in the Empire for
his/her unpleasant acts. Infamy is awarded by the
GM, based on a player’s actions. Some adventures
may also award Infamy for specific bad acts.
Once a PC acquires Infamy, it does not go
away unless an adventure (or the Campaign Admin)
specifically awards a reduction. There is no upper
limit on how much Infamy a PC can gain.
Consequences of Infamy
If a Clan or Imperial character’s Infamy rises too
high, others of higher rank will take notice and
punish the character for behaving too disgracefully.
For a normal character, the “cut-off” for this is if the
PC’s Infamy exceeds the combined total of the PC’s
Glory and Status. However, Mantis and Tortoise
PCs get more leeway – they are not penalized until
their Infamy exceeds the combined total of their
Glory and their Status x2. Scorpion PCs get more
leeway still – they are not penalized until their Infamy
exceeds the combined total of their Glory x2 and
their Status x2.
A Clan or Imperial PC whose Infamy rises too
high will be expelled from their family/Clan,
becoming ronin. This will, however, have a side
benefit – since their social status has dropped, they
are less widely recognized, and their Infamy drops
by one Rank.
Ronin can accumulate any amount of Infamy.
However, having a high Infamy as a ronin can be
hazardous. If a ronin’s infamy ever reaches or
exceeds Rank Six, they will become a wanted
criminal and have a Bounty placed on their heads,
making them a target for every Magistrate and Wasp
in the Empire.
Status All certs must be signed by a GM in order to
While Glory represents how famous a character is, be legitimate. If a cert is lost, so is the item or
Status represents the character’s rank and position in position it represented.
the Celestial Order. Normally, all PCs start with a If a character gains an annual income (through
Status of 1.0, except for Imperials (who start at 1.5), a land grant or Advantage), the income is “paid” on
Minor Clan and Vassal Family PCs (who start with January 1st of each calendar year. As mentioned
0.5), and ronin (who have no Status, until and unless above under “Outfit,” money and equipment gained
they manage to join a Clan). in this fashion does not “refresh” like a character’s
The Social Position advantage increases a starting outfit.
character’s starting Status by one rank (10 points).
No PC may purchase more than one Rank of Social But I Want Something That is
Position at character generation. Note that Imperial Prohibited!
PCs may purchase Social Position for one less point. Heroes of Rokugan is a campaign which
The disadvantage “Social Disadvantage” encourages role-play and creativity on the part of its
normally reduces a character’s Status by five (5) players. If you have developed a character
points. The exception to this is “Social Disadvantage: background or origin which involves an Advantage,
Ronin” which eliminates all Status from a character. Ancestor, or other element which is prohibited by
During play, a character can gain (or lose) these rules, submit a background story, poem,
Status in the same manner as Glory and Honor. artwork, or other creative explanation to the
However, Status changes are generally much rarer Campaign Administrator at youta@fidnet.com for
than changes in those other stats. A character who consideration.
is reduced to ronin loses all Status until and unless
the character is accepted into a new Clan. The Darkside
Status is very important in social and legal
Heroes may become Tainted by the power of
interactions in Rokugan. Generally speaking, lower-
Fu Leng during play. This is recorded on the
Status characters are expected to defer to those of
Shadowlands Taint section of your character sheet.
higher Status, and in legal cases the testimony of
You may call on the power of your Taint during play,
those with higher Status is given more weight.
gaining additional unkept dice equal to your Taint
rank on any physical action (any roll which uses the
Outfit Agility, Reflexes, Strength, or Stamina traits).
Each character begins with a different "Outfit" of However, you gain an additional point of Taint every
equipment and money, depending on their School time you do this. If your Taint Rank ever becomes
and Clan, as listed in the L5R Rulebook and the higher than your highest Ring, your character
various other sourcebooks. A character’s Outfit is becomes a servant of Fu Leng and must be handed
always determined by their School, not their Clan – over to the GM. The GM will send your character
samurai who are fortunate enough to attend the into Campaign Headquarters, and you may see him
school of a wealthier Clan will be rewarded again later...as an official villain.
commensurately by their daimyo, and samurai who
reject the teachings of the Clans in favor of a ronin
school are correspondingly less well-rewarded by
their superiors.
A Clan or Imperial Hero’s outfit “refreshes”
(returns to starting levels and conditions) at the
beginning of each adventure. This represents the
character’s daimyo taking care of any needs and
paying them a stipend.
The “stipend rule” on page 183 of the L5R
Rulebook is not used in Heroes of Rokugan – the
effects of a stipend are simulated by the outfit
“refresh” effect.
Extra equipment and money which a Hero
acquires during play does not “refresh” and, once
used, is gone for good. Likewise, a ronin’s outfit
does not “refresh,” and any items which become lost
or broken must be replaced out of the ronin’s own
pocket. (On the other hand, many adventures will
contain opportunities for ronin to earn money.)
Obtaining Wealth
During play, Heroes may obtain wealth, positions of
authority, gifts, curses, and -- in very rare cases --
nemuranai (magical items). For every extraordinary
item, position of authority, special gift, grant of land,
and nemuranai a Certificate of Honor (“cert”) will be
provided, proclaiming the validity of such claims.
These certificates can NEVER be traded, sold, or
transferred to another Hero without the express
permission of the Campaign Administrator.