Honestly, Shawn Carman was awful. It was under his direction that the setting took its biggest hits. Once Rich Wulf left and Carman took more control over the story the story moved away from its traditional elements. You see the removal of the Shadowlands/taint. You see the introduction and eventual acceptance (!) of the Spider. You see the introduction of a foreign threat as the primary enemy. You see the shift towards the colonies as the primary location in the setting. It's not just that the setting changed, it's that the setting changed in a way that was inconsistent with itself. Carman (and others) changed the story to fit their own views on how things should be. It's almost like a fan boy who finally gets a chance to impact his favorite story.

I think just jumping to a fresh time period would be the way to go. Past or future.

I strongly think they need to go back. Current time line has a lot of outside influence. Reboot of the game should focus on the emerald empire not the expanded world with all the desert peoples and what not. Game needs to focus on Samurai and Ninja not burning sands and what not.

The story is what brought me in. Also, I find it odd that some are going, "Meh, needs a shakeup!" when less than half the team we want to keep have been around for more than a year or two . . . and one of those is the pretty universally revered Robert "Spooky" Denton. Speaking of which, I second wanting to know about the novel . . .

Hopped on to agree.

If Fantasy Flight wants to make this work, they're going to need to keep the current player base engaged for the next two years while the new LCG is going through design and development. The cheapest, easiest way to do that is to support legacy-format tournaments and retain the current story team for at least the next two years to carry them through the time jump.

There has been a wide variation in quality and arcs, and things did get bogged down, but the idea of Onyx edition, with its descent into darkness, had a lot of the old day of thunder appeal and I know I rejoined because it interested me. I've seen a lot of similar comments from other players. The recent individual fictions have been very good also, and there has been plenty of it. Fantasy Flight could run through a fiction-only Onyx for 2 years, and come out with a fresh Empire on the other side. It's better than letting the game languish.

I think there are three people I would give the consolation prize to stay on.

I strongly think they need to go back. Current time line has a lot of outside influence. Reboot of the game should focus on the emerald empire not the expanded world with all the desert peoples and what not. Game needs to focus on Samurai and Ninja not burning sands and what not.

I don't particularly care if they go backwards or forwards in time, but I agree the emphasis should be on the core elements of the setting.

Fortunately, even if they don't do a big time jump, FFG can choose what to emphasize.

Chris Hand is a good new addition to the Story Team. He should be brought over.

Hi all

I hope FFG keeps up a storyline with their version. I just don't think FFG is going to be willing to pay a staff of writers for work that isn't going to bring in a penny of revenue for two years.

From what I heard, most of the guys that wrote the official fictions did so without seeing a cent... Amazing, I know, but those guys do so mostly because they love telling stories.

As for the number of folks arguing about going back to "old times"... I strongly disagree with you, for one single motive: How often do you see "reboots" working, for example, in the movies? More often than not, it's a disaster... because it always gets compared to what was done before. And what was done before was (and I think we can all agree here) something really awesome.

But that is in the past. Leave it there, as a good and fond memory

Regarding the Story Team, it is my opinion that they have been doing a rather good job - especially when you take in consideration that they are forced to juggle not only the setting and their own ideas, but also tournament results and their respective story impacts. In fact, they were just getting into full throttle when these news hit (their latest fictions were praised all around in the AEG forums)... and they already know the setting fairly well, not to mention have characters defined and ready. To let them go would be a waste of talent, a waste of potential and a risk in trying to get an untested team to start everything over.

It's just my 2 zeni but.... Much like in sports: don't change tactics or players if you're winning

Me agree. Story matter much in L5R, Story Team that we know will help ease in old players into this while also getting new players interested into this. Help make transition a little less painful for some and allow others to breathe easy, yes-yes.

Just want to throw my hat here in support of the story team. I Know FFG are aware of what they bought, so I have high hopes of this crusade succeeding.

I would support FFG keeping the story-team around in some capacity. I would love to see the weekly fictions come back and I think that having the story would go a long way in keeping players interested while the game is being reworked. I also hope that they will decide to publish the novel that Spooky has been working on for the past two years.

Going back will remove the 20 years of community involvement with the storyline.

Going back and making it different? Will burn what bridges were left.

It is my sincere hope that FFG will continue forward with the current storyline. Failing to do so will not endear them to the player base. If anything, pushing it a bit further forward and to the left might work.

Ignore the plan for Onyx Edition. Remove the rise of Kanpeki to the throne as a guarantee. Instead, take the way the setting is right now, and free yourself from the constraints that were placed on it from the Onyx storyline.

And above all else? Involve the current Story Team in the process. These are people who were UNPAID VOLUNTEERS who were donating their time and fiction to this game out of love. They know more about the game and where it was going than anyone else. Let them guide your path.

And publish the L5R Novel!

They're taking two years off. I hope they take the time to consider killing off some sacred cows, including whether a storyline outside of what's communicated in flavor text and art is even necessary, and whether it need be interactive.

FFG has a huge player base, and they'll bring many of their own fans to the table. I'm sure they'll be happy to have many old fans continue with the game, too, but I don't think continuity in the fan base is a huge priority, or they wouldn't be taking two years off.

I think the larger market to be tapped is returning players who've left the game over the course of its 20 year history, who may not care so much about current or recent storylines, or who's writing them. If they're unpaid volunteers, they can write fan fiction just as easily.

I'm really hoping for a fresh start, more in line with FFG's priorities. Part of that is putting the game first.

Going back will remove the 20 years of community involvement with the storyline.

Going back and making it different? Will burn what bridges were left.

It is my sincere hope that FFG will continue forward with the current storyline. Failing to do so will not endear them to the player base. If anything, pushing it a bit further forward and to the left might work.

Ignore the plan for Onyx Edition. Remove the rise of Kanpeki to the throne as a guarantee. Instead, take the way the setting is right now, and free yourself from the constraints that were placed on it from the Onyx storyline.

And above all else? Involve the current Story Team in the process. These are people who were UNPAID VOLUNTEERS who were donating their time and fiction to this game out of love. They know more about the game and where it was going than anyone else. Let them guide your path.

And publish the L5R Novel!

I would caution against fanboism. There has been a lot of suck in the L5R timeline. Sometimes due to Mary Sues crammed down peoples throat because one of the writers was obsessed with a self insert character. In other instances we have had clans given ridiculous amounts of plot armor because someone decided it was a great idea no matter what anyone said.

For every person who thinks you absolutely have to keep everything you will find others like myself who would be fine to mostly wipe the slate clean and go back to the basics with only a rough semblance of the past.

Including the current Story Team does sound a bit too much like glorifying the past. It is very nice of them that they donated their time to help out. However, that does not mean they were particularly good at it. I cannot personally say as I abandonned the current storyline during destroyer war because it was simply that bad. I think we should encourage FFG to show us what they can do and not try to chain them down too heavily.

The story is what drew me to the game like many many others. There are to many stories out there to pick just one but if i must it would be Yoritomo saving his clan from destruction along with his son by being the 20 greatest and 21st. I know it is cliche but that is were my heart falls and why I will always and forever be Mantis clan. I wish FFG all the best in making sure the story stays true to all of us. I do believe we are in great hands here. So lets set sail and see what is beyond the horizon shall we.

They're taking two years off. I hope they take the time to consider killing off some sacred cows, including whether a storyline outside of what's communicated in flavor text and art is even necessary, and whether it need be interactive.

FFG has a huge player base, and they'll bring many of their own fans to the table. I'm sure they'll be happy to have many old fans continue with the game, too, but I don't think continuity in the fan base is a huge priority, or they wouldn't be taking two years off.

I think the larger market to be tapped is returning players who've left the game over the course of its 20 year history, who may not care so much about current or recent storylines, or who's writing them. If they're unpaid volunteers, they can write fan fiction just as easily.

I'm really hoping for a fresh start, more in line with FFG's priorities. Part of that is putting the game first.

Once you ditch everything that made L5R, L5R (the mechanisms, which are being redesigned into a new game ; the story, the interaction...), why even bother with the charade of calling the game L5R?

L5R has got to mean more than Generic Pseudo-Asian Fantasy Setting 101. If only because, you know, it isn'T even a particularly good asian fantasy setting.

I seriously hope FFG doesn't follow the path you're proposing.

Once you ditch everything that made L5R, L5R (the mechanisms, which are being redesigned into a new game ; the story, the interaction...), why even bother with the charade of calling the game L5R?

L5R has got to mean more than Generic Pseudo-Asian Fantasy Setting 101. If only because, you know, it isn'T even a particularly good asian fantasy setting.

I seriously hope FFG doesn't follow the path you're proposing.

We don't yet know how much of a new game it's going to be, though. The language in the announcement says the game's going on hiatus, and is being relaunched. I expect something in the neighborhood of the Doomtown or VS. System redesign, or AGoT 2nd, not a whole new game.

There are many areas in which the game rules could be revised without altering its essence; in fact, there are many areas in which it has already seen changes over its 20 year lifespan. A few more isn't suddenly going to make it "not L5R."

Keep current story, and winning kotei story picks.

Bring back Rich Wulf.

They're taking two years off. I hope they take the time to consider killing off some sacred cows, including whether a storyline outside of what's communicated in flavor text and art is even necessary, and whether it need be interactive.

Flory couldn't have phrased this part more delicately? How about we no kill "sacred cows" so players of L5R aren't enraged. There are bound to be some raw nerves due to this change, best not to aggravate them yes-yes.

FFG has a huge player base, and they'll bring many of their own fans to the table. I'm sure they'll be happy to have many old fans continue with the game, too, but I don't think continuity in the fan base is a huge priority, or they wouldn't be taking two years off.

FFG are continuing the story where AEG left off. They are reworking game to make it more suitable for LCG conversion. Me wouldn't be surprised if they cut the rules bloat down to help make it tinybit more easy for newer players.to learn and play.

I think the larger market to be tapped is returning players who've left the game over the course of its 20 year history, who may not care so much about current or recent storylines, or who's writing them. If they're unpaid volunteers, they can write fan fiction just as easily.

If they write fan-fiction that transforms into canon by FFG, then they should be writing canon to begin with instead of fan-fiction to make the transition seamless.

I'm really hoping for a fresh start, more in line with FFG's priorities. Part of that is putting the game first.

Hopefully FFG doesn't completely prioritize story/mechanics over mechanics/story. As me personally wouldn't want to alienate the old player base who stuck with L5R thick and thin.

We don't yet know how much of a new game it's going to be, though. The language in the announcement says the game's going on hiatus, and is being relaunched. I expect something in the neighborhood of the Doomtown or VS. System redesign, or AGoT 2nd, not a whole new game.

No-no, L5R CCG will not be compatible with L5R LCG from a mechanical perspective as stated in article. So it is being changed mechanically.

There are many areas in which the game rules could be revised without altering its essence; in fact, there are many areas in which it has already seen changes over its 20 year lifespan. A few more isn't suddenly going to make it "not L5R."

Depends on what is changed.

Me advocate and hope that FFG take "baby steps" instead of "giant leaps" so that transition be much more smooth and less painful for older players. Whether it be story, gameplay or even RPG.

All I'm really concerned about right now is that the Story continues to matter . Discussing whether it would be better to go forward or reset to Clan Wars or just wipe the slate clean and make up a new story doesn't actually mean anything if they don't make the story a driving point of the game.

And I'm not honestly all that familiar with FFG but from some browsing around today, the company doesn't seem to have much of a record of using story as anything more than a backdrop for a setting.

So I'm here to add my voice to the chorus! Keep the Story important, FFG! It's what makes L5R truly special and you'd be crazy to ignore that!

There is a HUGE and wide field of possibility between the "every tournament has a story prize" and there are no story prizes. I feel confident a balance could be reached.

I think keeping the Story team would be good. Beause while AEG did many things wrong with the Game and the story so far the new story Team was not the reason for this. Actually they did their Job very well and I enjoed the stories they have written exspecially cause they where far better than the things people did with the Desotroyer Arc.

The main Reason why I would keep them is that they would help to keep people in who have doubts or fears that all things change and with the Story Team a fiation point it could be possible to keep some of them cause it would ensure that we know at least that the new developed game would not be completly alien to the thing we know as L5R.

Some of the story team worked on the rpg. They could be used on working again on the universe for it while the new LCG is made.

It is not fanboyism to point out that the current Story Team has been active in responding to the player community, effective in implement promised Story prizes, and are doing this for FREE. As a writer, that last one is huge.

Does L5R need a Story outside of Flavor Text, Rulebook Fictions, and Art Direction? To be a game set in Rokugan, no. To be Legend of the Five Rings? Absolutely. L5R has been, throughout its history as a game, predicated on driving a narrative forward. It does not always take directions people like, and what AEG tried to do with it in the last year was madness, but also brilliant.

The present community of L5R players are not still there just because they love the rules and mechanics of the game. Many of them are passionate about the setting and the characters. Honestly, L5R players have more in common with sports fans than with many other gamers. I am a Spider Clan player, so I care about Spider Clan cards. I will play other factions, sure, but I run into another guy wearing a Spider Clan shirt? And we are instantly friends. I run into a guy wearing a Crab Clan shirt? And we are instantly rivals (but still friends). Faction Loyalty is a very powerful force, and if FFG wants to retain what market share the current game possesses, they will need to find a way to leverage the existing loyalty, while opening the game up further.

The easiest way of doing that is reaching out to the Story Team and including them in the process of story direction for the LCG.

Even if they completely remove all Story Interactivity (which is its own ugly can of worms requiring its own post), involving the Story Team in the transition will go a long way to keeping the existing fan community.

And regarding Mary Sue characters? Welcome to where L5R earned its fan loyalty... by giving them avatars in the game world they are spending hundreds of dollars a year in.