Hello!

I'm new to this forum, so I apologize if my questions are out of place. It appears that this is the appropriate place though for questions about the L5R RPG, even though this is a card game forum. Is that correct?

Although I am a GM with 30+ years of experience, I have not yet run a game of L5R. I've had the 4th edition core rules sitting on my shelf for a few years now. This summer some friends and I are getting together for a weekend one-shot game. So I'm putting ideas together and I have a few questions:

1. Clans - Is there any way samurai can identify each other's clan on sight? I did read that samurai typically wear their clan symbols, so this seems to be part of the answer. Along the same lines, is it acceptable in Rokugan to marry someone from a different clan? If so, which clan do the children belong to?

2. Social order - So there's an emperor who rules over all of Rokugan. Does each clan have a leader over the entire clan territory such as a daimyo? And I gather that clan territories are further divided into various provinces with governors (or is it daimyo) in each province? The adventure I'm putting together will include a winter court where the wedding of some ruler's child will take place, so I'm trying to figure this out.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

19 hours ago, player2391703 said:

1. Clans - Is there any way samurai can identify each other's clan on sight? I did read that samurai typically wear their clan symbols, so this seems to be part of the answer. Along the same lines, is it acceptable in Rokugan to marry someone from a different clan? If so, which clan do the children belong to?

Yes, the heraldry (or "mon") each samurai wears should clearly identify his clan. Also, samurai tend to wear clothing in their clan colors and have clan-themed symbols/textures on their clothing. There are also some clan-related customs that must be obvious enough for identification (masks for Scorpion Clan, white hair for Crane Clan, etc.).

When samurai from two different Clans marry then one of them will be transferred to his/her spouse's Clan (this who-goes-where deal is done as part of the marriage). Their children will be then part of the Clan the parents belong to, but they can go for the transferred parent's Clan in some cases.

19 hours ago, player2391703 said:

Social order - So there's an emperor who rules over all of Rokugan. Does each clan have a leader over the entire clan territory such as a daimyo? And I gather that clan territories are further divided into various provinces with governors (or is it daimyo) in each province? The adventure I'm putting together will include a winter court where the wedding of some ruler's child will take place, so I'm trying to figure this out.

It goes like this: at the top reigns the Emperor, who rules all Rokugan. Below him are the various Clan Champions who rule their respective Clans. Below the Clan Champions are the Family Daimyo who rule their family domains. The Family Daimyo of the ruling family is also the Clan Champion. Then, below the Family Daimyo are the Provincial Daimyo who rule their provinces and are ultimately serve their Family Daimyo and the Clan Champion.

1- Yes, and this usually happens to strengthen an alliance or to repay debts of honor. Love is almost never considered when it comes to samurai marriages. Usually, but not always (the deal might say otherwise), the one with the lesser Status will join his/her spouse's clan

Heraldry is a complex matter. There is no obligation to wear the colors of your clan (there is a famous story in which Kachiko tricks the son of the Unicorn champion to wear Scorpion colors at important event during a gift exchange) and for mons, you can also wear your school mon (which can belongs to another clan) and dojos have special markings (on mons and on clothing). Even the mon has been known to not be worn for ji-samurai and travellers in the wilderness.

Clan organisation :

Great clan champion (SR 8,0)

Minor clan champion (SR 7,5)

Great clan family daimyo (7,0)

Hatamoto (a daimyo’s chief retainer) (SR 6,0)

Provincial governor (SR 6,0)

City governor (SR 5,0)

Vassal family daimyo (SR 5,0)

Karo (chief advisor to a lord) (SR 4,7)

Revered sensei (SR 4,0)

Clan magistrate (SR 4+)

Diplomat, ambassador (SR 2,0+)

Gokenin (estate manager) (SR 2,0)

Average Great clan / Minor clan samourai (SR 1,0)

Ji-samourai (typical samourai of a vassal family) (SR 0,5)

Doshin (village officers) (SR 0,3)

Budoka (peasant warriors) (SR 0,2)

Crafstmen, merchants (SR 0,1)

Ronin (SR 0,0)

The house guards’ status ranks are equal to those of the military. They provide more glory than status, especially the main family house guard.

Clan differences :

The Phoenix clan champion have a SR of 7,0 while the Elemental Masters have a SR of 8,0. They have an additional position, the Voice of the masters who have the same function as the Voice of the Emperor but for the Elemental Masters (SR 6,0). The different Acolytes of the Elements (the direct student of an Elemental Master, and likely groomed to take his place have a SR of 6,0).

The Unicorn clan have the Khan (SR 7,0) who appears after the return of the Burning Sands Moto. Often the Khan is the clan champion, but at times he isn’t he is the military leader of the clan. The Fist of the Khan (SR 4,0) is the name of the Khan’s personal enforcer. The Unicorn after the return of the Moto use sometimes the title Tar-khan, the name given to the leaders of the different tribes, it is an equivalent of a city governor for the nomad groups of Unicorn samourai.

The Guardian of the Hall of Ancestors for the Lion and the Master of the Otaku stables are respectively the Hatamoto of the Matsu (traditionally given to the brother of the Matsu daimyo) and the Hatamoto of the Otaku (usually held by the husband of the Otaku daimyo).

Special clan magistrates :

The Kuni Witch-hunters and the Asako Inquisitors are considered clan magistrates and have the according status ranks.

Thank you so much for the answers. That has all been very helpful!

Let me follow up with this then: If the Emperor rules all of Rokugan, who typically goes to war with whom? I mean, where are all these samurai doing their fighting? Of course there's the endless war against the Shadowlands led mainly by the Crab Clan. There's the occasional war again the various gaijin who show up on the fringes of Rokugan. What about clan vs. clan or daimyo vs. daimyo? Doesn't the Emperor make sure this people aren't engaged in civil war?

10 minutes ago, player2391703 said:

Let me follow up with this then: If the Emperor rules all of Rokugan, who typically goes to war with whom? I mean, where are all these samurai doing their fighting? Of course there's the endless war against the Shadowlands led mainly by the Crab Clan. There's the occasional war again the various gaijin who show up on the fringes of Rokugan. What about clan vs. clan or daimyo vs. daimyo? Doesn't the Emperor make sure this people aren't engaged in civil war?

The Emperor generally can't project that much power. His greatest military force is the Lion Clan, the greatest clan-on-clan warmongers, so yeah, there is a problem. The Imperial Legions, on the other hand, have very limited usefulness against a Clan and are unsuitable to enforce the Emperor's will on that scale. It is kinda messed up, but that's Rokugan for you.

When clan-on-clan war happens the Emperor just does his best to mitigate the conflict and calm down the warring clans through political means. He can do little more, actually.

The Emperor got his power from the gods, he has a divine right to rule. Toturi was handed this mandate by Hantei himself when he took the throne, and Iweko from the oracles of the Jade Sun and the obsidian moon. In a world of tradition and respects for divine powers and your ancestors, the word of the Emperor is much more than a mere political tool. Wars happens, but as long as they follow the rules the Emperor edicts. That why they has not been that many civil war over the years. They has been many territorial and blood feud wars, but they were never full wars since the 1st Yasuki war (and outside of the few others such events) because the Emperor forbade it.

The Emperor's actual power has changed over time. The story team liked concentrating on the Emperor as a focal point of the story, and that tended to increase his power over what they said it was in the histories. Maybe you can look at this as an aberration of the Toturi and Iweko dynasties, or as some evolution of society. Anyway, I've always preferred the more realpolitik view from the histories.

The Emperor rules by the Mandate of Heaven, and is infallible and all powerful. Provided, of course, that he doesn't issue any orders anyone disobeys, since he really can't do anything to enforce them if the clans don't want to. As such, he's very careful only to issue orders that they will follow, like ordering the ending of a war just as winter is setting in and they have to go back home anyway. The clans see this as convenient. The Emperor is a figurehead, but one they can invoke to rally the other clans together if one of their enemies (meaning another clan, mostly) is getting too strong. None of the clans wants the balance of power to get too far off (unless they're the one in the lead, of course) but they also don't want to lose face by asking anyone else for help. The Emperor is thus a very useful excuse for them to get together when he gives the orders they ask him to give.

In turn, the Emperor's main job is to keep any one clan, or any alliance of clans, from becoming powerful enough to overpower the others and seize power themselves. It's in his interest to keep them squabbling, changing alliances, and otherwise paranoid towards each other so that they continue to need him, even if mostly as a figurehead. He, or his clever Otomo courtiers, uses the prestige of his court to draw the clan's courtiers to him, where he ensures that they stay unfriendly to each other.

In many ways it's a hypocritical, dysfunctional relationship. But it's also a stable one, which is really what matters. And, of course, it's one ripe for intrigue and insult, and that makes for good game playing

In theory, the Emperor should prevent the clans from fighting. And the Hantei emperors mostly managed that, for the first 1000 years of Rokugan's existence (during the aptly named 1000 Years of Peace).

In the waning years of the Hantei, though, the Emperor was weak, which was one of the things sparking the Clan War. And in the following dynasties, the Emperors have never managed to keep the clans in check for very long. This was mostly for out-of-character reasons: the clans had to be kept at each others' throats so the CCG players had an excuse to play against each other.

There is some historical justification, though. In feudal Japan, there were long periods of time when the Emperor (and later, the Shogun) was too weak to prevent the clans from fighting each other.

1 hour ago, AtoMaki said:

The Emperor generally can't project that much power. His greatest military force is the Lion Clan, the greatest clan-on-clan warmongers, so yeah, there is a problem. The Imperial Legions, on the other hand, have very limited usefulness against a Clan and are unsuitable to enforce the Emperor's will on that scale. It is kinda messed up, but that's Rokugan for you.

The Imperial Legions are actually supposed to be unbelievably powerful: a whopping 500,000 bushi . Considering even the Lion could "only" bring 144,000, that's a pretty mighty force. Why they were barely ever used - and never to suppress interclan strife - is one the setting's wallbangers, from an in-character perspective at least. In CCG terms it makes sense though: they're not a playable faction, so the story team didn't want them stealing the spotlight.

In my campaigns I reduce their size to about 50,000, which is a lot more reasonable for the setting.

On 1/29/2017 at 0:55 PM, player2391703 said:

2. Social order - So there's an emperor who rules over all of Rokugan. Does each clan have a leader over the entire clan territory such as a daimyo? And I gather that clan territories are further divided into various provinces with governors (or is it daimyo) in each province?

"Daimyo" is an ambiguous word in Rokugan, since there are daimyos at several different levels of the hierarchy. Except for the Phoenix, each clan is ruled by a Clan Daimyo, more often called a Champion (except for the Unicorn, sometimes). Each clan is made of several families, each with their own land and their own family daimyo. The Clan Champion usually doubles as the family daimyo of his own family. Under the family daimyos are the governors, a.k.a the provincial daimyos. These are in charge of the individual provinces.

Personally, I tend to reserve the word "daimyo" for family daimyos, since there isn't another term for them, and use "Champion" and "Governor" for the other types. Whatever works for you, though.

30 minutes ago, Fumi said:

The Imperial Legions are actually supposed to be unbelievably powerful: a whopping 500,000 bushi .

The 10k bushi/Legion is a Toturi invention and it was absolutely huge in its time. The Hantei had something like 5k soldiers (including ashigaru) max per Legion, but usually a lot less. Source: Emerald Empire page 238.

3 hours ago, player2391703 said:

Let me follow up with this then: If the Emperor rules all of Rokugan, who typically goes to war with whom? I mean, where are all these samurai doing their fighting? Of course there's the endless war against the Shadowlands led mainly by the Crab Clan. There's the occasional war again the various gaijin who show up on the fringes of Rokugan. What about clan vs. clan or daimyo vs. daimyo? Doesn't the Emperor make sure this people aren't engaged in civil war?

There is a whole imperial family dedicated to inter-clan conflict. The Otomo family realized very early that they cannot protect the Empire against itself. Maintaining an army and overseeing lands was the purview of the Clans (which in turn had to give a portion of the rice to the Emperor, but not nearly enough to maintain a powerful armed force). As such, nothing but honor and devotion to the Celestial Order prevented a given clan to claim power for themselves....except the other Clans.

As such, the Otomo's role was to manipulate the Clans against one another, fueling (controlled) wars and making sure no coalition would become strong enough to overthrow the Emperor. When you look it that way, Clan Wars is actually necessary for the Emperor to stay on the throne. If you maintain an era of peace long enough (like what happened during the Iweko rule), Clans will invariably turn against the Imperial families and try to usurp their powers for their own gain, as they do not have to worry about attacks from other Clans.

47 minutes ago, AtoMaki said:

The 10k bushi/Legion is a Toturi invention and it was absolutely huge in its time. The Hantei had something like 5k soldiers (including ashigaru) max per Legion, but usually a lot less. Source: Emerald Empire page 238.

That helps the Hantei make more sense, but you'd think the Toturi would have use the legions more if they were that strong. I'll stop nitpicking though, this isn't the topic for that.

Regarding the Otomo, I've always interpreted them as not wanting outright warfare between the clans, because if one of them actually conquers another it would be big trouble. They'd definitely try to sow mistrust between the clans, though. Keeping just the right amount of animosity in the air is their balancing act, sometimes they succeed and sometimes they go too far one way or the other.

You know, an Otomo-based court campaign could be pretty interesting. You'd have to finagle a reason for the PC's to take non-Otomo schools though, for some variety.

Open warfare is good for the Otomo. I agree they have to keep a lid on the scope of the conflict, however. Like you said, conquering another territory is bad, since it increases a Clan's influence, but small territorial dispute (like Toshi Ranbo between the Crane and the Lion before it was the imperial capital) is excellent. Both clans are allowed to maintain troops with combat experience should an outside threat emerge, and while they are busy hitting each others, they respect the leadership of the Emperor.

Small-scale conflicts can be useful to the Otomo in theory, but the problem is that as soon as the dispute goes to the battlefield the Otomo lose a lot of their influence over the situation. After all, no military commander keeps an Otomo advisor out in the field. Also, small conflicts have a tendency to escalate...

So if they can keep the clans hating each other without sparking open warfare, they'd likely prefer to do that. Less risk of losing control of the situation.

The role of the Imperial Families in service to the Hantei (this whole model gets thrown out the window in the 12th Century, due to the CCG taking place in it, or the Clan War more accurately) work as a strong balancing act against the power of the individual Great Clans. Specifically, the Otomo family would manipulate the situation to spark a conflict, playing one Great Clan against the other. The two Great Clans would go to war, until things started to get out of hand. Then the Seppun and the Imperial Legions would step in and stop the war by force if necessary. Afterwards, the Miya would come in and smooth over relations between the two Great Clans with peace-keeping efforts and charitable aid to repair damages. And then the Otomo would target another growing powerbloc.

This is why the Otomo would stop at nothing to prevent multi-Great Clan alliances, prior to the 12th century.

Most wars are between Great Clans over resources. See: the Yasuki Wars between the Crab and the Crane, the Invasion of Ryoko Owari by the Crab, the perennial Crane / Lion wars over Toshi Ranbo and other territories. Historically speaking, the Crane, Lion, Crab, and Scorpion are virtually always feuding with each other in the Hantei's Empire, with the Dragon and Phoenix mostly staying out of it. After the return of the Unicorn, they were still too new to the scene of Rokugan to really start getting involved until the Clan War began.

I highly recommend Imperial Histories 1 & 2 for more information on historical conflicts in Rokugan.

Here's my comment on the topic.

While there's a lot of great answer in this thread, considering the fact that you are new in the universe, start slowly. Don't go too deep in the setting. While your questions was good on the surface, there's a lot of answers in this topic way too deep for a new comer... Your main objectif, before digging up as much as some others are digging right now, is to understand the basics and have a great time with your gaming group.

In my opinion, the basics are mainly the honor, the Bushido, the different Great Clans, the etiquette and the difference between the three "type" of Samurai (Bushi, Courtier, Shugenja). (Note: I might have forgot a few things in the basics, but some people will add some stuffs.)

Of course, you'll have some questions that may comes from time to time, which is fine to ask, but try to have a good understanding of the basics before moving forward. The setting is very deep that it may feel overwhelming if you go too far before understanding the basics. First things first, I know that before going too deep and before storytelling my first campaign, the first thing I did was reading cover to cover the corebook. It contains most of the basics. I wouldn't go deeper than the corebook for the first campaign. It's already a corebook of quality.

1 hour ago, Crawd said:

Here's my comment on the topic.

While there's a lot of great answer in this thread, considering the fact that you are new in the universe, start slowly. Don't go too deep in the setting. While your questions was good on the surface, there's a lot of answers in this topic way too deep for a new comer... Your main objectif, before digging up as much as some others are digging right now, is to understand the basics and have a great time with your gaming group.

In my opinion, the basics are mainly the honor, the Bushido, the different Great Clans, the etiquette and the difference between the three "type" of Samurai (Bushi, Courtier, Shugenja). (Note: I might have forgot a few things in the basics, but some people will add some stuffs.)

Of course, you'll have some questions that may comes from time to time, which is fine to ask, but try to have a good understanding of the basics before moving forward. The setting is very deep that it may feel overwhelming if you go too far before understanding the basics. First things first, I know that before going too deep and before storytelling my first campaign, the first thing I did was reading cover to cover the corebook. It contains most of the basics. I wouldn't go deeper than the corebook for the first campaign. It's already a corebook of quality.

This. I am new to gming l5r and got discouraged a few times because I felt like I "wasn't doing it right ".

Go slow and only use the core book. That's what I'm doing. I've been having a blast but I definitely had to keep my expectations of myself in check.

On 30/1/2017 at 4:23 PM, okuma said:

The Kuni Witch-hunters and the Asako Inquisitors are considered clan magistrates and have the according status ranks.

I understand the Asako Inquisitors...but, since the Kuni Witch-Hunter is a basic school, should one really give Status 4 to an R1 Kuni Witch-Hunter?

My take is to give such a higher status only to the more experienced Witch-hunters.

Like the Doji magistrate school, the fact you are a member of the school doesn't mean you have the position. A Kuni Witch-hunter rank 1 right out of gempukku is unlikely to have earned such a position, while there is Kuni shugenja with no ranks in the Kuni Witch-hunter school who have the position of Kuni Witch-hunter. But since most samurais don't go past rank 2, there is rank 1 kuni Witch-hunters with the corresponding status.

So all of these rulers below the level of emperor--governors, daimyo and whatever else--where do they derive their power from? In other words, does the emperor appoint them and can the emperor replace those who he feels aren't doing a good job? Or is that not the understanding of imperial power in Rokugan?

Also, when one of these "lesser rulers" dies/retires/abdicates, who replaces him? Does a family heir succeed him? Or does the emperor fill the vacancy? Or what?

19 hours ago, Fumi said:

Small-scale conflicts can be useful to the Otomo in theory, but the problem is that as soon as the dispute goes to the battlefield the Otomo lose a lot of their influence over the situation. After all, no military commander keeps an Otomo advisor out in the field. Also, small conflicts have a tendency to escalate...

So if they can keep the clans hating each other without sparking open warfare, they'd likely prefer to do that. Less risk of losing control of the situation.

There is a limit to how much two clans can hate each others before going to blows. In fact, the longer you want, the more extreme the measures they will use. Stimulating conflict between the clans, especially armed conflicts is the best tools the Otomo have because they have control over it. The Samurais are first and foremost warriors. Keep them away from the battlefield too long and things go bad...really bad (I recommend reading about real Japan histories. The different eras of peace and war are fascinating in their complexities and consequences)

Now, let's say you have a clan that is starting to get too powerful. The Otomo will manipulate another Clan (preferably the second strongest) into attacking the first for some reason. Usually a real reason, but greatly exagerrated. The two Clans go to war. Since they all answer to the Emperor, the courtiers of each clan then have to explain themselves and prove this war is justified. Failure to do so is highly dishonorable and means every other Clan will be allowed to attack you for this insult towards the Emperor. If they are too aggressive, they will being to be a threat to other Clans, which will then be justified into attacking them or allying with the losing side. It's a very big game of Rock-Paper-Scissor with a very delicate balance. Trying to conquer too much of another's Clan ressource and you will be attacked back, this time in a position of weakness since you already lost many ressources.

And while the Clans are busy fighting another and gauging each other for weaknesses, the Emperor rules unchallenged. Divide to rule.

2 minutes ago, player2391703 said:

So all of these rulers below the level of emperor--governors, daimyo and whatever else--where do they derive their power from? In other words, does the emperor appoint them and can the emperor replace those who he feels aren't doing a good job? Or is that not the understanding of imperial power in Rokugan?

Also, when one of these "lesser rulers" dies/retires/abdicates, who replaces him? Does a family heir succeed him? Or does the emperor fill the vacancy? Or what?

Short answer. Yes.

Long answer: Officially, the emperor has absolute authority over everything in the Empire. It is, however, impossible for him to micro-manage every single aspect of it. That's why the Imperial families and the bureaucracy exists. Over the centuries, the Emperors made edicts and rules of succession for everything, from Clan Champions to lesser positions in the bureaucracy to accelerate the process (Some say the bureaucracy became one giant mess after a millenia and it is more of a hindrance than anything else, however). As such, much of the process is automated, Clans are given the authority to choose their own Champions (which can be hereditary or not, depending on the Clan and the moment in history), some positions are awarded through Championships, and the rest is a matter of political clout. Many positions are awarded to succesful courtiers or someone of their choosing.

The only positions really filled by the Emperor himself are his closest advisors, and even then, exceptional leverage can force him one way or another (this is the exception rather than the norm. The Gozoku era being the best example)

19 minutes ago, player2391703 said:

So all of these rulers below the level of emperor--governors, daimyo and whatever else--where do they derive their power from? In other words, does the emperor appoint them and can the emperor replace those who he feels aren't doing a good job? Or is that not the understanding of imperial power in Rokugan?

Also, when one of these "lesser rulers" dies/retires/abdicates, who replaces him? Does a family heir succeed him? Or does the emperor fill the vacancy? Or what?

This stuff is entirely hereditary. A lord passes down his/her power to their oldest child or another descendant if no suitable heir is available. The Emperor can dabble into this of course, but it is considered really inappropriate. The single example when the Emperor broke this tradition caused an absolutely enormous sh*tstorm and a quasi-rebellion against imperial power (Iron Rokugan alternative setting).

If you really want to pin down how powerful the Emperor is, then consider that roughly 80% of his power is purely symbolic and has no real (independent) backing whatsoever. He is entirely at the mercy of the Great Clans, but the Clans pay him respect because his symbolic power is so strongly integrated into their traditions. However, once the traditions are out, the Emperor is dead fish unless a Great Clan lends him some support (usually at a cost).

You know... a lot of this dodges around something very central.

It was understood within the game that the clans did NOT go to war with each other, so long as there was an Emperor. Whatever small conflicts there may have been, barely any clan ever gained or lost anything as a result. I am pretty sure Great clans have lost more territory off the Emperor naming such-and-such hero the head of a new minor clan than from actual warfare... up until the Emperor died and the throne was left vacant for a bit... and then a heir turned up, but he was a pretty absentee ruler and plenty of people were (rightly) convinced that the emperor had been possessed by a demon.

Generally, so long it has been clear who is emperor and that person was taking an active role, there really hasn't been war in Rokugan. Between Rokugan and the Shadowlands, sure, but not between the clans. It is just that post the last Hantei dying that the times where the throne was absent or contested that the story has found excuses to keep inter-clan conflicts going.

Everything about the Imperial Families and the Imperial Legion and such is painfully contradictory often treated with a super narrow scope when mechanics are being described and then a very wide scope when talking about how the empire actually functions.

The whole "Otomo machinations" has only ever been a thing on the page that describes their school mechanics in the RPG. Never once has there been any serious inferences within the story or the card game that the Otomo have ever been responsible for any of the conflicts that have popped up. Instead, in terms of everything except the RPG pages talking about their school, it seems like the Otomo are just out there, laying low, as the imperial bureaucracy keeping the empire running-- save for the occasional villain from the family who tries to take power and inevitable fails harder than anyone else could possibly fail.

All in all, I think the Otomo school is likely a poor representation of what the family does at all as nothing else besides the school (and their mon, I suppose, which is worth a big face-palm-- that the family supposedly secretly turning clans against each other proclaims it in their family symbol everywhere they stamp it, and that they apparently didn't even have a symbol for the first few hundred years of their existence) has indicated that they are engaged in this at all. The less stock you put in the whole "Otomo are busy turning all clans against each other" as that really CANNOT be their primary activity given just how much else they are apparently doing and how rare it would be for such an opportunity to ever really arise... it was just the thing that the person who wrote 1st edition RPG thought up as one of the (many) things they could be doing with a nice story behind it that added to the history of the world and it got misinterpreted to being the main or only thing they are doing....

Every actual demonstrable conflict between clans had nothing to do with the Otomo and everything to do with an absence of leadership on the part of the throne. Had the Imperial Legions gotten involved, regardless of whether they had the strength to get involved, it isn't even clear what they would have done about it. I think the only times they have been described has having any part in inter-clan conflicts was to sit between the two sides and hold the conflict off temporarily.

http://l5r.wikia.com/wiki/Battles_of_Rokugan

This is a list of pretty much all battles mentionned, someplace or another, in L5R canon. I do agree more are mentionned after the Scorpion Clan Coup, but mainly because the game actually started at that point and therefore more information is available about this time period. You can see, however, that many major conflicts between clans occured while there was an emperor on the throne, whether an Hantei, Toturi or Iweko.

As for the Otomo involvment not being mentionned, that's the whole point. The Otomo rarely create a war out of nothing. They make sure anything that could result in an armed conflict is brought to light and that any dishonorable conduct that could insult another clan is not swept under the rug. They manipulate real events and make sure their own involvment is mininal. If you feel so bold, you could even claim the lack of evidence they manipulated those events is further proof of their talent....

EDIT: I forgot to add. As an imperial player during WC IV, inter-clan conflict was central to our goals and the vast majority of our efforts was to prevent a war that would have erroded the structure of Rokugan and create as much conflict elsewhere as possible. The rest was about backstabbing the Crane who were trying to backstab us first...While the Winter Court is not compelty canon, it's the closest thing we have and they acknowledged this fact.