So now that 4e is over (as far as releases go, I find it very unlikely FFG won't do a 5e of some kind though the nature of it is up for debate til it happens) I'm curious how much material from 3e/3eR didn't get republished for 4e. Schools most specifically, though I may eventually look into Kata and Kiho, etc as well. There is a document floating around google where schools from 2e were updated for 3e, and I'm wondering how much interest there would be in making such a thing for our current edition. Anyone know where to find a list of 3e/3eR schools that I could compare to my list of 4e schools and see whats been missed? Thats seems like an obvious first step.

Hello,

I have the official document listing every School and Path for L5R 3rd Edition. For those wanting it, contact me via PM with an e-mail adress, as the file is too big to be uploaded here.

Edit: I took another look at the file, named Updated Schools, Advanced Schools and Paths for Legend of the Five Rings Role-playing Game, Third Edition , and it actually has every School, Adavanced School and Path since 1st Edition updated to 3rd Edition mechanics if needed be. It is quite useful a document for anyone trying to convert previous Schools and Paths to new mechanics.

Many paths and schools and some other stuffs were fused together in 4th (especially some paths with the main basic schools).

Has anyone tried playing L5R without schools all together?
I feel like they detract too much from player choice when creating characters. Sure, certain clans and schools have certain perks over others, but it seems like starting skills and bonus points on certain advantages or disadvantages ought to be enough. Schools, at their worst, swing things so wildly that Skill and Ring almost don't even meaningfully factor into the contest anymore.

Surely someone should be able to play a Crab Clan Archer or a Crane Clan Cavalryman or a Phoenix Clan Duelist without having to either buy a different school advantage or finding themselves woefully subpar in their field and shackled with a bunch of powerful abilities that don't at all reflect their character.

As long as schools really force a cookie-cutter where once you have chosen your clan, you either have to build the precise proscribed character or suck, even though any look at the artwork or fiction indicates that the clans are not made up exclusively of samurai who all have identical skills.

My hope is that if a 5th edition is done, schools are either done away with nearly entirely... maybe, at best, offering a creation/experience point discount on certain skills or techniques. It would also solve the problem that L5R RPG was dealing with regarding having to make every single school out of a bunch of exclusive techniques thus requiring that each subsequent school interact with the mechanics in wonkier ways.

1 hour ago, TheHobgoblyn said:

Has anyone tried playing L5R without schools all together?

I once participated in an all-commoners party. It was fun, even though I had zero Clan/School bonuses and Craft: Farming at Rank 4 .