On card art:

Regarding art prints from the game, I encourage you to seek out the website of the artist of any artwork you like, and contact them about purchasing a print directly from them. The artists are credited on each card, and most can be found pretty easily with a Google search (sometimes adding "art" or "illustration" to the search). I'm sure the artists would love to hear from fans and would be happy to offer prints for sale.

-Andy

On Game play multiple questions:

• How many turns do you expect the average game to take?
• Will holdings be permanent?
• How much Fate will one gain on average per turn? The strongholds seem to give around +7 - should we expect that +1 or maybe +2 or much more?
• Why does one side (Crane Clan ) not have a stronghold in the promo pic?

Most games should last about 3-6 turns, with the possibility for shorter or longer games depending on the match up, the draw, and the strategies each player pursues.

Besides the strongholds, there are a few other ways in the game that players can acquire additional fate, but you will have to work for it a little! -NF

On community response thus far:

The team has been really happy with the response. We are looking forward to everyone getting a chance to try the game! -Everyone

On if the L5R novel is still in the works:

We are going in a new direction for the storyline, and we can't wait to share our new fiction with the fans! ~ Katrina

On upcoming story releases:

Yes! I'm tremendously excited for what the summer holds. ~ Katrina

30 minutes ago, Shikaku said:

On who to bribe to get a card with Hotaru pillow fighting with Kachicko:

No bribery necessary

-AC

Backtracking:

Edit: Because it's not happening! Not meant the way it sounded, we want to be inclusive and respectful. Apologies for any misunderstanding on that.

On designer/developer/employee clan loyalty - multi-question:

1. Infamously, employees at AEG were loyal to particular clans, Do any of you have any clan loyalty and if so which clan are you drawn to?
2. Does Doji Hoturi still exist?
3. Are there any characters (that we know of) that you had a particularly good time drawing/designing/writing for? And why was your favorite Kisada?

1. Nate- Scorpion (Thematically) and Crab (mechanically)
   Erik- Crane Brad- Phoenix (Thematically) and Dragon (Mechanically) Kat- Scorpion Andy- Crab
2. I believe this was answered elsewhere
3. Honestly the clan champions were all a blast!

And we can't forget the infamous Bayushi Kachiko. ~ Katrina

On the existence of Doji Hoturi and if Hotaru replaces him:

Hotaru's only siblings are Doji Kuwanan and (by adoption) Doji Shizue. ~ Katrina

Favorite question that has yet to be answered:

"Will you fail as miserably at meeting demand for this game as you have for StarWars Destiny?"

Multi-question:

• It was noticed that the Provinces have the Ring Symbols on the bottom right of the card and the current thought is that deck construction will require having one Province from each Ring. Can you guys give any more insight into that?

• In the preview articles so far it seems a lot of thought was put into preventing "snowball" which was certainly a problem in other LCGs like 40k Conquest and GoT 2e especially with only core set cards. Was avoiding "snowballing" the main impetus for the design of the "Fate" mechanism as well as preventing the loss broken Provinces? What were some of the design challenges in working with those systems?

• Do you guys have any more information to share right now on how Conflicts work? Are Rings limited to one conflict per turn or is that restriction only on claimed Rings?

• Where do you guys see L5R going long term as it relates to story? Will there be callbacks to the old lore or is it mostly going to be treading new ground?

• Did Magali Villeneuve do any art for L5R?

The ring symbols are used in deckbuilding -- more to come on that lies ahead!

When I first started working on this game, Katrina gave me a bunch of source material: L5R source books, as well as some Japanese Samurai movies and novels. As I immersed myself in this material, I noticed a recurring experience, of characters who were expressing both a joy in the moment, and a degree of sadness in the inevitable passing of that moment. Discussing this with Katrina, she directed me to the concept of Mono No Aware, which inspired the desire to explore the nature of ephemerality in a card game setting. So the Fate system is very much at the heart of the game. This concept is also explored in other areas as well.

More information on the conflicts and the story will be coming in the weeks ahead.

Regarding Magali -- yes!

NF

On if Minor Clans will be neutral cards and play minor part of the story: (note only the story part was answered)

There is a good chance they will play a role in the story! ~ Katrina

On if During is central to the lore/flavor for the Crane and Dragon clans:

The prized techniques of the Kakita duelists and the Mirumoto niten masters are central to the lore and flavor of both these clans. ~ Katrina

Nevermind.

On if there will be mechanics to directly manipulate the fate count on characters:

Yes there will be ways to manipulate the amount of fate on a character, winning a conflict with the void ring for example allows a player to take a fate token off of an opponent's character.

The fate on a character is representative of how long they are involved in the ongoing conflicts with the opposing clan. Thematically a character running out of fate can be represented many different ways: they could be called away from the ongoing conflicts, they could pass away, or they could be retiring from life as a samurai. Losing a fate means they have moved one step closer to their destiny taking them from the conflict, gaining a fate means that their time in the clash between two clans has extended. -BA

Utz?:

BANZAI!!! -Everyone

On the targeted removal/kill in relation to fate counters and investment worries: (second question - will shadowlands/spider mantis ratlings or naga, et al be represented)

Finding the right mix of targeted removal, and how to balance it, was one of our top focuses during testing. These cards were designed with the fate system in mind.

Unfortunately, can't comment on the second question at this time! -NF

On decisions made, multi-questions:

1. When you bought the L5R IP and said you were going to release it as an LCG, were you always planning to completely eliminate the old game and make a brand new game, or when you started making changes to the game did you make more and more until the game was longer recognizable as the old game? (Is there even one game mechanic remaining?)
2. If you were not planning to retain anything from the old game then you must have bought the IP for the setting, right? But then you kept nothing FROM the setting other than some really basic starting points?
3. What is Fu Lengs true name?

We wanted to give a new generation of samurai the chance to experience the game and fall in love with the setting. We thoroughly enjoyed the Legend of the Five Rings as a CCG, and we look forward to the opportunity we have now to explore the setting as a Living Card Game.

(Fu Lengs name) If we knew, that would make us very powerful maho-tsukai indeed. ~ Katrina

47 minutes ago, Shikaku said:

On who to bribe to get a card with Hotaru pillow fighting with Kachicko:

No bribery necessary

-AC

Shame that they removed the comment and the following replies.. But at least now you know which playmats will see the light of day =3

On what art was chosen and why:

There's been so much amazing art made throughout L5R's history. For the LCG, a major focus was to create artwork that had an emotional impact as much as specific content/detail (this has much to do with painterly style and evocative effects with light, brushstrokes, symbolic elements, etc.) . So we enjoy featuring old artwork that emphasizes these qualities as well as suits a card thematically.

They updated their answer to say "No bribery necessary because not happening". So don't expect those playmats too eagerly.

On how fiction will be delivered:

In addition to the inserts in the monthly packs, there will be fictions posted on the website. Over the summer, we will also be posting stories alongside the previews of the game, so that you'll be able to whet your appetite for L5R prior to the preview release at Gen Con 50! ~ Katrina

On if the conflict system will still contain strategies like the original game:

Yes, bowing and readying characters, moving characters into and out of conflicts, ambushes, tricks, honoring and dishonoring characters -- there's a lot of different ways to gain the upper hand in a conflict, and players will find their own strategies and tactics that work best for them.-NF

On the status of the Imperial Favor and what it does:

We are still keeping the Imperial Favor under wraps for the moment. Keep looking for previews! -BA

What have they learned from Conquest that they applied to L5R:

I think the biggest innovation that was built on the back of lessons learned in Conquest is during the dynasty phase, when players are taking turns deploying their characters -- the first player to "pass" gains a fate! -NF & BA

On storyline prizes and how Organized Play will work:

We are excited to continue the tradition of story prizes at tournaments and through Organized Play, but fan involvement may look different compared with what AEG did for the storyline. ~ Katrina