While this thread is looking at how the keywords were used in the Old game, there was some thought that a thread for how things are worked out in the new LCG. (NB, they'll be called traits in the new game)

To start, I'll list the clans and families, with where their specialties lie, then how I think the different traits will be in each Clan:

Crab

• Hida - the largest family in the Clan (and one of the largest in the Empire) - nearly all Bushi
• Hiruma - landless, also nearly all Bushi, but also frequently Scouts
• Kaiu - a mix of Artisans and Bushi
• Kuni - also landless, mostly Shugenja, but some Monks
• Yasuki - mostly Courtier

Crane

• Asahina - not large, but mostly Shugenja
• Daidoji - nearly all Bushi, liberally sprinkled with Scouts and Ninja Harriers
• Doji - nearly all Courtiers, but some Bushi, often Magistrates
• Kakita - a mix of Artisans and Bushi

Dragon

• Agasha - mainly Shugenja
• Kitsuki - mainly Courtiers, but leavened with Bushi
• Mirumoto - nearly all Bushi
• Togashi - almost exclusively Monks, but with some Shugenja

Lion

• Akodo - nearly all Bushi
• Ikoma - a mix of Courtiers and Bushi
• Kitsu - smallish, but highly Shugenja
• Matsu - the other contender for the largest family in the Empire, also nearly all Bushi

Phoenix

• Asako - Very varied, mixing Courtier, Monk and Shugenja
• Isawa - probably the largest Shugenja family in the Empire
• Shiba - mostly Bushi, but some Shugenja

Scorpion

• Bayushi - another large family, split between Bushi and Courtiers
• Shosuro - just Courtiers, definitely no Ninja
• Soshi - a small family of Shugenja, also no Ninja
• Yogo - another small family of Shugenja

Unicorn

• Ide - mostly courtiers
• Iuchi - mostly Shugenja, but using filthy foreign magic
• Moto - mostly Bushi, but known to produce intriguing Shugenja
• Shinjo - mostly Bushi
• Utaku - mostly Bushi

Which leads on to, how do I feel the Traits will be split by Clan: 3 tiers

Bushi:

1. Crab, Lion, Unicorn
2. Crane, Dragon, Scorpion
3. Phoenix

Courtier:

1. Crane, Scorpion
2. Crab, Phoenix, Unicorn
3. Dragon, Lion

Monk:

1. Dragon
2. Crab, Phoenix
3. Crane, Lion, Scorpion, Unicorn

Ninja

1. Scorpion
2. Crane
3. Crab, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Unicorn

Shugenja:

1. Phoenix
2. Dragon, Unicorn
3. Crab, Crane, Lion, Scorpion

Be sure not to confuse "Keyword" and "Trait". You have listed what FFG calls "Traits"

Looking at Ancestral Daisho: Weapon is a trait while Ancestral and Restricted are Keywords.

If we look at a character, Togashi Initiate for example, he has the Monk and Tattooed traits.

Also, I'm sure we won't see decks built around Traits for a while yet. Maybe not until the third year.

27 minutes ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

Dragon

• Agasha - mainly Shugenja
• Kitsuki - mainly Courtiers, but leavened with Bushi
• Mirumoto - nearly all Bushi
• Toturi - almost exclusively Monks, but with some Shugenja

Lol. We have the Toturi family. And the Iweko could be said to come from the Dragon. If we only could get the Hantei line into our ranks...

37 minutes ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

Dragon

• Toturi - almost exclusively Monks, but with some Shugenja

Togashi. Not Toturi.

And you added a Ninja listing. Excellent!

Let me tabulate some data before I post some thoughts.

I misread the title as "Taint Percentages" and thought Shadowlands players were already plotting sinister story-line tournament results.

It's worth noting that the most popular CCG uses the term "ability words" for gameplay-relevant effects like these, which are distinct from their "keywords," which have no inherent effect and merely serve to alert the player to a running theme in text appearing in a given set. It seems every publisher has its own terminology for essentially the same thing (cf. bowing is tapping is exhausting is setting, etc.). Correct me if I'm wrong as it's been awhile for me, but IIRC, L5R CCG used the term "trait" to refer to what are keywords in this iteration, did they not?

6 hours ago, Builder2 said:

It's worth noting that the most popular CCG uses the term "ability words" for gameplay-relevant effects like these, which are distinct from their "keywords," which have no inherent effect and merely serve to alert the player to a running theme in text appearing in a given set. It seems every publisher has its own terminology for essentially the same thing (cf. bowing is tapping is exhausting is setting, etc.). Correct me if I'm wrong as it's been awhile for me, but IIRC, L5R CCG used the term "trait" to refer to what are keywords in this iteration, did they not?

Other way around. Keywords are loaded and have mechanical effect. Ability words have no inherent meaning but come before a common theme of game text.

8 hours ago, Kakita Shiro said:

Also, I'm sure we won't see decks built around Traits for a while yet. Maybe not until the third year.

That depends on the courtier and bushi cards in the core set. Those are the two traits that will most likely get some support out of the gate.

9 hours ago, Danwarr said:

Be sure not to confuse "Keyword" and "Trait". You have listed what FFG calls "Traits"

I have a feeling that I am 100% going to get these backwards constantly.

10 hours ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

....

Which leads on to, how do I feel the Traits will be split by Clan: 3 tiers

Bushi:

1. Crab, Lion, Unicorn
2. Crane, Dragon, Scorpion
3. Phoenix

Courtier:

1. Crane, Scorpion
2. Crab, Phoenix, Unicorn
3. Dragon, Lion

Monk:

1. Dragon
2. Crab, Phoenix
3. Crane, Lion, Scorpion, Unicorn

Ninja

1. Scorpion
2. Crane
3. Crab, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Unicorn

Shugenja:

1. Phoenix
2. Dragon, Unicorn
3. Crab, Crane, Lion, Scorpion

I started writing up a contrast and comparison reply mainly viewed through my CCG gaming over a decade ago, which just seemed to become rambling at the end. However, I'll try to summarize what I was attempting to state in a shorter post.

Looking at the Clans and tiers that they are in (that are being drawn up through referencing the game's CCG days), which I heavily thank Tondo Karasu for putting together, one can formulate a somewhat solid understanding of the general strengths and weaknesses of the various clans. This is exactly what I, as a new player, would need when coming into the game for the sole purpose of guiding me toward the Clan most suitable to my playing style.

Of course, having stated all of the above, I'm sure your gaming group will have another approach when it comes to identifying which Clans each player would like to collect, game with and so on. For me, this would be a solid reference point to start with. And of course your mileage may vary.

12 hours ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

Phoenix

• Asako - Very varied, mixing Courtier, Monk and Shugenja
• Isawa - probably the largest Shugenja family in the Empire
• Shiba - mostly Bushi, but some Shugenja

Great job... just have a slight problem with the bolded.......

2 hours ago, Isawa Tasatu said:

Great job... just have a slight problem with the bolded.......

I was channeling Carlsberg there for a moment...

I would like to see that Artisan. and Magistrate. are traits we will get in the LCG.

Pretty much every Crane, the Kaiu, and a few Shiba had been Artisans, but I see nothing that says that members of other clans also could made to fit into that, like the Togashi, not just for their tattooing but working on other crafts (they sure seem to do so in the RPG).

And well Magistrates are neat to have. Not just for the Doji, but for the Kitsuki and their classical investigators, for the Soshi who shaped the law system of Rokugan quite a bit. For the Shinjo that enforces law all over the land. and so on... especially if we also ever should see peeps from the Wasp Clan.

That's the thing about Magistrates; everyone had them.

Since it's been confirmed that we're getting the Clan Champions in the Core, what Traits do you think they'll have? My thoughts:

• Crab - Hida Kisada - Bushi
• Crane - Doji Hotaru - Bushi Courtier
• Dragon - Togashi Yokuni - Monk
• Lion - Akodo Arasou - Bushi
• Phoenx - Shiba Ujimitsu - Bushi Scholar
• Scorpion - Bayushi Shoju - Bayushi Courtier
• Unicorn - Shinjo Altanserai - Bushi Cavalry

Could you please post the associated Clans with the Champions?

Im old and forgetful.

Oh traits to note.

Scout - A big one and looks like it will show up in Lion, Crab, Unicorn, and Crane to start. I would expect to see some cards that deal with these sneaky or crafty guys.

Elemental Traits - Most likely associated with shugenja, it will be interesting to see other cards key off of them.

Imperial - Should be largely neutral characters.

Some minor ones look to be ronin or scholar. Scholar, in particular, might be more numerous than we suspect.

Clan Champions and possible traits

Crane - Doji Hotaru - Duelist / Bushi

Crab - Hida Kisada - Bushi / Great Bear!

Unicorn - Utaku Kamoko - Cavalry / Bushi

Lion - Toturi - Bushi / Tactican

Scorpion - Bayushi Shoju - Coutier and Bushi (like the Lion coutier/bushi gal)

Phoenix - Shiba Ujimitsu - Bushi / Duelist

Dragon - Yokuni - Monk / Tattooed

1 hour ago, Kubernes said:

Unicorn - Utaku Kamoko - Cavalry / Bushi

Lion - Toturi - Bushi / Tactican

Unicorn is Shinjo Altansarnai. Lion is... Ara.. Aro... Not-Toturi.

17 minutes ago, Wintersong said:

Unicorn is Shinjo Altansarnai. Lion is... Ara.. Aro... Not-Toturi.

Arasou.

1 hour ago, Kakita Shiro said:

Arasou.

Looking over the initial article, it might be Tsuko since she was the clan champion in Imperial and the emphasis by the story line team to push more gender options.

23 hours ago, Kubernes said:

Looking over the initial article, it might be Tsuko since she was the clan champion in Imperial and the emphasis by the story line team to push more gender options.

"The Scorpion maintain a tenuous alliance with the Lion Clan’s leader, Akodo Arasou"

Maybe once Arasou has an... accident.