While we don't know a good number of the cards that will be released in the Core set, which deck are you thinking you will play, and which other Clan will you ally with your Influence? Secondly, why are choosing to game with this deck?

Get as specific as you wish, or as general as you want.

I'll start:

I'm going to begin playing L5R LCG with a Dragon deck with either Lion support (for higher Military cards) or with Crane support for cards that will help me out with Political support... Am also thinking of switching Crane for Scorpion support, in the same role of Political support, but only after I see what options either Clan brings to the table.

Why I am choosing this deck? Because I would like to have a balanced approach to dealing with Military and Political threats, and more importantly, Monks are just too cool to pass up!

So, a Dragon deck that will use its Influence to bring in either Crane or Scorpion cards.

And you???

Since I will going to build first a Crane deck, since that is my clan, here my thoughts:

Crane with Dragon crads: for duel superiority. At least that is what I assume could make that work, but have to wait and see how the duel crads actually are and if the clans will have cards that further support duels.

Crane with Lion cards: for all-rounder decks, and probably honour running, through honouring my peeps. Also in the hope to re-establish the Claw and Feather Allienace!

Crane with Phoenix cards: for lockdown and very defensive honour running decks. Also to honour the traditional friendship between the Crane and the Phoenix!

Crane with Scorpion cards: for political dominance and also probably for honour/dishonour control and all that nasty stuff, with playing scorpion cards out of a Crane box giving me some honour to spend on nefarious things.

Anyway, I still have to see more conflict cards to get a better feel what could actually work and what is just a pipe dream.

If there are Shadowlands cards in the core set I'm trying to corrupt all the clans. If that's not an option I'll try for some pairings that have interesting synergies or combos. For example Dragon deck paired with Crane to try and work the Mirumoto Prodigy/Admit Defeat combo

I will be playing a Dragon deck because the Dragon's philosophy is the one I most agree with. I'll probably be focusing on Military conflicts, since that's the type of victory condition that most appeals to me, but I'd also love to be able to make it competent at Political conflicts. While I'd love to choose my splash-clan based on flavor, I feel that I really need to choose what makes the most sense gameplay-wise. Right now I'm thinking of splashing Crab; I don't know exactly what every clan's strategy will be, but since the Crab seem to be the defensive military clan with large, single threats and the Dragon seem to be about buffing up small numbers of cards into large threats, I the Crab will be the best compliment for my desired deck.

Phoenix (because at this point, shifting my allegiance is not merely uninteresting, it'd also be a climbdown my monumental ego couldn't endure!)

With either Crab cards (in honor of what I feel is a fairly natural alliance that never really got to come to fruition in the old days and which I helped spearhead at Winter Court 4), even if it makes for an awkward fit.... and Crab defensive tricks might be exactly what the Phoenix need to get their weird ring manipulation rolling.

or-

Dragon cards for full mystic mayhem.

or

Unicorn cards. Because I'm a rider at the gates of dawn and I take no prisoners.

I figure I'll probably do Phoenix main with Crane sub, but I might do Scorpion sub for the fun tricks plus honoring the twins Shiba and Bayushi (though that might not be in the new canon.)

Though honestly, it's probably going to depend if there are clan-specific spells and what they are.

I will be going with Crab, probably with Scorpion support to try and make Crab dishonor a thing again.

Unicorn, with Lion Support.

And the second deck will probably be Scorpion with Phoenix support.

Pure Unicorn. Only neutral support.

Alternatively, I would splash based on needs. Right now, Phoenix seems a good option based on Seeker of Knowledge and Pacifism . So does Lion with Vengeful Oathkeeper . Once we have the full list of cards though, I do not know yet.

I play an only-samurai Crane (all characters have to be samurai, followers may be not samurai only if they bring honor), the more honorable for their cost. It's an honor deck, but also (elite) military. Like a Doji Elite Guard.

So I guess I will mainly ally with Lions, and maybe some rare high honor Crabs (for their strong ability of standing their ground).

Crane with Unicorn.

Aggression combined with initiative. Unicorn so far seem the only ones who can potentially increase your fate gain conflict wise.

Also flavorwise a good match.

Edit : scrap that idea. The card I wanted to include is loyal.

Gonna build a Scorpion deck and I intend to test out ALL the possibilities until the first dynasty pack hits the stores
My dream deck would be Scorpion with Crane however.... X.X

At some point I want to make Phoenix dishonor happen (nobody expects the Phoenix inquisition), but I don't think it will be a viable option with only the core set, so maybe Phoenix with a splash of Crane for fast honor. We have seen too few cards yet.

7 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

Phoenix (because at this point, shifting my allegiance is not merely uninteresting, it'd also be a climbdown my monumental ego couldn't endure!)

..

Unicorn cards. Because I'm a rider at the gates of dawn and I take no prisoners.

LOL!!!

I was drinking coffee and started reading this,... laughed so uncontrollably that my coffee started coming out of my nose.

I will use a Crab base, with a Lion or Unicorn alliance. The Crab will be a strong military and defense. Lion alliance will help me with the attack capability so I can break their attack force quicker and assist my breaking of provinces, as well as assist against honor loss, but will leave me weaker on political. Unicorn alliance will help me be more mobile and provide added military and political power, but i will be weak against honor loss.

Additionally a Dragon splash can assist me in duels and provide an honor game with balanced added military and political power. I will have to do some play-testing when more cards are revealed to determine what deck is better.

4 hours ago, Doji Guard said:

I play an only-samurai Crane (all characters have to be samurai, followers may be not samurai only if they bring honor), the more honorable for their cost. It's an honor deck, but also (elite) military. Like a Doji Elite Guard.

So I guess I will mainly ally with Lions, and maybe some rare high honor Crabs (for their strong ability of standing their ground).

Nearly all characters are samurai this time around. The new term to grow used to (technically old for fans of the RPG) is Bushi .

I'll be running a Unicorn deck with Crane support, because neither clan wants anything to do with the Lion out the gate and I'm totally cool with an alliance based on mutual hatred.

I'm curious to see how the "splashing" will work out. You can declare only one military conflict, so I don't know how much having two military clans will help. I would think pairing a military deck with political, or the other way around, would be the way to go. Unless they plan on having clan conflict cards with synergy really well off the bat.

I like to build most of my decks to focus on only one clan. My first deck will focus on Crane dueling and my second will be Scorpion dishonor.

Given my play style and the cards we have seen so far, I may end up playing Phoenix with a side of Scorpion. Don't come fight me; I will send you home or just straight up discard you.

19 minutes ago, Shu2jack said:

I'm curious to see how the "splashing" will work out. You can declare only one military conflict, so I don't know how much having two military clans will help. I would think pairing a military deck with political, or the other way around, would be the way to go. Unless they plan on having clan conflict cards with synergy really well off the bat.

That was my thinking until a few cards were shown. Now, I want to believe that it would be possible to go heavy military (something like Lion with Unicorn?) and still be able to possibly punch 2 provinces in a single turn, but will there be a way to carry out a military and political conflict with a primarily military deck with military support? I would say no, however too early to tell... How fun it would be to run a Crane deck with Scorpion support and just go for continual political conflicts all around, while rarely if ever utilizing a military conflict? (possible, sure, but not probable, imo)

I want to try out Lion with Scorpion Influence and burn my honor for explosive effect.

I'm just gonna run back 45 Ujimitsus in both decks.

I like to name my decks.

Bitter Lions: Scorpion/Lion Military Honor Control. Using the Lion to shore up scorpion honor loss.

One Wing Angel: Scorpion/Crane Political Dueling. The two most political clans seems like something that would work.

Incomparable Mushu: Scorpion/Dragon Dishonor Military Duel, because of reasons.

The first two seem, based on current flavor and traditional clan theme, to be the most viable. The third is because I need to make a deck that is also a dad joke.

I'm going to go Mantis (focusing on Tsuruchi, of course), but I may splash in a Ratling or three.

Obviously, I'll be focusing on archery (regardless of how it works, mechanically), and the Ratlings will be there for a bit of swarming surprise!

Based only on the couple of cards we've seen Crane honor with Phoenix via influence. Basically Seeker of Knowledge seems really sweet. 2 to the skill Crane focuses on and the opportunity to get the air ring effect twice a turn. 4 honor just from conflicts (maybe), yes please. Besides I assume Phoenix will also have some focus on winning honor.