I'm looking at picking up a living card game to enjoy.

What has drawn me to this is the story aspect of it and the art looks great. But I do have two questions:

1. How easy is it to transform what happens in the card game into an actual story?

I'm someone who likes to write stories, and usually enjoys playing stories in RPG's and turning gameplay into fiction. It'd be fun if I could do the same here.

2. How easy is the game to play solo?

I'm not likely to get many games against an opponent, but it doesn't look like a game to play alone.

2 minutes ago, Pariah Longsight said:

I'm looking at picking up a living card game to enjoy.

What has drawn me to this is the story aspect of it and the art looks great. But I do have two questions:

1. How easy is it to transform what happens in the card game into an actual story?

I'm someone who likes to write stories, and usually enjoys playing stories in RPG's and turning gameplay into fiction. It'd be fun if I could do the same here.

2. How easy is the game to play solo?

I'm not likely to get many games against an opponent, but it doesn't look like a game to play alone.

You should be able to fictionalize it pretty easily, but it doesn't play solo at all.

There tends to be at least some unofficial online support for these games so that might be an avenue for you to play. However, battles are fairly interactive, and if you follow the play by play, there is probably something you could there by noting the actions and order they happen in.

You will be able to turn it in to fiction (that obviously will contradict the main fiction lots of times), but it's important to remember how much of what we see mechanically is a metaphor. When a character leaves play, they aren't dieing (necessarily), but rather their impact on the story is ending...for now. Even in mirror matches, which would represent different elements of the clan struggling against itself, the same clan champion on both sides represents the champion trying to mediate and assist each side get what they want.

Also, the politicking will be ripe for creative fictionalizing.

Here's hoping that we can get a "Who plays near me" feature going on this forum.

I used to play, and would love to start again.

Thank you for your replies. Good to know.

Don't mind it doesn't play solo, just means I'll have to get a regular opponent. My current gamer foe has been so selfish and inconsiderate as to get married, so I rarely see him. Ah to be in love.

Perhaps I should ask out one of my lovely lady friends. Top of the dating agenda, politics and conflict.....

.....sounds like love and marriage to me

I think that L5R is great for female players.
So go and find yourself a lady to play with!

Best I can recommend would be to talk to your local game store and let them know you're interested in the game. There obviously aren't as many active groups at the moment, because of the two-year wait period, but once the game releases there should be a renewed interest, and you may be able to find a regular gaming group in your area if you want.

When I first played it was with my friends old cards. I don't even know when that was. But I had a phoenix courtier who would bow and send target home from battle. We decided that she wrote love letters to keep her love out of battle. I got three of her in play one game and battles kept happening but nobody would show up.

5 hours ago, jcharpjr71 said:

Here's hoping that we can get a "Who plays near me" feature going on this forum.

I used to play, and would love to start again.

There was a thread a while back called "where are you" for people to engage in preliminary networking. I have included one post from that thread that has a link to a map showing player location.

On 4/25/2017 at 2:30 PM, hoonZilla said:

A kind redditor (/u/KawaiiNin) has set up a map here where we can all add our locations and clan allegiance. Looks like it will be great to visually see where everybody is.

Link to original reddit post.

Thank You Doji Hana.

I added myself to the map. Hope we can get something rolling here in Southern New England.

1 hour ago, jcharpjr71 said:

Thank You Doji Hana.

I added myself to the map. Hope we can get something rolling here in Southern New England.

No problem. Go Sox!

3 hours ago, jcharpjr71 said:

Thank You Doji Hana.

I added myself to the map. Hope we can get something rolling here in Southern New England.

Best region in the States to play in, IMHO.

@jcharpjr71 Hey, that Battleground Games & Hobbies place looks pretty close to us. Been there yet? I have not, but if they're on the map maybe they'll have some open play days when we could get a regular playgroup going!

4 hours ago, jcharpjr71 said:

Thank You Doji Hana.

I added myself to the map. Hope we can get something rolling here in Southern New England.

If you and @twinstarbmc can make it to Norton on Monday nights, we have a regular LCG group that meets and I'll definitely be playing L5R. I'm also going to be talking to a friend who owns a place in Providence to start an LCG night on Thursdays, as well as something in Worcester for Wednesdays.

I recommend joining the New England LCG Group on Facebook where we post our events and tournaments.

Edit: if that's you in Woonsocket, I'm in Pawtucket. We could meet up after release sometime and get games in too.

8 minutes ago, twinstarbmc said:

@jcharpjr71 Hey, that Battleground Games & Hobbies place looks pretty close to us. Been there yet? I have not, but if they're on the map maybe they'll have some open play days when we could get a regular playgroup going!

Nope, been out of all card game stuff for a couple of years. Would love to start up again in 70 odd days when the new set drops though.

9 minutes ago, magikot said:

If you and @twinstarbmc can make it to Norton on Monday nights, we have a regular LCG group that meets and I'll definitely be playing L5R. I'm also going to be talking to a friend who owns a place in Providence to start an LCG night on Thursdays, as well as something in Worcester for Wednesdays.

I recommend joining the New England LCG Group on Facebook where we post our events and tournaments.

Edit: if that's you in Woonsocket, I'm in Pawtucket. We could meet up after release sometime and get games in too.

That is me in Woonsocket, that sounds good.

13 minutes ago, magikot said:

If you and @twinstarbmc can make it to Norton on Monday nights, we have a regular LCG group that meets and I'll definitely be playing L5R. I'm also going to be talking to a friend who owns a place in Providence to start an LCG night on Thursdays, as well as something in Worcester for Wednesdays.

Wednesdays in Worcester sound good, too. I got a buddy in Worcester, we used to play a lot of Netrunner, and L5R back in the day. Definitely looking for a regular playgroup that's bigger than just the two of us.

2 minutes ago, twinstarbmc said:

Wednesdays in Worcester sound good, too. I got a buddy in Worcester, we used to play a lot of Netrunner, and L5R back in the day. Definitely looking for a regular playgroup that's bigger than just the two of us.

If you still play netrunner, we have 6-8 people on Monday for it.