I think Tsukune's art if probably the best out of all the champions. It's sad that this probably means Ujimitsu is on his way out, but I guess it's hard to be too upset when they give the Phoenix players such great card art for Tsukune. I'm extremely curious to see the Phoenix clan fiction now.

I'm not still convinced that she is the Champion. In fact, I have got this idea: Ujimitsu is a conflict card; a big Champion to be a conflict would be in line with his wonky mechanics, and his lore (he shows unexpectedly around Rokugan and he disappears at the end of the turn). But then Phoenix still has a "design hole" in the Phoenix Dynasty personality line-up, so they get his second in command Tsukune as an stand it; but she is not the Champion, just a general or something.

That would be pretty awesome if it were true.

Then, why would they use her artwork in promotional banners? If Ujimitsu is the Champion and a big card, why wouldn't they use his art along the other champions?

Even more so as Tsukune is drawn in the same style as other clans Champions.

Moreover, a big character as a conflict card seems to defeat the goal of character conflict cards. It would be so obvious... "Hey, you sure you don't want to spend any of your 7 fate in the Dynasty Phase? Yeah, don't feel like it, but I promise I don't have any Ujimitsu... -_-"

Who knows! To keep us on our toes! This way, nobody expects the Phoenix Champion!

2 minutes ago, Mon no Oni said:

Who knows! To keep us on our toes! This way, nobody expects the Phoenix Champion!

You mean, in game, everybody expect him when you don't use any of your fate?

4 minutes ago, KerenRhys said:

You mean, in game, everybody expect him when you don't use any of your fate?

And then : surprise ! You didn't have it xD

Just now, MrMenthe said:

And then : surprise ! You didn't have it xD

A turn without character seems a bit costly for a surprise, don't you think?

May be he is a relatively cheap character (for a Champion). After all, he is not going to stick around for next turn.

Does anybody else want to see Phoenix get two high-costers, our Champion, and an Elemental Master (I'm thinking Void for the purposes of this thought experiment)? Maybe the Master at 4 cost, low stats (relatively speaking, though balanced), and awesome abilities? The pseudo-meritocratic institution of the Elemental Council are a part of the Phoenix fluff that I'm a pretty big fan of.

2 minutes ago, Isawa Miyu said:

Does anybody else want to see Phoenix get two high-costers, our Champion, and an Elemental Master (I'm thinking Void for the purposes of this thought experiment)? Maybe the Master at 4 cost, low stats (relatively speaking, though balanced), and awesome abilities? The pseudo-meritocratic institution of the Elemental Council are a part of the Phoenix fluff that I'm a pretty big fan of.

If we don't see any Masters in the core I'll be a little surprised. But, we've already seen a 5 coster with Tsukune. I imagine we'll see them sooner rather than later.

17 minutes ago, Mon no Oni said:

May be he is a relatively cheap character (for a Champion). After all, he is not going to stick around for next turn.

AFAIK, you can add additional fate on conflict characters you bring into play normally. It's just on characters brought into play by powers that you can't. So, no real reason to make him cheaper just because he's conflict (and if he's brought into play by a his power and can't stay more than 1 turn, it would seems a little lackluster for Champion to me).

Are you sure about that? I was under the impression that Conflict characters coudn't be fate-boosted, at least not by default. In any case, a concept like Ujimitsu's could well have some additonal restriction added to him just to avoid that.

3 minutes ago, Mon no Oni said:

Are you sure about that? I was under the impression that Conflict characters coudn't be fate-boosted, at least not by default. In any case, a concept like Ujimitsu's could well have some additonal restriction added to him just to avoid that.

Conflict characters that are played from hand can have fate added to them as normal, but as outlined in the Lion preview, cards that enter play via card abilities cannot.

As sure as I can be without rulebook and without enough time to dig the forum to find the necessary quote. Sorry, I can't confirm 100% but I'm sure somebody will bring proof of me being right or wrong pretty soon.

Edit: See what I meant, I didn't even had time to write my answer before having a confirmation.

Okay the Phoenix card spoiler article is officially my most anticipated FFG article now.