As a Mantis (read 'Wandering Ronin') with a long commute but no place to go, I'm on the hunt for a new Clan and have lots of time to read.
So, which is your favourite fiction from Old5R that shows off your Clan and will convince me, and potentially some other Mantis/Spider/newbies to join with you?
Second this as a newbie. (I mean I'm leaning towards dragon for now but at the moment my loyalty is... flexible).
When I get home I'll link some perennial favorites- we've had a couple of threads like this, maybe we should see if someone can sticky one of them...
I don't remember the name but I loved the story of how dragonfly clan was formed. A love story that earned them a minor clan status.
And like all good Samurai love stories it starts and ends with a tragedy.
1 minute ago, Devin-the-Poet said:I don't remember the name but I loved the story of how dragonfly clan was formed. A love story that earned them a minor clan status.
And like all good Samurai love stories it starts and ends with a tragedy.
and starts a centuries long feud.
Anything that had to do with Kisada. The story about 5 year old Kisada from the Way of the Crab where he killed the three older lion boys was great. While I'm shadowlands at heart (been playing it since they became a faction in jade), Kisada is by far my favorite character. He is just a complete badass.
But does it really make sense to read and decide based on the old fiction, maybe appreciating certain characters or events that may not be the same in the new universe?
I'm new too to the game and lore, but I would just suggest to wait, keep reading the new fictions and spoilers, and decide based on that. I think you will have enough info to make your choice.
"A Dangerous Game" - From the Winter Court (Kyuden Seppun) supplement. This story is about the interplay between Hoturi and Kachiko. Reading this story and the Crane fiction by FFG can serve to be quite interesting.
Not so much a fiction, but an account of the Unicorn's journey away from the empire and back. Starts at page 20 in Way of the Unicorn and continues to page 39. They are attacked by raiders and mythical beasts, are lost for a time, are split up into four factions for a while, are slaves to foreign sorcerers and more... Even after all of this, they escape, regroup and march through the shadowlands to return to Rokugan. Battered and lessened by number, they must face the Crab army upon their return to the wall. They break through and then must face the combined forces of the Lion and Scorpion... It's an account that has always stood out to me.
"Necessary Evil" - Spotlight on Tadaka and his attempt to bind an Oni to his will.
http://www.kazenoshiro.com/2012/05/09/necessary-evil-clan-war-fiction/
"Broken Thunder" - Taken from the 1000 Years of Darkness alternate L5R universe. It probably does more to highlight Tadaka as a character than any other fiction before it.
http://www.kazenoshiro.com/2007/01/02/broken-thunder-2/
"Seige Clan War" - The Day of Thunder revisited.
http://www.kazenoshiro.com/2015/08/20/siege-clan-war-rulebook-story/
Oh and finally, "The Path of Blood" from the 1st Edition RPG Rulebook. Ginawa and the cursed bloodsword he wields on the path of revenge.
Edited by AnemuraThe rulebook will have fluff for each clan, which could also help steer players to the faction most befitting them.
I can't remember what the title was, but I love that fiction series of a ronin shugenja, previously of the Phoenix, trying to make a living in the Second City selling charms and trinkets. It's not really a clan fiction, but it was really nice.
1 hour ago, daimaru said:I can't remember what the title was, but I love that fiction series of a ronin shugenja, previously of the Phoenix, trying to make a living in the Second City selling charms and trinkets. It's not really a clan fiction, but it was really nice.
That would be Yoon Ha Lee's excellent, "Small _______" series- searching Kaze no Shiro by the author's name should turn up most of them.
On 7/6/2017 at 7:09 PM, Zesu Shadaban said:Second this as a newbie. (I mean I'm leaning towards dragon for now but at the moment my loyalty is... flexible).
If your loyalty is flexible, then you have already found a home...... Scorpion. 
9 minutes ago, LordBlunt said:If your loyalty is flexible, then you have already found a home...... Scorpion.
I can't tell if you're being ironic or not.
2 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:That would be Yoon Ha Lee's excellent, "Small _______" series- searching Kaze no Shiro by the author's name should turn up most of them.
I know it's difficult with old continuity having been discontinued and all, but I'd love at least some of the old fiction to be recovered, given maybe an editorial polish, and be published as an actual book. Yoon Ha Lee's stuff would be an ideal candidate, being now a succesful F&SF author and candidate to several awards for the last couple of years.
Edited by Mon no Oni