Which do you think will be in the core set and why?

Shoju, because artwork already exists that suggests he's clan champ.

I'm certain it will be Shoju as the first set is doing every Champion. We'll find out exactly why Shiba Tsukune is the Champion of the Phoenix soon enough, but we know Shoju is the Champion of the Scorpion. That doesn't mean we won't get a Kachiko card with Shoju, but it looks like the other clans have all received just the Champion, with no other major characters so Kachiko will likely wait until an expansion. I bet the first few expansions will each introduce another major character, so we'll get Yakamo, Hitomi, Kachiko, Toshimoko ect soon enough.

Both; Shoju as champion is going to be 5 fate, Kachiko as the "face" of the clan could show up as 4 fate. I know it's not likely as FFG seems to be going with one AEG character and two or more new ones but it is possible.

They've already name-dropped several characters who are not, so far as we know, carded... Kachiko might well be waiting in the wings for a future expansion.

I'm hoping that Shoju and Kachiko get made as the "military champion" and "political champion" of the clan respectively. It's unlikely to happen, but I'm hoping.

I think it will be shoju for sure.

I think Kachiko will be released with big names from the other clans!

As others said, Shoju will be in for sure. But why not both?

If you take a look at the picture on the box, the woman in the center might very well be Bayhushi Kachiko. From "Her Father's Daughter":

"Kachiko’s eyes glinted through the minimal mask that framed them, leaving the rest of her features, as fine as delicate porcelain, exposed"

The mask in the image does look very minimal to me. Now that could be something that's not unique to Kachiko, but it's enough for me to consider the possibility. As for this being related to the chance of that illustration being on a card: the Crane on the left does not seem to match a card we know right now, but the Lion bushi on the right is Vengeful Oathkeeper. So she might be Kachiko and still not have a card in the Core Set, but I see no reason to be completely certain she won't be there.

If I was a betting man, i would guess that the image on box would be another non-unique character. I'm sure the Scorpion are capable of having more than one moderately attractive woman.

I would also speculate that if Kachiko makes an appearance in the core set, it is more likely to be as the art on a conflict card, such as an event card. A character card would be better timed to coincide with some development in the story between her and Hotaru, I think.

I hope they wait on Kachiko, just for one set. That way she can be OP as they're not committed to keeping the specific card in future rotations.

3 hours ago, shosuko said:

I'm certain it will be Shoju as the first set is doing every Champion. We'll find out exactly why Shiba Tsukune is the Champion of the Phoenix soon enough, but we know Shoju is the Champion of the Scorpion. That doesn't mean we won't get a Kachiko card with Shoju, but it looks like the other clans have all received just the Champion, with no other major characters so Kachiko will likely wait until an expansion. I bet the first few expansions will each introduce another major character, so we'll get Yakamo, Hitomi, Kachiko, Toshimoko ect soon enough.

The Tsukune thing is still speculation isn't? FFG hasn't said anything about it yet that I am aware of.

17 minutes ago, MoZi said:

The Tsukune thing is still speculation isn't? FFG hasn't said anything about it yet that I am aware of.

Well - what we know is that each clan is getting 1 main character released, and that it is a 5 cost character, and that it is the Clan Champion. I think all other characters have been new or generic.

Tsukune has been revealed as a 4/4 character with 5 fate cost. Since she is 5 cost, and a main character from the story, it's unlikely she isn't the Clan Champion with the current trend. Why she is clan champion, and what awesome ability makes a cost 5 4/4 character worth it? We have yet to find out.

36 minutes ago, MoZi said:

The Tsukune thing is still speculation isn't? FFG hasn't said anything about it yet that I am aware of.

There's also the matter of official art releases which specifically depict clan champions. There's a group pic of the champions that includes her, the banners from the French event had her as well as the other clan champions. If for some reason she is NOT the actual champion, then I call shenanigans because it would mean they have someone who isn't the champion essentially filling the champion's position for core set deck purposes. It's not impossible, but seems like a strange design choice, and in practical terms it would more or less make her the champion for play purposes.

It's not like Phoenix didn't sometimes get a, let's say, Elemental Master now and then when everybody else got a new Champion (or an experienced version of their current Champion.

1 hour ago, Mon no Oni said:

It's not like Phoenix didn't sometimes get a, let's say, Elemental Master now and then when everybody else got a new Champion (or an experienced version of their current Champion.

Phoenix generally didn't get EMs as fixed cards- the clan champ, some daimyo, sure, but Elemental Masters were usually rares...

Regardless of which, Tsukune is an established champion from Phoenix lore, so there's a healthy basis to the idea that she's the champ.

6 hours ago, shosuko said:

I'm certain it will be Shoju as the first set is doing every Champion.

Was this actually stated to be the case? If so, I must have missed it; but if not, what mechanical implications might arise from them making Kachiko be the exception to the "Champ is clan's primary badass" design philosophy? From a purely aesthetic standpoint I'll grant it'd be rather unsettling, but it's precisely that discomfiture that I feel would be a clever way of setting the tone of the Scorpion Clan from the get go.

39 minutes ago, Ide Yoshiya said:

Was this actually stated to be the case? If so, I must have missed it; but if not, what mechanical implications might arise from them making Kachiko be the exception to the "Champ is clan's primary badass" design philosophy? From a purely aesthetic standpoint I'll grant it'd be rather unsettling, but it's precisely that discomfiture that I feel would be a clever way of setting the tone of the Scorpion Clan from the get go.

It hasn't been explicitly stated that it is the case - but so far the theme is pretty consistent. Every clan is getting their Champion, and new supporting characters. The fiction shows other characters exist such as Shizue, Kachiko, Tsuko ect but none of them have been given cards. I believe this is because the core set doesn't have the power budget to give you 2 characters who merit a fully powered 5 fate card the way Toshimoko, Kachiko, and others would. Art was displayed that showed all of the champions, including Toturi together. This is why we firmly believe Tsukune will be the Phoenix champ and that Shoju will be with the Scorpion.

FFG could do anything - so I don't want to speculate on "what ifs" about this. The pattern seems pretty clear and I don't see any reason for them to deviate.

I feel like some people may prefer Kachiko to Shoju because Shoju died so early in the storyline, where Toturi, Hoturi, Kisada ect all had a more lasting impact on the story. Some Scorpion clan players may identify more with Kachiko, and her character is certainly flushed out more fully - BUT - Shoju is the champ, and for those of us who do appreciate him, it would be more preferable to have the real champ back in action. I am personally much more excited to see Shoju actually last in the story to be developed and have an impact than I am to get Kachiko back.

I mean - I like Kachiko - but she isn't the iconic Clan Champion that Shoju was to me. Shoju is likely the most fortunate character in this reboot as he can finally get a chance to have a real story instead of being sacrificed to the SCC. For Kachiko, I can wait for an expansion. Odds are the expansions will toss other big names into the mix. This isn't a CCG, the first expansion will be out shortly after the core set, no reason to wish Shoju ill just b/c someone doesn't want to wait 1 more month...

12 minutes ago, shosuko said:

I am personally much more excited to see Shoju actually last in the story to be developed and have an impact than I am to get Kachiko back.

I mean - I like Kachiko - but she isn't the iconic Clan Champion that Shoju was to me. Shoju is likely the most fortunate character in this reboot as he can finally get a chance to have a real story instead of being sacrificed to the SCC.

I know posting "me too" is bad form, but I cannot possibly "like" this hard enough. As a Shoju fan boy going waaaaay back, his inclusion is the most exciting part of the reboot to me.

If FFG rips that away from me, I will be very dissapointed.

43 minutes ago, Yogo Gohei said:

I know posting "me too" is bad form, but I cannot possibly "like" this hard enough. As a Shoju fan boy going waaaaay back, his inclusion is the most exciting part of the reboot to me.

If FFG rips that away from me, I will be very dissapointed.

Hey! Did you all see that FFG leaked some info about the Scorpion fiction? Apparently it's to be entitled, " The Unexpected, Yet Completely Definite Death of Shoju after Contributing Nothing to the Story "! It sure sounds exciting, and I can't wait t-

<reads previous post>

Well...this is awkward. So, speaking of changing subjects...

4 hours ago, shosuko said:

Well - what we know is that each clan is getting 1 main character released, and that it is a 5 cost character, and that it is the Clan Champion. I think all other characters have been new or generic.

Tsukune has been revealed as a 4/4 character with 5 fate cost. Since she is 5 cost, and a main character from the story, it's unlikely she isn't the Clan Champion with the current trend. Why she is clan champion, and what awesome ability makes a cost 5 4/4 character worth it? We have yet to find out.

Action: During a conflict, bow this character. You win the game. (Max once per conflict)

2 minutes ago, JJ48 said:

Hey! Did you all see that FFG leaked some info about the Scorpion fiction? Apparently it's to be entitled, " The Unexpected, Yet Completely Definite Death of Shoju after Contributing Nothing to the Story "! It sure sounds exciting, and I can't wait t-

<reads previous post>

Well...this is awkward. So, speaking of changing subjects...

Action: During a conflict, bow this character. You win the game. (Max once per conflict)

I know the Phoenix deserve some love after their CCG tribulations, but that is a bit much

The Phoenix should be given good cards, while being gently reminded of their second-class clan status jk

Just now, Kuni Katsuyoshi said:

I know the Phoenix deserve some love after their CCG tribulations, but that is a bit much

So..."Max once per turn "?

Just now, JJ48 said:

So..."Max once per turn "?

How about

If this character enters a conflict. Bow this character and weep softly

Maybe she will be the enlightenment victory? Action: If you have claimed 4 rings, you may declare an additional conflict of any type this turn. If you have claimed all 5 rings at the end of this turn, win the game.

28 minutes ago, shosuko said:

Maybe she will be the enlightenment victory? Action: If you have claimed 4 rings, you may declare an additional conflict of any type this turn. If you have claimed all 5 rings at the end of this turn, win the game.

I suppose something like that has a small chance of working, if your opponent doesn't have a way to stop you from trolling their attacks with Show of Force (you claim the ring worth that card effect, right?)

12 minutes ago, Zesu Shadaban said:

I suppose something like that has a small chance of working, if your opponent doesn't have a way to stop you from trolling their attacks with Show of Force (you claim the ring worth that card effect, right?)

Yes, you do claim the ring with Display of Power. I think this would be pretty epic if that were her ability, as it would blend the thematic of Phoenix being both pacifists but also powerful if they could make it through a round claiming all 4 rings that are normally available with enough gusto remaining to fight and win still once more. I doubt this is her ability, but I'm super excited to see what it is. My most realistic expectation is that she does not bow during defense resolution, allowing her into 2-3 conflicts in a single turn which then makes her stats line up with what the other Champion's get.