Hi all, this is something I am wondering about as I live in Western Europe and could potentially travel to a few of the european Koteis...

Are local players at tournaments in countries where English is not the first language usually pretty accommodating to visiting players, language wise. I know many German people are this way so I wouldn't reserve any apprehensions about going there but take for instance the upcoming Koteis in Madrid and Warsaw, where the general level of English spoken is not as high.. does anyone have any experience with this? Was it difficult or should I put my concerns aside?

I've traveled around quite a lot during the CCG era and I never had any problem communicating in English with players from anywhere in Europe.

The announcements are always done in English and in the local language.

If your English is good, you'll never have any problem playing L5R in Europe.

(Well, from my experience, that is.)

The Polish community and the Spanish community both have absolutely wonderful reputations for being welcoming and friendly hosts from the CCG era. I'm sure you would be amazed at their hospitality should you decide to attend.

Millions of years ago I used to go to a couple of French Kotei every year. No problem. Belgium too, no problem. Greece, Moussaka Championship once, also no problem. Spain I am fairly certain it would be fine too, but being a native speaker I cannot say I noticed either way!

At most in the French ones announcements tended to be in French only (but the big things like calling time or start of round they'd quickly follow with a one-sentence English version) but hardly ever played an opponent that could not understand enough English to play the game.

Considering too that when travelling around East Europe for tourism most young people I interacted with spoke passable to excellent English... I would not be too worried.

AFAIK Polish Kotei will be managed with help of experienced AGoT organisers that are known for maintaining, for many years, one of the biggest multinational AGoT tourneys in Europe - Flea Bottom Fracas.

For sure all ex-CCG people are good enough to comunicate as CCG was never released in Polish language. Back in 2013 European Championships were held in Warsaw.

That's good to hear, thanks for your replies! It is mostly gameplay wise that I was worried about as I can envision it being unenjoyable playing against someone with a language barrier present. I wont make either Madrid or Warsaw funnily enough as I have other obligations on those dates (fate, why are you so cruel!? ) but I'm sure I will attend one in a "foreign" country at some point. Will be at the kotei in Cork on January for sure, the only language barrier might be after a few pints.

In Brazil we had at least one Kotei, in AEG-era. I wasn't a L5R player then, but several friends of mine were, and it was an incredible experience.

Now, L5R LCG is coming to Brazil in Portuguese (by Galápagos Jogos publisher), and the release has caused such a rufus - old players willing to return to the game they loved so much, and new players alike (me included). So it would be really, really wonderful if FFG do a Kotei here, too.

Hi, Akodo Testsuo, sorry if it was not the intention but your message sounds a bit snob. Here, in Spain, maybe we can't talk as native people but I think you would not have problems to communicate. In addition, we know the cards in English better than in Spanish.