Can you run a whole campaign focusing on the Shadowlands? Or would the taint force you out? New to L5R and newish to RPG'S. Thanks.

You certainly could! Your PCs just need to accept the Dark Kami into their hearts, and...

Oh, you mean with heroic PCs. Still, yes, though your players should be understanding and accepting of the risks of doing so. Stock the party up with jade (or don't, if you want the risk to be higher). If the players are unwilling to risk the Taint (i.e. feel forced out of the Shadowlands), then it probably isn't the campaign for them.

But if they buy-in and are willing to accept the possible consequences, then go for it!

Note that if you keep it close to the wall, it isn't much more dangerous - the Tainting happens at a low rate, and you can always make a quick trip to the Wall to replenish your jade supplies. The deeper into the Shadowlands you go, the less each jade piece lasts and the more dangerous the enemies should be. Getting near the Pit is pretty much a suicidal mission.

Also note that the cleansing rite ritual becomes probably as important for someone to have as the medicine skill. Arguably more so!

Ultimately, it's a risky campaign; you face the taint and you face probably the scariest martial enemies in the setting. Characters getting killed is a realistic possibility. That's not inherently a problem if the players are okay with it, though.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the responses! I am really trying to figure out a way to make L5R engaging to a group that has no experience with rpg's and no idea about L5R. I would be purchasing the material and I have always been enamored with this lore/setting. Is it a stretch to think I can bring this type of group into L5R?

1 hour ago, Rhaevin80 said:

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the responses! I am really trying to figure out a way to make L5R engaging to a group that has no experience with rpg's and no idea about L5R. I would be purchasing the material and I have always been enamored with this lore/setting. Is it a stretch to think I can bring this type of group into L5R?

Yes, it is a stretch. This is an rpg for experienced players (and very experienced gamemasters).

But do not let that stop you. Everything is possible with the right amount of passion.

13 minutes ago, Avatar111 said:

Yes, it is a stretch. This is an rpg for experienced players (and very experienced gamemasters).

But do not let that stop you. Everything is possible with the right amount of passion.

Thanks Avatar. I was hoping my passion would help push it across the line. Is the system really that difficult to run for a newbie GM? Could you explain some difficulties I will experience? I don't want to sink a bunch of money into something that won't make sense to me.

9 minutes ago, Rhaevin80 said:

Thanks Avatar. I was hoping my passion would help push it across the line. Is the system really that difficult to run for a newbie GM? Could you explain some difficulties I will experience? I don't want to sink a bunch of money into something that won't make sense to me.

The system is not difficult in term of crunch, but the writing (editing?) is a bit atrocious and makes it look more complicated than it really is.

Also, the rules are very vague so it requires a lot of on the fly interpretation from the gamemaster. Which can be a good thing with the right mindset.

Some rules are very shallow, but then some others are way too obtuse for no reason. An experienced group will find their own preference in all of this, but for newcomers it can be daunting.

The setting is also complicated but if all of your group have zero experience with l5r then you will progress at your own pace and it will be fine.

It really depend on your gaming group too, you know how they play games? If they are the type of people with a very tactical playstyle, fuss when losing, or say things are unfair, or being very competitive. This is probably not the game for them.

If they are more about stories and don't care too much about mechanics or tightness of the "rules", or deciding things on the fly. This would be preferable.

Edit: @Rhaevin80 your own very thread subject speaks about how the game is, flexible. There is no square answer to your question and mechanically a campaign in the shadowland is not an issue at all if you strictly consider the rules and pick the right characters (or kiho/ritual in that case). Basically, shadowland is only as dreadful or difficult/possible as you, the gamemaster, define it is. Depending on how you interpret and/or tweak the rules and/or setting.

The system isn't hard at all, but playing L5R does require you to be more immersed in your character than other RPGs. The Bushido Code is vitally important, and much of it runs against the playstyle of many other, more established systems.

As @Avatar111 points out, it much depends on the type of people that are in your group. For instance, I've been taking a look at Invisible Sun, and it seems amazing, but there's like a total of three people in my group that would enjoy playing it, including me, so it's just another way that bunch found to disappoint me. >_> (and at 250 bucks, it's not really something I can lightly purchase just so I can toy with the system in my head) I know this without needing them to see the game, so maybe you can draw conclusions on whether your group will enjoy L5R the same way.