5 minutes ago, UnitOmega said:Generally, FFG's policy with NPCs seems to be that they provide you the bare minimum and you scale up (i/e add templates) as needed because NPCs should not outshine PCs, merely present challenges to them, because your game isn't about the NPCs (and I'm of the mind if it is you should go write your novel instead). This keeps NPC notes more compact and means no more 90s era "you literally cannot defeat this character don't even try". I know some people in the SWRPG community who think they lowballed Vader's stats for instance, but if you're using Vader as a plot point then you should use him like one - I think there's a web adventure which is "Vader advances 1 range band per round, if he catches you you're ****ing dead mate" version. Which may be thematically appropriate, but probably not the advice you use for general play. Similarly, most high-power NPCs in Rokugan don't need to roll a single die to **** your samurai up - they just demand your seppuku, or cast you out as Ronin, or they have the guards seize you. If you think giving Toshimoko a 5th skill die makes it better for your game, go for it.
definitely.
its just a bit iffy if you are like "they summon toshimoko for this duel!" and your players know (because they read the lore a bit) that toshimoko is like a big time duelist (if not the best) but then your rank 3 bushi wrecks him without sweating.
sure, for most rank 1 or early rank 2, the way they present toshimoko he is almost unbeatable unless your PC are extrememly lucky. I guess it depends how high rank are your PC and if they care that Toshimoko is suppose to be good or just another bushi with ring 4 skill 4.
I absolutely don't want to give the players the impression of throwing Orcus at them if they are level 1. But I also don't want toshimoko to be a push over (which he kind of is against most PC close to rank 3 that focused their character on duelling at the moment.)
I was simply merely thinking that having toshimoko for this duel could be a bit overkill, and probably another kenshinzen would have been more suited. Then again, switching a bit of stuff as I see fit is really a non-issue. We are merely just chit chatting about stuff.