![]() The classes are generally well constructed, and many have abilities that are interesting and useful. Most of the major clans have two prestige classes each. The sensei of the dojo and some notable students are given some brief descriptions, including cursory stats (in the d20 system, just classes and levels.)Įach dojo also grants a social benefit and a training benefit unique to the dojo in addition to the social and training benefits described above. Each chapter has a good deal of exposition and background behind the dojo. There are eight chapters devoted to major clans (including Mantis), one devoted minor clans, one devoted to the Shadowlands, and one devoted to Ronin. The rest of the book is divided into 11 chapters, each describing dojo of various clans. A Rokugan character who trains at a given dojo receives a social benefit in certain bonuses to skill rolls (primarily social) with members of their dojo, and receive a training benefit in th form of a limited version of the know the school feat that only applies to members of their own dojo as a bonus feat. The effects of a kata can be ended by the user at will.ĭojos, martial schools where samurai train, are briefly discussed. Some simple katas available to most clans have a very low price in terms of XP, but have a penalty in addition to the bonus. Once the ritual of the kata is performed, the character gains a benefit for a period of time 2-4 times the preparation time of the kata. Katas are performed over a period of time, usually 10 minutes to an hour. Rather, they have prerequisites similar to feats, but is paid for directly by experience points. Katas are not paid for by feats, nor are they class abilities. In the d20 system, they are merely short (5-level) prestige classes with many requirements in terms of clan technique feats.Ī new mechanic is introduced, katas. New Paths are introduced that allow the character to combine training into a unique fighting style. It also introduces the mechanics to be used in the chapters that follow. The chapter-sized introduction starts the book off with a short story, a discussion of the history of the samurai, their weapons, and the nature (and evolution) of honor and the bushido code. The art is generally good and uses rather bold lines, though some of the depicted characters are visually interesting. The interior text is fairly dense, similar to a WotC product. The blue ink is used to offset L5R system text, as well as being used for headers and border tabs. The interior uses black ink as well as blue ink. For samurai armor, it is somewhat revealing, baring her cleavage and midriff. The front cover has a color picture of a woman in samurai-style armor wielding a katana. The cover of the book has the same rice-paper with blue binding look that other d20 Rokugan books have. That price is somewhat high for the page count. Way of the Samurai is a 96 page perfect-bound softcover book (printed on heavy stock paper that makes it seem thicker than a WotC classbook) priced at $24.95. This review is primarily concerned with the product's value to those using the d20 system and will not attempt to evaluate the L5R system mechanics in the product. The book discusses the samurai warriors of the Rokugan setting and provides additional game rules for their fighting techniques. Way of the Samurai marks the first dual stat book with game statistics for both the d20 system and the Legend of the Five Rings second edition game. AEG made their Rokugan setting available as a d20 system game world by their acclaimed Rokugan hardcover and the follow-up volumes Creatures of Rokugan and Magic of Rokugan.
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