Here's the most important thing about Inversions: There's a sidebar pointing out that outside of Phoenix lands, there may be severe social consequences to casually creating rifts in reality.

Here's the most important thing about Inversions: There's a sidebar pointing out that outside of Phoenix lands, there may be severe social consequences to casually creating rifts in reality.

Finally saw this...
And the wheels on the wagon aren't wobbling anymore, one of them just flew off.
Shoju is publicly slammed, blindsided, and his legitimacy undermined. Kachiko, who put him in this mess, is now with Hotaru. His ability to usefully fulfill his duty as regent or even to simply maintain order is crippled.
Toturi is plunged into the incredible disgrace of being a ronin. Meaning the Lion, tangled up in their scrap with the Crane and the Unicorn, are about to become wholly Tsuko's to command- Toturi had little influence, but he had some. That's over now.
Sumiko is out of the picture, meaning Hitomi is probably the highest-ranking Dragon in the capital. With that army. In this situation.
Yoshi is ascendant... and Yoshi, as we have seen, is pathologically incapable of doing the right thing, although at least he's not longer moving from easily-avoided blunder to easily-avoided blunder- I think I get to sort of retire his hashtag. Thank heavens. His new one is much better for his narrative role and his utility as a character: #KakitaYoshiisaBastard. Much better. He's still blinkered by thinking everyone is like him, but at least he's good at what he does.
 
Meanwhile, lest we forget, the Daidoji just blew up most of Kyuden Kakita, the Master of Earth is palling around with a tsukai in the Shadowlands, the elemental imbalance is in no way being usefully addressed, both princes are missing, the Crane are at war with both the Lion and with themselves- although Yoshi's status as big dog in the Imperial Court may well swing that in a new direction. The Crab have been quiet-ish on the command level, which is, to say the least, ominous, not least because if Yoshi emerges as the big power in Court, they will hate it and might well do something about it. The Unicorn are implicated in Daisetsu's disappearance and still dealing with their own... issues.
 
Get your popcorn ready folks. This is going to be incredibly messy.

It is, of course, ridiculous to think that someone as spiritually polluted as a ronin or - heavens forfend! - a commoner could be blessed with the attention of the Kami. If it appears that this is the case, then there has clearly been a terrible mistake, one that will be remedied just as soon as the nearest shugenja family catches wind and has a librarian with excellent handwriting locate the records proving the nascent shaman’s properly elevated blood. 

The best kind of victory is where you don't pull your weapon. Consequently, I guess an even better kind of victory is when you didn't even know that you were fighting. 

Can I also give a shout out to the fact that, even though this was a Crane story and Kuwanan won his skirmish, the Lion won the battle retaining their 'Best army in Rokugan' position.
 

It is, of course, ridiculous to think that someone as spiritually polluted as a ronin or - heavens forfend! - a commoner could be blessed with the attention of the Kami. If it appears that this is the case, then there has clearly been a terrible mistake, one that will be remedied just as soon as the nearest shugenja family catches wind and has a librarian with excellent handwriting locate the records proving the nascent shaman’s properly elevated blood. 

It is, of course, ridiculous to think that someone as spiritually polluted as a ronin or - heavens forfend! - a commoner could be blessed with the attention of the Kami. If it appears that this is the case, then there has clearly been a terrible mistake, one that will be remedied just as soon as the nearest shugenja family catches wind and has a librarian with excellent handwriting locate the records proving the nascent shaman’s properly elevated blood. 

It is, of course, ridiculous to think that someone as spiritually polluted as a ronin or - heavens forfend! - a commoner could be blessed with the attention of the Kami. If it appears that this is the case, then there has clearly been a terrible mistake, one that will be remedied just as soon as the nearest shugenja family catches wind and has a librarian with excellent handwriting locate the records proving the nascent shaman’s properly elevated blood. 

I think we’re forgetting something very important here, and I am quite frankly disappointed and appalled at our Scorpions for neglecting the very best of their bushi. Say what you will about Minor Clans or ishiken - the game will not be complete without
the Dark Sword
OF
BITTER LIES!

Well, our friends in green are going to be pleased with this!

Lucky for Yori, Tadaka was there instead.

Tears for Tazu TT

Disadvantages which aren't too bad or fine for a starting character.
Most of the Fortune's Curses - they're not curses in the same way as the taint. Benten's Curse - "unlucky in love" Bishamon's Curse - "takes a long time to recover from exertion" Daikoku's Curse - "bad luck with money" Ebisu's Curse - "the peasant's dislike you" - good for a spoiled brat. Fukurokujin's Curse - "studying things is hard" Jurojin's Curse - "not especially healthy" Kisshoten's Curse - "Really bad with children" Bitter Betrothal Blackmail - okay, that one could be bad, but it depends who and why. Bluntness - perfect for a Crab Clumsiness Gaijin name/appearance - perfect for a unicorn (Or a mantis, I guess) Scorn of/Sworn Enemy - how serious this is for the campaign depends on who the group is.  "Whispers of" could work, but a new character would have to work to explain how they've picked up a negative reputation for this aspect when they shouldn't have much of a reputation at all.  

Not to get all Rule Zero here - the list is kinda harsh and you oughtn’t be obligated to make your own - but there’s a two-page spread with examples for custom traits. They aren’t exactly complex, just ‘a narrative thorn in your side and a few ideas for where it might apply to rolls,’ which is easily done if you answer the question without looking at the list at all. 
Aside, since it was mentioned upthread: I thought in the beta that the critical hit system’s generosity with Scars was a little too Warhammer for my liking, but the fiction bits in the disadvantage list went a long way toward mollifying me!

I’m at work, so I can’t give you the answer you’d like right now, but I’ll say this: in being confused, you’re in good company with the entire rest of Rokugan!

Really, as errata goes, this is perfectly normal! There are some games out there where the first set of errata totally changed the way they played. 
Pursuant to the main topic, though, the level of detail in the book is also fairly normal. Games like Exalted, which devote half the text to a gazetteer, are kind of in the minority. It could probably use a few of the old sidebar ready-focus-strike hooks, mind - and we should start a thread on that!

This thread is making me really grateful for Exalted’s ‘Orichalcum Rule:’ If a given rules interaction produces results that are narratively incoherent or nonsensical, discard the rule and go for a GM ruling on the spot.
Saves so much effort. 

Really, as errata goes, this is perfectly normal! There are some games out there where the first set of errata totally changed the way they played. 
Pursuant to the main topic, though, the level of detail in the book is also fairly normal. Games like Exalted, which devote half the text to a gazetteer, are kind of in the minority. It could probably use a few of the old sidebar ready-focus-strike hooks, mind - and we should start a thread on that!

I believe this is the case! I can see now how it can be a bit ambiguous there - me, I’m already accustomed to games like, say, Atomic Robo, where a Master Of Disguise can say that they’re going undercover and leave the scene, and thenceforth can declare that an NPC was them all along. 
Edit: Pursuant to the topic, I also just remembered that there is a similar ability in the game Broken Worlds, where a ninja-type can name a place or an NPC and declare that they are looking down on it/them from a shadowed perch. Not only is the player not obligated to explain to the GM how their character got up there, they are forbidden from explaining it, for that would constitute a betrayal of the Shadow Arts. 

I believe this is the case! I can see now how it can be a bit ambiguous there - me, I’m already accustomed to games like, say, Atomic Robo, where a Master Of Disguise can say that they’re going undercover and leave the scene, and thenceforth can declare that an NPC was them all along. 
Edit: Pursuant to the topic, I also just remembered that there is a similar ability in the game Broken Worlds, where a ninja-type can name a place or an NPC and declare that they are looking down on it/them from a shadowed perch. Not only is the player not obligated to explain to the GM how their character got up there, they are forbidden from explaining it, for that would constitute a betrayal of the Shadow Arts. 

‘Oh nooooooooo. He has the MacGuffin. Please don’t leave with the MacGuffin, Villain-san. I would be ever so sad.’
The ability to retroactively cast illusions is amazing - just look at Mask of Wind or False Realm of the Fox Spirits!

I’m at work, so I can’t give you the answer you’d like right now, but I’ll say this: in being confused, you’re in good company with the entire rest of Rokugan!

I’m at work, so I can’t give you the answer you’d like right now, but I’ll say this: in being confused, you’re in good company with the entire rest of Rokugan!

I believe this is the case! I can see now how it can be a bit ambiguous there - me, I’m already accustomed to games like, say, Atomic Robo, where a Master Of Disguise can say that they’re going undercover and leave the scene, and thenceforth can declare that an NPC was them all along. 
Edit: Pursuant to the topic, I also just remembered that there is a similar ability in the game Broken Worlds, where a ninja-type can name a place or an NPC and declare that they are looking down on it/them from a shadowed perch. Not only is the player not obligated to explain to the GM how their character got up there, they are forbidden from explaining it, for that would constitute a betrayal of the Shadow Arts.