There is a small C or D next to the number to tell you which deck. Also, the only card type shared between the decks (that we know of) is a personality and so far all personalities that are in conflict decks have bamboo icons on them

Thats the 3 cost crane conflict character that I can't read the title of. It has been suggested that this is Political Rival which I can possibly see in the title.

I actually need to update my previous statement. There was a scout I wasn't aware of. I believe all Crane cards have been spoiled in one form or another. Two of these cards (a 3 cost and 2 cost character) show up on the example play area on the showcase page. I am unable to read anything on these two cards. There is also the possibility that card 39 is a crane card but this is most likely a crab card. There is also the possibility that 137-138 are crane cards but I believe these to also be crab cards. Finally 149 could be a crane card, but I feel this will be a dragon card.

Which scout? Never mind

I am under the impression that Doji Whisperer is a dynasty card. The only image I know of the card is on the play layout example on one of the first examples. The number can't readily be seen and I don't count the numbers as exact off those first images, but it appears to be a 2 digit number which would make that a dynasty card. On the showcase page there is a crane character card above the conflict deck. I can't read the title but it has a 3 fate cost. The only place this fits is on the conflict side right after steward of law. That means brash samurai and doji whisperer must be dynasty cards

By the spreadsheet I'm keeping I believe all but 1 crane card has been spoiled. With the possibility of 1 other depending how the numbers line up

I think after the crane previews today there is only a single unknown crane card. Crane Conflict would go from numbers 139 through 148. The only unknown card is 140 which is most likely the 3 cost character shown on the showcase page who's name I can't read. Crane dynasty goes from 40 through 53 with 41 through 43 being unknown cards. Doji whisperer and Brash Samurai are 2 of these 3 cards leaving the last unspoiled crane card being a 1 or 2 cost crane character. Assuming all the above is correct, this gives Crane 24 cards (not including stronghold and province). If we assume all clans get the same amount of total cards, this would mean crab have 15 dynasty and 9 conflict (Crane is 14 and 10 respectively).

Anyone notice that Kaezin has no gender? "If IT loses send IT home" (Emphasis mine)

You are correct .... I'm so used to the duel player choosing both participants I misread

Here's an interesting scenario. Lets say its a Political conflict and your opponent has the otomo courtier involved and you have kakita kaezin. You duel the courtier who can't win no matter what due to her - military skill and then send everyone else he has home

Holdings have to be once per turn or the phoenix one reads draw your deck

I'm still of the belief that not all clans have the same number of dynasty and conflict cards but that each has the same number of total cards.

I've been running a spreadsheet with the numbers. I've done 2 things. I've ignored all the numbers on the first day previews. None of them have the C or D like the later previews do, so I feel they are early print runs that may not be final. The 2nd thing I've done is not assume each clan has the same number of dynasty cards. With characters in the conflict decks, I feel each clan will have the same number of cards but split differently between conflict and dynasty.

While true, forums are much more accessible and can be quickly accessed. Podcasts you have to actually take the time to listen to. Podcasts also have a limited number of voices. You have the 2-5 people who talk about it and thats it. where as forums have a technical unlimited number of voices. I'm not saying any of this is true, I'm just saying its possible that FFG would like to keep as much of the discussion as possible on boards they control. I only played AGOT briefly but this seems to be the way FFG handles things.

The way FFG is doing things this shouldn't be an issue. There should be much fewer named characters running around so all should get their due in the story.

Unless they would prefer to keep as much talk on their forums that they have moderation control.

Weren't the honor prizes always at the TOs discretion as to what they wanted to do and what they wanted to award? I don't remember aeg specifically giving a prize to the honor award except during race for the throne

How much of that is an act? Especially when she transitions into trying to ferret out what she might've learned in the few moments she's been there outside of Kachiko's monitoring, and trying to figure out if she suspects foul play... This. Especially since its specifically mentioned how every motion, dress, and word is particularly chosen

I liked the story up until Kachiko showed up. Then it felt like Hotaru went from interesting character to hormonal teenager with the thoughts of most beautiful woman in the empire and wanting to kiss her etc. I felt like a jump cut from a samurai political drama into Twilight. Also, it may be due to the fact that you don't get kachiko's thoughts, but the relationship felt very one sided. To me it felt like Hotaru was fawning over Kachiko and Kachiko was playing Hotaru like a fiddle.

I was looking for a time line of when major events happend in O5R. I.e. When was the Coup, when was the 2nd day of thunder, etc

Actually, if I recall correctly it started at a major tournament where a dragon player and scorpion player were matched against each other in single elims. Its kinda fuzzy, but the two players refused to attack each other while the story team looked on. After the game I believe the players signed and traded their clan champions and the story team said as long as those champions were in their decks their alliance would be strong. Hopefully someone else can post on that because its real fuzzy in my memory

I believe there were a few exemptions for this for places like Cool Stuff which is a large online retailer but is also my B&M FLGS.

The difference is no matter how many times you play Middle-Earth CCG, the story doesn't change. Frodo still makes it to the mountain and throws the ring in the volcano. L5R having the game affect the story matters. With the Destroyer war, who cares what the tournament results are because Kali-ma will be defeated. Go back to the 2nd Day of Thunder and there is actually (albeit a small one) a chance for the clans to lose and evil to win. That map is not released by FFG and has no bearing on anything.

I think at some point the villians need to become playable. As can be seen from the destroyer arc, the story lost its appeal to many people when it was this faceless enemy. As far as zani things. Oni no Pekkle and other shadowlands infiltrators show how you can do political with the shadowlands. Daigotsu himself was very political and manipulative. Further, as I mentioned on one of the other threads, you don't have to make shadowlands immune to honor. You can have them lose at 0 and win at 25 just like everyone else. Thematically when the shadowlands hit 0 honor it represents the threat becoming so paramount that the clans band together and eliminate you and when the shadowlands hit 25 honor it isn't that they won by honor, but more you made the empire see your opponent as more disgraceful then the shadowlands.

Isn't it a chain reaction? My memory is a little hazy but I think the events went like so. Bayushi Shoju finds prophesy saying the hantei line must end to save the emperor. Shoju kills the emperor. Clans unite against them and Hantei the 39th banish the scorpion. In anger Scorpion Yogo Junzo opens up the black scroll releasing Fu Leng and starting the events of the clan war which Shoju was trying to prevent.