Give it a look to the clan anyway, cause it was the approach I found usefull for my purpose, you still may have other objectives for the clan, but still use the techniques and some of the basic ideas. Let's say, for example, not a clan of communists, but a clan of Ronin that, ironically, looking all over the Empire that the Bushido is respected and used properly for the samurais, specially with the Compassion virtue. Kind of police of all over the empire that protects the Rokuganí heimin and looks forward to give them some rights. Also a clan that helps the crab with the defense of the wall... etc. There are always some uses for a clan of Ronin that want to act to themselves but still being for some use for the good of the Empire and achieve victory over the evil. My idea was more to give a set of rules with a background I like to use them, but of course this background is flexible to change, and you can still use the set of rules I gave, which are pretty interesting. Specially the 4th and 5th rank are very (maybe too much) strong. Some people of other clans could still want to learn in that school!

But read it, it is worth the time. It adds pretty much ideas that could be used efectively, and some new faction precisely described.

Hi. Someone thinking about hacking over here. Appart from hacking, is that I have read the 3 main editions of L5r, and I have seen some things in other editions that I would like to add to 5th edition. But hackin aswell. 1st. If someone roleplays or looks for some special history and does roleplay in the game, I will have it in count, as someone said up here. Not very usual, but I might give that permission. 2nd. In battle, I like to give possibilities to do some things even if not stated in the rules, if I find them possible to do. Let's say, in a grapple, try to do a neckbreak, or neck asfixiating, breaking a leg or an arm, etc., with different raises. 3rd. I like the rules of the second edition to chop limbs. They were in some specific extra material I can't remember now. But they were pretty decent. 4th. The idea of combat flow seems interesting for me. It makes combats less predictable and can give an extra strategic dimension. 5th. Specific Iaijutsu rules. Alternatively to what appears in the manual, rank 5 of iaijutsu gives the possibility to attack when unsheathing with the iaijutsu skill instead of kenjutsu in the middle of a fight as a complex action (ALWAYS AS A COMPLEX ACTION). Sheath back is a complex action. The rank 10 of iaijutsu reduces this action in a action rank (from complex to simple, or from simple to free), and makes possible to use some maneuvers (pointed attack, extra damage). Some specific ranks of some iai schools will reduce the iai attack from complex action to simple, and the sheathing action in a action rank (from complex to simple, or simple to free). Summing it up, having 10 iaijutsu skill + the competent iai school level, allows you to play as Ukyo Tachibana. 6th. Skipping turns and active defense. You can skip your turn in a row and act later. Until the end of the turn you might use your own turn either to attack later or to use your actions as an active defense. However, if you decide not to use those actions in this round, you hold them for usage until your next turn but only to use them as active defense and counter attack right after, but not as a direct attack. This means that even if the round ends, you will have this actions usable, once using your previous turn and another one using your former turn, but any action carried into the next round, I repeat, can be used only as active defense. What this means? When using active defense, you replace your TN for a Kenjutsu/Agility roll (with the consecuent specialities and superior aptitudes). If you can use attacks as simple actions, you will have 2 actions, you can use the action you have left to counterattack, but only if you won the previous roll vs the enemy attack, or the enemy can't attack again. If the enemy can attack again and you decide to attack with your second action, both attacks are done at the same time vs the enemy TN-10. Also you can decide to use your action to attack a enemy while he is attackin you or someone else, instead of using it to defend yourself (but only before the round skips). You throw a attack roll vs his TN-10, but your TN will be -10 until your next turn. If the attack is made vs a enemy that is attacking you at the same time, you both get the penalization to the TN and the one having the higher roll resolves his attack first. When using active defense, there is some maneuvers that can be used, as the attacker as much as the defending part. The raises cost of the maneuver are applied over the result of the opponent's roll. As defense: Disarm (the same cost that the usual maneuver). Jittes can use Disarm either while defending or attacking, for a raise less than usual. Faster counterattack (2 raises, you need to have a second action) you unbalance your enemy and can counterattack in case you have a second action before he uses his second action. If the enemy does not have a second action, he loses -5 to his TN for your counterattack. Unblockable counterattack. (3 raises). Your counterattack can't be parried with an active defense. In case enemy doesn't have a second action, he losses -10 to his TN for your counterattack. As the attacking part. Create a opening (Variable raises). Vs a active defense, you can use your attack to shove the defending sword out of the way. The enemy stroke this way will get -5 for each raise to his next active defense roll and/or TN, distributed as the attacker wants. Is important to understand that if the attacked decides to use all the bonuses to harm the next roll, the defender still might use his second action to attack, using his TN instead, and that's the reason that the attacker might distribute the penalizations as he thinks better. In case the enemy does not have a second action available for defense, then the bonuses apply inmediately to the TN. 7th. My own ronin/wolf clan bushi school. The wolf clan is a new neutral clan that raises from nowhere. His members are all ronin but however, have all one thing in common. They are idealist that want to subvert the celestial order because they consider it unjust, or at least, the terrenal interpretation that the empire has done of it. Wolf ronin belive that while martial arts are honorable and give the one using it certain status, it doesn't mean he is a better person or that has to have more rights that one that works the earth or with animals. Wolf ronin think that you win your rights by following the bushidō, but they trully belive that being a samurai doesn't mean that you follow the bushidō. They belive that, in fact, a lot of merchants, artisans or farmers follow daily the bushidō much better than a lot of samurai in the Rokugan empire, specially those not following the compassion and using his upper position in the heaven order to oppress the people down in the heaven order. They belive, in fact, that the trully order has been subbert in some way by those in the power to maintain his privileges and rights. That's why they want to subvert the celestial order or simply destroy it, so that the lands are given to those people that work on them, and the samurai in their territories are simply paid as a military service instead of drawing almost all the resources from the working classes. Yes. Wolf ronin are clearly communist samurais. However, not only that. They belive that Bushidō, as it's written and understood, leads to the destruction of the ego of the persona, and that means building a unfinished invidual. Because of that, they belive in a balance between the kind and devoted to others nature of the bushidō , and the values of the shouridō of working for yourself. Only a individual that has worked to fullfill his own desires can be turned into a functional individual into the society, and he must use his rational mind to put bridges between the own interests and the society interests. Although there might be different grades of where each individual of the clan works towards more, the position encouraged by the clan is that in last term, the society is over the individual because the interests of the society are the interests of all individual, in a long term. Basically, the wolf ronin are encouraged tu fulfill they desires working hard for it, as long as they don't interfere with the society interests, and trying to fulfill both at the same time. Of course, seppukku is banned from the clan. Well, if it can be banned someway. Let's say more that is not an endorsed practice by the members of the clan, but each individual is left to grow on their own. The Wolf Clan does not have a official acknowledgment from the emperor as a clan, neither their own dojo or territory, or place to live. His main leader, Hels The Ronin, is known for being a gaijin ronin, which gives this association even a worse fame. Even though, he has been traveling through all the different territories of Rokugan, and has a lot of support from the working classes, and some bandit bands that lean towards the help of the rokugani people. He and his followers are know for helping a lot of time to the rokugani people against some bandits that kill and robber them, but at the same time, they have fought vs the authorities in those places that take away from the workers more than what they should be taking away from them. This faction has pronounced a lot of times in favor of the alphabetization of the rokugani people and their inclussion into the politics, that, they think, should not be reserved only for the samurai class. Because their postulates and work in favor of those who have no power, this faction are known as "the Army of the People", even when they claim themselfs as the clan of the Wolf, because they claim themselves samurais, servants of the Emperor AS MUCH AS the rokuganí people will, since they think that in a last term, the Emperor, as a samurai himself as well, is there only to work for the people. The perspective of the other clanes about them, specially the Crane, Lion and Phoenix Clan, is that they are people trying to tear down the Heaven Order and that are really dangerous. The Dragon clan haven't pronounced yet about this new faction, but in fact the clan is divided. Some of the most orthodox bushi of the Mirumoto Family are clearly against this new faction of bushis that are trying to change so many things. However, the Isen Zumi, the tattoed monks, as well as other monks orders, have not pronounced clearly about them. They agree in some of their precepts, specially, with their understanding of Compassion and his fight against violence (the Wolf Clan are known for trying to solve the problems through words before unsheathing, since they know that once they unsheath is assured a massacre), however, they intention to destroy or subvert the Celestial Order as well as their aproximation to shourido practices, have them nervous. However, the leading position in the religious instances is to belive that they are the bridge between the order and the caos in this world. The equilibrium, the balance, the Jing and the Jang put together. They put a big effort in remembering that Shinsei selected those that were not gods to fight Fu Leng, something that no one would have thought about. It seemed absurd then, as much as it might seem absurd to revert the Celestial Order. And however, even though it might be dangerous, it could be aswell the salvation of the world, and monks of most factions are aware of it, Isen Zumi included. That's why the Dragon clan hasn't pronounced about it already. The Escorpion is aswell agains this new creation, however, some of their members seem to have some likings towards them, for unknown motivations. The Unicorn hasn't pronounced yet as they consider them a menace against the rights of the samurai class, but at the same time, a progress force that can tear down some of the most old and obsolte social habits of rokugan, specially those related to the aggressiveness towards the birth of new things or the arrival of new technologies from other parts of the world. The Crab is clearly the clan which has interacted more with this new force, positioning themselves already as his main ally, although no completely open because of fear of problems with other clans, specially with the Crane one. As long as this new clan helps to fight the Shadowlands, they agree with whatever they ask for. In fact, they have understood almost perfectly, and although they don't like too much the think of taking away the rights of the samurai class, the fact that is for a greater good as making the samurai class less lazy and more of professional warriors, of a service in charge of the rest of rokuganí people, seems to them a good idea. Specially the fact of taking away the lands of the hands of the clans and giving them only money and food as to make the warriors live good, but not as much as to fight between themselves. Due to all of this, the Crab Clan has decided to give them some dojos to train and meet as a base. At the same time, they have an agreement with the Wolfs so they are their "shinobi" force all through the empire, their ears and basically, their sword out of their own lands. But even when suspected, no one has proofs of this, as the oficial version of the clan is that they help the organization because the organization has helped them against the Shadowlands creatures and against some ocasional bandits in their territories. The Mantis hasn't pronounced about this new clan, and doesn't seem they care too much about it, although the fact of reverting the Celestial Order is not very much of his likings now that they have ascended as Major Clan. Minor clans remain neutral or slightly in favor of their propositions. Even though the "clan" is a clear opposing force to the society of Rokugan as known, the Emperor can't ban them or promulgate an edict to clasify them as a criminal organization due to their support and the Crab one, that has gave problems and good motivations to keep the organization alive. Lastly, the Emperor Family's consider the new clan as an aberration and have been working to promulgate an Imperial edict to consider them a criminal organization. However, there hasn't been motivations enough as to do so, and in addition, the help offered by some minor clans to the wandering Wolfs, and the Crab clan, and the people helping leaning profile of the organization, has imposibilited the Emperor to promulgate a edict against them. All that have been able to do is promulgate a edict that Lion, Crane, Phoenix and in this late days the Escorpion, have replicated, that is to consider any member of this faction as a non-grateful person in their region. Even though, the faction still survives and wanders through all the empire thanks to the help of the people and of small governors that trully care about their region and the people's good. The Tamashii Ronin family. The Tamashii Ronin family is the main and only family of the clan. Because of the recent creation of the clan, is the clan itself. Is not a blood family. It is shaped by a lot of types of characters, it has grown out of the different ronin coming from other families or farmers or shepherds that decide to take on the way of the sword, the magic or the politics, and serve the rokuganí society. The family is currently gaining a lot of adepts and spreading very fast as it is the empowerment tool of those who cannot take part of the politics and the militar forces as it is said by the heaven's order. Because of this has not a clear profile between his members, neither a philosophy of what they have to do. The members are free to train whatever they want, but they are encouraged to work hard on whatever they choose. Family bonus: +1 at any attribute chosen by the player. The Bushi School of the Tamashii Ronin There is no dojo attached to this school. The members of this school are constantly wandering from one part to the other of the empire, as if a big inteligence system was. However, they are said to have a base of operations somewhere in the Pleasure City, and in other parts at the south territories of the Scorpion Clan. Aswell, is known that the Crab Clan daimyo has declared the aid of the Clan to the organization, wich already considers a potential ally for the future and the interests of the clan. As a result, even though a wandering faction, the organization has some dojos and places where they can fight, in the Crab Clan territories and in the south of the Scorpion territories, where they mantain hidden bases near the City of Pleasure. Also, some of their members are known to be around Meidochi and the Shinomen Mori, where the few Naga that are still awaken are known to give them some help aswell. Technically, the school of the Wolf is almost unknown in Rokugan because of his early foundations. It has been spread by his creator and leader of the clan, Hels Tamashii Ronin, and it encourages a great variety of aptitudes, but specially, the strength to fight alone, and, at the same time, makes a big focus on adaptate this individual style to other individuals to, at the end, act like a group of virtuous warriors, as only one force. Initial Honor: 7.0. The Bushi of this school are completely devoted to fullfill their desires without harming society, so that they can then serve society as respectable members. They are aswell completely devoted to change rokuganí society to one better where the person can be understood as a individual at the same time that as a part of a whole, without one thing replacing the other. They have a great opinion about themselves, and even when the society attacks them, they know they are fighting for a greater good. Starting abilities: Kenjutsu (Katana): 2, Iaijutsu, Art (poetry or music), Stealth, Investigation (Trailing), One ability more of any type. Shcool Bonus: +1 Agility. Rank 1. The way of the Wolf. The wolf is a animal that walks in packs, and like that, he learns to act by the side of his companions. But at the same time, he also knows that any time he can find himself without the help of his mates, and he has been forced to live in such a way, alone. In adittion, the wolf doesn't serve other purposes or intentions, than himself or his pack. Always that you flank an enemy in agreement with another character that has this technique, add so many throw and keeped dices to the maneuver as characters working in the maneuver after you, up to a maximum determinated by your insight rank or your void ring, the lower. In adittion, always that you fight enemies without the help of other characters of the Wolf clan (unless they know this technique), you obtain +1 tu your TN for each enemy after the first, up to a maximum equal to your insight rank or your void ring, the lower of the two. Rank 2. The silence of the lambs. The wolf ronin has become concious of his predator nature, and like that, he must be sigilous and hard to trail. In addition, he knows that there are some bigger predators and that he must hide from them until he can take them. Your trailing, stealth and stalking rolls recibe a 1k1 bonus. At the same time, you learn to flush your footprints when you are being chased. You recibe a 1k1 roll bonus when you try to leave a place where you have been, always that you haven been sighted by your chasers, or you have been able to get out of their sight lane. Rank 3: Two claws, one mind. The wolf ronin has to learn to sorvive and for that has to fight though enemies that must overcome with speed and expertise kenjutsu. You can use attacking actions as simple ones instead of complex. (DISCLAIMER): The healthy shcool of the wolf makes up to here, as a ronin organization, like the ones presented in secret of empires, with 3 ranks instead of 5. Optionally, you can include this two bonus ranks that come right now. They are very powerfull, and they are aimed towards a campaign, in order to give tools to the Wolf clan to be a tool of change of the Rokuganí society. I advice you that THEY MIGHT NOT BE HEALTHY in other situations, since they could lead to abuse from the Wolf bushi. This two techniques are aimed to give a damage burst one shot-kill to the Wolf Bushi, even to characters quite stronger than him, and the other, to negate sources of damage vs him, helping him to survive. Basically, to make him a badass protagonist that can handle alone dangerous foes that other enemies wouldn't be able to handle, through two weapons. His will, and his knowledge. Rank 4: The will of the survivor. In this world, only the though survive, the one that really one to do so, and this is something that the Wolf ronin always has in mind. Once per fight, the Wolf ronin can spend a void point during the reaction phase of a turn to ignore his wound penalizations and do one of the same things - Add to his damage roll a number of throw dices equal to his will, and the half (rounded down) to keep dices. - Add a number of free rises to his attack roll equal to his will. - Add a number of meters equal to his will at any movement action. - Add his will to his TN. The number of dices in the damage roll can be only executed in the total attack position, and adding the will to the TN can be only made in the total defense position. Whichever the desire effect is, the void point has to be spent during the reaction time before making any action, and in case you fail your attack, the bonuses, the void point and the posibility of using this technique, are lost. However, if you loose this technique due to a failed attack, you can regain it by staying a round in the center position. Rank 5. The power of the knowledge. When a ronin Wolf has make it through here, and has gotten to this level, he has traveled enough through Rokugan as to know how important is to know his opponent deeply, but he also knows that that can only be achieved through vital experience. At the beginning of each fight, you can choose to study one of your enemies with a roll of Knowledge:Bushi Schools/Perception or Knowledge: Great Clan/Perception (only if he belongs to a school of that clan) or Knowledge: Minor Clan/Perception (same than before) vs a TN of his Shcool Rank x Void Ring +10. If you are succesfull, once per enemy and during the fight, you can spend one void point to negate the effects of a technique of that school which you where the target, but only if you have been target of that technique in other ocassion, or have seen it to be used. 8th thing (should test it): Weapons with longer range create a opportunity attack in a similar fashion of D&D, when you get close to them.