Today’s installment doesn’t really have anything to do with festivals. I just wanted to wish you all a belated happy holiday season. I hope you all enjoyed yours as much as I enjoyed mine. There’s nothing quite like sleeping in!

The Imperial Histories

This book releases later this month! I’m really excited to see what you, the dedicated fans of Rokugan, can do with this particular work. It’s a huge toolbox that, we hope, will expand the already considerable assistance GMs have been given to make the world their own in 4th Edition. As of yet I don’t have a precise date of release, and in my experience it would be a total jinx to tell you even if I did, but it won’t be long now. The anticipation is delicious!

In addition to the release of the book itself, we plan to release some additional material at the same time, in the form of extra chapters that were either cut from the book for space or, in some cases, were solicited from contest entries after we chose Jason Bianchi for his Great Famine entry. I did not get all the extra chapters back from our would-be authors, but I have at least a couple, and I think you’ll find them very interesting. Back in the third installment of this chapter, I gave you a sample of one of our bonus chapters, the one that sets the stage for the events taking place in the former Ivory Kingdoms at the onset of Emperor Edition, the new base set for the CCG releasing in a few weeks. Not all of you are interested in the story, of course, but some of you are! I thought that I might give you another tidbit from that impending web supplement, since I already promised I wouldn’t spoil any more of the contents from the book itself. So, without further ado, have a look at the Second City Guardsmen!

Alternate Path: Second City Guardsman [Bushi]

Without question the most elite and prestigious military unit operation wholly within the Colonies is the Second City Guardsmen. This unit was formed early on during the colonization of the former Ivory Kingdoms, when the Second City was little more than a village of tents and ramshackle buildings. Agents of the Cult of Ruhmal, still active in the region currently pacified by the Empire at this point, attempted to assassinate the fledgling city’s leadership (at this point the city was overseen by a cabal of military officers, as the position of Imperial Governor had not yet been created). The sentries on duty at the time, as well as a handful of particularly vigilant samurai in the area, thwarted the attempt and executed the cultists to a man for their temerity. The highest-ranking officer present in the city at the time immediately ordered that these men would form a new unit, solely tasked with ensuring the safety of the city and all within it. Decades later, the Second City Guardsmen are revered throughout the Colonies for their flawless track record of protecting the Governor and his court from all manner of odd threats. Or at least this was the case until the relatively recent assassination of the Governor at the hands of the Dark Naga’s abominations.

In the aftermath of the Governor’s assassination, the Second City Guardsman Commander took control of the city until word regarding a replacement could be received from the Empire. Anguished over the death of the Governor, the commander instituted several draconian measures intended to help discover if any additional threats remained within the city, but which essentially only alienated the populace and tarnished the name of the unit. Comparisons to the Seppun family and their failure to protect Emperors in previous eras have been common. Truthfully, however, while the guard had been effective against countless beasts and men, the perfect coordination of multiple Nagah assassins, all directed by the distant hand of the Dark Naga, was a threat unlike anything that any Rokugani could ever have imagined. Even after the revelation concerning the Nagah’s role in the attack, however, the Second City Guardsmen continue to suffer something of a damaged reputation, at least for the immediately foreseeable future.

Technique Rank: 2
Replaces: Any Bushi School at Rank 2 Requirements: Defense 4, any one Weapon Skill at 4 Technique: Name – The Second City Guardsmen are among the most prestigious groups in all of the Colonies. Your Status Rank is considered one higher throughout the entire Colonial territories. When fighting within the Second City or other city-sized Colonial settlement and in the Defense or Full Defense stance, if your opponent attacks you and misses and you have not yet taken your Action this Round, you may immediately change your stance to Attack. You lose all bonuses to your Armor TN from your previous stance. Note: There are members of the Second City Guardsmen who are shugenja and who assist with less traditional means of investigation. However, none of these individuals possess the Technique listed above; they are members of the organization but prohibited from learning the associated mechanics due to the incompatibility of their School types.

Strongholds of the Empire

As I said in the last installment, I’m delighted to inform you that the files for Strongholds have been finalized, art has been selected, and a graphic designer has been contracted to lay the book out. I’m literally giddy with excitement over the notion of having our first PDF exclusive sourcebook available for sale in the very near future. So far we’ve seen a few minor bits from that book, including a Unicorn Path and a couple of Advantages/Disadvantages from the Mantis chapter. Today I thought we might have a look at something a little bit different. Let’s have a look at two radically different social mechanics, both penned by our wonderful freelancer and designer-in-law (is that a word? I think it’s a word), Becca Hobart.

Ronin Path: Fireman Gang Lord [Bushi]

Many ronin join local criminal gangs, where their skills can quickly bring them to a position of prominence. The infamous fireman gangs of Ryoko Owari have developed a technique for maintaining control of the patrons in the gambling houses and other dens of iniquity they control. This technique can also be used to represent any local crime lord who reigns over his own small territory like an underworld daimyo.

Technique Rank: 2
Technique: Master of the Dice – Your menacing presence ensures that all goes as it should in your establishment. You may add your Ranks in the Intimidation skill to the total of any Contested Social roll you make.

You can see here that these guys are the spiritual heirs to the old Firemen Gangs that were brought to life back in the first edition City of Lies boxed set. It’s a simple mechanic that can be used to give those random ronin bullies out there some real bite if they need it. I mean honestly most of the time you can just bluff your way through NPC interactions, but this gives them a real chance to actually use Contested Social Rolls as a means of combating a PC in a non-combat setting. Now, compare this to:

Path: Minor Clan Alliance Diplomat [Courtier]

Minor clan samurai who deal with members of the Great Clans are in constant danger of angering them with a misplaced word, action, or even a look. Minor Clan samurai who have survived the minefield of the courts long enough are often sent to the Minor Clan Alliance’s court in Kudo Mura. There, they can learn from the best diplomats in the Alliance, studying how to sooth the ruffled feathers of Great Clan samurai and, more importantly, how to avoid ruffling those feathers in the first place.

Technique Rank: 4
Replaces: Any Minor Clan School 4
Requirements: Character must belong to a Minor Clan
Technique: The Courts of Kudo Mura – The diplomats of Kudo Mura are masters at dealing with the needs, desires, and whims of their superiors. When conversing with a samurai from one of the Great Clans or the Imperial Families, you gain +3k0 on all Contested Rolls using the skills of Etiquette or Sincerity.

This is almost the opposite! Etiquette is the “social defense” skill, after all, and Sincerity is more of a tool to avoid scrutiny when it’s appropriate to do so (and especially when it’s not!), so this puts the Minor Clan in a good place in terms of avoiding the unrelenting social assault that can certainly come when someone has to deal with the Crane, Scorpion, or Otomo in a social setting. Granted, the bonus isn’t huge, particularly when considering the rank of the Technique, but then the Minor Clans can scarcely devote resources to an exclusive courtier School. And when dealing with the Great Clans, defense may well be the best offense.

The Book of Air

I haven’t said anything about the Book of Air this time around, and that’s because this column has been dealing with that book since the column was established. I am mildly concerned that I’ve spoiled too much of the mechanics already, and I certainly don’t want to venture any farther for fear of spoiling your interest in the book altogether. Something about a cow and free milk or words to that effect, you understand. So I’m not going to mention it any further, at least in terms of mechanical goodies. I am going to spend some time going through the text and see what I can find for you, however. I think there’s enough material there that we can discuss some things that you’ll find interesting.

Until next time, dear readers, have a safe and happy beginning to your 2012.