The Way of the Clans: Book Eleven: The Way of Shinsei
for Legend of the Five Rings
by Wolfgang Baur, Shawn Carman, Kenyon Daniels, Craig Folsom, Ramon Pena, Jeanne Kalvar, Seth Mason, Rick Raven, John R. Phythyon, Jr., Kevin Sanborn, Ross Isaacs, and Rich Wulf
with additional material by Patrick Kapera, Ree Soesbee and John Wick
106 pages
$19.95
ISBN 1881953-13-2
Grade: C
reviewed by Lisa Padol
The Way of Shinsei is a good examination of the place of the monk in Rokugan, whether as PC or NPC. It is organized like the other "Way of" books. It has an opening vignette; letters showing what others think of monks; and a philosophical and historical overview of monks, monasteries, and the teachings of Shinsei. This material is followed by new skills, advantages, disadvantages, and the rules for creating a monk PC. Then come the rules for kiho, aka Cool Monkish Powers. This is followed by a chapter describing the most important monks in Rokugan. It also has rules for monk ancestors. Next are the templates for monk PCs, followed by appendices giving a further overview of the monk's position in Rokugan, a short, but potentially deadly, adventure, and tips for creating a monk deck for the L5R CCG.
With the exception of the page and a half on the CCGs, and the fact that several sidebars appear twice, I have no complaints about this book. Nevertheless, it took a surprisingly long time to get through it, whereas the other "Way of" books read very fast. Perhaps it is that I do not really have the mindset of a monk.
Regardless, this book is useful for GMs wanting to add not just monks, but a more coherent view of religion to their L5R campaigns. One amusing note: While I have no doubt that the philosophy and sayings of Shinsei are lifted from real world oriental philosophy, and only the surface of such philosophy, I recognized the truth in some of the sayings, which sound a lot like the advice my fencing master has been trying to drill into my thick skull for months.
The Way of Shinsei is not the most exciting of the L5R books, being as quiet as the monks it depicts. Nor is it essential to running the game. But it is not just for completists; it is for any GM who wants to put some heart into the religion of Rokugan and to use monks for more than window dressing.
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