Legend of the Five Rings is a game set in a fictional, feudal Empire that was created by drawing heavily upon the history and customs of cultures like Japan, China, and Korea, with a healthy dash of some familiar Greek and Indian concepts as well. It’s a samurai game, basically, but one that’s unlike any other samurai game you’ve ever played. At first glance it has very simple, iconic concepts that make it easy for a player to grasp, but as you get more into it you’ll discover there are constantly more nuances and intricacies to the setting that make it an incredibly rich role-playing experience for everyone involved. I can say all this without reservation because I started off just like you, as a fan of the role-playing game; I didn’t create the setting, so I figure that makes it okay for me to gush about it.

Be prepared for a setting unlike most you have played in before. As a samurai you are not expected to go off on a whim to fight wandering ogres and steal their vorpal blades. You are a servant warrior, beholden to the honor of your family and Clan. The land of Rokugan is rigid in its social and moral mores; the code of Bushido driving each beat of a samurai’s heart. Those around you will scrutinize every action you take, every word you say. While other games promote personal growth and success (and these things can be featured in L5R, to some extent), the primary driver is the achievement of glory for your Clan. As the old saying goes, to a samurai there is no greater honor than to serve the Emperor, and no greater glory than to die in his name. L5R is one of the few RPG’s where a good death is just as important as gaining a new level or spell.