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Ideas for a Feudal Japan dark campaign setting for the CWBG

Started by Gamer Printshop, February 17, 2009, 01:36:46 AM

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Ghostman

Congrats GP! Hope your campaign/setting will find it's audience. Try not to overwork yourself :)
¡ɟlǝs ǝnɹʇ ǝɥʇ ´ʍopɐɥS ɯɐ I

Paragon * (Paragon Rules) * Savage Age (Wiki) * Argyrian Empire [spoiler=Mother 2]

* You meet the New Age Retro Hippie
* The New Age Retro Hippie lost his temper!
* The New Age Retro Hippie's offense went up by 1!
* Ness attacks!
SMAAAASH!!
* 87 HP of damage to the New Age Retro Hippie!
* The New Age Retro Hippie turned back to normal!
YOU WON!
* Ness gained 160 xp.
[/spoiler]

Raven Bloodmoon

Congrats, mate!  Looks like we have an honest-to-god pro among us.  Hope all goes well and let us know what happens.  There are lots here that haven't been through teh process you're entering.
This technique of roleplaying has been passed down the Bloodmoon line for generations!

`\ o _,
....)
.< .\.

Gamer Printshop

Heres some sample art from one of the artist that will be creating illustrations and cover design for the project:
 Simon Turnbull's art

And here's some samples of someone I just got in contact, I'm looking at Monster Manual type illustrations from this guy, he's more experienced and costly than Simon, but not outrageously so.
 Mike Wilson's Art

Of course I'll be doing all the maps, much (not all) of the writing, lead but not exclusive on rule sets.

GP

PS: here's my regional map so far...


Link to larger version:
 Kaidan full scale map
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

Raven Bloodmoon

Very nice.  Turnbull's stuff looks like it'll lend a unique feel to your setting for sure.  Wilson just has a very ncie style.  Cool stuff for sure.
This technique of roleplaying has been passed down the Bloodmoon line for generations!

`\ o _,
....)
.< .\.

Gamer Printshop

Ravenblood, you just missed it, I was updating my post with my map, and you responded before I did! Check it out.

GP
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

Raven Bloodmoon

Gah!  All my posts from yesterday evening are gone!

Repost:  You edit-ninja'ed me!  Very nice map; what software did you use?
This technique of roleplaying has been passed down the Bloodmoon line for generations!

`\ o _,
....)
.< .\.

Gamer Printshop

When thinking urban areas of the setting, the Floating World comes to mind, but I don't know how much to implement. The Floating World concerns the leading Kabuki Actors, the Top Courtesans of the Eta controlled Red Light District. Ukiyo-e printed flyers, hand-outs and portraiture distributed in quantity about these "celebrities". Involvements with gangs of yakuza as they control the district's gambling, prostitution, and other activities - they are deeply rooted in the Floating World society.

I don't want to delve to deeply into its sexual nature - prostitutes both female and male (!), though the top Courtesans were reserved to Daimyo or other high statesman only...

I'm trying to find a different way to enter the ways of Yakuza in a dark and twisted sense.

GP
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

LD

Congratulations on the publishing contract.

By any chance will you be able to expand here on the magic systems before then?

It would be interesting to see how their mechanics fit into the d and d world.

Gamer Printshop

Quote from: Light DragonCongratulations on the publishing contract.

By any chance will you be able to expand here on the magic systems before then?

It would be interesting to see how their mechanics fit into the d and d world.

Thank you!

I am trying to stick to the core rules of D&D as much as possible, while still implementing my unique aspects to the magic. I will have more and better explanations later, but at this time I will be making my Onmyodo magic (as Sorcery magic, not D&D Wizard magic) which basically means spells do not require material components, except for summoning spells - which my Onmyoji sorcerers fold origami animals to summon a shikigami oni familiar.

My Shugendo magic will involve both aspects of sorcery as well as nature (druidic) magic, which is practiced by the Yamabushi and the Yokai Warriors.

I am also going to implement Ki Magic, or magic from the self, especially for various monk and martial arts special powers. Ki inherent in all beings is mostly utilized by Samurai, Ashigaru, Martial Artists and Monks.

I also want to create a Sohei monk, which might have some additional priestly magical access, through the Magic of Kaido, which pertains to the Wheel of Life construct itself.

I am sure I will have more details once things are developed further and closer to publication

GP
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

Gamer Printshop

Here's a long post. I spent most of Sunday reading the Oriental Adventures Handbook for 3.5 with references to Rokugan. I wanted to see what the main differences are between my fictional Japanese empire vs. Rokugan and Oriental Adventures. This is what I came up with...

I believe that I'll have to create my own 3.5 compatible - Adventures in Kaidan manual with its own rules, some differences I require over Rokugan/OA:

1. Samurai - although the use of the Daisho (katana and wakizashi) is intrinsic to being Samurai, that ideas was only tied to them after the Tokugawa Shogunate (or from 1600 to 1868). While still being important, the original iteration of a Samurai in Japan was a a master archer. No where in OA or Rokugan, does the Daikyu or mounted long bow come into play, yet it is the intrinsic samurai weapon. So I'd like to develop further differences between samurai schools to include archer samurai among the choices.

Currently the Rokugan flavor of OA, emphasizes the seven noble houses of Rokugan with seven different schools of samurai teaching, or seven different sets of advanced feats. I may need more than seven, though I don't necessarily have to follow the original seven here, as my "clans" aren't the same as Rokugan clans. Besides I have twenty two provinces and twelve separate castle towns - so at least 12 differing samurai schools.

2. Rokugan offers the courtier class, which for all intents and purposes is an non-combat type player class, perhaps more akin to a non-fighting bard typle. One problem for Kaidan of course, is that senior members of most noble houses and all of the Imperial Court is undead. Undead are NPCs in Kaidan.

My solution is a class called Hatamoto - which is basically a samurai with a balance of skills between martial training with the Daisho (katana and wakizashi), but more feats related to courtly activities, like: etiquette, tea ceremony, calligraphy, and political skills like bluff, high perception skills, the ability to use intrigue as a tool to gain information or improved social position. Thus my courtiers are armed and more playable as a PC class, just not as well as your standard samurai.

3. Since Kaidan involves the rotating through the castes through death and reincarnation there are needs for diversified PC class availabitlity in other castes. There are needs of fighters who aren't of the samurai caste. Ronin PC or NPC is a possibility as well, but that still requires samurai caste.

In OA, Ashigaru are mentioned as an NPC class for fighter of the Commoner caste - the foot soldiers of the Shogun's army, whereas samurai are its officers. I need to make Ashigaru a player character class, which means specialized skills using the Naginata or bladed spear and martial arts training. No access to swords or bow however, as those are samurai weapons.

4. Perhaps the biggest difference in my Japan game to Rokugan or OA, is that Shugenja (which are called Yamabushi in my setting) unlike Rokugan are not members of the samurai caste (only samurai are.) Also in Rokugan each noble house has a Samurai School and a Shugenja School. In my world, more like Japanese history, Yamabushi are considered outsiders to the agendas of the noble houses. Yamabushi are ascetic monks who live in small congregations in the mountains away from Kaidan society, trained in martial skills with Naginata, Sword, and Bow, as well as martial arts training, and they are spellcasters. I have no problems using Divine Spells spheres, druidic spell access and special powers as their magic. At times in Japanese history, yamabushi served side-by-side with Sohei and Samurai in specific wars, at other times the Imperial Court considered them an outlawed organization. My Yamabushi are more like freedom fighters under the tyrannical powers of the provincial lords and their samurai. (Yamabushi means "mountain warrior").

5. In OA and Rokugan, the practices of sorcery or the Wu jen class (a complete non-historical invention by Gary E. Gygax) is counter to the practice of sorcery in Japan and Kaidan. Wu jen are bizzare outsiders practicing "unlicensed skills" and spell craft away from society. Also in Rokugan Maho-tsugai or the practice of blood magic is considered something from the Shadowlands - sort of the evil land of the Oni and Tainted.

In old Japan and Kaidan, Onmyodo, the practice of sorcery is controlled by the Imperial Court, utilized for their skills, but prevented in their prolifieration throughout the rest of society. The court wanted to control this arcane use of power. Its practitioners, called Onmyoji have access to divination, necromancy, the control and turning of undead (channel power ability in Pathfinder), some levels of invocation/evocation,  spells to act as "glass cannons" for the Shogun's armies, buffing spells to beef up the combatants, and conjuration/summoning spellcraft by folding origami animals (both the material and somantic component) to summon Shikigami or Least Oni familiars to do their bidding. Thus sorcery in Kaidan is sanctioned by the government, but not allowed to work outside the Court or Shogun's military. The practice of sorcery is evil in my world.

However, I also want to introduce Boddhisattva monks (which I might rename to Inkyo, as Boddhisattva is too "Indian" for a japanese setting), which are kind of the spell casting, martial arts masters (in a sense, Paladin monks) for the forces of good in Kaidan. I perceive their magical access to be both divine and perhaps limited access to good forms of sorcery as well. This, of course, would be a prestige class only available to those who find the guys and learn of their ways. "Good guys" are rare in Kaidan.

6. Hengeyokai are the shape-changers of OA, and not part of the world of Rokugan, though they have Nezumi Ratlings (which in my world are simply hengeyokai in rat form, there is no separate ratling race.) In OA, hengeyokai are practitioners of Shamanism, which like Kaidan is the worship of the Shinto faith, which is appropriate for my world. I'd like to call them something other than Shaman, however. Of course in Kaidan, hengeyokai are the race of the Animal Realm, which PCs may die and reincarnate to become, so they are not as separate from society as they are in OA, and completely missing in Rokugan.

I also want to introduce a Shugendo based form of elemental sorcery, so that hengeyokai have access to arcane magic that is not an evil practice, more neutral and helpful to their own kind. I kind of want to give some limited access to this Shugendo sorcery to Yamabushi as well, perhaps in the form of a Yamabushi Prestige Class.

Plus I offer an additional Hengeyokai subrace, that is Ryujin or "dragon people" who are essentially a marine form of hengeyokai with the ability to shape-change to creatures of the sea. As a prestige class only available to Ryujin, however is the eventual shape-change ability to Japanese sea dragon form and access to powerful dragon magic is available.

7. In OA, Yakuza are a Prestige Class for Rogue with access to sorcery. In Kaidan, Yakuza are the rogues and are a core class, not a prestige class. As another anamoly to OA, the prestige class for monks called "Tattoo Monks" in my opinion is an exclusive Prestige Class for yakuza, as the Yakuza in Japan are the only notable caste/occupation that prominently wear tattoos as part of their sub-culture. Monks nolonger have access to this PrC. This way, rogues can one day have access to powerful "magic" abilities to enhance their lives. (To the detriment of Rokugan's clan Dragon Shugenja, who are known to be the tattoo monks.)

8. Several of the prestige class monks have involvements with being "enlightened". In Kaidan, only the Boddhisattva are "enlightened". Thus so far, I have removed all the PrC for monks from Rokugan/OA, so I will have to replace them with alternative PrC, such as Ki Master, Kensai and others.

9. Sohei, who are missing from Rokugan, and present in OA are militant martial arts monks, whose magic powers are like standard D&D monks being of Ki power only. I would like the Sohei of Kaidan to fill that role, but also have access to limited divine powers in the form of Kaido, my invented magic of the Wheel of Life. As someone has to be the practitioners of the state religion of Zao, since Yamabushi are basically counter to Imperial agendas, unlike the Shukenja of Rokugan/OA (who fill that role in those game settings.)

10. Martial Arts according to OA, is much in line with how I'd do it: sets of clustered feats pertaining to specific styles of martial arts. For example Karate would comprise of the following feats: improved unarmed combat, iron will, improved bull rush, and perhaps karmic strike, whereas Judo: improved unarmed combat, lightening reflexes, improved trip and perhaps a Superior or Greater Trip (the last is an invented feat.) I would thnk all Kaidanese PCs would have unarmed combat as a free bonus feat.

11. In OA, Ninja are a PrC. I can agree with that, but the available classes to add this Prestige Class might include: Yakuza, Monk, Sohei, Samurai (ronin most likely) and Yamabushi. The art of Ninjutsu includes their unique martial arts, unique weapons use, infiltration skills, disguise skills and a limited access to sorcery magic for things like climb, water walking, featherfall, and dimension door.

12. Many of the monsters of Rokugan/OA are similar to mine, but how they look, where they come from, what skills/powers they have greatly differ from Kaidan. In OA, Kappa are turtle like beings (a complete mistake on G. Gygax's part) Kappa are frog-like if anything and have no shell (which is a huge difference to OA monster manual). Tengu are bird-like which is true to a degree, but they are really shape-changers, but not hengeyokai. (Actually all monsters in Kaidan and Japan were shape-changers at least partly.) Tengu are the master archers of Japanese/Kaidan mythology and the teachers of Yamabushi on many things. And of course all undead are different classification of Yurei ghost. You can't tell by looking at undead as to how powerful it is. A skeleton may be animated bones, or maybe a Lich in skeletal form - you just can't tell. Except for Jikiniki or Gaki ghouls, different undead classes come in different forms, as in Ravenloft.

13. Shadowlands Taint - much of what is Rokugan surrounds the enigmatic conflict between the Empire of Rokugan and the Shadowlands. OK, my world has the Hell realm inhabited by Oni demons and other demon spirits, which is some correlation to the Shadowlands, but my Hell is a different plane of existence, much more like the Ethereal Plane. Taint issues are present throughout Kaidan, as it is Kaidan's Imperial Court which comprise the major force of evil in the realm. Working with the Court or for the Shogun will get as much "taint" on you as dealing with the Shadowlands in Rokugan. Using Onmyodo magic is also taint producing, so it's similar to Maho-tsugai blood magic of Rokugan, but its the Court magic of Kaidan.

14. Final point. Because Kaidan involves a doomed cycle of reincarnations with the cosmic Wheel of Life construct and problems of PC death and memory loss - is really what makes Kaidan stand out as a unique setting to those recognized by OA or Rokugan. In most Japanese settings, multi-classing is not the norm. Within a single "life" on Kaidan, this is also true, but since you can die, reincarnate and possibly have your memory of your previous life "awakened", thus keeping the skill sets and spell access of a previous life, PCs in Kaidan can "kind of/sort of" be multi-class characters - another major difference.


In some ways, Kaidan follows hand-in-hand with the rulesets for Oriental Adventures, yet in just as many ways it differs. Are the differences enough to have to recreate an entire Core Rules version of my oriental setting, or can it work as an addendum sheet to users of OA or d20 Rokugan?

Since many issues of Rokugan is counter to my needs of an oriental ruleset, I never want to have to license AEG's Rokugan to create my own version (Rokugan is d20, not OGL). On the same hand, Oriental Adventures is d20 and not OGL as well, created by James Wyatt, who is currently still a staff member at WotC. Thus OA is a product of WotC.

The publication processs for Pathfinder, as I see it, involves Paizo and 3rd party licensed publishers including our own Dementia 5, to create updated books of 3.5 rules specifically applying to the Pathfinder RPG eventually. So all the d20/OGL books of 3.5 will have a Pathfinder version, as 3.5 books are doomed to extinction, eventually.

Because OA is a product of WotC, it is very unlikely that OA will be approved for use in Pathfinder, and recreating OA rules that isn't different enough to that ruleset will be in conflict with WotC's IP and liable to face a law suit, if not simply a "cease and desist" order. Unless AEG licenses a version of Rokugan with Pathfinder, that manual is unlikely to become a part of Pathfinder either.

Therein, is where my dilema lies. It almost seems I have to reinvent the Oriental rules completely, as my differences are different enough, and the existing rules will eventually be unavailable for use in Pathfinder, I have no other choice. Yes, its true that users of OA and d20 Rokugan can always use those rulesets with my slight changes to work in Kaidan - this works for now. But when OA and d20 Rokugan are nolonger published or avaiable due to the inherent conflict with Paizo's rule system - someone will have to create an oriental rules set eventually.

Should that eventuality be now, using my setting and my proposed changes to existing systems?
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

sparkletwist

Quote from: Gamer PrintshopIn OA, Kappa are turtle like beings (a complete mistake on G. Gygax's part) Kappa are frog-like if anything and have no shell (which is a huge difference to OA monster manual).
Since many issues of Rokugan is counter to my needs of an oriental ruleset, I never want to have to license AEG's Rokugan to create my own version (Rokugan is d20, not OGL). On the same hand, Oriental Adventures is d20 and not OGL as well, created by James Wyatt, who is currently still a staff member at WotC. Thus OA is a product of WotC.[/quote]
What you have going for you is that nobody's got a copyright on Japanese history and mythology. I think that as long as it's clear that's your primary source of inspiration, you should be just fine.

Gamer Printshop

Quote from: sparkletwistI'm not sure how this works, unless I'm not understanding the numbers of warriors that would be considered "Samurai" in Kaidan or the type of warfare that usually took place. At least in Europe, archers tended to be low-paid peasant conscripts, and archery needed massed fire to be effective. If you want to make a distinction, and have a more prestigious sort of samurai archer, you could always consider making them highly trained Mongol-style horse archers.

Though I'm truly not aware of how a Japanese battle is fought - never witnessed one, or seen a good replication of it in the movies - archery in Japan was on horseback and ashigaru are foot soldiers, only samurai are allowed on horseback in times of war.

I have seen archery contests in Japan. A folding fan is tied to a rope hanging from a tree, riders at full gallop set their arrow in the daikyu bow and fire with extreme accuracy, hitting the target most of the time. Perhaps the Japanese didn't rely on mass fire of arrows in war, rather more like accurate shooting with a rifle. The skills of a sniper.

I know that when Kublai Khan attempted to invade Japan, the Japanese forces that met up against those Mongols who hadn't been wiped out by the typhoon, the Mongols outclassed the Japanese in large combat tactics. In Japan, up to that time, most battles involved smaller groups of men on each side. Very much single combat for each individual on the field. Being highly accurate was more important to Japanese battle tactics, then it would be for large scale combat. Very often the sniping of an opposing commander by accurate bow shots meant the win or loss of a battle.

Until the introduction of gunpowder weapons by the Portuguese in the 1500's, the samurai was the primary missleman of the Japanese army. When guns were introduced they were placed in the hands of Ashigaru, not samurai, then Ashigaru became the primary missle forces of Japan. Introduced by Oda Nobunaga to his fighting men.

Regarding Kappa, my Mom has a Kappa doll and there is no shell. Not to say that Kappa don't have shells, but I've never seen one, from the illustrations and crafts depicting Kappa in Japan. The Kappa was a two to three foot tall hairless humanoid either nakedd or dressed as a Japanese farmer, with the cone shaped straw hat. At the top center of the hat/head was a hollow spot. Apparently Kappa are a type of water spirit. Water, from its living area filled the hollow spot on the tops of their heads which provided them with tremendous strength - stronger than most humans.

Kappa would challenge anyone trying to cross a bridge across its area of domain to a weaponless combat one against one. They were so strong, they'd always win. The only way to defeat a Kappa, was to someone trick it into spilling the water from the top of its head, then it would lose all its strength and could easily be beaten. Tales tell of samurai aware of this secret first bowing deeply before the Kappa in preparing to fight. The samurai would ask as a show of respect for the Kappa to return the bow. If they did, the water spilled from their head, the samurai would knock them aside and cross the bridge.

Final point, I certainly agree by sticking with true Japanese inspiration, my setting rules set would be different than OA or Rokugan. Where problem arises is the requirement of d20 feats, skills and spells as a game mechanic so those familiar with D&D 3.5 could adapt and utilize it. Using the same game mechanics, but trying to be unique is the difficult part of the rules set. I am sure it can be done, but I have to pay careful attention that the unique skills I choose don't match up with existing classes and feats in those existing game manuals.

GP
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

Ghostman

I have some knowledge about historical Japanese warfare, though it mostly comes from a single book that I own (Stephen Turnbull: Warriors of Medieval Japan (Osprey Publishing, 2005)). I'll post some parts that might be of interest.

[blockquote=Warriors of Medieval Japan, page 84](...)
In 1274 and 1281 elite samurai, supported by foot soldiers, drove back the two Mongol invasions. Japan then enjoyed many years of comparative peace until an ill-fated attempt at imperial restoration led to the Nanbokuchō wars, which were fought in the name of two rival emperors and lasted for much of the 14th century. Many of the actions of these wars were fought from defended positions in mountainous areas, and a new way of using archery was developed. Instead of single arrows being fired at targets by elite mounted samurai, huge volleys of arrows were launched into the enemy ranks by foor soldiers, a technique that had been used against the Japanese by the Mongols. The Taiheiki, the chronicle of the Nanbokuchō wars (the 'Wars between the Courts'), refers to these lower-class archers as shashu no ashigaru (ashigaru shooters), the first use of the term 'ashigaru' in Japanese history. Out of 2,000 men who fought for the Sasaki at the battle of Shijo Nawate in 1348, 800 were these 'light archers'.
(...)[/blockquote]

[blockquote=Warriors of Medieval Japan, page 86](...)
The ashigaru's improved military status, however, was largely due to a change in choise of weaponry allocated to them. During the heroic days of the Gempei War (1180-85) the primary samurai weapon was the bow, and prowess at archery was the most prized samurai accomplishment. Yet by about 1530 we see ashigaru used regularly as missile troops while the mounted samurai fight with spears rather than bows. From the 1550s onwards the ashigaru bows were augmented by firearms, but for these to be effective they had to be placed at the front of an army, the position traditionally occupied by the most loyal and glorious samurai. There was much honour attached to being the first to come to grips with an enemy. To place the lowest-ranking troops in such a position was a challenge to samurai pride, even allowing for an overall tactical plan that envisaged the ashigaru's fire merely breaking down enemy ranks ready for a spirited charge by samurai, at which point the ashigaru politely held back.
(...)[/blockquote]

[blockquote=Warriors of Medieval Japan, page 102](...)
Large numbers of ashigaru archers were also employed throughout the Age of Warring States. Some may have been high trained sharpshooters like the samurai archers and used as skirmishers or for sniping, but their most important role was to fire volleys of arrows. The bow was identical to a samurai's longbow. It was made from bamboo and rattan and lacquered for protection against damp. Even though they had a shorter range than the arquebus, and required a more practiced operator, their rate of fire was more rapid and enemy arrows could be re-used. Archers were supported by carriers who were at hand with large quiver boxes containing 100 arrows. The preferred range for firing was from between 30 and 80 metres, and the bow had a maximum effective range of 380 metres.
(...)[/blockquote]

Turnbull clearly presents archery being practiced in large scale by the ashigaru. The book largely focuses on the Sengoku era though. It seems that the samurai transformed from mounted archers into mounted spearmen around the same time as ashigaru became an increasingly common and increasingly important element in Japanese warfare.

Perhaps this quote can shed some light on earlier time periods:

[blockquote=Warriors of Medieval Japan, page 82]The antecedents of ashigaru may be traced to one of the earliest attempts by a Japanese emperor to control and systematize the owning and use of military force. To this end, Emperor Tenmu (reigned 673-86) envisaged a national army that was to consist largely of conscripted foot soldiers, but as they often absconded from duty the programme was eventually abandoned. By the 10th century the government began instead to rely on the military service provided by the landowning classes, whose possession of horses had already guaranteed their position as the 'officer class' of the conscript armies. These men were the first samurai, who were supported in their endeavours by scores of lower-class troops who at other times worked on the land. Some foot soldiers had long connections with a particular family or geographical area, and would tend to act in the capacity of genin (warrior's attendant). They would carry a samurai's equipment or act as grooms, and would also perform the important function of collecting the severed heads, each of which counted to their master's total. The genin would fight if necessary, particularly if the samurai's life was in danger, but samurai combat was largely regarded as a private duel in which the rival genin provided only a supportive function. Their service was valued nonetheless, and loyal genin occasionally received promotion to samurai status.

In a typical army there were other footsoldiers, however, to whom such ties of social obligation and personal service were either weak or non-existent. These men were often hastily recruited, badly trained and poorly armed. To the compilers of the epic chronicles of samurai warfare, they were almost invisible and invariably anonymous, and it is only through careful reading of the texts that their presence on the battlefield becomes apparent. (...)[/blockquote]
¡ɟlǝs ǝnɹʇ ǝɥʇ ´ʍopɐɥS ɯɐ I

Paragon * (Paragon Rules) * Savage Age (Wiki) * Argyrian Empire [spoiler=Mother 2]

* You meet the New Age Retro Hippie
* The New Age Retro Hippie lost his temper!
* The New Age Retro Hippie's offense went up by 1!
* Ness attacks!
SMAAAASH!!
* 87 HP of damage to the New Age Retro Hippie!
* The New Age Retro Hippie turned back to normal!
YOU WON!
* Ness gained 160 xp.
[/spoiler]

Gamer Printshop

Excellent, so I definitely should be able to incorporate "light archer" ashigaru into the class mix as well.

Glad you pointed it out. The era of Japanese history I am largely using in my setting is the days just following the Genpei Wsr in 1185. So these are still the days of the Archer Samurai. Even a "thousand years" have passed since the founding of the Empire, the military technology has not advanced in that time. An unusual situation maintained by the undead Imperial Court forcing their world to remain the same.

The Warring States, Sengoku period has not and probably will not occur.

So, I'll have to add light archer ashigaru to my available character claas list.

GP
Michael Tumey
RPG Map printing for Game Masters
World's first RPG Map POD shop
 http://www.gamer-printshop.com

sparkletwist

That stuff Ghostman posted says a lot more than I could about the topic of archers, so I have nothing else to add on that note. :D

As for Kappas, I guess Kappas both with and without shells are fairly commonplace. So, I don't think it's fair to say Gygax made a mistake, however, you're not really making a mistake either by depicting them how you like. (Not that you couldn't do it how you wanted to anyway: Fantasy RPGs tend to take and redefine nebulous concepts from fantasy all the time)