Notes from the club L5R specialist

[fang_of_fenris]

I don't know whether to count Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) at D20 system or just a highly elaborated-upon Campaign Setting. Either way, here's something interesting.

In Oriental Adventures (D&D's prelude to L5R), there's a base class that is, in short, better than a Cleric. Why, you may ask? Here's my answer:

The class, called Shaman (not Complete Divine Spirit Shaman) has a few short-comings when compared to the Cleric, but a heap of bonuses that tip the scales back again.
First, the similarities: same B.A.B. values, same Ref/Will saves (Fort is weaker), same spell progression, including domain spells, and an ability to turn undead. Finally, the two classes have a similar array of skills and can both be played at any alignment.
Now, here's the places where Shaman falls short. For Turning Undead, the Shaman receives this ability at 3rd level rather than 1st and the Shaman is considered a Cleric minus two levels for the parts of Turn Undead that require level checks. Downer. Additionally, the Shaman only gets hit die at D6 rather than the Cleric's D8, and their proficiencies only extend to simple weapons and light armor (big drawback).
There, that's the sucky part. Now, here's where the Shaman wins!: First off, the Shaman's lack of Martial weapon proficiencies is offset by the fact that they start 1st level with Unarmed Strike and gain a series of Bonus Feats (4, 8, 12, 16, 20) that greatly enhance these unarmed strikes. Secondly, the Shaman's reduced ability with Turning Undead is offset by the fact that they ALSO get to keep an Animal Companion as the Druid class. Additionally, for kicks, the Shaman gets access to a 3rd Domain (11th level) for spell-casting that the Cleric will never see. Finally, the Shaman gets two abilities that allow him/her/it to see ethereal creatures plainly at any given time, and they add their Charisma modifier to ALL saving throws.

Now that I compare directly, the Shaman class probably wouldn't be as exactly good as a Cleric on the front line of things, but as a second-line supporter, this class reigns supreme.

[fang_of_fenris]

A few more worthy notes:

First off, there is an element of gameplay in L5R that I think is possibly unique to campaigns. It's also kind of awkward, so I can understand why D&D 3.5 didn't pounce on and incorporate it. The theme was to introduce kata (or a series of combat drills meant to hone martial arts) to the Samurai and (consequently) Fighter class. (sidenote, Samurai = Fighter weirdly in L5R)
Anywho, the kata involved spending time in drills in order to confer bonuses to the Samurai's performance in some way. Overall, a pretty cool idea. The major drawback was this: to learn any kata, the Samurai had to sacrifice xp.
Perhaps I am not with most people in my feelings about this one, but I tend to view xp as an arbitrary system useful only when involved in console/computer gaming. When it comes to leveling, I much prefer for the DM to say, "Alright, you've earned it. Everybody level up!" than to have to point- monger and count every little thing like a greedy bureaucrat striving for that last edge.
Back to the kata, I mourned when I found out about the whole xp-cost bit. I suppose the options for these abilities is rather limited; there's skill points, feats, gold cost, and xp cost, and the kata have to cost something...and if you tie it in to how one of the core books (not both) claim that a Samurai's ancestral daisho ability already costs xp, then I guess it's okay to doom your Samurai to being at a low level to gain these abilities...but it simply irks me!
I now realize why it is that so many gamers are enamored of systems that focus less on leveling and more on a point-buy system. It would make this situation so much easier.

And now for something completely different!: A promo on the L5R base class, the courtier. I really do have to say that the Courtier class captures perfectly the fun that could be had by gamers pulling away from the duldroms of dungeon-diving and attempting games in civilized settings. I promise, it's fun!
For those of you who are not familiar, the Courtier is basically (very basically) like a Bard that has chosen to get into politics. Forsaking spells, music, and a rogue-style B.A.B., the Courtier choses instead to take on a series of innate abilities (spell-like, supernatural, whatever), wider adaptability of skills, and several other abilities that make them essential in an urban setting (or even small towns, if you can work it properly).
Really, the only drawback to the Courtier is this: that at several levels, the Courtier gains Versatility, a feat that allows the Courtier to convert two cross-class skills to class skills. Why is this a downer? Simply, because the book, Races of Destiny, already made a feat which makes ALL cross-class skills into class skills. And considering that Courtier class pragmatically requires that the PC be a human, you may as well take the feat at level 1 and toss out Versatility entirely. Or, better yet, replace Versatility #1 with that awesome feat, then exchange later Versatilities for a simple 2 point bonus to any skill. Done and done. It's nice to know that the rules to these games are adaptable.
And now, I must away to prepare for school and such. Peace out!
- Phil

Edit: My bad. As mod. Kennith pointed out, I misdescribed the feat that I would use to up the Courtier versatility. The feat, called Able Learner, doesn't actually make cross-class skills into class skills, but reduces the point-to-rank buying system so that it's the same as class skills. Cross-class skills still can't have more than 1/2 the max ranks of class skills. My bad, but you get the point.