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Gamer Question
People who like L5R: Why?
Why do you like a top-heavy, orientalist, highly westernized fantasy of Japan that is simultaneously less gameable and less interesting than the "real thing" (either a historical period or something based on Japanese myth.) Real Samurai had complicated lives of politics, betrayal, war, and power. Y'know, human issues. L5R Samurai seem to worry mostly about "taint" and "honor" and kill themselves all the damned time.
Not to mention that China and Korea are reduced to "the shadowlands" that are EVIL and full of "taint."
And please don't say it is the system. 'cause that is a whole nother rant.
(Clarification: I have no trouble believing that a lot of people like L5R. Just that twice today I have seen folks who I think of as rational, sane people, very hip to racial, cultural, and historical issues, praise the game. I'm really curious -- why? Am I missing something?)
Why do you like a top-heavy, orientalist, highly westernized fantasy of Japan that is simultaneously less gameable and less interesting than the "real thing" (either a historical period or something based on Japanese myth.) Real Samurai had complicated lives of politics, betrayal, war, and power. Y'know, human issues. L5R Samurai seem to worry mostly about "taint" and "honor" and kill themselves all the damned time.
Not to mention that China and Korea are reduced to "the shadowlands" that are EVIL and full of "taint."
And please don't say it is the system. 'cause that is a whole nother rant.
(Clarification: I have no trouble believing that a lot of people like L5R. Just that twice today I have seen folks who I think of as rational, sane people, very hip to racial, cultural, and historical issues, praise the game. I'm really curious -- why? Am I missing something?)
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I think there would be one conflict per PC per season or something.
I just remember talking to one of my students about how each season has a part of nature to observe. Star-gazing in the winter, leaves in autumn, cherry-blossoms in spring...shit, I'm blanking on summer.
Anyway, it'd be neat to have a game built around those festivals.
Thassall.
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Sumemer makes me think of biting into a fresh tomato. That's not very Japanese! It might get you thinking, though.
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Regardless, I am excited at the prospect of a samurai game coming from such a high quality source.
yrs--
--Ben
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