How to enjoy l5r, a primer for new players part 2, Story.

Ahhh the story, without which the game of l5r would be a lot crappier. One of the big draws you may have been presented about this game is the ability of the players to influence the story. Influence is the key word. Many people hear this and assume a greater amount of control over the story than is actually applied. The purpose of this entry is to point out some guidelines as to how players actually influence the story, and what expectations you should probably develop toward your ability to move the story in a certain direction.

1. Tournament wins.

Winning a tournament is the number one method of influencing a story. There are dozens of storyline tournaments every year, and each one has a very specific story influence, from a member of your clan earning a position, to your clan finding something neat or defeating a powerful enemy. These story wins are generally very specific, and what you can expect from earning one is exactly what was listed..no more, and no less. Many people go into a tournament and once they win, attempt to push more of the story they want into the win than was actually promised. The story team had best find your idea very very awesome, because if they allow it once, they'll have to allow it for more story tourneys lest the internet claim of bias be levelled against them. It is not a good idea to expect that you can do that. If they ask you to name a character...be happy with naming the character and don't be disappointed if the six page backstory you email to the story team doesnt get used.

Many players often levy bounties for story wins and this can be a good way to earn extra cards or even cash if you don't care much about that particular storyline.

All in all as a new player you should not expect much success in the tournament story win method. It is by and large experienced players with a wide testing group that have the best chance with this.


2. Playerbase and Imperial Herald votes.

With a fair amount of regularity the company will put forth votes to the players of various clans. Votes attached to the Imperial Herald membership are by and large the most common here, and these are rarer than storyline tournaments. I have however seen an uptick in these votes recently and the cardinal rule applies. You are voting for what they list..no more and no less.

This is probably the easiest way for a new player to influence the story. It does involve purchasing an Imperial Herald membership, but I'd recommend that for new players anyway. The herald sends out quarterly, and comes with a grip of promo cards that you can generally only get by purchasing the herald. Some of these cards are very powerful and even if they don't fit in the decks you like to play can be traded for cards that you do play.

3. Winter Court

For the Roleplayers out there, this can be an amazing way to influence the story. It requires a working knowledge of the l5r rpg however which can be a moderately spendy proposition (most rpg books sell for 30 to 50 dollars). This method has had the best success in getting your "l5r persona" should you have developed one, into the story as a canon character. While it is by no means guaranteed, and you basically have to wow the story team with your ability to fill the role and knowledge of the setting, it is a great way to keep involved in "official" l5r during the lean tournament season it tends to occupy.


Winter court however, has no set schedule. There are no guarantees that one will be run, though I suspect AEG is interested in making it a more regular thing given the success of the past two they have run. The cardinal rule still applies, keep your hopes and expectations reasonable, there are no guarantees that anything you do, or even your character will make it into the canon story.

4. Tournament happenings.

This, is the rarest and most difficult way of affecting the storyline, yet it is the one I see the most people attempt. First off, a member of the story team must hear about or witness what occured. If they never find out about it, it'll never make it into the story. A significant chunk of story influence attempts end there...i suspect the majority in fact. Second off, what you're trying to accomplish has to fit somewhere in the story teams plans. They are not likely to completely reverse their plans for an arc based off something they see at a tournament.

When it does happen however, its usually because something so amazingly awesome occured that itd be a tragedy not to have it documented in the annals of the game.

5. Whining about it.

This doesn't work...don't do it.