Gencon 2003 LARP – The Heir Unveiled
Samurai of Rokugan,
It is my duty, my privilege, and my honor to deliver glad tidings unto you. Toturi Kaede, Empress of Rokugan, has returned. With her obligations to the Elemental Dragons temporarily satisfied, she has returned to the Empire to reunite the Imperial Court and name her successor. In Kyuden Miya, she once again reigns over Rokugan.
You are cordially invited to attend the Empress at Kyuden Miya. Kaede eagerly anticipates news of all events that have transpired in her absence, and looks forward to blessing those who have loyally maintained the peace of the Empire in her absence. With the cancellation of the Winter Court last year, no doubt this will be a welcome opportunity to re-establish diplomatic relations with old allies and forge new bonds with former enemies. Under the protection of the Empress and the Winds, let no samurai fear to step forward and face those with whom he once crossed steel. Let old hatreds be buried.
This shall be the first official meeting of the new Imperial Court. Thus, all those who have been invited to join this court are required to be in attendance. Those who cannot attend are strongly urged to send a representative so that their voice on the court can be heard, their place in the new order secured.
Naturally the Four Winds - Toturi Tsudao, Hantei Naseru, Toturi Sezaru, and Akodo Kaneka - will be in attendance. Reportedly the sons and daughters of Toturi will be making plans for an assault upon the Dark Lord’s fortress. To that end, the Empire’s foremost generals and military advisors have also been assembled to offer advice and support.
The future begins here.
I look forward to seeing you among us.
Miya Shoin
Herald of the Empress
The Basic Rules for L5R LARP:
LARP is a form of role-play that focuses more on acting out the character than a lot of dice rolling. We realize that hitting other players over the head with a katana or tetsubo is hardly feasible. With this in mind, here are the basic rules, which should allow swift resolution of combat and tests of knowledge or skill. Social interactions should be played out, and go to a test only as a last resort. Even the best of players are better swayed with role-playing, rather than told, “Okay, my Air ring is mega high, and I have a huge Oratory skill so you’re going to listen to me!”
When testing against another player or NPC (Opposed Tests):
To start, you and your opponent add the Trait and Skill in question together. Both players then draw a single card from a poker deck (Jokers included), provided by a judge. The values of the cards start with the Ace being worth one, and the King being worth 13. When the Joker is pulled, you pull again and the value of the next card is doubled. Example: Pulling a Joker and then a 6 means you have a total value of 12. You would add this pulled card to the total of your Trait plus Skill. The final result compares: Trait + Skill + Pulled Card. Whoever has the higher total wins the test.
Example: Miya Miyagi is dueling Kakita Seigi. Miya Miyagi has a Reflexes of three and an Iaijitsu of four. He pulls a Joker and then pulls the Eight of Diamonds. He now has a total of 23 (3+4+16=23). Kakita Seigi has a Reflexes of four and an Iaijitsu of five. She pulls a King, which means she now has a total of 22. (4+5+13=22) Miya Miyagi would strike first, and likely win the duel.
When testing without opposition (Unopposed Tests)
Add your Trait to the Skill being used. Once again you will need to draw from a deck of cards a judge will be holding. You will need to pull under your total of Trait + Skill. If what you need to do is relatively easy, a judge might deduct five from the value of the card you pull, thus illustrating the ease of which you can accomplish the objective. If the task is ridiculously hard, the judge may add on to the total of the card. Trait + Skill > or = Pulled Card –/+ Difficulty Modifier.
Example: Kakita Seigi wants to know what would be the correct gift to present to her host, Miya Shoin. She has an Awareness of three and Etiquette of four. Because she does not know Miya Shoin that well, the judge has added a modifier of two to the difficulty. She pulls the Two of Hearts giving her a total of four (Pulled Card + Difficulty Modifier) and succeeds at choosing something he will appreciate.
Special Note: In Unopposed Tests if a Joker is pulled, another card must be drawn. If that card is a success, than the player does exceptionally well at whatever they were attempting. If they fail, it is an abysmal failure that a judge should feel free to exploit.
Gencon 2003 LARP – The Heir Unveiled - Cast List
(This list is subject to change)
Crab
Hida Hio
Hida Kuon
Hida Reiha - Judge
Hida Rohiteki
Hida Shara
Hiruma Nichi
Hiruma Tatsuya.
Kaiu Umasu
Kuni Kiyoshi
Yasuki Jinn Kuen
Yasuki Namika
Crane
Daidoji Rekai – Judge
Doji Kurohito
Doji Midoru
Doji Nagori
Doji Tanitsu
Doji Yasuyo
Doji Jotaro
Asahina Sekawa
Kakita Munemori
Kakita Nanami
Kakita Rekkusu
Yasuki Hachi
Dragon
Togashi Satsu - Judge
Togashi Matsuo
Kitsuki Remata
Kitsuki Tadashi
Mirumoto Rosanjin
Mirumoto Shokan
Mirumoto Uso
Mirumoto Ryosaki
Tamori Shaitung – Judge
Tamori Hiroko
Tamori Shukuen
Lion
Akodo Ginawa – Judge
Akodo Ijiasu
Akodo Sarasa
Akodo Rokuro
Ikoma Fudai
Ikoma Otemi
Ikoma Sume
Kitsu Dejiko
Kitsu Juri
Ikoma Yasuko
Matsu Hyun
Matsu Nimuro
Mantis
Moshi Kalani
Moshi Jukio
Moshi Junichi
Moshi Mogai
Tsuruchi Heishiro
Tsuruchi Ichiro - Judge
Tsuruchi Tasuku
Yoritomo Kitao
Yoritomo Komori
Yoritomo Kumiko
Yoritomo Yoyonagi
Phoenix
Agasha Chieh
Asako Hirariko
Asako Shuntaro
Isawa Nakamuro
Isawa Masaaki
Isawa Taeruko
Isawa Ochiai
Shiba Arai
Shiba Emiri
Shiba Mirabu
Shiba Yoma - Judge
Scorpion
Bayushi Kaukatsu – Judge
Bayushi Kwanchai
Bayushi Norachai
Bayushi Sunetra
Bayushi Paneki
Bayushi Aotora
Shosuro Higatsuku
Shosuro Yudoka
Soshi Angai
Soshi Eiji
Soshi Kiyo
Soshi Tishi
Yogo Tjeki
Unicorn
Akasha
Ide Michisuna
Ide Tang
Iuchi Yue
Moto Chagatai
Moto Chaozhu
Moto Chen
Shinjo Osema
Shinjo Shono - Judge
Shinjo Haruko
Utaku Yu-Pan
Imperial Family
Miya Shoin
Otomo Hoketuhime
Seppun Hotaitaka
Ronin/Unaligned
Rezan
Kiyomi – Judge
Toturi Miyako
Toku
Usagi Ozaki
Toturi Koshei
Yotsu Irie
Naka Tokei
Ratlings
K’Chee
Yoee'trr
Te’tik’kir
Zin’tch
***Please note that you will not be able to reserve a character in advance. All characters will be passed out on a first come, first served basis at the LARP itself. The LARP will be held at about 7:00PM on Friday night, July 25, 2003. The event is already on the list of events slated for Gencon if you wish to pre-register for the event. If you have any questions, you can contact Kim Hosmer. We hope to see you there. ***