Dear Doji and Matsu: I have heard that there are modules from a campaign before this one that are really good and worth a read!  Where do I get them?
-- Curious Historian

Lady Doji Replies: Ah Historian-san, it is truly good of you to remeber your ancestors, and seek out their past deeds.  Unfortunately, The Hobart-san's have neither the time nor energy to distribute the modules from Heroes of Rokugan 1 (or "Living Rokugan").  Moreover, they, alas, do not own the rights to distribute half of those modules anyway, as they belong to the RPGA and WoTC.

Lady Matsu Replies: BAH! Why would you want to play in a dead campaign anyway!  Live in the now, or commit seppuku!

Dear Doji and Matsu: Recently, a situation arose in which a samurai who had insulted me was lying unconscious at my feet. Since no-one was watching, I wished to show him the price of insulting the Scorpion by slitting his throat, but my GM would not allow this! He said something about the Campaign Admin having a "policy against assassinations," of all things. How can this be? I am a Scorpion, should I not be able to teach other characters the peril of insulting a Scorpion? Any guidance you might offer would be greatly appreciated. -- Ruthless Scorpion

Lady Doji Replies: Oh my, Scorpion-san, this topic is really quite unsettling for me.  I believe I shall hand this response over to my brother Bayushi.

Lord Bayushi Replies: Ah, young cousin, I fear you may perhaps misunderstand our subtle ways!  Although we of the Scorpion do occasionally employ assassination, our preferred tactics are more... subtle.  Such as slowly ruining the reputation of the person who insulted you, or arranging for him to stumble into a duel with a superior opponent (from which only your own assistance can save him), or a similar maneuver.

However, if you are determined to actually kill an enemy player character, then yes, you must consider the Campaign Admin's policy on assassinations.  These are not strictly prohibited, for the Campaign Admin recognizes that in some situations an assassination may truly be an in-character action.  However, he does require the GM to take certain considerations under advisement when deciding whether to allow an assassination.  Specifically:

1st: All motives must be in-character (IC).  If the GM so much as suspects that an assassination attempt is being motivated by out-of-character (OOC) feelings or enmity, he should immediately prohibit the action from taking place.

2nd: The victim must have a fair chance to escape.  No "auto-kill" assassinations of helpless characters are allowed.  The targeted victim must always have the opportunity to make a roll or otherwise be able to detect and avoid the assassination attempt.

3rd: Actions have consequences.  Even if there were no witnesses to the killing, the murderer should still lose massive amounts of Honor and gain a 10-point Dark Secret (since murder is always a capital crime in Rokugan).  Further, the victim is urged to send a Kharma death-story to the Campaign Admin, who has a policy of generosity in such cases.  Further, it is entirely acceptable for the victim to make a new character who is a relative or friend sworn to hunt down the mysterious killer...

I trust that makes things clear, Doji-san.

Lady Matsu Replies: Assassins should be hanged without benefit of seppuku!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: The campaign has switched to the new Revised rules, but now there's an "Errata" thread on the Alderac forums that contains even more rules changes and revisions. Do we have to use those as well?br /> -- Aspiring Rules Master

Lady Doji Replies: An excellent question! In point of fact, although we do use any posted clarifications for rules which were mis-printed in the Revised rulebook due to errors by the scribes, we do not use the additional rules changes which have been posted on that forum thread. We want to stick as closely as possible to the printed rules in order to minimize confusion for our players and GMs. I trust this makes things perfectly clear!

Lady Matsu Replies: Why are you reading some "forum" when the official rulebook lies before you? SEPPUKU for YOU!

Dear Doji and Matsu: I missed the opportunity to play in an Interactive. Can I order it for my home group?
--Wanting to LARP

Lady Doji Replies: I am sorry, LARP-san, but generally speaking, Interactives are only available to either conventions or to game days with more than 20 people attending. Check with convention heads to see if they intend to run any Heroes of Rokugan, and if so you can always ask that they request an Interactive as part of their Convention. If you want to organize a game-day to run an Interactive, please contact the Campaign Staff to see if any are available.

Lady Matsu Replies: Imbicile! You should always attend the Emperor's events! SEPPUKU for YOU!

Dear Doji and Matsu: There seem to be some discrepancies between the current CCG timeline and the future world depicted in Heroes of Rokugan. How should we deal with these discrepancies?
-- Continuity Obsessed

Lady Matsu Replies: Ill-mannered oaf! You deal with such embarrassments in the same way as any others -- ignore them, until someone of proper rank deals with the problem! If you cannot remember the basic rules of etiquette, SEPPUKU for YOU!

Lady Doji Replies: Although my friend Lady Matsu is quite correct in her analysis of Rokugani etiquette, I believe you are seeking a more detailed answer, Obsessed-san, and it would be rude to deny it to you.

It should be remembered that Heroes of Rokugan is merely a potential future. As much as we might like our world to become "canon," at the moment it is simply a future that might happen, if history develops along certain paths. Therefore, a certain amount of discontinuity with the official timeline will inevitably appear over time.

Of course, it should also be remembered that 340 years can cover a multitude of sins. Even if some new dynasty takes power at the end of the Race for the Throne, who is to say that a true heir to the Toturi Dynasty will not emerge in 50 or 80 years and depose these pretenders? Once that happened, of course, the Empire's official historians would take it upon themselves to remove any embarrassing references to the interregnum.

I trust this makes everything perfectly clear!

Dear Doji and Matsu: The rules say that I cannot play a Monk without a special certificate. What about Henshin and Tattooed Man characters? Aren't they "Monks"?
-- Confused in Rokugan.

Lady Doji Replies: Ah, Confused, the answer to your problem is really quite simple. You see, by "Monk" the campaign is specifically referring to the revered monks of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. Those... ah, unique Dragon Clan tattooed men and Phoenix Henshin have the "monk trait" but are members of Clans, not part of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. Therefore, they are legal to play. I trust this answer dispels your confusion and leaves you serene and happy!

Lady Matsu Replies: Fool! If you can't tell the difference between a saffron-robed eunuch and a bald-headed freak, what are you doing playing this game?! SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: I am playing a Doji Courtier. Can I use the Favor Tables to supply equipment, wealth, and/or political appointments to other PCs?
-- Clever in Crane Lands.

Lady Doji Replies: First, Clever-san, let me congratulate you on your excellent taste in characters! But alas, the answer to your specific query is that in general, no, you cannot do this. The Doji Favor Tables are meant to be a way of smoothing diplomatic discussions -- and are quite good at it, I might add! They are not a method of bypassing the campaign restrictions on characters.

In some circumstances, the PCs may desperately need something from the Favor Tables in order to successfully complete an adventure. I shudder to think what circumstances those might be, since everyone's lord always supplies whatever they could possibly need, but I suppose they could arise somehow. In these situations the GM may, at his or her discretion, allow the Doji Courtier to arrange for such an item. However, any gear acquired in this way would only last until the end of the adventure, after which it is returned to whence it came. I trust this makes everything clear!

Lady Matsu Replies: Courtier?? COURTIER??? You filth! Carry a sword and fight like a proper samurai! I'm not surprised some stinking, treacherous Crane Courtier would try to evade the campaign restrictions like this! SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: Can my shugenja character copy/trade scrolls from another PC shugenja?
-- Koan.

Lady Doji Replies: Alas, Koan-sama, while I have the highest respect for your name, I must inform you that in general, the answer is no. This would be sharing Clan secrets (if the other PC is outside your Clan) and would also be betraying the trust of your daimyo, who gave you those scrolls in order to serve your Clan. Also, from a game balance standpoint, allowing shugenja to freely trade scrolls would make them overpowered, able to become "do-anything" super-flexible spellcasters.

Of course, Koan-sama, your name implies that you are a wave-man. Ronin shugenja PCs do not operate under the same Clan-loyalty restrictions as other shugenja, and do not gain any spells normally during play. So ronin can, if they wish, trade their spells with other ronin (although some ronin might take offense at the suggestion that they need more spells...). I'm sure you would not take offense, would you, Koan-sama? I trust this makes everything perfectly clear. May the Fortunes guard your path!

Lady Matsu Replies: Filthy ronin dog! You would dare try to trick one of our honorable Lion shugenja into sharing our Clan secrets with you??? SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: What is considered "Tainted" for purposes of game effects?
-- Just Curious...

Lady Doji Replies: Oh, my. I find this a rather unsettling question, Curious-san. Of course, it would be rude of me to inquire as to why you are asking.

To answer the question, if you have less than a full Rank of Taint, your Taint can only be detected by one of those dreadful barbarian Moto Death Priests, not that anyone outside the Unicorn Clan would believe one of them! One of those uncouth Kuni Witch-Hunters will be able to sense faint Taint in the area, but cannot make a Contested Roll against you (to pick up signs that you may carry it) until you reach at least one full Rank of Taint. Likewise, both normal jade and the Jade Strike spell will not burn you until you reach a full Rank of Taint. Now that I have made things perfectly clear, I trust we can speak no more of this distasteful topic?

Lady Matsu Replies: Taint??? If you are asking, you must be harboring it, criminal! SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: Can I play a Rank 3 or higher character in a Low-Rank adventure?
-- Powerful in Phoenix Lands.

Lady Doji Replies: Allow me to congratulate you on your progress! The Empire always has need of skilled samurai and shugenja to protect us. But alas, the answer is normally, no. By the way, just between us, if your main character is too powerful, you might want to consider starting a back-up -- especially since Low-Rank-only adventures will continue to appear from time to time.

However, if a party of all-new starting characters is going on a Low-Rank adventure the GM can, at his or her discretion, allow a higher-Rank character to play in order to give the party a better chance of survival. After all, protecting those weaker than ourselves is an expression of Compassion, always to be encouraged! I trust this makes everything perfectly clear.

Lady Matsu Replies: So typical of a Phoenix, to want to demonstrate your "power" by fighting weaker opponents! Are you afraid to face an enemy worthy of your skills??? SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: There has been some confusion as to how the spell "Rejuvenating Vapors" works. I say that it gives me back all the spells I have cast up to that time, but others say it only gives me back spells I cast yesterday. Which is it?
--Worried Water Shugenja.

Lady Doji Replies: Ah, Worried-san, I have consulted the fabled AEG Forums and have found the same disagreement there. It seems to come down to a question of how one interprets the wording of the spell -- and as we all know, interpretation of others' words can be a tricky business at the best of times. <charming smile>

The Campaign Admin has concluded, however, that the most likely intent of the spell was to restore all of your spell slots up to the moment you cast it. And yes, that does allow you to be a somewhat more powerful shugenja for that day. Thankfully the spell can only be cast every other day, otherwise it might be thought too powerful. I trust this makes everything quite clear, and relieves your worries!

Lady Matsu Replies: Bah! Yet another shugenja worried that he is not powerful enough! Where is there a call to "power" in the Code of Bushido?? SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: The wording for the spell 'Armor of Earth' is very confusing. Some people say that it reduces the total damage, but others say that it reduces the damage on each die. What exactly does it do?
-- Anemic Air Shugenja.

Lady Doji Replies: Yes, the language of the High Courts can be confusing. We have decided to use a proposed fix from the AEG forums, which suggests that Armor of Earth should be considered to reduce the total damage and NOT the result of each die. I trust this makes everything clear!

Lady Matsu Replies: Or you could learn how to take a hit. Or commit seppuku. Yes. SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: The Lion Warden Path says the technique specializes in yari, but uses the Akodo Bushi outfit, which has no yari. I do not wish to violate any rules. What do I do?
-- Honorable in Lion Lands.

Lady Doji Replies: Oh, dear, all this dreadful talk about weapons and Lions has made me quite faint. I think I shall retire for a time.

Lady Matsu Replies: An excellent question, Honorable-san!!! This appears to have been an oversight on the part of AEG. Undoubtedly the fool responsible committed seppuku to atone!!! My solution to your dilemma is a simple and honorable one: substitute a yari for the command tessen found in the Akodo Bushi outfit. UTZ!!! BANZAI!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: If I take one of the shugenja New Paths, do I still get two new spells for gaining that Insight Rank?
-- Still a Confused Shugenja.

Lady Doji Replies: Oh, I know this one! <claps hands delightedly> Yes, you do indeed gain two new spells, as per a ruling by Shawn Carman-sama on the AEG forums. Oh, and for the veterans among you, please do note that this is a reversal from how we handled this in the previous Heroes of Rokugan campaign. I trust this makes everything perfectly clear!

Lady Matsu Replies: More babbling about ways to make powerful shugenja. You waste my time with this drivel! SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!!!

Dear Doji and Matsu: My Daimyo has not provided me with a medicine kit, but I have found it a necessary and useful item. It only has fifty uses, but the rules say that I can refill it with a skill check. How do I deal with this?
-- Sympathetic Healer

Lady Doji Replies: How nice that you have such compassion for others! There are two ways you can handle this little issue. This first is to simply inform your GM that you are buying a new medicine kit at the end of the module. Most merchants ask a gift of a single koku for this. I understand that we can't all be so fortunate as to be Crane, however. If you have the Medicine (Herbalism) skill and emphasis, you can refill your kit (as per page 98 of the rulebook) at the end of a module. Make sure your GM checks your rolls! I trust this makes everything perfectly clear!

Lady Matsu Replies: What?! You think you know your needs better than your Daimyo?! SEPPUKU FOR YOU!!!