Update to The Campaign to prepare for the Conversion

Characters and Conversion and 4th Edition Rules

Alright to be honest there is no good way to convert characters from DnD/Pathfinder to L5R. It is simply better to recreate them in the new system. In order to aid in this manner I have created the following charts. Your first decision is to decide to be a martial character (Bushi) or a spell-caster (Shugenja), monk (Monk) or courtier (Magistrate, Artist, etc … not suggested). That is about it for character classes. The major difference is starting skills, techniques and abilities. You then get a number of Experience points to buy things to tailor the character. You can buy virtually anything except techniques as those come as a result of gaining Insight, Insight is roughly equivalent to character level.

Rings and Attributes: In L5R all rolls are based on a Ring (made up of 2 Attributes) and your skill. You roll dice equal to the total and keep dice equal to the Ring. I will be changing this for Tralhali as it makes little sense in the world we have here. Instead we will be doing Attribute + Skill, Keep Attribute.

Hit Points: In L5R each level of Wounding has the same amount of points in it, and this is rather lethal. Instead as you progress in Insight you gain a multiplier for the HP ranks as below. Now this may change since I have yet to see 4th Edition rules but odds are good you will need the HP.
Insight Rank 2+: Double HP for Healthy wounds
Insight Rank 3+: Double HP for Nicked wounds
Insight Rank 4+: Double HP for Grazed wounds

Character Creation: Sadly the 4th Edition Rules are not, quite, out yet. The book is supposed to ship out in early June. I already have a copy on preorder. I really do not want to go too much more in-depth into details until then. We can simply use the 1st edition rules till then since I have those. And, yes, 3rd Edition is more or less compatible and I can adjust as needed till we get it settled out. Characters will be starting at roughly Rank 3, as that is were the party members are more or less.

Tralhali-L5R Conversions: Martial Styles & Houses

Duchy L5R House Primary Typical Secondary Houses Forbidden
Enadar Crane Unicorn, Lion Scorpion, Shadowlands
Mornpale Crane Dragon, Phoenix, Wasp, Fox None, Shadowlands
Naxos-Republic None Any None
Naxos-Bralon Scorpion Shadowlands None, but rare
Pragen Unicorn Lion Crab, Shadowlands
Rhuane Crab Unicorn Phoenix, Scorpion, Shadowlands
Starprius Lion Crab Dragon, Shadowlands
Valeralia None Any Shadowlands
Zeeland Mantis, Wolf Any Shadowlands
Southern City Scorpion Any None

Special Techniques
Special Types L5R Name Source Description
Inquisitor Witch Hunter Crab, Kuni Sense Dark Magic
Ranger Scout Crab, Haruma Stealth and the Senses
Any Ranged Archer Minor Clans, Wasp Ranged Techniques
Assassins Ninja Scorpion, Shosuro Stealth and Poison
Deduction Kitsuki’s Method Dragon, Kitsuki Perception and Reason
Chemistry Kagaku Dragon, Kagaku Creating various small devices
Alchemy Mizugusuri Dragon, Mizugusuri Creating potions and elixirs
Poisons Poisons Scorpion, Ninjutsu Making and using poisons
Explosives Explosive Scorpion, Ninjutsu Making small explosives
Engineering Engineering Crab, Kaiu Various practical skills
Magical Styles

Magical Types: Shugenja is best described as Spell Caster, virtually any type of spell-caster falls into this category. There really is no difference between Wizard, Sorcerer, Cleric, Druid or Psionic in this system. What School you are in does matter and different Orders specialize in different spells. Italics require GM Permission.

Wizard Normal or Talisman
Sorcerer Innate Ability(3 XP/Spell) Allows use of a spell without a scroll (book), if use book, free raise
Cleric/Druid Any but with medical spells or skills and nature skills and techniques, animal companions etc…
Psionic As Pearl but uses Crystals or Innate Ability instead

Type Subset/Description Notes Source
Shugenja Regular Spells Take Multiple Rounds Base Rules
Talisman Spells take 1 round, no modification Unicorn
May not Sense, Commune or Summon
Void May cast Void Spells, more expensive Phoenix
Pearl Use Mind (Akasha) powers via a Pearl Naga
Monk Spell “like” Kiho Monk Class Shinsei
Fetish Magic Item Creation Skill Creates 1 use magic items Crane
Warding Shugenja Skill Magical Wards and Barriers Scorpion

Ancestor Magic Can Commune with Ancestors Lion
Shadowbrands Bonuses in Darkness Scorpion
Tattoos Empower yourself with tattoo effects Dragon
Maho Blood Magic Use blood for power not elements Various
Shadowlands Darkness/Corruption Various Special abilities, spells, powers Shadowlands