Post by Alex ST on Jun 22, 2016 11:53:29 GMT -5
Continuing from another thread.
First to point out, all three of the times we're considering (reign of Hantei XXXVII, pre-coup, or Vacant Throne) are times of weak Imperial rule. The Imperial families are seen as decadent sycophants with little interest in the Empire as a whole. They wield very little political power and no military power (seriously, Seppun troops have never been a thing. They're bodyguards; I don't know where this idea that they're super-soldiers came from but it has never been part of Rokugan). The Miya are unquestionably the weakest of the three Imperial families and in the pre-coup era are lead by one of the most corrupt daimyo they've ever had.
We can change this if we want (we're GMs, we can do anything!) but as always if we're going to deviate from canon it should be a deliberate deviation. Personally I like the idea of Imperial court two days away at Kyuden Seppun and the players trying to make do but also never knowing who's going to drop in.
Travis:
Random thought: The conceit of imperial court/city might not be exactly the same in this game, right? Genuinely have different clans host, then?
Random thought: The conceit of imperial court/city might not be exactly the same in this game, right? Genuinely have different clans host, then?
Alex:
Probably want to start another thread for this, but I can't conceive of any situation in which any clan would host formal court. Why would they? The Imperial court is literally right there. Now individual clans would host events - festivals, dinners, etc. - but the actual court is held in the Imperial Palace; that's what the palace is for.
Now a good conceit for the game would be that the palace was destroyed or at least rendered uninhabitable by the earthquake. Actual Imperial court might be held in Kyuden Otomo (which, being in the city, probably didn't fare any better) or Kyuden Seppun (two days' ride from the city, which is more likely). Even more likely the Emperor would go on a rotating court around the Emperor with a Winter Court held by one clan and a summer court held by another. This creates a lot of pressure to get the damn palace rebuilt... unless your one of the clans doing a lot of the hosting. *cough* CRANE *cough*
Probably want to start another thread for this, but I can't conceive of any situation in which any clan would host formal court. Why would they? The Imperial court is literally right there. Now individual clans would host events - festivals, dinners, etc. - but the actual court is held in the Imperial Palace; that's what the palace is for.
Now a good conceit for the game would be that the palace was destroyed or at least rendered uninhabitable by the earthquake. Actual Imperial court might be held in Kyuden Otomo (which, being in the city, probably didn't fare any better) or Kyuden Seppun (two days' ride from the city, which is more likely). Even more likely the Emperor would go on a rotating court around the Emperor with a Winter Court held by one clan and a summer court held by another. This creates a lot of pressure to get the damn palace rebuilt... unless your one of the clans doing a lot of the hosting. *cough* CRANE *cough*
Charles:
My thought is that there will be an Imperial host for at least a few months. Either the Miya who's the governer of the Farmer's district at his Rustic (But still fitting of an Imperial Estate), or as you suggested, 2 days out from the city which is close enough for reasonable time shenanigans. As people build up the city, they'll have opportunities to host at whatever establishments they provide.
My thought is that there will be an Imperial host for at least a few months. Either the Miya who's the governer of the Farmer's district at his Rustic (But still fitting of an Imperial Estate), or as you suggested, 2 days out from the city which is close enough for reasonable time shenanigans. As people build up the city, they'll have opportunities to host at whatever establishments they provide.
Ressler:
My thoughts on the imperial palace though. I would rather the imperial palace be a major goal to reclaim/rebuild. I am thinking big boss fight, lots of units sort of thing, possibly even mass combat. So personally I would rather come up with another idea for a court setting.
My thoughts on the imperial palace though. I would rather the imperial palace be a major goal to reclaim/rebuild. I am thinking big boss fight, lots of units sort of thing, possibly even mass combat. So personally I would rather come up with another idea for a court setting.
Tim:
I hope this is not too much of brain fart idea, but I had an idea that I think helps fill the role of a default court organizer, pumps up the sense of traditionalness, helps to explain what is going on with the remains of the Imperial families, keeps an important full time NPC from becoming a de facto PC, and allows any ST to run this PC.
The Concubine is the ronin geisha who was the open lover of the last REMEMBERED Hantei Emperor. It is rumored that she was a Great Clan samurai who left her clan in order to focus on her art. But anyone who knows the truth is dead. She one of the few people to survive the devastation of the Forbidden City. And after the earthquake this elegant woman used the Imperial samurai bodyguards to mitigate what disaster she could from a large, surprisingly intact home given to her by the Emperor. She has focused most of her efforts on collecting what few Imperials remain alive to the safety and trying to preserve the legacy of the Hantei at her home at the edge of Otosan Uchi
But the Concubine is not well. Seeing so much death and destruction has cracked her mind and she has developed split personality disorder. For now the personalities are fairly close to one another, but will that remain so?
Mechanically, the Concubine is an NPC who serves as the default host of court in the game. She will have stats and representation in the Kingmaker portion. However, at each game there is a predetermined ST who runs her for the session. Each ST has come up with their own background for her and runs her how they like for the duration of the game. In this way, there is no "canon Concubine" that the STs have to attempt to adhere to and we don't even compare notes. The only thread uniting our NPCs personality is the concept of "Preserver of the Legacy of the Hantei".
I hope this is not too much of brain fart idea, but I had an idea that I think helps fill the role of a default court organizer, pumps up the sense of traditionalness, helps to explain what is going on with the remains of the Imperial families, keeps an important full time NPC from becoming a de facto PC, and allows any ST to run this PC.
The Concubine is the ronin geisha who was the open lover of the last REMEMBERED Hantei Emperor. It is rumored that she was a Great Clan samurai who left her clan in order to focus on her art. But anyone who knows the truth is dead. She one of the few people to survive the devastation of the Forbidden City. And after the earthquake this elegant woman used the Imperial samurai bodyguards to mitigate what disaster she could from a large, surprisingly intact home given to her by the Emperor. She has focused most of her efforts on collecting what few Imperials remain alive to the safety and trying to preserve the legacy of the Hantei at her home at the edge of Otosan Uchi
But the Concubine is not well. Seeing so much death and destruction has cracked her mind and she has developed split personality disorder. For now the personalities are fairly close to one another, but will that remain so?
Mechanically, the Concubine is an NPC who serves as the default host of court in the game. She will have stats and representation in the Kingmaker portion. However, at each game there is a predetermined ST who runs her for the session. Each ST has come up with their own background for her and runs her how they like for the duration of the game. In this way, there is no "canon Concubine" that the STs have to attempt to adhere to and we don't even compare notes. The only thread uniting our NPCs personality is the concept of "Preserver of the Legacy of the Hantei".
First to point out, all three of the times we're considering (reign of Hantei XXXVII, pre-coup, or Vacant Throne) are times of weak Imperial rule. The Imperial families are seen as decadent sycophants with little interest in the Empire as a whole. They wield very little political power and no military power (seriously, Seppun troops have never been a thing. They're bodyguards; I don't know where this idea that they're super-soldiers came from but it has never been part of Rokugan). The Miya are unquestionably the weakest of the three Imperial families and in the pre-coup era are lead by one of the most corrupt daimyo they've ever had.
We can change this if we want (we're GMs, we can do anything!) but as always if we're going to deviate from canon it should be a deliberate deviation. Personally I like the idea of Imperial court two days away at Kyuden Seppun and the players trying to make do but also never knowing who's going to drop in.
