Game Goals/ Survey results.

Here is how the survey impacted for my vision for the game.

Action 3
Personal Character Development 5
Drama 3
Darkness 3
Intrigue 3
Mystery 3
Mass Combat 2
Theology 4
Kingmaker 5

Based on the questions about character type and setting preference, I feel that the game should be as radically inclusive as possible, allowing different character types so long as they support the setting and other themes of the game. Include all types of Samurai and Samurai schools, but avoid things like non-human schools and things of that nature (reserve them for NPC's). The Insight Rank question speaks for itself, I think, as does the question about the system. But what do all the numbers mean?

Action - With a rating of 3, action (combat, high-energy physical scenes like chases, etc.) should make an appearance at least once every other session - if not every single session. What it should NOT do is dominate the session. We should be looking to run a single ACTION mod per game - or per other type of Mod we run.

Personal Character Development - As Jim mentioned, Attention is one of the most valuable resources we can provide as ST's. With a rating of 5, we should be scrutinizing as many player choices as possible and looking for opportunities to connect them to our Metagame, which is SECONDARY to the player development. It's important to note that character development is not necessarily good for the character. Losing an arm in combat is a development. Failing to honor you Lord's wishes, and being forced to commit seppuku is development. I think it's also important to use character sheets (advantages, disadvantages, etc) to push story. Let people take great destiny, dark fate, higher purpose, enlightened, etc, and tie them into the meta.

Drama - The great thing about this game is that we don't really need to do much to make this happen. Players will usually create enough drama to satisfy it being around every game - and perhaps more. The challenge for us as storytellers will not be creating drama, but finding ways to dial it back when it gets out of hand. A lower drama score can conflict with a high Character Development score. We can address this by making sure that when a number of PC's are going at it, we have options for those who aren't interested.

Darkness - Bad things happen, and doubly so in Rokugan. I don't think we'll have a problem with this, but we should try and keep every game from being overwhelemed with gore and blood and Maho.

Intrigue - Regardless of the survey results, this was going to be set at 3. Courtly intrigue is a way of life in Rokugan, and something of interest to the courtly should make an appearance each game.

Mystery - I think we've got this one in the bag with the Kolat plot. I think it's important to introduce that aspect of the Meta as early as possible, though it should be subtle enough that not everyone should pick up on it (but those who are interested should).

Mass Combat - Pretty self explanatory. Should come around about once every 6 months.

Theology - Again, no matter the survey results, I would have set this to at least 3. Rokugan is practically ruled by Divine Mandate, so not focusing on the theological elements of the game isn't really playing the game, especially when trying to be as traditional as possible. I think we need to sort out what's going on in heaven and the other realms as the game progresses, as that's not addressed in Alex's outline.

Kingmaker - 5. Yeah, so people want a Kingmaker game. Not surprised. Rated 5, it should be fairly important and somehow tie-in with character growth, which is the other stat rated at 5. It cannot be SECONDARY, and by all accounts, based on these results and the conversations I've had with people, it probably should be a primary focus of the game. But I'd prefer to dial that back a little in favor of keeping people interested in the game. Way of the Daimyo lends towards merging the Kingmaker system and Personal Development very well, and I'm growing more fond of it. Only one aspect (the Ambassador) doesn't really work well in that regard, but adjusting that one thing is far easier than creating a whole new list of units and structures.