http://sordnbord.blogspot.com/search/label/bushi

I'm working on a samurai game based on mini6. I will be incorporating a lot of Japanese stuff, with a healthy dose of monsters and magic and bits of Chinese influence (especially with magic and monsters).

The stuff on my blog is sort of a teaser. Some of it has already changed in my working document (especially weapons).

Any constructive criticism is appreciated.

I'm really not crazy about ersatz-Japan fantasy settings by themselves (I'm definitely a Sengoku > L5R guy when it comes to chanbara/jidaigeki RPGs), but in any case, best of luck with your game!

Looks interesting

Been following it on the blog.
Looks like it's coming along nicely.

Awesome. I'll take a look. Not right now, but later in the day when I cohere into sapience again.

(Apologies if this is a duplicate, but I think my other reply got lost...)

Since this is a melee-heavy campaign, I would consider upping the weapon damage.  This is especially so if you think armor use is going to be a factor.  The original stats make more sense with guns in play, but less without them around.

What did you have in mind for attributes and skills?

Are you planning to handle magic/powers?  If so, which method?

What about advantages/disadvantages?  I think mini calls them 'perks'?

Looks good. What system for damage are you using? (HP, Health Levels, etc?)

Sorry I haven't followed this thread.

I may tweak weapon damage, but I'm not sure it will be necessary. Armor is generally going to be rare, except in major battles. If you walk around in a suit of dou armor, you WILL be challenged by the local samurai. The players should be made aware of this at game start.

I am using hit points. I'm not a fan of wound systems, as they lead to a downward spiral.

Here's the first draft: http://home.comcast.net/~danbuter/BushiD6.docx. It's a docx file, so anyone who is interested can make changes to suit their personal game.

The setting map is here: http://home.comcast.net/~danbuter/HonzuMap.pdf

I'd love feedback, especially for any noticeable rules problems. I may expand the setting in the future, but I think the rules are basically done. Please let me know what you think!

First read over, my thoughts:

Dragons shouldnt breathe fire. Thats a Western thing.

"Totem Animal" doesnt sound right for the setting. The must be a Japanese term that would work?

Same with "White Wizard" Thats a very Western concept a d association. In Japan "white" was not associated with "good", but Death.

Id personally prefer the different Races raise the maximum dice that a starting character can put into associated Attributes. In general Id like to see the race section expanded.

Social Status is a HUGE deal in Fuedal Japan. Id prefer to see that fleshed out more than just being able to take the advantage "Noble". To the point where there are dictums of respect to follow when addressing older siblings. A character party NEEDS to have a "leader", or socially they will be treated as insane.

All in all, like it. Am a big fan of the D6 WEG games from the 80s and this variation of the system seens to strike a balance between GB and SW.

Quote from: TristramEvans;726762First read over, my thoughts:

Dragons shouldnt breathe fire. Thats a Western thing.

"Totem Animal" doesnt sound right for the setting. The must be a Japanese term that would work?

Kami, henge, Spirit animal or something similar?

As for dragons, I agree they're a rather unique spirit-force, not quite gods for the most part, and not evil, usually. (Although that varies depending on the story.)

I think "spirit animal" is nuetral enough if the others dont fit.

On the subject of my pedanticism towards folklore, Yokai are closer to European early ideas about "fairies" than ghosts. One can just as often find it translated as 'goblin' or 'hobgoblin'. Like fairies, there is some crossever with undeath (the banshee comes from bean si, lit. 'fairy woman'), but also like fairies Yokai often have supernatural origins or physical forms.

Thanks for the feedback! I knew I'd missed some fairly obvious stuff.

Regarding Social Status, I am deliberately leaving that vague. It only matters if you are doing a Court game. If you are in a typical Kurasawa samurai flick, being a samurai is all the status you need. I figure most people are more interested in that than playing court intrigue games.

Maybe rename White Wizard to Pacifist Wizard? Or is there a more appropriate term for this in Japan?

Quote from: danbuter;726778Maybe rename White Wizard to Pacifist Wizard? Or is there a more appropriate term for this in Japan?

There's Ahimsa but technically, that's a Sanskrit word. Maybe there's a Japanese name for the concept but I'm not familiar with it. Light up the Pundit-signal, he might know.

I looked up "wizard" in my Japanese dictionary and found: "kisai", "Mahoutsukai", "Sen", "Sennin", and "Uiza-Do".

Does anyone with a better knowledge of the language than I know the specific connotations of these terms? I imagine much like the English "sorcerer, warlock, witch, Witch-doctor, Illusionist", theres likely some specific associations.