Good stuff, but I'd like to see more flavorful spells. Perhaps more spells tied to the elements? Or is that too L5R? I remember Bushido having cool magic too.

I've been working more on Bushi D6. Just adding some stuff that I missed (like how the heck did I not include the yakuza at all?). I'm also adding some more NPCs and monsters, as well as more perks and complications. I've also added in a few more magic items (I really, really need to expand this section). I figure I'll be posting an update in a few more days, once I've got enough new stuff to make it worthwhile.

I've updated Bushi D6  for those of you that are interested. Added in some more NPCs, fixed a bunch of minor errata, a couple new items, and other small stuff. Please let me know what you think!

Run a Bushi D6 PbP!

This is a game about samurai wandering the Empire, fighting duels, killing monsters, and getting caught up in an epic civil war.

I love this tag line.

I encourage you to Kickstarter Bushi D6 into a published game. You certainly could start with great historical public domain artwork.

I don't know how possible this is, but it might be cool to have Japanese names for the spells as there are for the weapons.

In the NPC/monster stats, it might be good to put weapon/gear stats next to the gear listed for easier reference.

Are there Japanese names for the Hellhound and the Ghoul?  IRC, there were a couple ghoul-ish creatures in the AD&D OA book. BTW, I like how hellhounds are servants of Oni.

In the setting info, you have: "The hero Minase Junzo sacrificed his life to kill her." I suggest adding ", or so it is believed." I like the concept that Wu Jiao may be dead, alive, or otherwise still somewhere in the picture.

I am uncertain about how Clan vs. Family works in your game. Are the names interchangeable?

What justification is there in game for PCs of waring families to hang with each other? In L5R, the PCs are on a mission from the Emperor via the various Imperial organizations that demand unity of the clans. But in a civil war?

The timeline is detailed, but the Families and their lords aren't sketched in much.

I think there are opportunities to add more genre and setting specific perks as well. I had a question about Noble.

Noble (1): You are a member of one of the Noble Families. Once per session, you can double the result of any one Charm-based roll when attempting to use your birthright. Commoners and minor samurai will publicly treat you with respect.

Since you have various levels of family, how would Noble work? AKA, does it cost as much to be Honzu Akira as it does to be Honda Akira?

Here's some examples from your setting:

Honzu (Imperial Family)
Retainer Family: Minase.

Gojo (Great Family)
Lesser noble families: Asukai, Daigo, Kaoin, Oimikado, Reizei, Shijo.
Warrior families: Asai, Honda, Ishida, Kusonoki, Okuba, Shibata.

It seems to me that being Honzu is the highest noble house, and within Honzu it is 2nd best to be Minase. However, does a Minase hold the same rank socially as a Gojo?

Also, within Gojo, it seems to being Gojo Akira would be higher rank than Daigo Akira who would higher rank than Ishida Akira.

Thus, how do you make the naming system work with the Noble perk?

Regarding the Noble perk:

Rank would be (top to bottom with your examples):

Honzu
Gojo
Minase
Daigo (and other lesser noble families)
Ishida.

Also, warrior families can't get the Noble perk (I need to clarify this), only the Imperial Family, Great Family, Imperial Retainer Family, the various lesser noble families can gain it.

Generally speaking, everyone should be from the same Family (and allied Families), unless they are ronin or Imperial Agents or Religious Monks/Maidens.

How should the Noble perk cost be modified for Honzu vs. Gojo vs. Minase?

The problem in D6 is the granularity makes it hard to create Noble (1) vs. Noble (2) since a 2D loss for a perk means the perk better rock. But if Noble (1) gets me Gojo or Daigo, why would I choose to be part of the lesser family?

I'd leave that up to GM judgement. I'm going to add a section about obligations. Higher nobility has more obligations and therefor a lot less time for adventure.

While I have no money for art, I'm not touching Kickstarter. Way too many tax issues with that thing.

Quote from: danbuter;792575Higher nobility has more obligations and therefor a lot less time for adventure.

That's a good way to do it! AKA, the better the Noble Perk, the more the Disadvantage of Obligation.

As for art, there is LOTS of free royalty-free old art on the web.