Thanks for the suggestions Bedrockbrendan and Gamedaddy!

Yes, I will likely just tweak a system I already use, like BRP (and in the context, percentages don't seem out of place ). I would also be interested in systems that include betting/gambling resolution but I have forgotten which ones did that.

Come to think of it, Noble House is actually my favorite Clavell book, I just assume that most people like to add slightly more exoticism by using past centuries.

BRP would probably be best for covering different eras rules-wise, if it was me, I'ld take a look at Pendragon if you wanted to cover a generational aspect, virtues / flaws/ allegiances - that sort of thing. It might provide a template for handling shifts from Shogun era, to the Tai-Pan era, to the Noble House era. Hope that helps.

Quote from: Trond;1042457Thanks for the suggestions Bedrockbrendan and Gamedaddy!

Yes, I will likely just tweak a system I already use, like BRP (and in the context, percentages don't seem out of place ). I would also be interested in systems that include betting/gambling resolution but I have forgotten which ones did that.

Come to think of it, Noble House is actually my favorite Clavell book, I just assume that most people like to add slightly more exoticism by using past centuries.

If you are using BRP, you might want to check out The Celestial Empire

Quote from: Trond;1042108? I don't get it.

For the system, I recommend Volant: Kingdoms of Air and Stone (and maybe the supplement).
Here's a review I wrote and which should mention why I think it's almost perfect for a trading game...you can actually have fights around the negotiation table, and they'd work quite well:)!
Even more importantly, Volant can help you generate items of luxury to buy and sell;).
Add some GM-facing mechanics from a Traveller variant or clone (which includes Stars Without Numbers), and there we go!

The setting is another matter (you'd kinda have to change the actual setting of Volant, but then the same applies . Actually, very few RPGs cover adequately the Qing (1644-1911) period, so you'd have to adapt from elsewhere. (The Celestial Empire is fine for almost any dynasty, though:p! Or at least the info inside is very transferable among dynasties).
The french-language RPG "Wuxia" actually has decent info on the period, but well...it's in French. And I wouldn't exactly recommend it, I'm just mentioning it as an option;).

Well, now you've got my 2 fen:D!

Which was the one with split coins denoting favors? I really liked that one.

Quote from: Baron Opal;1042783Which was the one with split coins denoting favors? I really liked that one.

It starts in Tai-Pan (1840s), and continues in Noble House (1960s). Not sure if it is mentioned in Gai-Jin.

Ok, I just finished Tai-Pan (had only seen the movie, and started the book previously). This book actually got better and better throughout. Maybe I'll come up with some RPG system notes. Here's some interesting plot points:
-Naval maneuvering (racing to get ahead) and warfare
-Trade and secret deals/economic plots such as runs on banks
-Smuggling (e.g. opium, but also silver and tea)
-Secret societies (e.g. the Chinese Triads)
-International politics (e.g. China vs British Empire vs Russia)
-Exotic disease, such as malaria, and trying to find cures
-Oaths
-Assassinations
-Storms/typhoons
-Romance and sex
-Piracy

And here's an interesting opium war illustration I found, for inspiration:



So while it shares some points with Shogun, it is definitely a very different beast I am thinking about here. Of course, I don't know any players that are interested, so I'm just thinking out loud

Quote from: Trond;1046159Here's some interesting plot points:
-Naval maneuvering (racing to get ahead) and warfare
-Trade and secret deals/economic plots such as runs on banks
-Smuggling (e.g. opium, but also silver and tea)
-Secret societies (e.g. the Chinese Triads)
-International politics (e.g. China vs British Empire vs Russia)
-Exotic disease, such as malaria, and trying to find cures
-Oaths
-Assassinations
-Storms/typhoons
-Romance and sex
-Piracy

And now you know why I said "Volant".

I have to second Celestial Empire.

I've always found China way more interesting than Japan.

A Noble House game could be cool. Especially if it had a mini-game of stock market betting... ahem... investing that could make or break characters. I mean, it would have to have that because that was essentially what Noble House was about. That and mentioning the awesomeness of the birth control pill every other page. And of course, Venus Poon the NPC.