Character Creation
All Rings and Traits begin at 2 (Void 3 for Brotherhood Monks). Rings are always equal to lowest trait.
Choose a clan (or if True Ronin, choose if starting path then spend XP)
Choose a family, add your trait
Choose a school
Add your trait, check if increase changes Ring rank
Record your school skills (name, starting rank, trait)
Record your Honor
Record your weapons, gear and money on back of sheet; weapon name on front
Add your school technique
Shugenja: Record Affinity/Deficiency
Choose your spells (Mastery Level no higher than insight rank; +1 affinity, -1 deficiency)
Brotherhood Monks: Choose 3 Kiho
Glory starts at 1.0 for most samurai
Status starts at 1.0 for most samurai, 0.0 for brotherhood monks and ronin.
Heritage tables may be available for your character.
40 XP to build character
True Ronin get extra XP: 25 (no path) or 10 (with path); all ronin – Social Disadvantage: Ronin [3]
Increase Trait: 4x new value. (From 2 to 3 would be 12XP)
Check if increase changes Ring rank.
Increase Void: 6x new value. (From 2 to 3 would be 18XP)
Increase skill: Points x new value (From 2 to 3 would be 3XP)
Check for Mastery gain
Emphases cost 2XP each
Advantages/Ancestors cost XP as listed, record on back
Disadvantages give XP as listed, record on back (max. 10XP)
Kata cost XP equal to Mastery Level
Kiho: Brotherhood Monks buy extra Kiho at XP equal to Mastery Level (1 per Monk rank)
“Monk” schools may buy Kiho at 1½ cost (round up)
Shugenja/Ninja may buy Kiho at double cost (Ring only for Mastery Level)
No Trait or Skill can start above 4
Check Ring ranks
Void pool equal to Void Ring rank
Calculate skill rolls, weapon rolls, any extra weapon abilities (mastery, technique, advan./disadvan.)
Calculate damage rolls (Strength rank added to Damage Rating (DR) dice rolled)
Calculate initiative (Insight rank + Reflexes, keep Reflexes)
Record armor type worn, reduction, penalties
Calculate Armor TN ([Ref x 5] + 5 + Armor bonus) + any techniques that apply
Calculate Wound Levels (Earth x 5 for Healthy, Earth x 2 for other Levels)
Check for any technique/advantage/ancestor bonuses or disadvantage penalties
Shugenja: Record spell slots (spells per day for each element equal to Ring rank)
Calculate Insight: (Total of all Rings x 10) + (Total of all Skill ranks)
Check Insight rank (150 for rank 2, +25 for each rank thereafter)
Calculate healing rate (Stamina x 2 + Insight rank)
Leveling Up
Skills, Emphases, Kata, Traits, and Void increase same as creation
Check Rings when Trait increased
Check all skill rolls when Skill or Trait/Void increased
Check Mastery when skill increased
Check weapons at bottom when weapon rolls change
Check Insight/Rank when Skills or Rings increased
Earth affects Wound Levels
Water affects Movement
Void affects Void pool, number of raises one may make, Kiho activation rolls
Stamina affects healing rate
Reflexes affect Initiative, Armor TN
Strength affects damage dice rolled
Agility affects most weapon skills
Rings affect spell casting rolls, spell slots, mastery levels available
Upon reaching a new insight rank:
Healing rate increases
Gain 1 Glory rank
Bushi/Courtier/Artisan/Ninja/“Monk”: Gain new technique in current school
Shugenja: Gain 3 new spells (ML reflected of new rank), Spellcasting rolls increase
Brotherhood Monk: Gain 2 new Kiho, may buy bonus Kiho (no more than 1 per Monk rank)
Shugenja/Ninja/“Monk”: May buy Kiho (no more than rank in Shugenja/Ninja/”Monk” school)
Ronin: Must find trainer for next rank.
Advanced Schools: Meet requirements, new techniques along new school
Paths: Meet requirements, replaces one technique