The fuck is this?

Fuck you, Matsu.

I'LL START WITH THE PHOENIX, BECAUSE I HATE FIGHTING THE PHOENIX MORE THAN ANY OTHER CLAN. WHICH MEANS I STILL LOVE FIGHTING THEM, BECAUSE IT'S HONORABLE AND PROPER AND KEEPS US AT FULL STRENGTH, BUT I LOVE FIGHTING THEM LESS THAN I LOVE FIGHTING SOME OF THE OTHERS. IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFICULT, SPECIFICALLY, BUT EITHER YOU HIT THEM RIGHT OR YOU DON'T, AND IF YOU DON'T...WELL...AT LEAST YOU GET CREMATED PROPERLY.

THE PHOENIX CLAN IS BIG ON TWO THINGS, AS YOU KNOW, SHUGENJA AND WARRIORS THAT PROTECT SHUGENJA. IN COMBAT, IT WORKS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY. THEY HAVE BIG, BIG UNITS OF SHUGENJA GUARDED BY SHIBA WARRIORS WITH NAGINATA, WHOSE JOB IS TO HOLD BACK YOUR TROOPS UNTIL THE PRIESTS CAN BEGIN THROWING FIREBALLS AROUND. GIANT WALLS OF WATER, BOLTS OF LIGHTNING, POISON GAS, ILLUSIONARY REINFORCEMENTS, EVERY MAGICAL BIT OF NASTY IMAGINEABLE ARE THE WEAPONS THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. THIS IS WHY FIGHTING THE PHOENIX IS SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS, BUT IT GETS WORSE.

SEE, THE PHOENIX DON'T GO TO WAR OFTEN. PACIFISTS, RIGHT? WHEN THEY DO, THOUGH, THEY DON'T COME IN WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF POSTURING AND SOME OF THE TYPICAL DELAYING BEHAVIOR YOU MIGHT BE USED TO. NO, WHEN THE PHOENIX ACTUALLY FIGHT, THEY GO ALL-OUT FROM DAY ONE AND WILL KILL YOU BY THE MOST EXPEDIENT MEANS AVAILABLE. TELEPORTING A BUNCH OF ELITE WARRIORS INTO YOUR TENT AT NIGHT OR HAVING SIX OR SEVEN TOP-GRADE FIRE SHUGENJA TARGET YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD ISN'T UNCOMMON.

>>9981822
Do they put on robes and wizard hats?

rolled 18 = 18

>>9981845
Preposterous, what filthy gaijin idea is this?

>>9981822
>. TELEPORTING A BUNCH OF ELITE WARRIORS INTO YOUR TENT AT NIGHT
unless of course a small child is there to stop them.

THINK OF IT A LITTLE LIKE A BIG, SLOW KID SO USED TO BEING BULLIED HE DOESN'T REALLY FIGHT BACK. WHEN HE DOES, THOUGH, HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO HOLD BACK AND ACCIDENTALLY SNAPS YOUR NECK. IT'S NOT FLATTERING, BUT IT'S TRUE.

THE SOLUTION IS ACTUALLY TIED INTO THIS. THE PHOENIX DON'T FIGHT OFTEN, SO WHILE THEY DO HIT HARD WHEN THE TIME TO BATTLE ACTUALLY DOES COME AROUND, THEY'RE ALSO SOMEWHAT INEXPERIENCED AT IT, AND FAR MORE USED TO BEING DEFENSIVE. THEY PAMPER THEIR SHUGENJA, TOO, EVEN THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE ON MILITARY DUTY SOMETIMES FIND AN EXCUSE TO GO OFF AND STUDY SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. SOMETIMES THEY PULL THEIR SHUGENJA RIGHT OUT OF THE LECTURE HALL AND TOSS THEM ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IT MEANS DON'T ENGAGE THEM DIRECTLY. SKIRMISH, CUT THEIR SUPPLY LINES, KEEP YOUR CAMP HIDDEN IF POSSIBLE.

I KNOW IT'S ODD FOR A BERSERKER TO SAY THIS, BUT ARCHERY IS AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION TO BATTLING THE PHOENIX. THE YUMI, YOUR MOST COMMONLY-FOUND BOW, HAS A RANGE OF AROUND 300', WHILE MOST SPELLS HAVE A RANGE OF 100', AT BEST. A MOBILE FORCE OF ARCHERS, SHOWERING ARROWS DOWN ONTO THE ENEMY SHUGENJA, CAN WORK WONDERS.

Yeah but Fox Clan have the best bitches.

Case in point.

rolled 32 = 32

>>9981995
I think you mean the kitsune

ABOVE ALL ELSE, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO RETREAT. IS IT MORE HONORABLE TO ADVANCE AND RISK LIFE AND LIMB IN A HAIL OF FIRE AND BLOOD? YES, BUT IT IS ALSO MORE HONORABLE TO WIN THAN TO LOSE, AND CHARGING IS NOT REALLY A GOOD STRATEGY AGAINST PEOPLE WHO CAN SUMMON WALLS OF FIRE. LIKE I SAID, SHOWER ARROWS ONTO THEIR SHUGENJA FROM A DISTANCE, ABUSE HIGH GROUND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, USE HIT AND RUN TACTICS. EVEN A SHIBA'S NAGINATA CAN'T DO MUCH TO DEFEND AGAINST A SKY-BLOTTING SHOWER OF ARROWS. PEOPLE WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SHUGENJA, WHILE BLESSEDLY NOT RARE, ARE ALSO LESS THAN COMMON, AND IT WILL WREAK HAVOC ON THEIR MORALE WHEN YOU START KILLING THEIR SHUGENJA OFF. INCIDENTALLY, ROBES DON'T PROTECT YOU ON THE BATTLEFIELD. ANY KITSU OUT THERE, I EXPECT TO SEE YOU IN LIGHT ARMOR ON THE BATTLEFIELD. KEEPS YOU SAFE, AND MAKES YOU LESS OF A GLARINGLY OBVIOUS TARGET.

IF YOU'RE FORCED, EMPHASIS ON FORCED, INTO DIRECT CONFRONTATION, WHICH MEANS SOMEBODY FUCKED UP, THEN AND ONLY THEN DO YOU WANT TO DISREGARD WHAT I TOLD YOU AND HURL YOURSELF INTO MELEE. GET CLOSE ENOUGH IN WITH THEIR SHIBA WARRIORS THAT THE SHUGENJA CAN'T AIM PROPERLY. I SAY THIS WITH RELUCTANCE, BECAUSE I KNOW ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO DO THIS AND A LOT OF GOOD MEN ARE GOING TO DIE TRYING TO GET INTO THAT RANGE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY DEVOID OF OTHER OPTIONS SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO DO THIS.

>>9981953

DON'T HESITATE TO REMIND THEM OF THIS.

>>9981995

DON'T LET YOURSELF BE COZENED BY THE ENEMY, BOY, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR TITS LATER.

>>9982048
Sorry, can't really hear you over these enormous tits.

WRITE FASTER SCREAMING LIIIIIOOOOOOOONNNNNN

>>9982101
>boy
Is that a jab about my breasts?

I'm General Akodo, and this is my favorite Matsu in Rokugan.

>>9982151
Got a problem, BOY?

I KNOW THIS FOLLOWS PRETTY MUCH DIRECTLY FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING, BUT A FEW PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED. DON'T TURTLE. DON'T WORRY ABOUT HOLDING ANYTHING, JUST KEEP KILLING THEM AND STAY MOBILE.

NOBODY REALLY ENJOYS LIVING OFF THE LAND, BUT IF YOU CAN, DO SO. ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE PHOENIX IS THAT THEIR OWN PACIFISM WILL OFTEN KEEP THEM FROM BURNING FARMLANDS AND STOREHOUSES, MEANING IF YOUR SCOUTS DO THEIR JOB YOU SHOULD BE FINE. HOWEVER, DON'T COUNT ON THAT TOO HEAVILY, THERE IS A REASON WHY I TELL YOU TO ALWAYS LEARN WHO IS IN COMMAND OF YOUR ENEMIES. SOME OF THE IVORY-TOWER ISAWA ARE MUCH LESS COMPASSIONATE THAN YOU'D EXPECT TOWARDS THEIR OWN PEASANTS.

BLUFFING THEM WORKS TOO, INCIDENTALLY. AS I SAID, THEY'RE OFTEN SOMEWHAT INEXPERIENCED AND TOO CERTAIN OF THEIR OWN CLEVERNESS. IF YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TO AMBUSH THEM, DO SO.

>>9982165
Right bitch, it's on.

ALRIGHT, THERE'S THE LESSON ON THE PHOENIX. NOW, I NEED ONE OF YOU TO SUM UP THE KEY POINTS BEFORE I GO ON TO THE NEXT CLAN. ANYONE CLEANED ENOUGH OF THE WAX OUT OF THEIR EARS TO REMEMBER WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU? TELL ME, HOW DO YOU FIGHT THE PHOENIX?

>>9982231

Misdirection, keep them at range, aim for the Shugenga, do not goddamn charge them unless you have no other options.

>>9982218
>>9982165
>>9982151
>>9982111
>>9981995

WE CAN GO CONQUER THE FOX LANDS LATER IF TITS WILL KEEP YOU RECRUITS FROM BEING DISTRACTED.

>>9981755

>SOME OF THESE CLANS -WILL- ASSFUCK YOU

Especially the Crane, but only if your army is composed primarily of pre-pubescent boys.

>>9982231
stay mobile, arrows, aim for the shugenja, charge at last resort.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.

>>9982245

GOOD LAD. REMEMBER, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT BEING A LION IS THAT OUR TROOPS ARE WELL-DRILLED, AND YOU CAN RELY ON THEM TO MANEUVER EFFECTIVELY.

ALRIGHT, ON TO THE NEXT CLAN. THIS IS ONE YOU'VE ALL BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO, I BET...THE CRANE.

>>9982247
Oh, no, I'm not a recruit. Don't mind me. Just passing through.

Say, you wouldn't know where the nearest tea house is, would you?

>>9982251

Sun Tzu said that?

>>9982250
>>9982251

ALSO GOOD ANSWERS. REMEMBER, AS A SUBORDINATE, YOUR DEEDS WILL REFLECT ON YOUR LORD.

>>9982231
THEY HIT HARD EARLY BUT ARE MODERATELY DISORGANIZED IN THE RANKS.
SHOOT THEM FULL OF ARROWS FROM A DISTANCE.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS CHARGE AND GET CLOSE TO THE SHIBA BODYGUARDS.
HONOR THROUGH VICTORY IS GREATER THAN HONOR THROUGH STUPIDITY.

>>9982231
use superior range and mobility to force the opponent into a nasty situation them move to kill, this tactic works for crabs too.

>>9982279

DOWN THE ROAD, ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE, LOOK FOR A BLACK-STRIPED YELLOW BANNER. THAT'S WHERE I USUALLY DRINK.

Please do the Minor Clans too.
I can't wait to hear a Lion explain how to fuck the Monkies.

>>9982320
Priority to the Greater clans.

>>9982320
>Monkeys
Walk to close to them until a Scorpion kills you?

>>9982341
>until the five Scorpions that have been stalking him/her jumps out of the bushes and kills you.

>>9982312
Props.

I'M IMPRESSED, WE'VE GOT A FEW FUTURE OFFICERS HERE TODAY, IT LOOKS LIKE. ANYWAY, ON TO THE FUCKING CRANE.

I'LL START BY TALKING ABOUT THE CRANE ETHOS. YOU SEE, CRANE VIEW EVERYTHING AS AN ART. TALKING? ART. FIGHTING? ART. MINCING ABOUT? ART. LIKE ALL ARTISTS, THEY TEND TO BE VERY POLISHED AT WHAT THEY DO. THEIR TROOPS MARCH IN VERY PRETTY LINES, MANEUVER LIKE A SINGLE ENTITY, CAN ALL STAB AND TWIRL THEIR SPEARS IN UNISON. IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE TO WATCH, REALLY. EMPHASIS ON 'TO WATCH'. EVER HEAR THE TERM 'PARADE-GROUND ARMY'? THAT DEFINES THE CRANE. PRETTY, DECORATIVE SPEARS CAN STILL SKEWER YOU, THOUGH, SO PAY ATTENTION AND DON'T SLACK OFF.

>>9982364

With all due respect sir, it ain't those spearmen that scare me bout the Crane. It's the one-on-one duels with the ones that are fast like a freak.

>>9982357

TELL THE PROPRIETOR SHAO-TENG SENT YOU. YOU MIGHT GET SOME FREE DRINKS.

>>9982364

BACK TO BUSINESS. AS THE LION CLAN, WE ARE THE RIGHT HAND OF THE EMPEROR, HIS PUNISHING FIST. OUR HONOR IS RENOWNED. HOWEVER, AS ONE OF YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, HONOR THROUGH VICTORY, NOT HONOR THROUGH STUBBORN, BLIND STUPIDITY. UNFORTUNATELY, OTHERWISE-PROMISING COMMANDERS FROM OUR CLAN HAVE OCCASIONALLY FORGOTTEN THE DIFFERENCE AND DONE SOME ABSOLUTELY SUICIDAL THINGS, AND ONE OF THOSE IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING THE CRANE.

THEY WILL CHALLENGE YOU TO DUELS. THEY WILL SEND OUT SOME SMUG, WHITE-HAIRED ANDROGYNOUS LITTLE BASTARD AND HE WILL ISSUE YOU A CHALLENGE. IF YOU ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO ACCEPT, YOU WILL DESERVE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU. SEE, THAT TINY, EFFEMINATE THING HAS SPENT HIS...HER...ITS...WHICHEVER. HAS SPENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE SINCE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING HOW TO GAUGE AN OPPONENT'S STANCE AND DRAW REALLY, REALLY FAST AND CUT YOU. IT'S GOING TO BE TEMPTING TO ACCEPT, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO BASH THAT SMUG, PERFUMED FACE IN, BUT HERE'S THE KICKER.

WOULD YOU RATHER BE DISHONORED BY REFUSING TO DUEL SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT THEIR ENTIRE LIFE DOING IT WHILE YOU WERE LEARNING HOW TO LEAD AN ARMY, OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE DISHONORED BY FAILING YOUR LORD, LOSING THE DUEL, AND BEING FORCED TO WITHDRAW? YOU HAVE A DUTY, AND THAT DUTY IS BIGGER THAN YOU, AND EVEN IF YOU LOSE A BIT OF HONOR FOR NOT DUELING HIM...YOU'RE GOING TO GAIN A LOT MORE WHEN YOU TRAMPLE HIS ARMY INTO THE DIRT. PLUS, THE TRAMPLING PART INVOLVES SMASHING HER SMUG FACE IN. FUCK THE CRANE, I NEVER KNOW WHAT GENDER PRONOUN TO USE WITH THEM.

>>9982401

The Crane challenge you to duels because they're afraid of a direct fight. You don't HAVE to accept.

Alternatively, the Rights of the Challenged dictates that if they challenge you, you can choose the nature of the duel, as well as the venue. You don't want an Iaijutsu duel? Then say the duel is based on.. archery, or spears, or fucking hammers if you're a Crab. If you can manage to convince them, of course.

SHOUTING MATSU, will you be teaching us how to fight other clans as armies other than the Lion, or are you unable to think in a way outside that of your clan?

>>9982481
So far the methods mentioned seem viable for any clan that can actually lead an army.
Admittedly, that doesn't mean much, but still.

SHOUTING MATSU, will you be teaching us how to fight renegade Lion troops as well? We may need that knowledge one day.

YES SENSEI. TEACH ME MORE.

IN SHORT, DON'T DUEL CRANES. NEVER, EVER DUEL THEM IN TRADITIONAL IAIJUTSU. IF YOU'VE GOT NO OTHER OPTION...AND YOU DO USUALLY HAVE THE OPTION OF NOT DUELING THEM...CHANGE THE VENUE. YOU BRING AN IKOMA OR TWO ALONG FOR THIS VERY REASON, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY TEND TO LEAVE HALF-LION BASTARDS EVERYWHERE THEY GO, BUT BECAUSE THEY CAN TALK PRETTIER THAN THE CRANE CHALLENGING YOU, AND GET THE DUEL CHANGED TO KENJUTSU OR SOMETHING MORE FAVORABLE. BELIEVE ME, THOUGH, REFUSING IS A COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE THING TO DO HERE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CRANE SAY. IF THE CHALLENGE HAD ALL THE WEIGHT THE CRANE CLAIM IT DOES, THEY COULD SIMPLY WALK UP AND CHALLENGE YOU OVER ANYTHING, WIN, AND TAKE IT...WHICH THEY'LL TRY TO DO WHEN THEY THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. I SERIOUSLY CANNOT STRESS IT ENOUGH HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD NOT DUEL CRANES.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE CRANE ARE ARTISTS, AND YOU SHOULD FIGHT THEM LIKE ARTISTS. ARTISTS HATE TO SEE THEIR ARTISTIC VISION TRAMPLED, SO TRAMPLE IT. CHANGE THE BATTLE FROM THE WAY THEY WANT IT TO BE. FORCE THEM TO FIGHT IN THE RAIN, IN THE MUD, OUTMANEUVER THEM, FRUSTRATE THEM. DON'T GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO FIGHT THE WAY -THEY- WANT, MAKE THE BATTLE AS UGLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. DON'T EXPECT THEM TO SIMPLY FALL OVER, THOUGH, SOME CRANES LOVE SHOWING YOU THEY HAVE A BIT OF STEEL AND DON'T MIND GETTING BLOOD ON THEIR NICE, CLEAN KATANAS.

INCIDENTALLY, I'M TALKING ABOUT DOJI AND KAKITA ARMIES WHEN I SAY ALL OF THIS, I'LL ADDRESS DAIDOJI AT THE END, BECAUSE DAIDOJI ARE A WHOLE DIFFERENT MATTER.

>>9982515
Even the Crane?

Lion clan sucks!

>>9982551
Crane can't lead armies.
Crane shouldn't get involved in actual wars.
Crane should just hide behind the emperor like the cowards they are.

inb4 Harrior tactics

>>9982515
>>9982538

I'M GOING TO GO INTO THE SORT OF TACTICS OUR CLAN USES, TOO, AT LEAST IN BRIEF. THE REASON MUCH OF THIS SEEMS VERY VIABLE FOR ANYONE TO USE IS SIMPLE, BECAUSE THE LION ARE THE EXEMPLAR BY WHICH OTHER CLANS TEND TO BE JUDGED. OUR ARMIES ARE GOOD AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND WE'RE BOTH POLISHED AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO USE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES. TO A DEGREE, THIS KEEPS US FROM BEING TOO SPECIALIZED ON THE WHOLE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE SPECIALIZED COMPANIES OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MEANS AGAINST AN ARMY WHO SPECIALIZES IN SOMETHING, WE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE WE CAN PLAY TO THEIR WEAKNESSES.

Bored cumdumpster here, 19/f/US - im lonely, someone add my msn for a chat / cam! 35
if youre from us, add my msn: vixenhawt@hotmail.com!! 85

>>9982569
>Emperor

>>9982481

What, does your army lack the technology for archers or something? He's not espousing anything particularly Lion-specific.

Yeah, Im gonna favor your champion back to sezaru

>>9982629
Their "versus crane" tactics are not particularly useful for Crane.
>>9982569
I wish to change this. There is no artistry in a broken thing, and going to war breaks a crane army.

>>9982569

I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THIS TOO. IF YOU'RE GOING TO WAR WITH THE CRANE, GO TO WAR FAST. HIT FAST, HIT HARD, MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE HIGH-RANKING ENOUGH TO HAVE ANY SAY IN THIS THAT YOUR IKOMA ARE DOING THEIR JOB IN THE COURTS, BECAUSE THE DOJI WILL GO RUSHING TO THE EMPEROR IN A FIT OF TEARS AND CRY THAT THE BIG, MEAN LION ARE PUMMELING THEM AGAIN. DOJI TEARS ARE THE SECRET INGREDIENT IN THE BEST CRAB-CLAN SAKE, I HEAR RUMORS OF, AND I ENJOY MAKING THE CRANE CRY AS MUCH AS ANY RED-BLOODED MATSU...BUT THE CRANE INFLUENCE IN COURT IS UNDENIABLE, AND THOSE TEARS OF THEIRS CAN SOMETIMES MOVE OTHERS TO CENSOR YOU FOR PERFECTLY-JUSTIFIED WARRING, AND THAT'S A PAIN IN THE ASS.

NOW, REMEMBER WHEN I SAID CRANE ARE POLISHED? THAT'S A WEAKNESS OF THEIRS, CRANE ARE LESS FLEXIBLE THAN THEY LIKE TO ADMIT. THEY FAVOR DUELING, THEY FAVOR SPEAR-FIGHTING, AND THEIR SHUGENJA ARE HEALERS WHO WILL ALMOST NEVER ACTUALLY ENGAGE YOU IN BATTLE. DON'T GIVE THEM A BEAUTIFUL WAR, ONE THEY CAN WRITE POETRY ABOUT TO INSPIRE THEIR SOLDIERS, DROWN THEM IN BLOOD. DIG TRAPS, USE BATTLEFIELD ENGINEERS TO GOOD ADVANTAGE, BECAUSE THEY WON'T. CRANE CAVALRY IS ALSO PRETTY SHITTY, WHILE OURS IS PRETTY DAMN GOOD (ALTHOUGH NOT THE BEST, WE ALL KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE CAVALRY IS THE UNICORN'S ABSOLUTE GREATEST STRENGTH). YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CALL A HEAVY CAVALRY CHARGE AGAINST INFANTRY THAT AREN'T USING A PROPER SPEAR-WALL? SLAUGHTER. IF YOU CAN GET INTO THAT SITUATION, DO IT.

>>9982651
Their "versus Crane" tactis work fine even for Crane themselves.
It's just you are afraid of a little dirt, when there is no need to.
If you can't handle that, stick to your dueling. It's hard to even imagine a crane refusing to duel.

>>9982629

I AM, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE FLEXIBILITY ON THE BATTLEFIELD IS AN ADVANTAGE WE HAVE AND NOT EVERY OTHER CLAN POSSESSES. HOWEVER, I AM A MATSU, AND NOT BEHOLDEN TO EXPLAIN TACTICS FOR ANY OTHER CLAN. BESIDES, THEY SHOULD ALREADY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOOD AT.

>>9982651

I don't think the Crane need advice on fighting themselves. They'd know their own weaknesses far more intimately than an outsider.

Your tactics are truly fearsome and wise Matsu-san. How may any stand against the might of the glorious Lion?

>>9982672
> THEY FAVOUR SPEAR-FIGHTING
> WITHOUT A PROPER SPEAR WALL
wat?

I KNOW I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, FOR THE PHOENIX, BUT USING HORSE ARCHERS TO SOFTEN UP CRANE DEFENSES IS A THING OF BEAUTY. IF I COULD BREED A TSURUCHI WITH AN UTAKU, AND RAISE THE ENSUING CHILD AS A MATSU, I WOULD BE PROUD TO CONSIDER IT MY OWN.

NOW, ONE THING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF. THE KAKITA AND DOJI ARE SIMILAR IN MANY RESPECTS, BUT ONE THING YOU CAN CONSIDER A STRENGTH OF THE DOJI...IF THE KAKITA ARE ARTISTS, THE DOJI ARE DIPLOMATS. I ALREADY ADDRESSED WHAT THEY CAN DO IN COURT, AND ALREADY TOLD YOU TO MAKE SURE YOUR IKOMA STALL THEM WHILE YOU KEEP FIGHTING, BUT THERE IS ALSO THE MATTER OF ALLIANCES. WHILE THE CRANE AS A CLAN PISS MOST EVERYONE OFF, INDIVIDUAL DOJI ARE PRETTY GOOD AT KNOWING WHAT PEOPLE WANT, AND ARE RICH, SO THERE IS A FAIR CHANCE OF ENCOUNTERING MERCENARIES OR ALLIED TROOPS FROM OTHER CLANS. KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND USE WHATEVER TACTICS I RECOMMENDED AGAINST WHICHEVER CLAN THEY'RE FROM. JUST REMEMBER, PEOPLE FIGHT HARDEST WHEN THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR OWN CLAN, SO SOMETIMES IT TAKES LESS TO DRIVE THEM OFF.

NOW...I'VE ADDRESSED ALL EXCEPT THE DAIDOJI, AND FOR GOOD REASON. DAIDOJI ARE FUNDAMENTALLY UNLIKE THE DOJI AND KAKITA. THEY AREN'T AS PRETTY, EITHER IN TACTICS OR APPEARANCE, AND THEY'VE GOT IRON IN THEM. A LOT OF IRON. THEIR BIGGEST WEAKNESS IS THAT THEY'RE SUBSERVIENT TO THE DOJI AND KAKITA, AND FREQUENTLY EVEN A DAIDOJI COMMANDER WILL BE ANSWERING TO SOMEONE FROM ONE OF THOSE TWO FAMILIES. THERE IS NO MAGIC BUTTON FOR FIGHTING THE DAIDOJI, NO SECRET WAY TO WIN, YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO OUT-MANEUVER, OUT-TACTICIAN, AND OUT-FIGHT THEM. AGAIN, STAY FLEXIBLE, USE YOUR CAVALRY. LIKE WITH THE SCORPION, WATCH OUT FOR ASSASSINS, THE DAIDOJI ARE LESS LIKELY TO DUEL YOU THAN THEY ARE TO STICK A KNIFE IN YOU WHILE YOUR BACK IS TURNED. AGAIN, AS I SAID FOR THE PHOENIX, KNOW WHO THE ENEMY COMMANDER IS, INFORMATION IS POWER AND KNOWING THEIR FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL DISPOSITION CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE IN WINNING AND LOSING.

>>9982783

I DID SAY IF YOU CAN GET THEM INTO THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. IF. IT'S GREAT IF YOU CAN, BUT DON'T COUNT ON IT. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAINTAINING A PROPER ANTI-CAVALRY FORMATION WITH SPEARS, AND SIMPLY GIVING THEM TO YOUR TROOPS TO WAVE AROUND ON THE PARADE FIELD.

ON THAT NOTE, ONE THING I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS. DON'T FUCK THEIR WOMEN. THIS APPLIES TO ALL OF THESE CLANS. NEVER FUCK SOMEONE FROM A CLAN YOU'RE AT WAR WITH UNLESS YOU'RE DELIBERATELY AND -FOR CERTAIN- SEDUCING THEM. FIRSTLY, BECAUSE THEY LIKELY HATE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF THEIR SOUL, MEANING THAT THEY'RE EITHER BEDDING YOU TO PROTECT SOMEONE, TO CATCH YOU NAKED AND VULNERABLE AND KILL YOU, OR BECAUSE YOU'RE RAPING THEM. NONE OF THESE ARE GOOD, AND I CAN'T FUCKING STAND RAPISTS. IF I EVER HEAR OF ONE OF MY STUDENTS COMMITTING RAPE, I'LL FIND YOU AND USE YOUR SKULL AS A GODDAMN BANNER ORNAMENT.

ONE LAST THING, EPILEPSY IS APPARENTLY NOT HUGELY UNCOMMON AMONG THE CRANE. NOT THAT I'M SAYING TO MAYBE LAUNCH A DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS MID-BATTLE OR ANYTHING, JUST...WELL...NOBODY COULD BLAME YOU IF SOMEONE -ACCIDENTALLY- BROUGHT FIRE NEAR THE FIREWORKS STASH, AM I RIGHT? TRAGIC BUT THOROUGHLY UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCE, IF YOU TAKE MY MEANING. AKODO WOULD AGREE.

COINCIDENTALLY, YOU KNOW WHO USES SPEARS THE MOST OFTEN, AND MOST EFFECTIVELY, AMONG THE CRANE? THE DAIDOJI. ANOTHER REASON WHY THEY'RE THE MOST TROUBLESOME TO FIGHT. YOU'LL SEE SPEARS THERE IF THERE ARE ANY DAIDOJI OFFICERS, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT SOME KAKITA DUELIST MANAGES TO BLUNDER HIS WAY INTO COMMAND AND SHOWS UP WITH AN ALL-SWORD-WIELDING ARMY OF INFANTRY...

WELL, IT'S HIS OWN FAULT FOR COMING ON TO THE BATTLEFIELD, HE PROBABLY EXPECTED YOU TO JUST DUEL HIM. DON'T FEEL GUILTY FOR WHAT YOU DO TO HIM IN THE BATTLE.

>>9982888
> EPILEPSY IS APPARENTLY NOT HUGELY UNCOMMON AMONG THE CRANE

what? I mean, seriously?

ALRIGHT, THAT'S THE CRANE. NOW, SAME AS WITH THE PHOENIX, LET'S SEE WHO WAS PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO SUMMARIZE THE KEY POINTS, AND TELL ME HOW YOU BEAT THE CRANE. I KNOW THIS ONE WAS LESS CUT-AND-DRIED THAN THE FIRST ONE, SO THERE ARE SEVERAL CORRECT ANSWERS.

>>9982957

According to the 3rd revised corebook, the Epilepsy Disadvantage is worth more points for Crane characters, which is usually a sign that it's more common among members of that Clan (like Greedy for Mantis and Driven for Scorpion). I think that's what he's referencing.

>>9982957

Inbreeding is a wonderful thing.

>>9982888
>EPILEPSY IS APPARENTLY NOT HUGELY UNCOMMON AMONG THE CRANE

I once played as a Lightning-bolt slinging Mantis shugenja in a emerald magistrate party that included an epileptic crane bushi. This led to some amusing instances of him having to fight blindfolded.

>weeaboos

>>9983035

nofunallowed.jpg

I AM GOING TO ASSUME YOU ARE ALL CONSIDERING A PROPER ANSWER, AND NOT JUST STANDING ABOUT PICKING YOUR NOISES AND WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO SO.

>>9982995

I SNICKERED MIGHTILY.

>>9982966

Never accept duels, make the fighting as gritty, dirty, and god-awful for them as possible, use heavy cavalry, shoot fireworks off for them to see. Preferably, shoot fireworks AT them.

Be fast, know the enemy, cavalry charges if it isn't daidoji you're fighting, be prepared for them to go run crying in the courts and don't go into a duel at all, or if you must, not with swords involved?

>>9983043
They are an honourable clan. Fight dishonourably and win.

>this entire thread

>>9983089
Be cool man, it's not as much weaboo as it is fantasy mixed with some smatters of certain asian countries history/mythology. [read: utter xenophobic assholes]

>>9982966

Meatgrinder tactics, never let up keep a constant pressure. Make full use of engineers to disrupt Crane formations with siege weapons and other unfortunate distractions to allow for a better charge. Never accept duels unless you get to specify the terms, then pick something long winded that you can leave them to win while you continue the war, like a foot race from The Wall to the Dragon lands.

Hit hard, hit fast, be flexible and use unconventional tactics.

>>9982966

With what they lack; flexibility. The Crane are like a horse with blinkers on, in that they can only see a very narrow view of the world. Step to the side, and the cannot see you.

>>9982966

THINK THE UNTHINKABLE
BREAK THE UNBREAKABLE
ROW ROW PUNCH THE CRANE IN THE DICK

>>9983060

"ALL ACTIONS ARE HONORABLE ON THE BATTLEFIELD", BUT YOU SEEM TO GET IT.

>>9983046
>>9983050

GOOD, GOOD!

>>9983113

YOU'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF WHAT I SAID INTO WHAT I IMPLIED. HMM...WELL DONE!

>>9983121

KUHAHAHAHA! AN EXCELLENT COMPARISON!


ALRIGHT, STUDENTS, NOW...WHICH CLAN SHOULD I DO NEXT? CRAB? UNICORN? MANTIS? SCORPION?

>>9983147

I AM PLEASED TO SEE THEY STILL TEACH OUR CLAN MOTTO.

>>9983172
>WHICH CLAN SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Crab. Some one needs to take them down a peg.

>ROW ROW PUNCH THE CRANE IN THE DICK
>LION CLAN MOTTO

I think I just became a Lion fan.

>>9983172

Crab Master Matsu!

>>9983147

... Matsu-sensei, your name isn't "Kamina", by any chance, is it?

>>9983269

It's Shao-Teng, dude.

Unicorn.
TEACH DEM GAIJIN A LESSON

>>9983172
I would request Scorpion, though I suspect that are many loopholes to be found.

I may be too clever for my own good here, but if a Crane tried to challenge me to a duel to get me to withdraw, I'd probably stare at him in disbelief for a moment, then say something like "Alright. For the terms of the duel, I choose ... open warfare, wielding armies."

THE CRAB? GOOD. THAT'S ALWAYS A FUN ONE.

TELL ME, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CALL ASSAULTING A FORTIFIED CRAB POSITION OR FORTRESS? SUICIDE. THAT IS SIMPLE FACT. IF YOU ARE EVER GOING TO FIGHT THE CRAB, DO NOT ASSAULT ONE OF THEIR FORTRESSES. NOW, I KNOW ALL OF YOU WERE PAYING DAMNED GOOD ATTENTION WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE CRANE AND DUELING, AND WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT. THE CRAB ARE SIMILAR, THEY SPEND THEIR TIME DEFENDING A MASSIVE FORT FROM ENEMIES THAT ARE MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE TERRIFYING THAN YOU. IN FACT, DEFENDING A FORTRESS AGAINST EVEN THE MOST POWERFUL LION ARMY IS LIKE A VACATION FOR THEM, HOLDING OFF MASSIVELY SUPERIOR FORCES IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHAT I AM SAYING IS, THEY KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT SURVIVING A SIEGE.

DON'T ASSAULT CRAB FORCES. DON'T LET THEM PLAY DEFENSE. MAKE THEM COME TO YOU. MEET THEM ON THE FIELD IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

>>9983343
It'd be a good way to ensure you know the who enemy general is.

HAROOH! HAROOH! HARO-Wait. I think I'm in the wrong place. I'll just be leaving...

Those Crane ladies are pretty attractive by the way.

You know, you could basically just say "do not let your opponent use his strength" and give a list of the strengths of the clan. Then we wouldn't have to listen to you for as long, which is always a good thing with one so loud.

>>9983448
You are disrespectful to the teacher, as well as those that do not know how "not to let the enemy use their strength".

>>9983343

KUHAHAHA, WELL DONE! THAT IS DOING IT PROPERLY! ADD IN "AND THE TIME WE SHALL FIGHT IS...NOW." YOU'VE GOT A FINE FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU IF YOU KEEP THINKING LIKE THAT.

NOW, BACK TO THE CRAB. CRAB ARE TOUGH, THEY WEAR HEAVIER ARMOR THAN PRETTY MUCH ANYONE ELSE YOU WILL EVER FIGHT, THEY USE BIG, CRUSHING WEAPONS. THEY AREN'T VERY FAST OR MOBILE, BUT THEY'RE BIG AND STRONG. AT LEAST, THE MAJORITY ARE, LIKE THE CRANE THEY HAVE ONE ODD FAMILY OUT.

HERE IS HOW YOU FIGHT CRAB ON THE FIELD. MOBILITY. CRAB ARE TOUGH AND HIT HARD, BUT SLOW AND NOT MANY HORSES CAN BEAR THEIR WEIGHT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IT MEANS THEY HAVE SHIT-ALL IN THE WAY OF CAVALRY. SEEING AS HOW, NEXT TO THE UNICORN, WE HAVE ROKUGAN'S BEST CAVALRY FORCES, THIS MEANS WE CAN ABUSE OUR ADVANTAGE THERE AGAIN. STILL, A TETSUBO CAN CRUSH A HORSE'S SKULL, SO DON'T BE OVERCONFIDENT, AND LIKE WITH THE PHOENIX...DON'T JUST CHARGE IN WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN RANKS. REMEMBER, LIKE US, THEY HAVE BERSERKERS TOO, AND A CRAB WARRIOR CAN TAKE SHOCKING AMOUNTS OF PUNISHMENT BEFORE HE FALLS. OUTMANEUVER THEM, USE THE TERRAIN, BREAK THEIR FORMATIONS. FOR ARROWS, USE ARMOR-PIERCERS ALMOST ENTIRELY, AND YOU WILL WANT TO RAIN ARROWS DOWN ON THEM. PULLING THEM OUT OF THEIR ARMORED SHELL IS KEY. PULL THEM OUT OF THEIR FORTRESSES, DON'T LET THEM ENGAGE YOU THERE. PULL THEM OUT OF THEIR FORMATIONS, DON'T LET THEM BE A UNIFIED FRONT AGAINST YOU. ENGAGE THEM IN SINGLE COMBAT IF POSSIBLE. I REALIZE THIS IS AGAINST MY USUAL ADVICE, BUT...LET ME EXPLAIN.

SEE ONE-ON-ONE, OUR BUSHI ARE VERY, VERY WELL SUITED TO FIGHTING CRAB. WE ACTUALLY DO HIT HARD ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THEIR ARMOR, AND WE CAN OVERWHELM THEIR DEFENSES. MATSU FURY AND AKODO PRECISION ABSOLUTELY CAN CUT THEM TO PIECES ONE-ON-ONE, SO MAKE SURE YOU CUT UP THEIR FORMATION AND THEN CHEW UP THE FRAGMENTS.

FUN FACT, THAT TRICK AKODO BUSHI LEARN ABOUT AVOIDING ARMOR? WORKS WITH A BOW, TOO. THEY DON'T EVEN NEED ARMOR-PIERCING ARROWS, IT'S PRETTY COOL.

AS FOR YOUR MATSU TROOPS, THIS IS THE EXCUSE TO LET THEM RUN WILD, TEAR THE FUCK OUT OF THE CRAB.

Why do I picture Shouting Matsu sounding exactly like Miles Quaritch?

>>9983476
He hasn't said anything not self-evident from that information yet.
"Phoenix take time to cast. Don't give them that time."
"Crane fight in a predictable pattern and through duels. Fight unexpectedly and don't duel them."
"Crab are used to standing and fighting in a defended position. Make them need to move."
What of this is not obvious?

>>9983448
>>9983476

NUWA IS MY TINY SOON-TO-BE NIECE IN LAW. I THINK SHE DISAPPROVES OF ME.

ANYWAY, THIS IS ANOTHER CASE SPECIFIC TO THE LION. WE ARE GOOD AT PIERCING DEFENSES, INDIVIDUALLY, AND LESS PROFICIENT ONE-ON-ONE AGAINST FAST ENEMIES.

NOW, THE ODD FAMILY OUT I MENTIONED EARLIER IS THE HIRUMA. HIRUMA ARE VERY UNUSUAL FOR CRAB, IN THAT THEY'RE FAST, ATHLETIC, AND ACTUALLY SNEAKY. YOU WON'T ENCOUNTER THEM OFTEN, BUT YOU'LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU DO, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ACTUAL CAVALRY AND SOME DEGREE OF SPEED, BUT ARE CONVERSELY LESS RESILIENT, ADJUST YOUR TACTICS ACCORDINGLY.

>>9983587

Honored Isawa-dono, it strikes me that it is also evident that forbidden knowledge is forbidden. Why then must the Shiba stand behind their charges with a rolled up newspaper raised at all times?

>>9983659
They don't! We've learned our lesson, they just don't trust us because of our past.
>>9983658
You always bring an army when you come to visit. It's quite rude.

>>9983713

PFFFT, NEPHEW BENJIRO NEEDS TO BE AROUND OTHER LIONS, OR BEFORE WE KNOW IT HE'LL STOP REMEMBERING HOW TO PUNCH THINGS.

ALSO I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT THE SHIBA STILL DO THAT.


ANYWAY, THE LAST THING TO ADDRESS FOR CRAB. NEVER LET THEM PICK THE BATTLEFIELD WHEN POSSIBLE, AND IF THEY DO, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU GET THERE BEFORE THEY DO. REMEMBER WHEN I TALKED ABOUT BATTLEFIELD ENGINEERS EARLIER? THE CRAB HAVE REALLY, REALLY FUCKING GOOD BATTLEFIELD ENGINEERS, EVEN A FEW DAYS CAN BE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO FORTIFY THE SHIT OUT OF WHEREVER YOU INTEND TO FIGHT THEM, AND MAKE IT INTO SUCH A MEATGRINDER THAT IT ALMOST ISN'T WORTH IT TO FIGHT THEM. GIVEN THE CHANCE, CRAB PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS FORTIFY AND TURTLE UP.

AGAIN, SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY VERSUS THE CRAB! THAT IS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING FOR THEM, THE CRAB ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND THE TACTICS TO BEAT THEM ARE ALSO STRAIGHTFORWARD.

AS BEFORE, SOMEONE SUMMARIZE THE KEY POINTS TO DEFEATING THE CRAB, AND THEN TELL ME WHICH CLAN YOU WANT TO HEAR OF NEXT.

>>9983713

..yes. We.. don't do that any more. Ahem.

>>9983854
Don't let people used to having a defensive position use their defensive position, use armour piercing weapons on people used to relying on armour, use mobility on people used to not moving from a defensive potion.

How's about lion next.

I'LL WAIT FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T A TINY ISAWA TO ANSWER.

>>9983854

By raping them, same as you defeat anyone else.

>>9983987
A tiny bird can have a large voice;
Though a Sparrow is probably not your first choice.

>>9983854

I apologize for being distracted Matsu-sensei!

The way to defeat the crab is to not allow them to fight on their own turf! To lure them into your own battlefield and attack them with armor-crushing tactics! Out-maneuver them with cavalry, hit them with armor piercing arrows. Do anything you can to exploit their lack of agility.

>>9984070

Brother, I can't believe you are so curt! Come, let us sing for them the song of our people!

>>9983854

How do you defeat a Crab? You coax him out of his shell and then trip him up.

>>9984128
>>9984070
>two goddamn sparrows in the thread

HIT THE DECK. EVACUATE THE THREAD BEFORE WE GET SUCKED IN.

>>9984070

I ADMIRE YOUR SPIRIT, SPARROW. FEEL FREE TO ANSWER.

>>9984179
>>9984087

GOOD, GOOD. I'M GLAD MY STUDENTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION, MEANS SOME OF YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SURVIVE.

>>9983932

I SUSPECT YOU'RE CHEATING. BENJIRO PROBABLY TOLD YOU ALL OF THIS ALREADY. EITHER WAY, I THINK I AM BEGINNING TO APPROVE OF YOU.

>>9984217

Sparrow clan aint nothing but a bunch of broke ass bushi.

Aquire Wealth, Disregard honor, truth son.

ALRIGHT, SO, WHICH CLAN DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT NEXT?

>>9984217

There is no need to be afraid. I understand that my people have a reputation for being overly verbose, but I don't think that reputation is grounded in reality and frankly, it's quite unfair. It was like my grandfather told me when he would sit me down his lap of an evening - ah, the tales he would tell! He was truly a most wise man and shall be missed greatly - that the best storytellers, much like the best warriors, know how much is too much. Just as a swordsman should not over-extend and thus leave himself vulnerable, a storyteller should not go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on because then he will bore his audience. My grandfather, as you see, was a very wise man.

>>9984270

Hm. Dragon?

>>9984289

DRAGON IS A RATHER BORING ONE, I'LL GIVE IT FIVE MINUTES, AND IF NOBODY OUTVOTES YOU, WE'LL DO DRAGON.

>>9984254

You know, of course, that your title "ronin" can be roughly translated as "wave man", which serves as an example for you. You see, the waves can crash against the shore and bring with them all kinds of great wealth from the sea. The waves carry our ships across the water and can erode the stones of the shore over time. What is jagged becomes smooth. Of course, I am not saying you a literally waves, merely that it is a metaphor you should bear in mind; you have strong backs and with perseverance, a ronin can accomplish great things! Let us not forget the esteemable example of the Monkey Clan, which was founded by Toku, a Ronin who was of such great skill and virtue that Toturi declared he had always been a samurai! Toku stood with Toturi through many troubles, despite not being a samurai, and proved himself time and again. He is another good example of what a ronin should strive to be.

>>9984254
The words of a Ronin are as the passing breeze;
A brief annoyance, but one ignored with ease.

>>9984360

As a purely speculative, and totally not going to happen in the near future sort of way, how would you attack an imperial courier and his entourage while making it appear that the scorpion did it.

You know...as a thinking outside the box stratagem.

BTW, I'm just asking for a friend in the tortoise clan, he is totally curious about this stuff.

>>9984401

Aw man, the words of a sparrow be ringin in ma ears
by the time this foo is done I'll have aged a couple years.

>>9984401
>>9984377
Nice tag-team :O

MATSU, HOW DOES ONE DEFEAT THE SPARROW?

>>9984360

Scorpion Master Matsu! I want to know how to beat those dis-honorable dogs into the ground!

>>9984455

You don't need some pus in boots matsu tellin you that, the answer is style. While them broke peasants be swinging around some rusty ol cooking knife passed down throught he generations and representing 90% of their wealth you just got to out bling the suckas.

See this shit? That's gold gaijin fucker, gold! That kinda style just cant be topped.

>>9984455

A SERIOUS ANSWER WOULD BE WITH A COMBINATION OF NUMBERS, AND REALIZING THAT WHAT LOOK LIKE PEASANTS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE THEIR SAMURAI. A LESS-SERIOUS ANSWER WOULD BE "SEND A DEAF SAMURAI WITH WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO KEEP NODDING HIS HEAD", AND LET THE SPARROW TALK SO LONG THAT THEY FORGET TO EAT AND STARVE TO DEATH.

Matsu how does one defeat a Monkey?

>>9984493

AN OLD SWORD, WELL CARED FOR, IS LIKE A VETERAN SOLDIER...IT HAS PROVED ITS USE AND DURABILITY, AND IS OFTEN MORE TRUSTWORTHY THAN A FRESH RECRUIT.

>>9984465

ALRIGHT, DRAGON, THEN SCORPION.

>>9984493
Um, gold actually isn't that good for weapons and armour. It bends way too easily. If you want to use it, that's your choice, but don't be surprised when it shatters in combat.

>>9984455

I feel compelled to point out that as we, the Sparrow, are a Minor Clan, it would technically be against Imperial Law for a Major Clan to wage war on us. You see, all Minor Clans are founded by the will of the Child of Heaven and hence are protected; to attack us is to attack the Emperor. For instance, consider the origin of the Sparrow Clan itself - our founder, Doji Onegano, was once of the Crane and his son made a disparaging comment that had both Onegano and his son cruelly thrown from the Crane. However, the Emperor showed great mercy by having them become a Minor Clan. Thus began the story of the humble Sparrow, eking out our exsitence in the Suzume Hills, seeking to embody honour in our simple virtues.

Anyway, that is why you should not attack a Minor Clan.

>>9984546

Don't be suprised when you all "DAMN, DAT RONIN BE WIELDAN GOLD!" and my boy comes from behind all scorpion like and gives you one inna spine.

>>9984601
I'd wondered why Ronin had the stereotypes they did - I mean, they're still people, underneath their lack of honour, I thought, and it couldn't be so hard for them to fight sensibly, or learn proper social skills, or act intelligently.

Thank you, young ronin. You have enlightened me, and shown me that I was wrong in all three areas, all within such a short time.

>>9984493

I should question the virtue of using gold in making your weaponry. As you say, we Sparrow have little in the way of wealth and this has taught us to make use of what little we do have in the most effective way possible. For instance, one would not make a cooking pot out of straw! That would be very ineffective and you would have to keep using more and more straw as the pot would catch fire. Instead, you make a pot out of metal, because that is the proper material for it. In the same way, ronin, we Sparrow use our steel; as it is needed. And though the blade of my venerated father, which I carry with me to this day, may have no ostentatious decorations upon it, rest assured that it is steel, bright and honest, as sharp and true as any sword the Crane might forge. As I said before, we are of Crane descent and the Crane are great craftsmen - we have not forgotten those lessons of our ancestors, even if we have less material to work with.

Actually, I do recall once encountering a golden blade such as yours. I was patrolling the roads in the Suzume Hills and keeping my people safe, as this duty had been given to me by my lord, when I saw two ronin - like yourself - arguing. I believe it was over money, or possibly a woman; they were both quite drunk so I am unsure. Anyway, the two came to blows, each drawing their blades. One of them had a golden sword much like yours, the other had a steel one which I recognises as being made not far from where this whole exchange was taking place, in the forges of the Crane. The two blades clashed and the steel blade cut through the gold handguard, slicing off the fingers of the ronin holding it! Truly, a memorable display, though regrettably I forced to execute them both with my father's blade for endangering my people.

Anyway, that is why gold is not a suitable material for use in swords.

>>9984648

Dats so cold it burns son, you win this round, but I'll be back, and this time I'll have a rank in etiquette, then explode all ova the place with my sans and samas.....

I see what you tryin, you almost had me...

Matsu, come on.

DRAGON ARE A PAIN IN THE ASS. MOUNTAIN TERRAIN IS ANNOYING, IT MAKES NUMBERS LESS WORTHWHILE, SPEAR WALLS LESS USEFUL, AND CAN PROVIDE ALL SORTS OF NATURAL WALLS. HONESTLY, FUCK FIGHTING THE DRAGON IN THEIR OWN LANDS, THEY HAVE NOTHING WE WANT.

FIGHTING THEM ON THE FIELD IS DIFFERENT, OUTSIDE THEIR OWN TERRITORY. DRAGON BUSHI ARE MEDITATIVE, THEY TRAIN WITH SHUGENJA AND MONKS, AS A RESULT THEY'RE WISE AND INSIGHTFUL, IF A LITTLE STRANGE. TRYING TO READ THEM IS OFTEN DIFFICULT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN BEING WISE, AND SMART. SEE, ON AN ACTUAL BATTLEFIELD, THEIR FANCY NITEN IS LESS USEFUL, THEY DON'T QUITE HAVE ROOM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR AGILITY, AND THEY'RE USING SWORDS IN MASSED COMBAT. OH, AND BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM THE MOUNTAINS, ALMOST NO CAVALRY.

SIMILAR TO THE CRANE, DON'T DUEL THEM. DON'T EVEN CHANGE THE VENUE, JUST DON'T DUEL THEM.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, VERSUS SWORDS, USE SPEARS EXCEPT ON UNEVEN TERRAIN WHERE THE LENGTH BECOMES A DISADVANTAGE. YES, YOU CAN SHORT-HAFT SPEARS IN CLOSE COMBAT, BUT WITH SO MANY TROOPS PRESSING AROUND YOU, THAT OFTEN BECOMES HARD TO DO. IF YOU MUST, AND THE PRESS GETS TOO BAD, DROP SPEAR AND USE YOUR WAKIZASHI. NOT KATANA, WAKIZASHI. IF YOU'RE IN THAT CLOSE, REACH IS MEANINGLESS AND A SHORTER, MORE MANEUVERABLE BLADE IS KEY. YOU CARRY TWO SWORDS, SYMBOLISM ASIDE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES A SHORTER ONE IS JUST EASIER TO HANDLE.

If I may, I would like to advertise a thread;
Legend of the Five Rings quest has risen from the dead!
The quest itself should take place around 10:30-11:00 PM CST
Do not be late; it will be sublime!

>>9984705
>overuse of ellipses

This makes the Sparrow in my blood boil.

Teacher, I understand that you're more of an "Win by any means necessary" type of commander than most. What's your opinion on guns?

IF YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IN UNEVEN TERRAIN, GET HIGH GROUND, AND MUSH THEM INTO BITS WITH CAVALRY. SEE, NITEN IS AWESOME...IN ONE-ON-ONE COMBAT. THAT EMPHASIS ON TWO SWORDS, THOUGH, HINDERS YOU WHEN YOU'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE USING TWO SWORDS, OR FRANKLY A SWORD AT ALL. ONE VERY PROMINENT EXAMPLE OF THAT SITUATION IS WHEN LION CLAN HEAVY CAVALRY IS BARRELING DOWN A HILLSIDE AT YOU. EVERY SO OFTEN, THEY'LL HAVE POLEARMS, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY REALLY PUT THEIR HEARTS INTO. OUR NUMBERS TEND TO BE MUCH, MUCH HIGHER THAN THOSE OF THE DRAGON, SO ORDER YOUR TROOPS TO GANG UP ON THE ENEMY. IF HE FACES YOU WITH TWO SWORDS, FACE HIM WITH SIX SPEARS.

THEIR SHUGENJA USE ALCHEMY AND SOME WEIRD TRICKS, FIRE AND EARTH STUFF. COUNTERING SHUGENJA IS ELEMENTARY, YOU HAVE YOUR KITSU FOR THAT, LET THEM DO THEIR JOB.

THE OTHER THING TO WATCH OUT FOR IS MONKS. THE DRAGON HAVE A LOT OF MONKS, AND WILL ACTUALLY FIELD THEM IN BATTLE SOMETIMES. JUST BE PREPARED FOR THEM TO START FLYING AROUND OR BREATHING FIRE. THINK OF MONKS AS ENEMY SHUGENJA THAT ARE MORE PRONE TO MELEE WITH YOU, AND OFTEN FIGHT UNARMED. THEY'RE IRRITATING BECAUSE I CAN'T JUST TELL YOU TO LOOK FOR THE TATOOS, ALL DRAGON HAVE TATOOS APPARENTLY, BUT THEY TEND TO WEAR LESS ARMOR. HIT THEM FIRST IF YOU CAN, JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN BE SUCH A WILD CARD.

>>9984863
Not Matsu, but I think hauling around barrels of gunpowder in an era when everyone and their retainer not only has access to arrows (and therefore fire arrows) but are extraordinarily proficient with said arrows is a bit silly.

>>9984933

It's easy to see monks. Just look for the Dragons who aren't wearing shirts (including the women).

>>9984863

YOU MEAN GAIJIN PEPPER? IT'S ILLEGAL, DISHONORABLE, AND WORTH EXECUTION IF YOU'RE CAUGHT WITH IT.

...BESIDES, YOU CAN ALREADY KILL FROM A DISTANCE PRETTY SOLIDLY WITH MAGIC. JUST GET A SHUGENJA AND POINT THEM AT THE ENEMY. OURS DON'T REALLY FOCUS ON THAT, BEING ALIGNED WITH WATER AND MORE SUITED TO HEAL, COMMUNICATE, AND PROTECT, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS AROUND THAT.

>>9984769
Why open with spears and leave more one can foul one's footwork on in already rocky terrain? I'd think one would start with sword-on-sword, allowing your superior numbers to gang up on them more easily by leaving more places you can stand without the chance of stumbling. And even if you don't go tumbling, the weight of a number of men in armour standing on your spear's haft will, at best, leave dents in it, leaving it less ready for future combats.

Never played L5R before, but I saw someone call Unicorn "gaijin." Does that mean they aren't faux-Japanese like everyone else?

>>9985086

Each Clan had a Kami or god as their patron and only the Unicorn Kami had enough sense to go "holy shit there's actually a world outside the Empire, I best scout it out in case there are threats out there" and so she did, taking her Clan with her. A few centuries later, the Unicorn returned to Rokugan. They HAVE Rokugani blood - more so now they've been intermarrying for a couple centuries or so with the other Clans - but they still have a lot of Gaijin blood and Gaijin ways from the centuries outside of the Empire.

>>9985003
What of the Mantis sensei?

>>9985349

Just toss some coins on the battlefield and kill them while they're stooping down to pick it up.

>>9985074

LITTLE NUWA, ONE NEEDS TO MOVE LESS WITH SPEARS, EVEN ON ROCKY TERRAIN, IT IS ONLY WHEN IT BECOMES TOO ROCKY THAT I RECOMMEND NOT USING SPEARS. WITH A SPEAR, ONE CAN KEEP A SWORDSMAN AT A DISTANCE, REDUCING CASUALTIES. SPEARS ARE ALSO A WEAPON THAT ALLOW MULTIPLE SPEARMEN TO ENGAGE A SWORDSMAN MORE EASILY, AS THEY CAN DO SO FROM A GREATER DISTANCE, ALLOWING MORE OF THEM TO ATTACK HIM. IF SOMEONE IS STANDING ON YOUR SPEAR, DROP IT.

THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL FOR DRAGON, I WARNED YOU IN ADVANCE THEY WERE BORING.

DO SCORPION NEXT
SCORPION AND MONKEY

>>9985395
Sensei, the Dragon being as... eccentric as they are, were they to openly engage the mighty armies of the Lion, it would be suicide. So, is it not better not to fight them at all? They seem the sort not to undertake anything without knowing exactly how it will end. I would not place it above them to concoct a plan that includes being slaughtered by the Lion.

>>9985263

So they're still faux-Japanese? I know it's annoying to ask this when the entire game is Japanese-themed, but is there any non-Asian culture in the setting?

>>9985487
Yes. Gaijin exist. They are not relevant to the game other than as a source of equipment.

>>9985487
I'm fairly sure the Unicorn are faux Mongols?
But yeah, there are a few "Gaijin" (Spaniards, Egyptians and some Asian mountainfolk of one kind or another) that are mostly just referenced.

>>9985487
Yes.

There are pseudo-Roman ancestor worshippers with ghost legions, and they've put out a book for playing in the Arab equivalent area. That's as far as I know.

Please, continue. This fascinating insight into the Lion mindset is extremely.. Stimulating. I have always thought it such a shame, however, that the Lion seem to struggle finding the same passion for other things as they do for warfare. Don't you agree?

>>9985450

UNLESS THEY PLANNED ON YOU NOT FIGHTING THEM. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT, AND REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE FEW WAYS THE DRAGON WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING SLAUGHTERED, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE FORCED TO FIGHT. THAT SAID, THE DRAGON ARE HARDLY INFALLIBLE, DON'T LET YOUR FEAR RULE YOU, TREAT IT AS ONE OF MANY ADVISORS AND NOTHING MORE.

>>9985608

WE LION ARE PASSIONATE IN MANY AREAS, BUT A WISE MAN KNOWS THAT A PRETTY SMILE CAN HIDE THE GLEAM OF A KNIFE.

>>9985608
The trick is to get them to view it in a similar light. Making love? They have to capture certain key spots and use their resources to achieve the goal that they raised their 'sword' for.

>>9985661

...You lost me.

>>9984794

>Legend of the Five Rings quest has risen from the dead!

HOT DAMN.

>>9985610
I do not fear them sensei, I simply wish to better understand their mindset.

Please, continue with your lessons.

My dear Matsu, can you elucidate on strategic manuvering? How do you ensure that you'll arrive at the field first, with supply lines intact? And what kind of strategic manuvering favors the Lion Clan's abilities the best? For instance, the Crab could simply strike at your heart- that which you must defend- and by this summon YOU to THEM.

And then pic related.

>>9982924
>>9982888
>>9982872
>>9982672
>>9982547
>>9982450
>>9982364

Oh look... It's shouting Matsu again. You know, if you didn't shout so much, you'd stand a better chance at winning against us... We can hear you all the way from Kyuden Ikoma... Or maybe you say to much around our spies. I can never remember.

Either way, have fun next time you decide to kill yourself on the battlefield by attacking us. We've got something special lined up... I'll give you a hint. It's black and grainy and makes a loud noise and a lot of smoke.

By the way? Epilepsy is a Doji and Kakita thing. We'll appreciate the victory fireworks you launch for us though.

>>9985765

>It's black and grainy and makes a loud noise and a lot of smoke

>implying no witnesses

>out of an entire army

>>9985755

... it's almost like you abbreviated that post a bit to shoehorn in an excuse to use that crab pic, for the poetic suitability.

CRANE DETECTED

>>9985755

I SOMEWHAT DOUBT YOU COULD HIT OUR CAPITAL FROM ALL THE WAY IN YOUR LANDS, AND TO BE FRANK YOU CRAB AREN'T EXACTLY STEALTHY. UNLESS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PERSON OR SOMETHING, IN WHICH CASE...FIRSTLY, I HAVE NO WIFE, AS I DO NOT WISH TO JOIN ANOTHER FAMILY OR CLAN, AS IS TRADITIONAL FOR MATSU MEN, AND MY SUPERIORS HAVE AGREED MY ABILITIES ARE BEST-NEEDED HERE. MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS ARE ALL COMPETENT WARRIORS, AND ARE PREPARED EITHER TO ESCAPE OR DIE HONORABLY IF BY SOME MIRACLE THEY WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE. IN SHORT, FORCING US TO ATTACK YOU WON'T WORK.

NO OFFENSE, BUT MANEUVERING AND SNIPPING SUPPLY LINES REALLY ISN'T A STRONG POINT OF YOUR CLAN.

>>9985765

KUHAHAHA, AS ALWAYS, THE DAIDOJI ARE AS ARROGANT AS THE DOJI AND KAKITA. I ALREADY ADDRESSED HOW TO FIGHT YOU.

>>9985780
>further implying Gaijin Pepper can kill Shouting Matsu

I remember in one thread, a Daidoji youth challenged Shouting Matsu to a duel. We never found out what happened, but Shouting Matsu is still here and I haven't seen the Daidoji since. Such a pity.

>>9985755

Horses, Hida-san. Lion have a good, fast cavalry, though nowhere near as elite as Unicorn cavalry.

>>9985854
You have no brothers? No sisters, to take up a blade?

>>9985854

So the Lion clan's relative mobility is what allows them to draw the Crab out of their shells. Interesting.

As for valid targets that would force any army, much less the Crab, to take to the field, are fields considered fair game by the laws of war? Everyone has to eat, after all, and a few thousand acres of scorched fields tends to make that tricky.

>this thread

Hah, interesting.

Alright Matsu. I'm game. What's your take on how to defeat us Mantis?

>>9985893

I DO, BUT I DO NOT THINK THEY WOULD MAKE AN EASY TARGET, AND ONE ALWAYS WORRIES MORE FOR ONE'S DESCENDANTS THAN ONE'S SIBLINGS.

Matsu-sensei, not to be rude, but perhaps you can return to your lesson? I wish to hear how to defend my back from poisoned blade.

After all, not all of us wear thick armor like the crab.

NEXT I SHALL DO SCORPION AND MANTIS, I SIMPLY NEED TIME TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS, AND I MIGHT BE CALLED AWAY FOR A FEW HOURS SOON. IF THE THREAD IS GONE ON MY RETURN, I SHALL START A NEW ONE. IF IT IS STILL HERE, I WILL CONTINUE.

>>9985854

Indeed you did address how to fight us. In exactly the way we expect you to fight us. Every time. Either way, resume your ranting...

>>9985971

You are, to my knowledge (which is not as large as your's, being a bowman) the most ineloquent Crane ever.

You also smell.

ALRIGHT. THE SCORPION.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS A ROOKIE MISTAKE PEOPLE FIGHTING THE SCORPION MAKE OFTEN. LOOKING BACK, WE'VE MADE IT, THE CRANE HAVE MADE IT, THE CRAB HAVE MADE IT, AND EVEN THE UNICORN HAVE MADE IT. THAT IS, THEY UNDERESTIMATE THE SHIT OUT OF THE SCORPION, AND FRANKLY I AM CERTAIN THE SCORPION HAVE PLAYED IT UP TO THAT POINT. THE SCORPION ARE SUBTLE AND FAST IN COMBAT, LIKE THE CRANE. UNLIKE THE CRANE, THEY DO NOT HAVE A MASSIVELY INFLATED REPUTATION FOR COMBAT, NEITHER AS DUELISTS NOR AS YOJIMBO NOR AS SKILLED ON THE FIELD OF WAR. YET SOMEHOW, THEY HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE, SOMEHOW THEY WIN A LARGE SHARE OF DUELS. THE MARTIAL TRADITION OF THE SCORPION IS SHROUDED IN SHADOW, DELIBERATELY UNDERPLAYED, AND ONLY A FOOL WOULD TAKE THEM FOR A WEAK CLAN.

>>9985971
Now look here. I know you fancy yourselves the masters of dirty fighting and all that, but no need to be arrogant about it.

I mean, everyone knows we're better at it than you. Obviously it's nothing to boast about, right?

NOW NOBODY UNDERESTIMATES INDIVIDUAL SCORPION, ONE ON ONE SCORPION ARE CONSIDERED RATHER SCARY, BUT ON THE FIELD THERE IS LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY ARE GOOD AT.

I READ AN AMUSING ACCOUNT OF A LONG-AGO CRANE ATTACK ON SCORPION LANDS, THE COMMANDING OFFICER SENDING LETTERS HOME BOASTING TO HIS SUPERIORS OF THE CASTLES HE TOOK, THE LORD HE SLEW, AND THE WIDOW HE FORCED TO BED HIM IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LIVES OF HER SONS. WHEN EVEN THE CRANE VIEW THEMSELVES AS MILITARILY SUPERIOR TO YOU, YOU KNOW DECEPTION IS AFOOT. OF COURSE, SHE BETRAYED HIM, AND AFTER CONSTANTLY BEGGING FOR HER SONS' LIVES AND CONVINCING HIM TO LET HER ENTER ANOTHER SCORPION FORTRESS TO NEGOTIATE WHILE HE KEPT HER CHILDREN HOSTAGE...SHE ORDERED THE TROOPS INSIDE TO FIRE ON THE UNPREPARED CRANE TROOPS, KILLING MANY, INCLUDING HER OWN SONS. THE SCORPION ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE ALMOST ANYTHING, AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE DANGEROUS. ABOVE ALL, FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THEY WANT, SPECIFICALLY. WHEN YOU KNOW THAT, YOU HAVE GRABBED THE SNAKE BEHIND ITS HEAD, AND ALL OF ITS WRIGGLING TAIL WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO STRIKE YOU.

BUT THE STORY HAS ANOTHER MORAL, ONE I EXPRESSED EARLIER. DO NOT FUCK THE WOMEN OF A CLAN YOU ARE AT WAR WITH. EVER. AS DISTASTEFUL AS THE ACT OF COERCING HER INTO BED IS, THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE EQUATION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, NAMELY THE FACT THAT SHE HATES YOU AND WILL USE THE CHANCE TO RUIN YOU SOMEHOW. IF YOU TRULY CANNOT KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF AVAILABLE WOMEN ON YOUR OWN SIDE, ASK ONE OF THEM TO KEEP YOU COMPANY.

THE SCORPION, IN SOME WAYS, REMIND ME OF THE LION. IT IS AN EERIE THING, BUT THEY ARE GENERALISTS, GRANTED GENERALISTS WITH A BENT FOR SPEED AND UNDERHANDED PRECISION. THEY ARE SKILLED IN MANEUVERING AND TACTICS, BUT WHAT IS UTTERLY BEDEVILING ABOUT THEM IS THEIR PENCHANT FOR THINGS YOU DON'T EXPECT.

ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG, WILL GO WRONG. FOOD WILL GO SUDDENLY, INEXPLICABLY BAD, AND IF YOU TRY TO LIVE OFF THE LAND, THE FOOD YOU SEIZE WILL INVARIABLY BE POISONED. GAME WILL VANISH FROM THE FORESTS ALMOST OVERNIGHT. EVEN TERRAIN WILL CHANGE, A PASS YOU MIGHT BE SEARCHING FOR WILL SIMPLY...VANISH.

GUARD YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN WITH ABSOLUTE PARANOIA. MAKE SURE EVERY MEMBER OF A SQUADRON KNOWS EVERY OTHER MEMBER BY HEART. SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN. IF POSSIBLE, DO ALL OF YOUR OWN LAUNDRY YOURSELF...THOSE STORIES ABOUT A MAN LYING DOWN TO FIND A POISONED NEEDLE IN HIS FUTON ARE QUITE ACCURATE. NO CAMP FOLLOWERS, THE ONLY TIME YOUR ARMY SHOULD BE INTERACTING WITH ANYONE YOU DON'T KNOW, PEASANT OR SAMURAI OR MONK, IS ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE OR TURNING THEM OUT OF THEIR VILLAGES. HAVE YOUR MEN TRAVEL IN GROUPS. KEEP YOUR SHUGENJA ALERT, AND USE SCOUTS TO CHECK FOR TRAPS. ONE SOMEWHAT CRUEL STRATEGY I'VE HEARD IS TO ROUND UP CAPTURED VILLAGERS, DRESS THEM IN YOUR SPARE ARMOR, AND SEND THEM OUT ONTO THE FIELD FIRST AS AN EARLY WARNING AGAINST CALTROPS OR MORE FIENDISH CONTRAPTIONS. IT'S DISGUSTING AND DISHONORABLE, AND BEING FORCED TO SUCH THINGS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY FIGHTING THE SCORPION IS ANNOYING.

Here's how my first Legend of the 5 Rings session went:

"Okay create your character."
"Can I be a ninja."
"No you can't."
"Okay. Is it like a special class or something I can become down the road?"
"No, it's not."
"NPC class only, huh?"
"There are no ninjas in Rokugan."
"What?"
"There are NO KNOWN NINJAS in Rokugan."
"Let me get this straight: A fucking staple of the genre isn't in this game? Forget it, let's go back to D&D man."

>>9986173

>ABOVE ALL, FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THEY WANT, SPECIFICALLY. WHEN YOU KNOW THAT, YOU HAVE GRABBED THE SNAKE BEHIND ITS HEAD, AND ALL OF ITS WRIGGLING TAIL WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO STRIKE YOU.

This is by far the best advice in the thread. It's also a good example of why you should, if at all possible, conceal the entirety of what YOU want as long as you can.

>>9985971

WHEN IT STOPS WORKING, I'LL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. TELL ME, HOW DOES IT FEEL NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE KAKITA AND DOJI?

>>9986357

>No ninjas in Rokugan.

... it's like the creators added a built-in weeaboo filter to the game. My opinion of L5R just increased.

>>9986357

You should have used fingerquotes to get your point across. Playing as a shinobi who masquerades 90% of the time as just a rather average and unexceptional bushi was awesome.

>>9986403
But there are ninja.
They're called the Shosuro family.

>>9986393
>>9986393

>TELL ME, HOW DOES IT FEEL NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE KAKITA AND DOJI?

If L5R was real, there'd be a macro for this.

*pitiful attack*

"You are fucking weak.."

"LOL I SCORPION GAMBIT YOU"

>>9986357
That's correct. There are no known, acknowledged, documented ninja in Rokugan.

And you certainly can't be recruited into their non-existent ranks.

Because they don't exist. Stop asking about them.

-- Do you fucking want the Emperor to kill us? Shut the fuck up, dude. --

>>9986357
The reason is that it's a game focused very much on honour and bravery and similar, and the lack thereof is what made Ninjas what they were. You wanted to play a Scorpion clan Samurai, but your DM was too smart to let you.

>>9986357
There are ninjas, I'm pretty sure, you just can't normally play as one because it's a game about Samurai and their political maneuvering, not ninjas. There's even a family of the Scorpion clan that do incredibly ninja-like things, although they consider themselves simply incredibly devoted Samurai and would be incredibly angry at being called such.

>>9986408

>You should have used fingerquotes to get your point across.

Indeed. Or just said, "Listen, that shit is a myth. Like, you know, people still say the Air Force has a plane that can't be picked up on radar that always strikes in the dark of the night. Pure bullshit, the Air Force even says so."

>>9986403

The Scorpion do equip rookie assassin trainees as traditional ninja...it's viewed as a rite of passage. The ones who survive being, essentially, a distraction are allowed to graduate to being REAL assassins and infiltrators. See, the Scorpion VERY PUBLICLY outlawed all ninjas.

When "ninjas" are used, essentially it's the aforementioned rookies sneaking around on the rafters being a distraction and letting a few servants and such see them while the real assassin, masquerading as a geisha or a stableboy or a masseuse, stabs the target with a poisoned knife and makes their escape.

>>9986403
There are ninjas in Rokugan you colossal faggot.

The ninjas of Rokugan are so ninja, no one else can prove they exist.

Saying there aren't ninjas is like Luke's trying to kill Vader, for murdering his father.

Vader was Luke's father, it was just worded funny as an attempt at misdirection.

I know I am going to be scorpioned up the ass now, but I can't stand these anti-weaboo asshats.

Fuck you.

And the horse you rode in on.

I'm still not sure if this is a thread about a P&P game, or a Rance thread in disguise

>The reason is that it's a game focused very much on honour and bravery

Ninjas are the minmaxers, they have 0 in Honor and eleventy billion in Bravery.

'So first you climb up the side of this fortress with daggers, then sneak inside past the entire garrison and knife this dude, then sneak out. Oh, and if you're caught you'll be executed by having red-hot pokers jammed up your ass."

>>9986498
Not enough rape.

>>9986468

Being a weeaboo isn't the real problem, it's being a knuckle-dragging idiot AND a weeaboo (something that tends to be closely correlated, gee, I wonder why.) That DM's player group was too moronic to have the minimal grasp of subtlety to catch his blatant hint, which means that if they'd tried to play ninjas, they would have turned the game into POWAH RANGAHS.

>>9986500
haha do you think that's my real anus?

>>9986532

Now I need a drawing of SHOUTING MATSU ripping off Rance's head and punting it over the castle walls.

>>9986532

>>9986354
So, watch out and defend for Sabotage, don't fuck the women, try to find out what they're after or prevent them from finding out what your after (..which given the Scorpion is gonna be a pain in the ass), don't fuck the women, be ready to use unpleasant or nasty tactics, know as many people in the group as you can and most of all do not fuck Scorpion women.

>>9986551

okay, I LOL'ed.

>>9986547

This, or Naruto, or any other brand of flamboyant and showy 'ninjas' popularized by bad Anime.

I AM, AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, LEERY OF EVER FIGHTING SCORPION. SEE, THEY SEEM TO COME OFF SUSPICIOUSLY WELL SOMEHOW EVEN FROM WARS THEY LOSE, HENCE MY REMARK ABOUT FINDING OUT WHAT THEY WANT. IF POSSIBLE, FIGHT THEM ON LANDS THEY EITHER DO NOT OWN OR HAVEN'T HAD FOR LONG.

THE SCORPION ON THE FIELD, IN SOME WAYS, REMIND ME OF THE LION. IT IS AN EERIE THING, BUT THEY ARE GENERALISTS, GRANTED GENERALISTS WITH A BENT FOR SPEED AND UNDERHANDED PRECISION. THEY ARE SKILLED IN MANEUVERING AND TACTICS, BUT WHAT IS UTTERLY BEDEVILING ABOUT THEM IS THEIR PENCHANT FOR THINGS YOU DON'T EXPECT. THEY ARE NOT ESPECIALLY TOUGH, LIKE THE CRAB, AND THEY DO NOT HIT ESPECIALLY HARD IN THE MANNER THAT MATSU OR MOTO TROOPS DO. THEY HAVE BOTH ARCHERS AND SPEARMEN, BUT COMPARED TO US...THEIR NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL. A DEGREE OF PARANOIA IS STILL YOUR BEST FRIEND, AND WATCH OUT FOR CALTROPS. CALTROPS ARE A HORRIBLE THING TO HAVE TO CHARGE INTO. IF POSSIBLE, HIT FAST ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE LITTLE TIME TO PREPARE OR RESPOND, AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE FURTHERS -YOUR- OBJECTIVES, NOT THEIRS.

>>9986559

IN ROKUGAN....

How do you know when you've pissed off a scorpion?
I mean really, when you've foiled their plans and they've just got nothing. What are the signs?
Because they definitely can be fooled. There's no one who can't be.

>>9986559

YES. ALSO...DO. NOT. FUCK. THEIR. WOMEN. OR THEIR MEN. I SEE SOME OF THE MATSU GIRLS GETTING THAT 'HA HA DOESN'T APPLY TO US SURELY THEY WOULDN'T POISON THE DICKS OF THEIR MEN TOO' EXPRESSION. MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU REALLY THINK THE SCORPION WOULDN'T THINK OF THAT?

>>9986612
The Emperor.

>>9986578

>THEIR NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL. A DEGREE OF PARANOIA IS STILL YOUR BEST FRIEND, AND WATCH OUT FOR CALTROPS. CALTROPS ARE A HORRIBLE THING TO HAVE TO CHARGE INTO. IF POSSIBLE, HIT FAST ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE LITTLE TIME TO PREPARE OR RESPOND, AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE FURTHERS -YOUR- OBJECTIVES, NOT THEIRS.

In other words, maintain initiative, and force them to react to you, not the other way around.

This is indeed the #1 principle behind thwarting those who's strategy relies largely on pushing you to react the way they want.

>>9986638

DEATH TO THE FALSE EMPEROR!

CHAOS CONSUME US ALL!!

>>9986612

THEY LOOK ABSOLUTELY CALM AND IN CONTROL, AND TO ALL OUTWARD APPEARANCES ARE ACTING AS THOUGH THEY'VE WON. EXAMINE THE SITUATION REALISTICALLY, BY FACTS, RATHER THAN BY IMPRESSIONS. WHAT HAVE THEY GAINED? WHAT HAVE THEY LOST?

>>9986632

ON THAT NOTE, IF YOU'RE ALLIED WITH THE SCORPION...AND IT HAPPENS...IT IS PERFECTLY FINE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL LION GENERALS AND LORDS WHO HAVE MAINTAINED HAPPY MARRIAGES TO SCORPION BRIDES, AND EVEN DONE BETTER ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND IN COURT AS A RESULT. SCORPION ARE VERY, VERY LOYAL IF YOU'RE WORTHY OF IT, BUT ON THE WHOLE OUR TWO CLANS TEND TO BE SLIGHTLY UNEASY WITH EACH OTHER. THEY VIEW US AS USING DUTY AS AN EXCUSE, AND WE RIGHTLY DON'T TRUST THEM. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS. NEVER FORGET THAT THE SCORPION ARE PEOPLE. RUTHLESS PEOPLE, YES, BUT PEOPLE WITH EMOTIONS AND EVEN A FEW FRAILTIES.

>>9986646
>>9986559

YOU TWO SHOW GOOD POTENTIAL, AND THANK YOU FOR SUMMARIZING. I KNOW I TEND TO BE A BIT WORDY ONCE I GET GOING.

RIGHT, I NEED TO HEAD OUT FOR A BIT, I'LL BE BACK IN A WHILE. IF THE THREAD IS STILL ALIVE, I'LL KEEP GOING HERE. IF NOT, I'LL START A NEW ONE.

>>9986646
So, being Mantis.
Like with the Phoenix. Basically everything necessary to beat the Phoenix is something the Mantis specialize in, down to the yumi.

>>9986697
> THEY VIEW US AS USING DUTY AS AN EXCUSE,
You don't?

Someone archive this?

>>9986728

ABSOLUTELY. WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, WHY YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW CLANS THAT SEND THE PHOENIX INTO APOPLECTIC FITS OF RAGE.

For once we're in agreement.
I'll keep that in mind next time we visit your lands. I'll stea... er, borrow less than usual.

>>9986632
That is most foul, Matsu-sensei.

>>9986730
I wasn't aware it was a clan secret.

Just out here shelling your coast until we can talk to your emperor.

Thank you for the lecture. It was most informative for me, at least, despite what our somewhat hotheaded Crane friend may have believed. I will never understand the resistance some people have to learning what others consider the strengths of their clans, but then, I am no warrior. Perhaps it is the way battle heats the blood that causes men to believe themselves invulnerable. Perhaps it is a requirement.
Regardless, I thank you. Your suggestions were very interesting.

>>9986820
WAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

FER DA BOYZ!

>>9986730

YOU'RE MARRYING MY NEPHEW, GO ASK HIM.

I wish to be the mighty Crab girl.

>>9986783

YOU HAVEN'T READ THE DEATH REPORTS OF SOME OF OUR OFFICERS FOR THE PAST FEW CENTURIES.

>>9986885
FOR THE EMPEROR! DIE, SCUM!

>>9986847

"PRIDE KILLS MORE SWIFTLY THAN A BLADE". I BELIEVE IT WAS A MEMBER OF YOUR CLAN WHO SAID THAT, CORRECT?

>Perhaps it is the way battle heats the blood that causes men to believe themselves invulnerable.

HEH, NOT JUST MEN.

REGARDLESS, IT WAS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE, BAYUSHI-CHAN. I AM GLAD THAT YOU ENJOYED THE DISCUSSION.

I'LL SEE IF I CAN THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE FOR SCORPION, TAKE A BREAK, THEN DO MANTIS. ANYONE WANTS TO ARCHIVE THIS, BE MY GUEST.

>>9984794
Thanks for the ad SCRB. I look forward to this thread tonight.

And to the theme of this thread. The best way to fight a Lion is to trick him into exhausting himself on another target.

>>9986940
Blood is exactly what she wishes to become hot... on her blade, no doubt!

Perhaps you might enlighten us as to the nature of the Scorpion Clan's samurai warriors? Are they typically swordsmen, or spear-wielders? What do they actually bring to open battle?

Please tell me this is archived so I can read it later

I have to admit, sitting in the back and listening to this lecture's been very informative. I'm looking forward to the final part of the lecture being the Unicorn - it should prove rather entertaining.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/9981755/

So if you marry someone in another clan and your clans go to war afterward, what do you do?

>>9987797
Abstain. Attempt diplomacy. If such a thing is not possible, fight on the side of your current clan.

>>9987797
Pray for a love that stands the test.

>>9987241
They are capable duelists with katana if I remember right. Probably no match for a Crane, but then again, who is?
Oh yeah, Dragon. But nobody cares about them.

...
What? You say the Empress is a dragon?
Well that changes everything!

Their less savory elements, though, they like to use weapons like poison darts, shuriken and caltrops. I'm not insinuating a thing. In case you were wondering.

>>9987811
Huh? If you're going to war with them, you shouldn't have married her in the first place. Unless your intent is espionage.

Seriously. Who marries for love? Weddings are a political tactic.

>>9987797
When you marry into another clan you cease being a member of your old clan and start being a member of your spouse's clan. In most cases a new clan member is not given serious responsibilities in their new clan until they prove their loyalty.

In the case of war between your new clan and old clan you are expected to act as a proper member of your current clan and fight. Though being in that position does give you more diplomatic power and hopefully you can resolve the issue before you have to spill your the blood of your old clan.

>>9987797
You attempt diplomacy, but generally one of the spouses has already joined the other's Clan, so you fight for that Clan. Just watch out for old loyalties.

Sigh. All those Crane that think the harriers were the main thing the Crane used to survive their wars makes me rage so hard. Just puts down the Daidoji so much when they think gaijin pepper was the only thing that saved the Crane.

I personally think it's silly thinking a clan could be generally good at dueling and yet somehow not have at least a decent martial capability, save for one family. I mean, the Crane have been in a lot of defensive wars and done quite well for themselves, IIRC.

>>9988039
It's true. The Lion and Crane have warred throughout history. Despite the fact the Lion are the biggest, baddest military clans around the Crane have had their fair share of wins at times and taken cities from the Lion.

IIRC, the Daidoji make up the main part of their armies but the Kakita are involved as well for sure and I'm sure there are random Doji in the army as well.

>>9988039
The Crane have excellent swordsmen and armies, but you have to understand, when it comes to combat, there are better. The Lion, the Unicorn, the Crab. The Crane have other specialties besides warfare, and they exploit them.

I hear that the Crane have some skilled scouts. They're no Kitsune Clan, or family I guess I should say. But there's one strong point for them.

Plus, they're rich! No one likes commerce nearly as much as the Mantis save for the Crane. "For every army of soldiers there's another one of peasants and suppliers." That sort of stuff.

>>9988210
The Daidoji are definitely anal when it comes to scouting their territory. If I remember my lore right, they regularly send out scouts to map ALL of their land for any changes during the year and they have maps of their land constantly updated and even models set up for planning purposes during war. They're definitely very well prepared when it comes to defending their land.

>>9987241

THE SCORPION BUSHI ARE ACTUALLY SURPRISINGLY TRADITIONAL. BOW AND SWORD, BUT THEY DO FIELD SPEARS WHEN THE SITUATION WARRANTS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY SEEM ACCUSTOMED TO, THOUGH.

>>9988340
Shouting Matsu. Your affairs in order?

>>9988076

OVER THE COURSE OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THE CRANE HAVE TAKEN TERRITORY FROM US LESS THAN TEN TIMES, AND IN EACH CASE IT WAS SWIFTLY RECLAIMED. WE HAVE TAKEN THEIR TERRITORY FAR MORE FREQUENTLY, AND IF THEY MANAGED TO RETRIEVE IT IT WAS USUALLY THROUGH COURT.

>>9988359

ALWAYS. MANTIS IS UP NEXT.

>>9988398
Do you actually have a reference for how many times they've lost territory? I'm actually interested in general since I don't know too much about the Lion and Crane warring. Off the top of my head, I can only recall Toshi Ranbo being constantly fought over and switching sides during history and Shiro no Yorin. I can't recall any other major land grabs by the Lion or Crane.

Also, Daidoji 'The Shredder' Uji would like to have a word with you on court being the main method of their wins.

Hey hey, welcome back. I'm looking forward to your lecture on us, not like Mantis and Lion have fought much though. Any information would be useful though. You guys are rich after all, heheh.

When you crawl your way up from the bottom of the food chain, you tend to learn from your weaknesses. The best way to do that is to see how others look at your strategy.

That Daidoji could use a good whoopin'. See things through the eye of his enemy and whatnot.

>>9988482
Damn picture didn't save properly.

>>9988482

YEP, MASTERS OF WAR.

>>9988039
they have plenty of advantages in a war, just not offensive capability, their primary weapons are politics and economics and drawn out war against the crane is likely going to get you into trouble, as favors from other clans and economic sanctions restrict your progress. Worse case scenario has them bringing the word of the emperor against you.

>>9988524
Really? Damn, I didn't realize that book was that useful. I best pick it up then.

>>9988524
Matsu-sensei, please continue. Surely not just toss a coin at the ground? That seems too easy to befuddle the clan which eats their mate!

SO FAR, I'VE MOSTLY BEEN TELLING YOU THAT VICTORY IS POSSIBLE WITH THE RIGHT STRATEGY. FOR MANTIS, THAT STRATEGY IS A LOT MORE SIMPLE.

ARE YOU ON A BOAT? IF YES, THE MANTIS WILL WIN. ARE YOU ON LAND? IF SO, YOU WILL PROBABLY WIN. THEIR SHUGENJA ARE FAIRLY OFFENSIVE, NOT AS SUPPORTIVE AS OURS, THEIR ARCHERS ARE ABSOLUTELY DEADLY, AND THEIR BUSHI USE PEASANT WEAPONS. THIS IS THE SORT OF ENEMY YOU CHARGE IF POSSIBLE, DON'T LET YOURSELF EVER, EVER GET FUNNELED BETWEEN TWO UNITS OF TSURUCHI ARCHERS. KEEP A UNIT OF CAVALRY IN RESERVE TO HIT THEM QUICKLY.

TRY TO FIGHT ON TERRAIN THAT NEGATES THE ADVANTAGES OF ARCHERS. THE BEST ADVICE I WOULD NORMALLY GIVE FOR THIS WOULD BE ATTACKING DURING A RAINSTORM, BUT THEIR SHUGENJA KNOW SOME WEATHER CONTROL, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

THANKFULLY, THEIR ABSOLUTELY MURDEROUS ARCHERS ARE RATHER FEW IN NUMBER, BEING A FORMER MINOR CLAN. IN FACT, NUMBERS IN GENERAL ARE A PROBLEM FOR THE MANTIS. THE LARGER THE SCALE OF THE ENGAGEMENT, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO BE ABLE TO MATCH YOUR FORCES, AND WHILE WE HAVE A TON OF SPECIALTY UNITS WE CAN TRADE IN AND OUT, THEY CAN'T DO THE SAME...AT LEAST ON LAND. SO IN SUMMATION, FIGHTING THE MANTIS IS RELATIVELY EASY ON LAND, AND A COMPLETE FUCKING LOSS ON THE WATER. SERIOUSLY, DON'T FIGHT MANTIS ON THE WATER, IT'S SUICIDE ON PAR WITH ATTACKING A FORTIFIED CRAB CASTLE.

>>9988488
Mantis have and lion have few reasons to fight, besides perhaps minor family grudges, We also have awkardly matched military forces an island fortress with a great navy and excellent marines is going against the single best land army, that only has one major river and large ship. Any war that would be fought with mantis (I still see this as unlikely and costly to both sides) would likely be done with mantis skirmish forces that could be countered by drawing out and defeating with better equipped standard forces.

>>9988631

Forgive me for being a simple recruit, Matsu-sensei, but why is it so suicidal to commit to war on the waters with the Mantis?

>>9988651
Minor family grudges? Wasn't the formation of the Wasp a big slap in the face for the Lion and the Scorpion that a Crane Emerald Champion did in the past or is my lore-fu weak?

Also, minor family grudge and the Lion? Minor? Look at the enmity between the Kakita and the Matsu that has lasted the ENTIRE span of the empire. Grudges and the Lion are never minor.

Now, honorable Matsu-san, I see that you are a man who values victory and duty over all things, even when honor may demand otherwise... the Spider well understands and commends such tenacity. Surely there is no need for us to fight -- not that the Lion could ever stand a chance against our might -- and there can surely be a place for you in the heart of Shinomen Mori.

>>9988690
Because they have the best Navy, their shugenja are specialists in storm magic, and their archers are unmatched. All of that sounds like a recipe for getting your ass kicked on the waves.

>>9988631

HOW TO DEFEAT A MANTIS IN OPEN WAR: throw a coin on the ground or something.

>>9988699
Also you forget that "Kick around the Minor Clan" the Lion Clan's official sport.

>>9988718

But, the men of the Lion Clan will ALWAYS GARNER VICTORY IN THE END. After all, that is what we are born for.

>>9988714
I have a feeling the only women not worth bedding worse than the Scorpions are your's.

>>9988690
Excellent ranged offense and being masters of naval combat means that you forces will take a seriously heavy beating and be continually outmaneuvered before the even reach the opponent. When you do reach them, if at all, they excel ship conditions combat something that you and your men will be disadvantaged by.

>>9988690

THEIR SHUGENJA CAN THROW FIREBALLS, BOATS ARE MADE OF WOOD. THEIR SHUGENJA CAN CREATE STORMS, STORMS SINK SHIPS. THEIR ARCHERS ARE UNMATCHED, AND BOATS ARE A PERFECT WAY TO KEEP TWO FORCES AT RANGE. FINALLY, BECAUSE THE MANTIS HAVE THE BEST NAVY AND MORE EXPERIENCE THAN ANYONE ELSE AT SEA-FIGHTING. THEIR BUSHI CAN EASILY FIGHT AT FULL CAPACITY ATOP A HEAVING DECK.

Yeah, we're kinda popular with the minor clans. Our Moshi family used to be the Centipede clan. They don't like the Lion either. Yoritomo are kinda neutral on them.

>>9988792
FFFFFF- ABSORBING THE KITSUNE. So much rage AEG. So much rage.

>>9988781
Ah, all good reasons...

.... What of their women?

I'm kidding!... Maybe. Hey, we can't be all serious.

>>9987847

>The Empress is a Dragon you say?

FFFF NO

The Empress is the Empress. Upon becoming The Empress, Kitsuki Iweko stopped being a Dragon, a Kitsuki, even stopped being Kitsuki Iweko; she became Iweko I.

The Imperial line exists outside of the Clan system precisely so no one Clan can go "STFU BITCHES A LION IS ON THE THRONE THEREFORE WE WIN".

This doesn't STOP them from doing it, of course, but still..

>>9988690
The man at >>9988718 has the right of it. The Mantis are specially designed and focused to live and fight on the water. As a general fighting force, they're almost not worth the effort, unless you're fighting them on the coast or their islands, in which case you shouldn't be there in the first place. If you have to fight them on the water, ram them. Get to their ships as fast as you can and turn it into a boarding action - melee combat is your only option, and even then fighting a Mantis onboard his own ship is akin to fighting a mounted Unicorn, or trying to argue law with a Crane in the midst of the Imperial Court.

>>9988817
Actually blame the Mantis playerbase for that. During the race for the throne the Mantis were given a temptation that was absorbing the Fox clan. The Mantis players voted yes on the temptation.

BUT IF YOU SERIOUSLY WISH TO DEFEAT THE MANTIS, BRIBE THEM. THROW COINS ON THE GROUND OR SOMETHING. MANTIS ARE BLESSEDLY FREE OF SOME OF THE SHEER PRIDE OTHER GREAT CLANS HAVE, AND ARE OFTEN WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU RATHER THAN AGAINST YOU, MANY OF THE ANCIENT RIVALRIES HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO SPROUT WITH THEM YET, AND PERHAPS NEVER WILL, SINCE THE MANTIS DO BUSINESS WITH VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY.

>>9988714
>you are a man who values victory and duty over all things, even when honor may demand otherwise

WHEN MY LORD SAYS 'MAKE WAR UPON THE CRANE, CRUSH THEIR ARMIES, AND FLY THE BANNER OF THE LION FROM THEIR CASTLES', I OBEY, AND THERE IS HONOR IN DOING SO. DO NOT QUESTION MY HONOR OR CLAIM THAT A DEVOTION TO DUTY SOMEHOW LESSENS IT, HONOR IS THE STRENGTH AT THE HEART OF THE LION. I HAVE NEITHER PATIENCE FOR NOR INTEREST IN THE RAVINGS OF TAINTED AND TREACHEROUS FILTH.

>>9988755
>"Kick around the Minor Clan" the Lion Clan's official sport.

BEST GAME EVER.
And it is just that, a game, minor clans need to grow up about it, but unfortunately the mantis are no longer a minor clan, thus disqualifying them for the game.
>>9988699
Not as big or as recent as the formation of another minor clan made just to piss us lions off, besides old wounds heal.

>>9988847
I blame AEG more. Apparently, the way the temptation was worded made it sound like the Fox clan was going to be screwed if they said no. That made a lot of their players say yes since AEG was super vague and they didn't want to risk the Fox getting wiped out I believe.

Of course, part of me will still blame the Mantis players but I blame AEG for giving them that choice in the first place. The Fox were awesome because they told Yoritomo to screw off in the first place and now they basically came crawling back to the Mantis for help.

>>9988837

KUHAHAHA, I'M BEING BEATEN TO THESE POINTS, BUT YES. DO NOT EVER VOLUNTARILY FIGHT A MANTIS FLEET ON THE WATER. THEY HAVE THESE SNAKE-DRAGON THINGS THAT THEY CAN RIDE ACROSS THE WAVES, THEY HAVE BETTER BOATS AND BETTER CAPTAINS, IN SHORT FIGHTING THEM ON THE WATER IS A LOSING PROPOSITION, AND I'M HERE TO TEACH YOU HOW TO WIN, NOT LOSE.

>>9983543
It should probably be noted that accepting that form of duel while facing the crane, and saying 'now' will still get you killed.

>>9988858
Ask the Matsu if their wounds have healed yet over Kakita showing Matsu how it felt to be treated the way she was treating her opponents at the first Emerald Championship.

>>9988849
YOSH!

>>9988901
Also, a good Crane duelist wouldn't challenge you. He'd insult you/your ancestors/your honour enough that it'd force YOU to challenge him so it has to be an iaijutsu duel and then you're done.

>>9988817
Isn't that why the Lion have delicious catboys?

>>9988919
That's just dishonorable.

Teacher, what about the Unicorns? I'm no tactician like you, but I've heard their only gimmick is unmatched cavalry. Does that mean that archers destroy them?

You also haven't discussed the Lion clan, either.

>>9988932
GTFO.

>>9988884
My apologies, Shouting Matsu. I do not mean to intrude on your class. The eagerness of your trainees brought out my own eagerness to teach, but I forget my place as a guest. Please, continue.

>>9988945

I second his opinions.

>>9988935
That was a simplification but the Crane would be wordy enough to do that without being dishonorable in the process. The Crane haven't made it as far as they have in the empire by challenging the Lion to duels. They're good at getting others to challenge them.

>>9988919

TELL HIM YOU CANNOT HEAR HIS TINY VOICE, AND ASK HIM POLITELY TO SPEAK UP. CRANES DO TRY TO USE THE STRATEGY YOU MENTIONED, BUT THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AT PROVOKING MEMBERS OF OTHER CLANS AS CERTAIN OTHER CLANS ARE AT PROVOKING THE CRANE. THE DRAGON MAKE THE CRANE RAGE BY BEING EVERY BIT AS GOOD AT DUELING WHILE STILL BEING VERY, VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE IN STRAIGHT-UP COMBAT. THE SCORPION MAKE THE CRANE RAGE BY BEING SCORPION. WE OF THE LION, WELL, I BELIEVE "MAKE TODAY MISERABLE FOR THE CRANE" HAS BEEN OUR CLAN MOTTO FOR SOME TIME.

No one is honorable.
Everyone is Tainted.

>>9988901

A GOOD BERSERKER CAN STILL CUT A CRANE IN HALF WITH KENJUTSU. PERSONALLY, I ALSO LIKE TO USE "NOW" AS A SIGNAL-WORD TO THE ARCHERS.

>>9988972
That'll only work so far. Depending on what's said, you'd be dishonorable to ignore it. Which is why I love this world. Both tactics can work depending on how they are done.

And I have seen the Crane provoke the Dragon a lot better than the Dragon provoke the Crane. At least in my RPG session... Oh that poor Mirumoto. As well, you can't make the Crane miserable. You guys have been best buddys with them for quite awhile.

Screaming Matsu, purely as a training exercise... why not instruct your cadets in the tactics effective against us noble Lions?

>>9988972
We have many mottos, do we not, Matsu-sensei? Like, "Making the Crane Clan miserable, all day, every day." And, "Wanting that woman, but not wanting the knife in the back."

>>9988945
Unicorn are masters of the open field with superior cavalry of all types. simply bringing archers alone won't work, archer in combination with spear walls, fortifications and other anti-horsemen tactics. Terrain is also extremely important and can win the battle, a battle in woods negates the horses speed, and lessens his maneuverability, rocky crags may be inaccessible to horses all together.

>>9989015

IT VARIES. ANYWAY, I BELIEVE I HAVE ONE CLAN LEFT TO DISCUSS. FIRST, THOUGH...A POINT TO ADDRESS.

I REALIZE WHAT I AM SAYING WILL MAKE ME FEW FRIENDS. I HAVE FREQUENTLY DISCUSSED THE FOLLIES OF OTHER CLANS, BROUGHT UP THEIR WEAKNESSES, AND POTENTIALLY SHAMED THEM TO A DEGREE. HOWEVER, A POINT TO ADDRESS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE ARE TACTICS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE AGAINST OTHER CLANS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO WIN. IN FACT, EVEN DOING PRECISELY AS I HAVE TOLD YOU, YOU MIGHT HAVE NO CHANCE OF WINNING, SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU ARE FACING A MORE EXPERIENCED OR MORE TALENTED COMMANDER, OUTNUMBERED, OR SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU OR SOMEONE ON THE CHAIN OF COMMAND MADE A MISTAKE. KEEP THAT IN MIND, TAKE INITIATIVE, KEEP ON YOUR TOES AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, THINK RATIONALLY. WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE, WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF YOUR OPPONENT, AND HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE YOURS WHILE DENYING THEIRS?

Sh-shouting Matsu s-sensei, will you p-please g-give us a lesson on th-the proper use of healers on the b-battlefield?

>>9989048
He already promised us this. i would be utterly unsurprised if this thread hit autosage before it happened.

>>9989108
All the same answer,

KILLING THEM.

THE UNICORN. THE UNICORN ARE CURRENTLY RULED BY A FAMILY KNOWN AS THE MOTO, DESCENDENTS OF GAIJIN BARBARIANS WHO WIELD HUGE, CURVED SWORDS AND SERVE A KHAN, WHICH IS LIKE A MORE MARTIAL DAIMYO. NOW, IN MANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, I HAVE FOCUSED EXTENSIVELY ON THE SPEED AND MOBILITY OF THE LION CLAN. I WILL NOT DO SO HERE, BECAUSE IN THIS AREA THE UNICORN SURPASS US. THE UNICORN HORSES ABSOLUTELY DWARF THOSE OF OUR EMPIRE, ESPECIALLY THE GIGANTIC STEEDS OF THE UTAKU. UNICORN WARRIORS RIDE AS THOUGH BORN IN THE SADDLE, AS IF THEY CAN SEE INTO THE MINDS OF THEIR MOUNTS, AND EVEN THEIR SHUGENJA EXCEL AT TRAVEL SPELLS. IF YOU HAVE SUPPLY LINES, THEY WILL CUT THEM. IF YOU MARCH, THEY WILL HARASS YOUR FLANKS AND CHEW OFF PIECES OF YOU. THEY ARE AN ENJOYABLE CHALLENGE.

TO DEFEAT THE UNICORN, MAKE MOBILITY USELESS. SEIZE TERRITORY, FORTIFY IT, AND CONTROL IT. CLAIMS PATHS AND PASSES THAT THEY NEED TO TRAVEL THROUGH AN AREA. FIGHT IN FORESTLANDS WHERE CAVALRY IS WORTHLESS AND A LARGE HORSE IS A DISADVANTAGE. BUNKER DOWN, IF POSSIBLE, BECAUSE A SIEGE GOES AGAINST MUCH OF THE UNICORN MENTALITY. UNICORN DO NOT TYPICALLY FORM SUPPLY LINES, AND SEEM TO PREFER LIVING OFF THE LAND. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, BURN YOUR OWN FIELDS IF NECESSARY TO DENY THEM FOOD. SCORCH THE EARTH. THIS IS YET ANOTHER REASON TO ENSURE YOUR FORTRESSES ARE ALWAYS WELL-STOCKED. A STARVING ENEMY IS A DEFEATED ENEMY. ONE MORE TACTIC THAT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME ONCE AND I LIKE THE SOUND OF. NOISEMAKERS, A SORT OF HIGH-PITCHED FLUTE OR RATTLING METAL PLATES ATTACHED TO BANNERS TO SPOOK THEIR HORSES. I HAVE YET TO TRY IT, BUT IT SOUNDS PROMISING.

>>9989140
Killing is not always the answer, remember that all samurai serve the Emperor and thus the same master. As such you best have a damn good reason for killing your Lord's Lord's vassals.

>>9989129

PERHAPS JUST A SUMMARY FOR TODAY, BUT ON THE BACK LINES, KEPT AWAY FROM THE FIGHTING.

>>9989129

Obviously in my tent, little flower, to tend the wounded when I return.

>>9989206
Whoa really? Scorched earth? Unless you're fighting something that threatens the empire on a whole, isn't that a big no-no since you're destroying the Emperor's property? Sure it may be Lion/Unicorn land but you're doing it on behalf of the Emperor. It's still HIS land when it comes down to it... The courtiers would have a fun time with with that, wouldn't they?

>>9989048
A lion army has the best foundations, the best core troops and the best leadership. However all of us lions have one core weakness, that little voice in your head, pushing you to glory in battle? It's a choir of ancestor spirits screaming in his ear. No lion will turn away at the chance to win glory on the field, and that is his weakness, the second he drops the over-arcing plan for the immediate glory and bloodlust he has been defeated. It varies with all lions but all with gamble something of glory, change the stakes into win the battle at the cost of the war. If you get your enemies reinforcements to go glory-hunting, they cannot be at the battle can they? Also Lion clan has never been one to shirk the blame or to accept failure in our own clan lightly, if we realize that an overzealous lion has cost us the battle he likely will throw himself on his sword or join the deathseekers.

>>9989206
>NOISEMAKERS
Such things might work on normal horses, but Unicorn steeds grow up with clanging noises to accustom them to the din of battle. Also one thing you may have overlooked, don't try and trick the Unicorn with a fancy formation or maneuver, the Shinjo and Moto tactical schools are nearly equal to those of the Akodo and Ikoma so they are unlikely to fall for such tricks.

Also the last words of many a warrior have been "Cut down her horse, the Utaku is useless without it." All that leaves you with is a very pissed off Utaku who is going to have as much focused rage as any Matsu.

FURTHERMORE, TRAPS. DIG PITS, LOOSEN THE EARTH IN LONG-GRASSED FIELDS TO CAUSE THEIR HORSES TO STUMBLE, SCATTER CALTROPS. THE PITS DO NOT NEED TO BE LARGE, JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE A HORSE TRIP AND STUMBLE. SET ROWS OF SHARPENED STAKES POINTING AT THE ENEMY, AT LEAST THREE ROWS AT VARIOUS HEIGHTS, SPACED SO THAT THEY CANNOT DODGE BETWEEN OR SIMPLY LEAP OVER THEM. USE A SPEAR BLOCK FORMATION AND ARCHERS. AIM FOR THE HORSES. I'M PLEASED TO SEE OTHER LION CLAN MEMBERS HERE, OFFERING TACTICAL ADVICE AS WELL.

>>9989210
I would imagine if the Emperor didn't want us warring in the first place, we wouldn't be warring.

Thus, we wish to kill them, they wish to kill us, and to keep them from killing us, WE WILL KILL THEM.

Granted, that is a generalization, but sugarcoating it like that is DISHONORABLE.

>>9989313

A PISSED-OFF UTAKU SHIOTOME WITH A HURT LEG FROM FALLING FROM HER HORSE IS LESS OF A THREAT THAN AN INTACT, BATTLE-DRUNK UTAKU SHIOTOME WITH BOTH OF HER LEGS IN PERFECT CONDITION.

>>9989335

Battle rage is just that, a rage. Thinking clearly has been the victor of many a battle versus a berserker... Which is strange to say, considering I wish to join the Lion Clan's ranks.

>>9988817
Hey. They get along fine as a part of us.
Seriously, would you rather be treated as cannon fodder, or as equals? Of course, nothing in this world is free, hah ha.

Thank you Matsu. The one thing all Mantis families wish is to have more holdings on the mainland. Ships are useful for putting our logistics wherever we want 'em, but the fact is the Spice and Silk Islands can only churn out so many bushi. That tends to make us a bit... opportunistic, in the case of the Scorpion and Phoenix.

>>9989313

INDEED? THAT IS INTERESTING NEWS, THANK YOU. I DID KNOW THAT ABOUT THEIR TACTICIANS, WHICH I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS.

THE BEST TACTICS ARE SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL. THE MORE COMPLICATED SOMETHING IS, THE MORE LIKELY TO FALL APART. FANCY TRICKS LOOK NICE AND ALL, BUT IT'S EASY TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF 'IT LOOKS NICE, SO IT MUST BE WORTHWHILE', WHICH IS THE MISTAKE THE CRANE OFTEN MAKE.


>>9989245

FIELDS GROW BACK, AND THERE ARE ALWAYS LOSSES IN WAR. DO YOU REALLY THINK THE UNICORN WOULD GIVE THE FOOD THEY PILLAGE TO THE EMPEROR?

How about the Monkey? I know they are a minor clan, just curious.

>>9989322
Something that a lot of people won't think of is to not just jam a spike in the trap and call it a day. Put it in angled downward, but very firmly anchored, so that it will cut up their leg as it goes in, and then will tear muscle and tendon as it comes out.

>>9989364
you forget the Akodo, the Ikoma, and the Kitsu families all families with significant tactical experience and decorated histories of outthinking the opponent. You would be wise to do so yourself if you wish to join their ranks.

>>9989419

You know, I have to wonder why so many other clans are drawn to Matsu-sensei's simple learnings. Would you hazard a guess?

>>9989419
Isawa, you seem to have found a new passion for the battlefield. Perhaps it has replacing less... highly regarded interests?

Do clans ever fight themselves? Are there ever Lion-on-Lion battles?

>>9989322
Defense is something the Unicorn are more capable of than you might think, Matsu. May I add a corollary to your statements? You have to get to your defensive positions and passes and such first before we do, and if we can catch you, even part of your troops, disorganized or out of position, you won't be seeing them any longer. I've seen more infantry caught out of position on deadly ground with a superior calvary force bearing down on them than I can count calves in the Unicorn stables. Should we decide that, after the initial assault, that we should consolidate our gains, well.. I think even Honorable Shouting-sensei would agree that it's a difficult battle to pry the Unicorn out.

>>9989482
Knowledge of strategy is knowledge all the same, and collecting knowledge is what an Isawa does, no matter what type!

>>9989432

Forgive me, I am young still, in both ways of war, and thought.

New thread?

>>9989496
that is true, a unicorn force hits likes a ton of bricks, suddenly and very powerfully. They also are tough enough to keep what they hold. Therefore there is two strategies, keep your strong forces entrenched to the unicorn and deny them the chance to hold by virtue of being unable to take the area in the first place, a crashing of waves on rock if you will. The other tactic is both risky and foolish, only fueled by desperation. The Horsemen must be countered by a sudden and immediate offense, their superior mobility will lend themselves to withdrawing and regrouping. In this window of opportunity you must seize the defensible position and hold it against the inevitable counterattack.

>>9989496

ASSUMING YOU'D HAVE THE SURPRISE ATTACK? I SUPPOSE THAT IS FAIR. HOWEVER, LION TROOPS BEING DISORGANIZED AND OUT OF POSITION IS UNLIKELY, GIVEN THAT BEING ORGANIZED AND WELL-POSITIONED IS SOMETHING OF OUR SHTICK. EVEN IF YOU KILL THE LEADER, THE UNIT WILL OFTEN CONTINUE THE PLAN WITHOUT PAUSE. NOT TO MENTION, THE LION ACTUALLY PRACTICE ANTI-CAVALRY TECHNIQUES, AND EVEN OUT OF POSITION CAN FORM A PROPER SPEAR WALL. AS FOR DEFENSES, IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT DEFENSE IS NOT A STRONG SUIT OF THE UNICORN, AT LEAST NOT TO THAT EXTENT.

NEW THREAD, GOING UP.

>>9989734

Matsu-sensei, I know this is strange coming from me, but did not a great thinker once say "Use your opponent's momentum against him?" Surely if what the Unicorn are most good at is mounted charge, is there not a way to turn such a large animal and rider into a target within the air, or on the ground?

>>9989783

USING MOMENTUM AGAINST HIM IS ACCOMPLISHED BY BREAKING HIS CHARGE AGAINST THE STAKES AND SPEARS, AND WITH CALTROPS OR TRAPS. LION BATTLEFIELD ENGINEERS ARE BETTER THAN UNICORN BATTLEFIELD ENGINEERS, USE THAT.

>>9989821

Not quite what I meant, but I suppose that is the easiest and best way to reach the same end. Domo!

Where's dis new thread then?

>>9989880
same here i don't see it...

>>9989496
Don't toot your own horn too much Moto. We may be bros and all, but the chief advantage of cavalry is useless when your own headquarters is mobile. Defensively, you also have to feed your horses in addition to men. It would be easier to starve you out than most. So long as they corner you in a place that sucks for cavalry movement.

>>9989880
>>9989969
>>9989880
>>9989989
>>9990003

PART II IS HERE >>9990029

>>9990003