My take is: A duel is not like a fight, you have this trained warrior, adept in the methods of violence and they are now focused entirely on you, nothing else exists in the world at this time but you and him. When you realize that, any mistake becomes lethal, especially going in half-cocked. Which is why I would rule that any duelist's first Strike at a non-compromised opponent makes them take strife equal to the opponent's focus. This means that duels are closer to what they were in previous editions, rather than initiative contests as they are now (kinda, I know there's more to it, but you know what I mean). As for Iaijutsu specifically, I rule that the blades stay in their sheaths until they are used to strike. If you dra a blade in a iaijutsu duel, you are Striking.
In response to your idea that you can’t use the Strike action in an Iaijutsu duel,that makes a lot of sense, but for my group I allow a character in Water stance to use their extra action to draw their blade with the Ready action and their main action to take the strike action or use another technique. It does make Water stance really OP for characters who want to end a duel quickly, but our group’s duelist is a Mirumoto Taoist Blade so Water is sort of his default stance.
Nice video. I too play traditional Iaijutsu duels as single strike... drawn and strike in one action.. not draw then strike.. not keep striking till you fatigue them out.. you draw you strike.. so unless you know Iaijustu kata.. your not drawing and striking in one turn, unless in water stance; BUT your Iaijutsu is not helping you hit till you final strike as Iaijutsu strike cant use opportunities to crit.. Earth stance defends against water stance crits though (making predict very strong). Now just swinging and causing fatigue is not a strike, so if you dont get your 2 opportunities you swing and miss... unlucky you lose.. unless your opponent also misses.. but now they are free to strife you out and hit you when they are comfortably good and ready. As someone else bought up the finishing blow does not allow water stance.. so you better know your iaijutsu.. because now is the only time your iaijutsu strike can crit landing an actual strike on the target.. a rather devastating strike at that... Disclaimer.. even if your opponent strikes and misses earlier.. if you strife out they would technically still beable to finishing blow you as they are still in the duel with weapon ready.. it would be dishonorable but for some clans honor is secondary to the objective.
now my idea for a duel change was to give players a free predict before the battle starts to make it more tactical, i like the idea first blow only only finishign blow duels but i feel it would remove a lot of viable tactics, like using techniques to do a crit. i might do a playtest and see how it turns out.
I have a lot of thoughts and questions about Iaijutsu Dueling. From a Rokugan lore perspective I agree with you, and it makes both Predict and Center more useful options. However, it means only Strife management and Iaijutsu kata viable. Finishing blow only allows for and attack action not a full turn so the Water stance draw and attack doesn't work. This severely limits who has any chance in a Iaijutsu duel. Also, what happens when a finishing blow fails to meet the victory condition? Does the duel end once both characters have attempted a finishing blow? Does that mean that if the first character fails to meet the victory condition he has to just suck it up and take a finishing blow from his opponent when it happens since he has already attempted his draw and single strike? On the other side, rules as written Fatigue management is also important and more techniques become viable especially things like Heart Piercing Strike and Flashing Steel Strike. Plus a character who has attempted a finishing blow still has a chance in the duel. However, Predict and Center are not ideal options in this type of duel since just attack to wear down fatigue and possibly get a critical strike is a better option. Finally, most duels in movies are multi-strike affairs because it is more dramatic than a single strike duel. I haven't read any of the L5R fiction. Can anyone point me in the direction of ones that have Iaijutsu Dueling? Really, I wish there were more examples of Iaijutsu dueling from this game on TH-cam, or are there and I just haven't found them yet. If so can someone point me in that direction, as well?
Hi! I've been running L5R games since 3rd edition, so I hope this helps: - In previous editions, if both combatants make their initial strikes and neither meets victory conditions, they move into a skirmish. Since duels in 5e have been modified to allow multiple strikes, a non-resolving first strike moves the characters into a warriors duel, IMO. Do remember that most battlefield duels would be warriors duels and that most juditial duels would be iaijutsu duels (to first blood), as would most sports duels (like the Topaz Championship or the Emerald Championship). - I can't quite point to specific L5R fiction, but I can give you a relevant real life example: Miyamoto Musashi, author of the Book of Five Rings and a huge influence on this game, slew swordmaster Sasaki Kojiro in one strike. Given, his weapon was a large oar and he drew it from the water, but still. Interestingly, he did this after enraging Kojiro by being late to the duel, which tracks with the whole strife management angle.
@@martthesling No. Bonus successes normally increase damage i.e. the fatigue a character takes. Finishing Blow is unique in that it allows you to add bonus successes to your critical strike's severity.
@@DeadUnicornLive I'm gonna try your off the books where you have to use a finishing blow. It's gonna change the duel for the better. because it seems players just strike the first chance they get....
I think finishing blows are an exception to that rule. Or maybe not. Would you be in a iaijutsu duel without being trained in any Iaijutsu kata? The Dragon and Crane duelists get them in their curriculums, and they are the mos duely duelists in the Empire.
Unless you have an Iajutsu kata that allows you to draw and attack, you're on the money as far as RaW. It's why I don't use RaW in many cases for this addition.
My take is: A duel is not like a fight, you have this trained warrior, adept in the methods of violence and they are now focused entirely on you, nothing else exists in the world at this time but you and him. When you realize that, any mistake becomes lethal, especially going in half-cocked. Which is why I would rule that any duelist's first Strike at a non-compromised opponent makes them take strife equal to the opponent's focus. This means that duels are closer to what they were in previous editions, rather than initiative contests as they are now (kinda, I know there's more to it, but you know what I mean).
As for Iaijutsu specifically, I rule that the blades stay in their sheaths until they are used to strike. If you dra a blade in a iaijutsu duel, you are Striking.
I really appreciate all of these videos! They are a huge help. You taught me how to play this game!
In response to your idea that you can’t use the Strike action in an Iaijutsu duel,that makes a lot of sense, but for my group I allow a character in Water stance to use their extra action to draw their blade with the Ready action and their main action to take the strike action or use another technique. It does make Water stance really OP for characters who want to end a duel quickly, but our group’s duelist is a Mirumoto Taoist Blade so Water is sort of his default stance.
Was beginning to miss these! Thanks and keep up the good work!
These videos have been really helpful for me while running a long-term campaign. Glad to see you back with them!
Allowing a strike only during a finishing blow does change the dynamic of the duel.
These videos are immensely helpful as a new GM and new to L5R. Please keep them coming!!
Nice video. I too play traditional Iaijutsu duels as single strike... drawn and strike in one action.. not draw then strike.. not keep striking till you fatigue them out.. you draw you strike.. so unless you know Iaijustu kata.. your not drawing and striking in one turn, unless in water stance; BUT your Iaijutsu is not helping you hit till you final strike as Iaijutsu strike cant use opportunities to crit.. Earth stance defends against water stance crits though (making predict very strong). Now just swinging and causing fatigue is not a strike, so if you dont get your 2 opportunities you swing and miss... unlucky you lose.. unless your opponent also misses.. but now they are free to strife you out and hit you when they are comfortably good and ready.
As someone else bought up the finishing blow does not allow water stance.. so you better know your iaijutsu.. because now is the only time your iaijutsu strike can crit landing an actual strike on the target.. a rather devastating strike at that... Disclaimer.. even if your opponent strikes and misses earlier.. if you strife out they would technically still beable to finishing blow you as they are still in the duel with weapon ready.. it would be dishonorable but for some clans honor is secondary to the objective.
now my idea for a duel change was to give players a free predict before the battle starts to make it more tactical, i like the idea first blow only only finishign blow duels but i feel it would remove a lot of viable tactics, like using techniques to do a crit. i might do a playtest and see how it turns out.
Great Video, thank you very much! Iaido as in iaijutsu is spelled [ɪˈa͡ɪdə͡ʊ]
I have a lot of thoughts and questions about Iaijutsu Dueling. From a Rokugan lore perspective I agree with you, and it makes both Predict and Center more useful options. However, it means only Strife management and Iaijutsu kata viable. Finishing blow only allows for and attack action not a full turn so the Water stance draw and attack doesn't work. This severely limits who has any chance in a Iaijutsu duel. Also, what happens when a finishing blow fails to meet the victory condition? Does the duel end once both characters have attempted a finishing blow? Does that mean that if the first character fails to meet the victory condition he has to just suck it up and take a finishing blow from his opponent when it happens since he has already attempted his draw and single strike?
On the other side, rules as written Fatigue management is also important and more techniques become viable especially things like Heart Piercing Strike and Flashing Steel Strike. Plus a character who has attempted a finishing blow still has a chance in the duel. However, Predict and Center are not ideal options in this type of duel since just attack to wear down fatigue and possibly get a critical strike is a better option.
Finally, most duels in movies are multi-strike affairs because it is more dramatic than a single strike duel. I haven't read any of the L5R fiction. Can anyone point me in the direction of ones that have Iaijutsu Dueling? Really, I wish there were more examples of Iaijutsu dueling from this game on TH-cam, or are there and I just haven't found them yet. If so can someone point me in that direction, as well?
Hi! I've been running L5R games since 3rd edition, so I hope this helps:
- In previous editions, if both combatants make their initial strikes and neither meets victory conditions, they move into a skirmish. Since duels in 5e have been modified to allow multiple strikes, a non-resolving first strike moves the characters into a warriors duel, IMO. Do remember that most battlefield duels would be warriors duels and that most juditial duels would be iaijutsu duels (to first blood), as would most sports duels (like the Topaz Championship or the Emerald Championship).
- I can't quite point to specific L5R fiction, but I can give you a relevant real life example: Miyamoto Musashi, author of the Book of Five Rings and a huge influence on this game, slew swordmaster Sasaki Kojiro in one strike. Given, his weapon was a large oar and he drew it from the water, but still. Interestingly, he did this after enraging Kojiro by being late to the duel, which tracks with the whole strife management angle.
I liked the video , i sas wondering when is the skirmish one ?
Me too!
I thought you had to use opportunities to increase deadlines and not bonus successes.
Opportunities cannot increase deadliness or severity unless 1. The weapon is razor edged or 2. A technique allows it like striking as fire.
@@DeadUnicornClub gotcha. But generally, can bonus successes contribute to a weapons deadlines? Thank you.
@@martthesling No. Bonus successes normally increase damage i.e. the fatigue a character takes. Finishing Blow is unique in that it allows you to add bonus successes to your critical strike's severity.
@@DeadUnicornLive Oh, I didn't see that in the rules. I will look for it. Thank you😊
@@DeadUnicornLive I'm gonna try your off the books where you have to use a finishing blow. It's gonna change the duel for the better. because it seems players just strike the first chance they get....
wait, but if i can't draw and attack in a single turn, then my finishing blow in an iaijutsu duel defaults to a punch? that doesn't sound right
I think finishing blows are an exception to that rule. Or maybe not. Would you be in a iaijutsu duel without being trained in any Iaijutsu kata? The Dragon and Crane duelists get them in their curriculums, and they are the mos duely duelists in the Empire.
Unless you have an Iajutsu kata that allows you to draw and attack, you're on the money as far as RaW. It's why I don't use RaW in many cases for this addition.
I beg for an economy guide!