A few questions

[CosmicCowboy]

Howdy. I'm on my second attempt to make use of Burning Wheel. I love the concepts behind the system and really want to make the game work. Blossoms is the perfect setting for kicking this off, I think, and wanted to get some input. Some of these questions are probably pretty basic, and some are probably things I missed in my readings, so be kind. :)

1. The book mentions taking lifepaths multiple times for higher ranks. Are the still subject to the rule of diminishing returns?

2. Magic seems very low key. Am I missing something, or is magic just not a big part of the setting? That being said, would it not be a simple matter to drop the Faith rules in?

3. How would I go about burning a Shinobi?

That is all for now, but I'll likely think of more. Thanks. :)

[luke]

1. Yes.

2. Magic is low key. Of course, Shinto priests can call down hurricanes. Of course, I'm going to advise you to play the game as written, but you can do whatever you want. Faith is definitely going to shift the power dynamics set up in the game.

3. Yamabushi are what you're after. There are no ninja in this period.

[CosmicCowboy]

1. Yes.

I suspected that would be the case. Follow the normal rules unless specifically noted, eh?

2. Magic is low key. Of course, Shinto priests can call down hurricanes. Of course, I'm going to advise you to play the game as written, but you can do whatever you want. Faith is definitely going to shift the power dynamics set up in the game.

Ah, you are quite correct on that. I had forgotten that. I clearly need to reread that section.

3. Yamabushi are what you're after. There are no ninja in this period.

Cool, that sounds good. I'm not necessarily looking for ninja, that was just the closest analogy I could think of at the time.

Do you still recommend 4 lifepaths as a good starting level?

[luke]

Number of lifepaths? 4 works pretty well in this setting, especially for warriors and courtiers. But if you're playing a high-powered game, then you definitely want to take more.

[Brand_Robins]

Number of lifepaths? 4 works pretty well in this setting, especially for warriors and courtiers. But if you're playing a high-powered game, then you definitely want to take more.

Six seems to be the sweet spot for my group, who've a moderately high powered tone.

[CosmicCowboy]

Ok, time for the next question.

The Buke trait grants a free 1D (15 point) clan affiliation. Does the clan affiliation only cost 15 points regardless of clan size? Thanks.

So far the game is looking to shape up pretty well. Characters are a Buddhist healer, a Yamabushi with wavering loyalties, and a Bushi Captain with very strong loyalties to the clan leader. The clan has had mixed relations with the Chinese, are currently at odds with the Tairo, who were former allies. They believe the clan has an old claim to the throne, and only need reliable allies to press that claim.

[stormsweeper]

The affiliation doesn't cost anything, technically.
It's free with the trait. You could spend other RPs to increase it, though.

One way to consider a 1D affiliation in a large organization is your "pull" within it.

[CosmicCowboy]

The affiliation doesn't cost anything, technically.
It's free with the trait. You could spend other RPs to increase it, though.

Yeah, that part I get. I was wondering if that would make 15 points the basis for characters without the trait.

One way to consider a 1D affiliation in a large organization is your "pull" within it.

That makes sense. The greater the affiliation, the more influence you have.

[CosmicCowboy]

Wish me luck, I'll be running the first session of this tomorrow. PCs are:

A local captain, fiercly loyal to the clan head, whom he believes should press his claim to the throne, or at least become shogun.

The disgraced son of the clan head. This character is starting with 2 honor debts, which should make things interesting.

A young woman, haunted by the ghosts of her mother and a childhood friend.

A Buhddist healer, who believes her ox is superior to horses in every way.

[Mel White]

Wish me luck, I'll be running the first session of this tomorrow.

May your dice be keen! Let us know how it goes.
Mel

[CosmicCowboy]

It went quite well, and we actually had very little die rolling. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Burning Wheel really shone with the characters that came out of it. I had two players that weren't sold on the Blossoms game, but character burning spawned ideas and made them think. For example, our street urchin that became a Buddhit nun. She started wondering what it was that caused the change, and finally decided that one of her childhood friends died during a theft, and she's now haunted by the ghost.

I'll write up a bit more in the Playing section later.