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must have Oa books?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
HobbitFan
Sep 22, 2008 23:11:23 I was wondering which 3rd edition OA books you guys thought were most useful.

Right now I think I have the main OA book, rokugan and the Hidden emperor campaign.

Are any others really good?
#2
ranger_reg
Sep 23, 2008 0:06:19
Are any others really good?

For me, only the OA book.

If I want to play in the Rokugan setting, I'd just go with Legends of the Five Rings RPG (with their Roll-n-Keep System).
#3
CmdrCorsiken
Sep 26, 2008 8:06:38
I was wondering which 3rd edition OA books you guys thought were most useful.

Right now I think I have the main OA book, rokugan and the Hidden emperor campaign.

Are any others really good?

After the main OA book, the Rokugan book, which is entirely d20 material, has some good stuff in it. Unless you really want to keep the Rokugan flavor (which is apparently strongly inspired by Japanese culture), you'll want to extract what fits your world.

The Hidden Emperor has a lot of story and adventure hooks. Most are specific to Rokugan, but I'm sure they can be adapted. The relatively small amount of mechanical information in there is presented in both D&D d20 and LotFR 2nd ed.

The other Rokugan books that carry the Oriental Adventures logo on the cover are also dual system books. There is something in nearly every one that can be easily adapted into some other oriental settings.
#4
lord_karsus
Sep 26, 2008 10:46:07 -I only have the Oriental Adventures book, and that's all I use. And, of that, I use about half of the rules contained therewith, and make up the rest.
#5
Brom_Blackforge
Sep 26, 2008 13:20:34 From the thread title alone, I thought the question was going to be whether you would really even need the OA book to play an OA game. Even though that's not what the OP was actually asking, I think it's an interesting question. I think you could probably pull it off, between the oriental-flavored classes in the Complete books, appropriately-themed monsters, and the honor system described in Unearthed Arcana, but I still suspect that you'd be better off having the OA book.
#6
lord_karsus
Sep 26, 2008 15:20:50
From the thread title alone, I thought the question was going to be whether you would really even need the OA book to play an OA game. Even though that's not what the OP was actually asking, I think it's an interesting question. I think you could probably pull it off, between the oriental-flavored classes in the Complete books, appropriately-themed monsters, and the honor system described in Unearthed Arcana, but I still suspect that you'd be better off having the OA book.

-You technically wouldn't even need those if you want to get really nitty-gritty. The Dungeon Masters Guide has that chapter about introducing elements that aren't "stereotypical" D&D- Oriental flavor, modern day weapons, and so on. With enough willingness to wing it (ie, Bastard Swords are Katanas, Short Swords are Wazikashi [Sp?], and so on), it's certainly doable.
#7
CmdrCorsiken
Oct 04, 2008 20:29:45
-You technically wouldn't even need those if you want to get really nitty-gritty. The Dungeon Masters Guide has that chapter about introducing elements that aren't "stereotypical" D&D- Oriental flavor, modern day weapons, and so on. With enough willingness to wing it (ie, Bastard Swords are Katanas, Short Swords are Wazikashi [Sp?], and so on), it's certainly doable.

Absolutely. The simplest approach would be to use the core classes (and other mechanics) 'as is' and change how they are described in terms that fit the setting. For example, you could call the paladin 'sohei,' the cleric 'shugenja,' since they perform similar roles in the world. Similary, just rename the existing gear to more oriental-sounding equivalents. Heck, you could even rename some spells to truly change the feel of the core material.

Now, if you really want some mechanical differences, then other sourcebooks are likey required. Unless, of course, you are able and willing to develop the mechanical material yourself. For me, I wanted some actual mechanical differences, in part due to my chosen campaign setting having only a few nations with an oriental culture. I also find, at least among my players, that some mechanical differences help re-enforce with the player that the character they are playing is different than most in the world.

So, it really is up to you how to approach it.
#8
lord_karsus
Oct 05, 2008 0:00:28 -While it's certainly doable, I'd still go out and get the Oriental Adventures book, though.
#9
the_shaman
Oct 14, 2008 11:37:34 Oh, certainly. The book is a fairly good one imo for anyone who wants to have a slightly more exotic campaign.
#10
thakowsaizmu
Dec 02, 2008 23:57:26
Short Swords are Wazikashi [Sp?]

Wakizashi 脇差
#11
lord_karsus
Dec 03, 2008 0:15:29 -Yeah, that one. At some point, someone mispronounced the word one of the first times I heard it (A D&D game, of course), and ever since, I can never get it right. I always reverse the 'K' and the 'Z'.
#12
royalblueeyes
Dec 03, 2008 22:04:06
-Yeah, that one. At some point, someone mispronounced the word one of the first times I heard it (A D&D game, of course), and ever since, I can never get it right. I always reverse the 'K' and the 'Z'.

But not all Japanese Swords are Katana
#13
lord_karsus
Dec 03, 2008 23:56:47
But not all Japanese Swords are Katana

-Good to know.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 HobbitFan Sep 22, 2008 23:11:23	I was wondering which 3rd edition OA books you guys thought were most useful. Right now I think I have the main OA book, rokugan and the Hidden emperor campaign. Are any others really good?
#2 ranger_reg Sep 23, 2008 0:06:19	Are any others really good? For me, only the OA book. If I want to play in the Rokugan setting, I'd just go with Legends of the Five Rings RPG (with their Roll-n-Keep System).
#3 CmdrCorsiken Sep 26, 2008 8:06:38	I was wondering which 3rd edition OA books you guys thought were most useful. Right now I think I have the main OA book, rokugan and the Hidden emperor campaign. Are any others really good? After the main OA book, the Rokugan book, which is entirely d20 material, has some good stuff in it. Unless you really want to keep the Rokugan flavor (which is apparently strongly inspired by Japanese culture), you'll want to extract what fits your world. The Hidden Emperor has a lot of story and adventure hooks. Most are specific to Rokugan, but I'm sure they can be adapted. The relatively small amount of mechanical information in there is presented in both D&D d20 and LotFR 2nd ed. The other Rokugan books that carry the Oriental Adventures logo on the cover are also dual system books. There is something in nearly every one that can be easily adapted into some other oriental settings.
#4 lord_karsus Sep 26, 2008 10:46:07	-I only have the Oriental Adventures book, and that's all I use. And, of that, I use about half of the rules contained therewith, and make up the rest.
#5 Brom_Blackforge Sep 26, 2008 13:20:34	From the thread title alone, I thought the question was going to be whether you would really even need the OA book to play an OA game. Even though that's not what the OP was actually asking, I think it's an interesting question. I think you could probably pull it off, between the oriental-flavored classes in the Complete books, appropriately-themed monsters, and the honor system described in Unearthed Arcana, but I still suspect that you'd be better off having the OA book.
#6 lord_karsus Sep 26, 2008 15:20:50	From the thread title alone, I thought the question was going to be whether you would really even need the OA book to play an OA game. Even though that's not what the OP was actually asking, I think it's an interesting question. I think you could probably pull it off, between the oriental-flavored classes in the Complete books, appropriately-themed monsters, and the honor system described in Unearthed Arcana, but I still suspect that you'd be better off having the OA book. -You technically wouldn't even need those if you want to get really nitty-gritty. The Dungeon Masters Guide has that chapter about introducing elements that aren't "stereotypical" D&D- Oriental flavor, modern day weapons, and so on. With enough willingness to wing it (ie, Bastard Swords are Katanas, Short Swords are Wazikashi [Sp?], and so on), it's certainly doable.
#7 CmdrCorsiken Oct 04, 2008 20:29:45	-You technically wouldn't even need those if you want to get really nitty-gritty. The Dungeon Masters Guide has that chapter about introducing elements that aren't "stereotypical" D&D- Oriental flavor, modern day weapons, and so on. With enough willingness to wing it (ie, Bastard Swords are Katanas, Short Swords are Wazikashi [Sp?], and so on), it's certainly doable. Absolutely. The simplest approach would be to use the core classes (and other mechanics) 'as is' and change how they are described in terms that fit the setting. For example, you could call the paladin 'sohei,' the cleric 'shugenja,' since they perform similar roles in the world. Similary, just rename the existing gear to more oriental-sounding equivalents. Heck, you could even rename some spells to truly change the feel of the core material. Now, if you really want some mechanical differences, then other sourcebooks are likey required. Unless, of course, you are able and willing to develop the mechanical material yourself. For me, I wanted some actual mechanical differences, in part due to my chosen campaign setting having only a few nations with an oriental culture. I also find, at least among my players, that some mechanical differences help re-enforce with the player that the character they are playing is different than most in the world. So, it really is up to you how to approach it.
#8 lord_karsus Oct 05, 2008 0:00:28	-While it's certainly doable, I'd still go out and get the Oriental Adventures book, though.
#9 the_shaman Oct 14, 2008 11:37:34	Oh, certainly. The book is a fairly good one imo for anyone who wants to have a slightly more exotic campaign.
#10 thakowsaizmu Dec 02, 2008 23:57:26	Short Swords are Wazikashi [Sp?] Wakizashi 脇差
#11 lord_karsus Dec 03, 2008 0:15:29	-Yeah, that one. At some point, someone mispronounced the word one of the first times I heard it (A D&D game, of course), and ever since, I can never get it right. I always reverse the 'K' and the 'Z'.
#12 royalblueeyes Dec 03, 2008 22:04:06	-Yeah, that one. At some point, someone mispronounced the word one of the first times I heard it (A D&D game, of course), and ever since, I can never get it right. I always reverse the 'K' and the 'Z'. But not all Japanese Swords are Katana
#13 lord_karsus Dec 03, 2008 23:56:47	But not all Japanese Swords are Katana -Good to know.