Rokugan+Classes

Rokugan's strict caste system and reliance on the Celestial Order limit the influence of the peasants and the broader areas of study. This along with the natural level of xenophobia shared by the Denizens of the Empire restrict the available classes that a Rokugani character may be a part of.

PHB Core Classes

 * Barbarian:** The savaged fighter is a lost concept on the Samurai as by definition they are civilized nobles. This would restrict the Barbarian class were it not for several schools focusing on harnessing the rage and adrenaline of battle and thus Barbarian characters can find training in the Matsu Berzerker School or even the Hida Bushi school. Even among the peasants, many a tale is told of the ferocity of Ashigaru that is so impressive these Heimen, or half-people, have been granted names as Samurai and even Minor Clans.
 * Consider the so-called [|Totem Barbarians]...lots of possibilities there.


 * Bard:** The entertainer isn't as highly regarded in Rokugan as they are in European societies. In fact most if not all Entertainers are called Eta or non-people and make up the lowest rung on the ladder as far as rights go. Not only that, but the Clans place strict limits on travel across their borders and thus only Imperial Magistrates have the ability to move freely in the Empire. Also, as a people, Rokugani citizens tend to focus on a particular path until it's completed, thus a Bushi learns all aspects of war before retiring to the courts or becoming a monk. These three factors make the idea of a wandering minstral, the loveable scamp, or the jack of all trades less appealing in the lands of Rokugan and thus are nearly unheard of.
 * While an "entertainer" type Bard may well be as you describe, there is certainly room for some character class that has "Bardic" abilities.
 * The [|Bardic Sage] from UA could represent a type of scholarly "Mandarin" character.
 * A "[|Savage Bard]" would come from the same places as the Matsu Berserkers, supporting their battles and chronicling their exploits.
 * Finally, the [|Simple Variant] turns a Bard into something akin to an Oni- or Kami-follower, trading all the Bardic music and Bardic knowledge powers for "Druidic" abilities.
 * Actually, your initial statement is flawed -- you forgot about the **GEISHA**. Highly respected, highly-trained, knowledgeable in many areas, skilled at music and the arts.... "But," you ask, "how can a Geisha be part of an Adventuring party?" To which I reply, "It didn't stop Inara Serra from being part of the Serenity crew..." **Didn't forget the Geisha, they are still a part of the Eta social class, it's just not bad form for a Samurai to consort with one, but even then only if it's kept under wraps. Also, their incredible resume of skills is better served by the Rogue class which recieves more skill points. And Inara would've panned out differently if a Samurai could kill her in cold blood with no legal reprocussions. Not to mention she would've brought dishonor onto the whole crew if they were seen in public with her.** //So where do female characters come from, then? Does Rokugan allow for female Samurai, or are they ghettoized as Rogues and, perhaps, Shugenja? **Well, historically there were the Samurai-ko, female bushi of Samurai status, the only draw back to these female warriors piece of status is that if a male samurai of equal status issued the Samurai-ko an order, she would have to obey. Rokugan however isn't that prohibitive and like most modern RPGs European or not females have an equal rank in society.**//


 * Cleric:** The embodiment of Western Religion, the focus, service, and dedication to the Gods are lost on the people of Rokugan. As such Clerics do not exist and the people look to the mighty Shugenja or the Monks of Shinsei for inspiring words of faith.
 * Consider the [|Cloistered Cleric] from UA, again representing a scholarly, Mandarin tradition (they and Bardic Sages, together, could form whole universities). Perhaps a strict limitation on [|Cleric Domains] -- Air, Earth, Fire, Water, but also Animal, Knowledge, War, perhaps Glory and Nobility to represent the Empire's upper classes, perhaps Darkness, Death, Destruction and Madness to represent the Shadowlands. **How about just no.**


 * Druid:** Another Western concept. The Warrior Priest that draws divine power from natural could describe all citizens of Rokugan as they all revere the spirits of nature. As such, Druids are not found in Rokugan.
 * Not to beat the UA dead horse, but..."[|Druidic Avenger]" anyone? No Diplomacy, no Animal Companion, can't spontaneously Summon, but they do get Rage and Fast Movement. A possibility for an Ashigaru-type.


 * Fighter:** The Fighter, the true embodiment of the Bushi spirit, is one of the most common classes in Rokugan. Their expertise in the art of war is renowned and almost every Bushi school accomodates the Fighter.
 * Considering these are schools, something like the so-called [|Thug] variant could be useful. They get 4 Skill Ranks/level -- very scholarly -- and don't have extraneous weapon/armor proficiencies that wouldn't exist in Rokugan. **A definate possibility**


 * Monk:** Far more prevalent in Rokugan than in other places, the Monks of Rokugan follow the teachings of Shinsei and belong to any number of orders from the famous Dragon Clan Tattooed Monks to the Empire Founded Order of the Ten Thousand Temples.
 * Taking one of the [|Fighting Styles] would seem to be mandatory for all Rokugani Monks... **No not really.** //How does L5R handle it, then? **They function as monks in all other campaigns do. Since this is "just a rip off of feudual Japan", I should point out that only four major hand to hand combat martial arts were ever produced in Japan, Karate, Judo, Jiujutsu, and Akido. Karate was created in the small island nation of Okinawa prior to the Japanese invasion of said island and truly didn't become mainstream until about the time Japan invaded Korea. Judo is a modern grappling sport that is derived from Jiujutsu same with Akido, each of these arts takes an important aspect of Jiujutsu and focuses on it. Judo on throws and ground fighting, Akido on pressure point striking. Jiujutsu therefore is the art most Samurai practiced in. Most monks in fact were pacifists and those that did participate in combat were smart enough to take up weapons, martial weapons in fact. The Sohei, Buddhist warrior monks wielded spears naginata alike. This is not to say that a Monk couldn't take a fighting style, a monk is more than welcomed to, it's just that they aren't required. This isn't Chinese themed were every family has it's own Kung Fu, it's Japanese themed and therefore Jiujutsu is the most common martial art.**//
 * Paladin:** Probably a sub-class of Samurai, if they exist at all. **Nope no Paladins**


 * Ranger:** Probably a sub-class of the Bushi schools, if they exist in PHB form at all. **Non-spellcasting variants of the ranger can easily be found in a number of places throughout Rokugan. Most notable the Hiruma Scout School, who produce Scouts that are skilled in the hunting and slaying of Shadowlands creatures**


 * Rogue: Can find the normal amount of opportunity in Rokugan as they can anywhere else.**


 * Sorcerer:** Despite the hindrance on most forms of Arcane magic this class still exists. The two most common applications of this class would be those among the Heimen or even Eta classes who are born with the blessings of the Kami and are able to speak to them. The second is the dreaded practice of Maho, or Blood Magic. Those who study the dark teachings of Fu Leng and sacrifice blood (theirs and others) to create incredible magical effects.


 * Wizard:** Unavailable, Arcane magic is largely unheard of in Rokugan and the study of such a thing would be reserved to the Samurai who can read. Another problem exists in the area of the Elements which are controlled by the Kami which need to be bargained with in order to call upon their blessings in the form of spells. Long story short, Shugenja do this.

Complete Warrior Classes

 * Hexblade: Maho-Bujin, Bushi tainted by the Shadowlands. Also could be under the effects of a curse by the kami. Either way, a hexblade is a viable class in Rokugan. Of course such a character would have to disguise his dark powers from his fellow Samurai or else suffer their wrath.**


 * Swashbuckler:** Mantis Clan has Swashbucklers, a minor change in weapon profs and there could indeed be swashbucklers.


 * Samurai:** Yes, please. **Actually no. The class contains no abilities that cannot be earned by a Fighter with less restrictiveness, but also this class combines two entirely different fighting styles found in two seperate places in Rokugan. Also, most Samurai see fighting with Katana and Wakizashi as dishonorable. So while it's a great class to showcase an Eastern Concept in a Western campaign, the Samurai class isn't such a good class in an Eastern Setting as it's merely a melting pot of various ideas revolving around what Samurai were. Also, almost all characters will be Samurai be they fighter, shugenja, or the like, because it's a Social Class**

Complete Divine Classes

 * Favored Soul:** A way to have Cleric spells without the trappings of Cleric-dom. **This class doesn't exists for two reasons, 1) no clerics, no deities, no calling. But wait!?!? What about the people you mentioned who recieve the Kami's blessing and can speak with Elemental spirits, wouldn't that fit the Favored Soul bill? Reason 2) no, because the spells cast by a sorceror more closely resemble the Elemental magics of the Shugenja.** //Again, with a limitiation on available Domains to those appropriate to Rokugan, this variant Sorcerer could exist for the same reason Sorcerers do. **No.**//


 * Shugenja:** Naturally. **Yes, Shugenja are able to speak with the Kami and are the unquestioned masters of magic. Almost the entire spellcasting body of Rokugan is in the form of Shugenja. They are spiritual leaders along side monks as well and are members of the Samurai class which makes them influential in politics as well.**


 * Spirit Shaman:** Shugenja what?

Complete Arcane Classes

 * Warlock:** Pacts with Oni and other dark spirits are just as likely as with traditional Infernal/Abyssal types... **The corruption of Fu Leng that inflicts spellcasters has to be more subtile than this class can produce to avoid detection and execution, someone who had the ability to do nothing much more than blasting his enemies with dark energies wouldn't last long beyond the Shadowlands.** //Warlocks as Shadowlands Bad Guys, then...could be interesting.// **Yeah, you'd probably encounter something like this in the Shadowlands. A PC Warlock would have to be very very sneaky.**


 * Warmage: The practice of combining Samurai and Shugenja teachings is unheard of in Rokugan**


 * Wu Jen:** But of course. **Chinese concept and a competitor to the Shugenja's rule over magic and thus not found in Rokugan. Plus the class itself calls on more Elements than are worshipped in Rokugan such as metal.** //So Rokugan is a 100% ripoff of medieval Japan, only with magic? **About as much as any campaign setting rips from the real world, no more than Keith Baker has ripped from various video games, yeah.** We're approaching the heart of the matter, aren't we?// **That a truly 100% original idea isn't rare these days, yes. The point is it's a Japanese themed campaign world and is thus based heavily on the real Japan.**

Complete Adventurer Classes

 * Ninja:** DUH...


 * Spellthief:** Who the hell ever thought this was a good idea, anyway? **Don't worry, they don't exist**


 * Scout: Available for the same reasons as ranger and rogue**

Miniatures Handbook Classes

 * Marshal: A possible potential class. I don't have minis handbook to read up on the class, the only critique I can give is that Samurai lead by deed and not word and therefore a class that focuses on the commanding of others at the expense of personal combat ability is suspect. While a command structure does exist Samurai commanders met their enemy face-to-face rather than sit back and give orders. This may have a very hazardous effect on one's life expectency, when ones honor is at stake, such trivial things as ones life are easily forfeit and a Samurai who walks off the battlefield a loser is truly dishonored because he didn't sacrifice his life for the cause. (Katsumoto and Tom Cruise led the charges, The westernized Japanese army commanders sat back and shouted orders.)** //The House Ruling I suggested in War of the Lions might be helpful here. **Maybe, like I said, I don't have minis handbook and thus are still under consideration. I'd allow them at the table.**//


 * Healer: Healing in Rokugan is primarily achieved through Herbalism and more rarely through a Shugenja's water spells. One who focuses so much on healing might find themselves dishonored as touching the flesh of another is frowned upon. Also an army who hides behind it's ability to instantly heal and revive it's troops spoils the zanshen, the fighting spirit, of war.** //So, Unicorn Clan, then? **No, the Unicorn clan, despite it's gaijin influences still has a disdain for touching flesh and they're one of the more proud clans yearning to die gloriously in battle.**//

PHB II Classes

 * Beguiler: I like this class, a lot, and it reminds me of a Scorpion Clan Shugenja who focuses on the illusions created by calling upon air kami. However, such obvious deceit is beneath even the scorpion who would choose more subtle plots and schemes. As such, I have to say that this class isn't found in Rokugan.

Duskblade: Unavailable for the same reason as Warmage

Knight: Replace the code of conduct with the code of bushido and what you have is a sterotypical Hida Bushi. They tend to fight on the defensive and then strike when their enemies have exhausted themselves.**

Tome of Battle Classes
Crusader, Swordsage, Warblade: Thumbs Down, I'm guessing? **Unavailable only because these classes were designed to bring warrior type characters on par with Wizards, Warlocks, and all that more fancy stuff. Since magic is less available in Rokugan these classes aren't needed. That said, you can still take martial manuevers via the appropriate feats.**

The most important thing to remember here is that your dealing with a xenophobic society who value tradition. The sole creator of policies and laws for some 1000+ years has been whichever Emperor held the throne. Gaijin have been shunned from the realm for over 700 years and even the Unicorn Clan, whom have visited other realms, are looked upon with disgust for having the simple Gaijin custom of wielding Scimitars and living in Yurts. This isn't a realm of change and as a result numerous ways of approaching magic, combat, and politics go unexplored. The point is, magic is RARE, 90% of spellcasters are Shugenja, and alternative means of calling upon the elements either don't exist or are practiced in numerous secret cults. Think of how much progression occurs in dictatorships, imagine trying to research alternative fuels without democracy keeping the Oil Barons from running the show, ordinary citizens don't have a voice, only the emperor does and to violate such laws violates several tenets of Bushido, the belief structure that holds the realm together.