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From the L5R 2004 Kotei page:
"Of all the Spirit Realms, few are so highly honored as Yomi. It is the Realm of the Blessed Ancestors, the place where great heroes pass after a life well lived. It is this place where the great heroes dwell. It is here that they continue their battle against evil and dishonor as members of the Blessed Guard.
"Once before, the Blessed Guard rode forth into the mortal realm. At Ryoshun’s call they passed through Oblivion’s Gate and became mortal. With Toturi himself at their head, they struck down the minions of the Lying Darkness and helped restore the Empire to order. Sadly, the return of so many caused great chaos and strife in the Empire, as the Spirit Wars shook Rokugan to its core.
"Now the return of Iuchiban has thrown the Spirit Realms into disharmony. The soldiers of the Blessed Guard know that they cannot stand idle, but neither do they wish to harm the Empire as they once did. Even if they had the desire to return, Oblivion’s Gate is broken - the dead can no longer walk as the living.
"But the spirits of heroes are not without power. The Blessed Guard have selected the greatest among their number to form the Legion of the Dead. These mighty heroes will return to Rokugan to guide their descendants, to help them find the courage and strength to fight the Bloodspeakers."
"Each player who wins a Kotei during the 2004 Kotei season will gain the opportunity to select a hero to join the Legion of the Dead. Each winner can select any personality who died as a member of their faction. This person will become a member of the Legion of the Dead.
"Any winning Shadowlands player will be given the right to choose a dead member of their faction to join the Legion of Blood, an army of wicked spirits set to prevent the Legion of the Dead from coming to Rokugan’s aid. These two forces will confront one another across the fields of the Spirit Realms, vying for the souls of the Rokugani people.
"At the end of the Kotei season a series of fictions will describe the battle between these chosen souls, and detail their fates.
"If the number of corrupted and Shadowlands Kotei wins is greater than the number of pure and Tainted Kotei wins, the Legion of the Dead will be forced back into Yomi, and Iuchiban’s power will increase dramatically. If the number of pure wins are greater, the Legion of the Dead’s guidance will help the Great Clans in rooting out many hidden Bloodspeaker agents and strike a powerful blow against the Heartless."
Hida Kisada was nominated to join the Legion of the Dead by William Czyzewski, who won the Alaska Kotei (Region 15 that year) with a corrupt Crab deck.
Salman Barakat won the Irish Kotei, where he nominated Kuni Utagu to the Legion of the Dead. He wrote in a post to The Crab Clan Catatrophe forum, "I admit my favorite choice would have been Kisada but he was already picked."
"Whatever may occur in the Kotei season, the battle between the Legion of the Dead and the Legion of Blood will reveal one truth - Oblivion’s Gate still has some small shred of power within it. One dead soul will be allowed to pass through this gate, and be restored to mortal life. This personality will be chosen from the list of ALL personalities chosen during the Kotei season. Further, this personality will gain the faction trait of the player who wins GenCon (possibly losing former faction traits if keeping both would be inappropriate)."
From a post made to the Crab Clan forum and the Kobune Port (24 August 2004; slightly edited for typos):
Thanks everybody for all the congratulations!
A long tourney report will soon be up, but I haven't slept since Monday morning and I am suffering from jetlag...
But some important points:
Challenge Booth:
Dragon didn't really win. I was one finalist of the Challenge Booth, but didn't
have the time to play. So I conceded the win to the Dragon if he chose the
Tortoise as a gift to Kristy Mack. Also Rich Wulf incorporated the events in
the story. So if you read something like "the Crab representative isn't here
because he has more important things to do" you will know what that means. :)
Personality Choice:
Kisada: My favourite character and the reason I started playing Crab
Corrupt/Pure/Tainted???
Daigotsu? Yes.... Shadowlands, Maho or Bloodspeaker cards? No... Omen? YES!!!!
I explained to Rich Wulf, my choice of wind represents the peace between Crab
and Daigtosu at the moment.
Top Crab Choice:
Ally with Daigotsu
Why?
1. Iuchiban MUST be dealt with
2. Daigotsu has mentioned more than once, that he isnt interested in
destroying or conquering the Empire, he has his own, once he is back in
power... So why should the Crab at least try if there is a chance to live in
peaceful coexistence with a Daigotsu controlled Shadowlands Empire? Even if
the whole thing is only temporary, less Crab will die in that time, and
Daigotsu is known to be a man to keep his word...
3. He doesnt even have the taint anymore:)
Must sleep now.......
Will write more soon
Salman
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European Crab Clan Hero 2003 * Crab Clan Daimyo 2004
From a post made to the Crab Clan forum and the Kobune Port (25 August 2004; slightly edited for typos):
This year, six Germans decided to go to GenCon and try their luck (especially as four were already seeded, and before the whole Organized Play discussion starts again, two were seeded for Organized Play and Kotei victories). Although some decided more on a short hand basis to come with us (one week before flying, "Can I come too?"). We took a flight on Wednesday morning, and arrived at our hotel 13 hours later after no major problems ("Is your passport reported stolen?" ???). We then left for the convention center to get the badges and the pre-GenCon tourney. After doing what we had to do, and the pre-GenCon tourney being cancelled after the first round, we started putting faces to names we only knew from forums, James The Greatest Crane Player in the World, Dan Tibbles, etc.
We then decided to go back to our hotel, as two of us had to qualify the next day. At the con on Thursday, I didn't have much to do, so after having some of my cards signed, I sat down at the challenge booth and played. At the end of the day I was 15-0. Next best player had 6. The two other guys had qualified and we went back. All the guys at the challenge booth were great guys by the way, and thanks Laura for running the whole thing, with the exception of one Unicorn player who indirectly acussed me of cheating behind my back (Hi Kit!).
So Friday was more card signing, more hanging around, more challenge booth (8-1). So it seemed that crab were pretty much surely in the finals and I agreed with the top dragon that if we played, we would choose Tortoise, as a gift for Kristy Mack, who is one of the greatest people I have ever met. But on Saturday, another Dragon, who did have to play in the real tourney managed to get just as many victories as the other one did and beat him in a direct matchup. As I had no time for the challenge booth on Sunday, we agreed that I concede, he picks Tortoise, although he wanted to pick Dragonfly, and that the Crab get mentioned in the story. So look out for a Crab who had better/other things to do in the story...
On Saturday, you needed either a very good 5-3 or 6-2 to get into the top 32.
vs. Razor's Edge Dojo with Black Heart of the Empire
The game lasted 5 minutes. He goes first. Buys Kuon and the Shrine on turn 4 and has Commanding Favor. I buy Omen, so I think if the Refuge turns up and I can Egg Kuon, I am back in the game. Well... the Refuge turned up... in the province Kuon destroyed... In addition to that, three Provinces = three holdings... game.
0-1
vs. Dragon with Underhand
One of my German friends... great.
After he focuses his whole hand in a defensive Steel on Steel and I play Mountain Does Not Move and take the province and buy three guys. The game is over.
1-1
vs. Meeting Place with Black Heart of the Empire
He attacks with four rats and the Ralting Conjuror at home. I defend with four guys. I Stay Your Blade, he shuffles one rat back to produce seven follower tokens on one guy. He gets hit in the face by a Brutal Confrontation. He loses half his guys. I take a province, call his attack and win shortly after.
2-1
vs. Tani Hitokage with Black Heart of the Empire
Don't remember much, but I had two Hida Kuons at some time. :)
3-1
vs. Shadowed Tower of the Shosuro with The Emperor's Underhand
No early Maru and an Outmaneuvered by Force on his Show of Good Faith and a loss of a Province on turn 4 means he loses, as he couldn't gain control over my honor or my Personalities.
4-1
vs. Temple of the Ninth Kami with Black Heart of the Empire
Both get good gold. I smash him, nothing great happened here.
5-1
vs. Lion/ Right Hand
What? Lion military this high? I buy two Sozens and attack his Nimuro province. He defends with four guys. He drops a terrain, I Stay Your Blade, he plays Superior Strategist for a Well Prepared. I play Inexorable March, Rend the Soul, and use Commanding Favor to kill all four and walk home. I buy Kuon. He buys Nimuro. I take two Provinces after attaching a Political Adjunct. He attacks. Kuon comes in with Tireless Assault, drops his hand and Feigns Death. Game from there, as I still had a Call to Arms.
6-1. I am in the top 32!
vs. Temple of the Ninth Kami with Black Heart of the Empire
We both are in the top 32, so it is a relaxed game. In the end, I nearly die from Doom of the Dark Lord with no Personalities after being gold screwed, but the game was incredible fun.
Top 32 are determined. My first opponent is Dan Tibbles, who beat me twice in casual games on Wednesday evening. We agree to play the first game before going to the seminar.
Both buy good gold for two turns. I buy Hida Reiha and more gold, he buys Ashura and has Iuchiban showing. I attack, he defends. I Stay Your Blade, use Tireless Assault to come back, drop the Traveling Ronin and Wedge and take Ashura and the province with Iuchiban with me. I buy two guys. He gets like holdings, Goblin Wizard, and events. It goes downhill for him from there.
Turn 3 Kuon. Take the province with Plains of Otosan Uchi. He gets Chrysanthemum Festival and a Shukumei and gold. Kuon attacks. He overwhelms and I play The Mountain Does Not Move. Five Provinces against three and I buy four guys... Game is soon over.
vs. Mantis
He goes first. Buys a third turn Kaneka and Eggs him on turn four and takes a province. Boy, I am in trouble. I sacrifice three Crabs the following turn in the defensive to Yu one Kaneka. I attack and make a horrible mistake and lose my guy, instead of taking a province and killing the other Kaneka...
We both build a bit. In the end we have a huge battle.
He has Hakai, Kaneka, Kumiko, three Utemarus, one Ranged 4 guy with two Hero's Banner.
I have Kuon and five guys, one with an Iron Legion.
I use Refuge of the Three Sisters for a Brutal Confrontation and attack. After the Brutal Confrontation and Yu, he only has the guy with the Banners left, and I use Kisada'a Shrine on Kuon. Game.
Next game, I am not sure what happened... but I won.
I have to play against Ben Palmer, a great player from my London play group. We agree on Kisada and splitting prize stuff so we play casually.
I win the first one somehow.
Second game, he gets a third turn Kuon and a fourth turn Egg of P'an Ku ("Welcome to Legend of the Five Turns...").
Last game, he gets gold screwed. I buy Kuon and Kisada's Shrine and beat him down.
vs. Shadowed Tower of the Shosuro with The Emperor's Underhand
He play Show of Good Faith and keeps one of my first two Personalities and takes a province. He never manages to dishonor me (Rend the Soul on Storm Heart is sweet) but smashes me down to one Province but I build up and take on of my own.
The game comes down to him drawing four cards of eight. If he gets my Call to Arms he wins, if not I win. I was lucky...
Second game was horrible for him. It was like playing military without a fate hand. He play Show of Good Faith one of my first two guys, feeds it to Suitero no Oni and his Egg friend, plays Feign Death and attacks. I defend, use Rend the Soul and use Brutal Confrontation on one oni (why did I Discard the Inexorable March??). Anyway, I buy three guys each turn. He has no hand and no Imperial Favor, so it is over very quickly...
The other player is Crab too. We agree to nominate Kisada and to split the prizes and bounty. So we "only" play for the title.
The games were nothing spectacular and I go 2-0.
But don't worry, supporters of Lucas's Sanzo quest. Look out for a character charging with blind fury in the story. :)
After a lot of congrats and the reading of the story, we leave. I have to pay for pizza for everybody and we have a great evening.
That's it.
HIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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European Crab Clan Hero 2003 * Crab Clan Daimyo 2004 * Crab Clan Warlord 2004 * World Champion 2004
Stronghold: Razor's Edge Dojo
Wind: Black Heart of the Empire
Fate deck (41 cards)
Actions
3 Brutal Confrontation
3 Call to Arms
1 Desperate Wager
1 Egg of P'an Ku
3 Feign Death
3 Inexorable March
1 Make a Wish
3 Outmaneuvered by Force
3 Pick Your Battles
3 Rend the Soul
3 Stay your Blade
3 The Mountain Does Not Move
3 Tireless Assault
2 Wedge
Followers
2 Traveling Ronin
2 Iron Legion
2 Political Adjunct
Dynasty deck (40 cards)
Events
1 A New Wall
1 Boundless Sight
1 Commanding Favor
Personalities
3 Hida Benjiro
3 Hida Daizu
3 Hida Katai
1 Hida Kuon (Experienced 3)
1 Hida Reiha (Experienced)
3 Hida Sozen
3 Hiruma Tatzuso
1 Hiruma Todori (Experienced)
1 Omen (Experienced)
Holdings
1 A Favor Returned
2 Barley Farm
1 Corrupt Officials
3 Crystal Mine
1 Gifts and Favors
3 Hiruma Dojo
2 Iron Mine
1 Kisada's Shrine
1 Shrine of Duty
2 Shrine to Daikoku
Regions
1 Refuge of the Three Sisters
I play Crab only, and Kaneka and Kamnan are both Gozuko and Kaneka stole crab lands in Gold Edition... and I have never missed them. :)
My Personality base is just as fast BUT has more force and Yu.
Pick Your Battles is all Yu need. :)
Buy gold for two turns, then either buy one Kuon or two Personalities with 4 force each every single turn and smash provinces. Against nearly every single thing your opponent can do, you have an answer (bowing, destruction, send home, outforcing...).
I didn't use Make a Wish, and didn't even use the focus value at any time in any game.