Mecha Savant

I realize that there are probably 500 different house rules for the consequences of catching a player cheating, but I wanted to list ours, as it works like a charm:

If a player should catch another player cheating in any way, the cheater immediately loses one level and gives up a card in play of the accuser’s choice. If the cheater has no cards in play, the accuser may choose a card at random from the cheater’s hand.

If the accuser is found to be wrong, apply the penalty to the accuser instead.

We have found that unless you have eight or so players, the game gets long and ridiculous with both board related expansions (The Gore Years and Early American Chrononauts). Both are fun and highly recommended though, so we have subsequently made this a house rule:

Prior to starting when playing with less than eight, each player rolls a d20. The player with the highest roll chooses zero to one expansion to use for the first game. After that, winner chooses.

this allows for some diversity and the games don’t get super drawn out.

A face up knight card may be shuffled back into the development deck to move the robber. You do not get a resource as a result of this action, it may only be done when the robber is on a hex where you contain a settlement/city, and a knight that was originally flipped over (played) this turn may not be used in this way.

This isn’t a game-breaker in my opinion, because sacrificing the knight means less chance of largest army, but no more pesky robber.

“Can my deck hold up if I get holding screwed turn 1?”
A very important question, no doubt. One you will be loathe to answer, but it will eventually happen.

Once you learn that it can’t (generally), you might do what my play group does during play-testing and/or recreational games and allow the ‘Gentleman’s Mulligan’:

Limited: If you get zero to one holdings on your first limited phase, after using both the abilities on your Border Keep(BK): You may ‘reset’ by putting all of your dynasty cards (in or out of play) on top of your dynasty deck, shuffling, and re-filling all four provinces, face up.

You regain one first turn BK ability, but not the once per game.

ongoing effects from events activated before the Gentleman’s mulligan are ignored. Events ignored this way will activate again if they show back up in future event phases.

Disadvantages are a GREAT way to get extra experience points to start your character with. The ratio of points/extra work or problems in-game is very fair. This means you will feel every extra point you get later on, when you have to roll a 3k1 instead of a 6k3 because you’re terrified of the current enemy, or what have you.

I try not to get more than 11 or 12 points from them, and/or no more than five total. this nets me enough to snag those critical extras (like ‘Games: Shogi 3’ for my master tactician-in-training), and I’m not always plagued by their effects.

More than that though, you can use something like a speech impediment or say, obtuse (seeing no point in the arts) as an excuse to actually get into your character, have some fun role-playing!

It sounds kind of redundant, but I’ve noticed new players, and even some vets, tend to get into the “I’m going to” mode.

“I’m going to open the chest” is good, let me know if you find any scrolls in there.

“I’m going to say ‘hello’ to the blue tanuki waitress.” is a bit convoluted, unless you’re saying that to my character in-game.
In which case, you should’ve used the lisp you bought, and:

“I’ll take a shot as well.”
“Hmm…”
“Second thought, you might as well get a bottle.”

Something that has helped my piloting (playing my deck) greatly:
The first time you’re about to pass limited/open/battle actions, take a brief look again at the cards on the field. BOTH sides of the field. Don’t hesitate to ask to examine any face up card of your opponent’s if you don’t know what it does, and/or the contents of his discard piles.

Just be aware of every card in play, what it does, how it’s used/costs paid. This may seem daunting, but if you’re a new player, your opponent should be more than happy to give you a few seconds to sort it out. You’ll make less play mistakes if you are aware of everything on the board.

Not to mention that asking an opponent to see the contents of their discard piles/getting clarification on abilities/etc, might derail their current train of thought. Possibly cause a play mistake while preventing your own.

When playing with three or less players (though I prefer no less than three): ignore the first two settlements when tallying victory points.

This slight change will allow for a few more turns and a bit more expansion. It should be a closer game, as the longest road and largest army could potentially change hands more often, more opportunity to draw VP development cards, etc.

If you are trying to start playing this game by yourself, I urge you to check in to a Stronghold Store (and your new playgroup) ASAP. If you are in a group who just started this game together, then go find your local Stronghold Store, as a group.

A stronghold store is your local gaming store that not only carries L5R product, but hosts L5R events as well.
Also likely: There is a group of people playing L5R on certian nights already, so you can get some playing in with those not of your initial group.

I’d also like to point out that people who play this game are incredibly nice and are usually more than willing to give away good cards, or at least make trades that heavily favor new players.

Summary: Get to your Stronghold Store! This game gets SO much better when you can play/buy/sell/trade with a group, in a centralized spot.

There are very few effects in this game that let you shuffle your deck. Even less that let you shuffle your dynasty deck! This is especially important because of the border keep abilities, which (more often then not) cause you to move some heavy hitting cards to the bottom of the deck.
Try to have at least one way to search and shuffle your dynasty deck.
“Peace” is a great strategy that allows you to search and buy any one holding from your deck, and shuffle, so it fits nicely in nearly every deck. It is a promo, however, and a bit pricey (though it’s unique, which means you won’t need three).
“In Search of Guidance” is a much more affordable event that lets you search for a sensei personality (which most decks will be running), put him in that province, and shuffle your dynasty deck.

Rokugan can be an unforgiving place. Some pre-game planning should help your party survive in court and on the battlefield, and everywhere in-between.

Balance the party as much as possible. If you expect to see combat at all (and most parties will at some point) Someone should be the healer, for sure, though the low level healing magic is paltry. Having someone else’s character with a medicine skill of at least three (four is recommended) will help in the down-time between battles.

Someone should have some ranged attacks. Shugenja will be champs at this, but I recommend a bow and arrow set for every samurai, and tsubute or shuriken for every ninja.

Have someone as a courtier or magistrate. You’ll likely need to talk your way through some political rig-a-ma-roll at some point.

talk with the other players at character creation a bit. Decide who will play what role, and just make sure all the bases are covered.

This one is mentioned in passing in the rule book, but I feel it deserves much more clarification and expansion, so:

Buy two holdings on turn one. Use both border keep abilities on turn one if you need to, and ‘flush’ (put face down on the bottom of your deck to refill face up) every non-holding card you see, in search of two holdings.

There are certain types of decks that prefer one ‘boxable’ (the stronghold alone can pay for them) person and a holding on turn one, so this rule has some exceptions, but generally two holdings on turn one will set you up MUCH better in every subsequent turn.

If you just can’t seem to get there first on those red numbers one game, try to diversify the numbers you place additional settlements on (not disregarding resource type all-together, but thinking more in net resource gain). the more different non-red numbers (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12) you get, the more times a non-red roll gives you a resource. If, say: 6’s go cold for a few turns and you pick up a resource in each one, you’ll be supply, they’ll be demand.