HouseRules

As you know most DMs make it up as they go along, but here are a couple of things that are not in the book that I might throw in.

Dueling

Any character or NPC can challenge another to single combat, if a participant wishes he can attempt to psyche the other out. This is an opposed power role, so the guy with the higher power has the better odds of winnning. The role will be modified if the samurai are of different quality. Each quality difference will add +2 to the better mans power. e.g a strong samurai fighting a weak samurai will get a +4 bonus. The loser strikes first but the winner gets to add his effecive power to his parry, a special parry earns a free attack , a critical parry a free attack that cannot be parried. Once issued challenges are a matter of Honour.

Special Lore bonus

Lore are designed to very generic and only be increase slowly. If a character wishes he can develop a special area of interest, this can be improved more rapidly and will act as a bonus to the lore role.

Tea Ceremony

Borrowing an idea from the Bushido role playing game, a succesful tea ceremony will give a character a temporary Honour bonus in the eyes of his tea partner. The honour bonus can then be used to influence subsequent events.