L5R: Equipment
Based on the 4th edition rules
Money
A gold koku is worth enough rice to feed one person for a year; it is divided into 5 silver bu (each worth one bushel of rice), each divided into 10 copper zeni.
Tying the currency to rice means that, while the price of rice remains the same, other prices will fluctuate based on the harvest and local availability of rice.
Armor
Armor increases the wearer's Armor TN, and possesses Reduction: any damage from attacks is reduced by this number of Wounds.
Ashigaru Armor
Armor TN +3, Reduction 1, 5 koku
Light Armor
Armor TN +5, Reduction 3, +5 TN to Athletics and Stealth Rolls, 25 koku
Heavy Armor
Armor TN +10, Reduction 5, +5 TN to AGI and REF Rolls, 40 koku
Riding Armor
Armor TN +4 (+12 on horseback), Reduction 4, considered heavy armor, +5 TN to AGI and REF Rolls when not on horseback, 55 koku
Weapons
Weapons have a damage rating (DR). For melee weapons and most thrown weapons, add the wielder's STR to the rolled dice; for bows, add the bow's STR to the rolled dice for the arrow's DR.
Weapon Keywords
Weapons have marked with keywords: using Peasant weapons is usually considered the equivalent of using a Low Skill (causing a loss of Honor when wielded against samurai); Samurai weapons are illegal for non-samurai to carry; Small, Medium, and Large indicate the weapon's size, and thus the action required to ready the weapon. Small weapons are easier to conceal, and Large weapons are generally impossible to conceal.
Arrows
Add the STR of the bow used to the DR as rolled dice.
- Armor Piercing: DR 1k1, ignores Armor TN bonus from armor, 2 bu
- Flesh Cutter: DR 2k3, double Armor TN bonus from armor, ½ range, 5 bu
- Humming Bulb: DR 0k1, loud whistling sound, 5 bu
- Rope Cutter: DR 1k1, 2 Free Raises to Called Shots against inanimate objects, ½ Range, 3 bu
- Willow Leaf: DR 2k2, 1 bu
Bows
Add the STR of the bow to the DR of the arrows used as rolled dice. Some bows have a minimum STR required to wield them.
Bows can shoot beyond the indicated range, with a penalty of -1k0 to the attack roll for each extra 50'. Shooting at opponents in melee range incurs a -10 penalty to the attack roll.
- Dai-kyu (great bow): Large, STR 4 (minimum STR 3), Range 500', +10 to attack TN if used on foot, 25 koku
- Han-kyu (half-bow): Small, STR 1, Range 100', +10 to attack TN if used on horseback, 6 koku
- Yumi (bow): Large, STR 3, Range 250', +10 to attack TN if used on horseback, 20 koku
Chain Weapons
- Dragon Beard Hook (longxu hook): Large, DR 1k2, may initiate and maintain a Grapple out to 30', 4 koku
- Kusarigama: Large, DR 0k2 (kama end) or 0k1 (weighted end), may initiate and maintain a Grapple out to 10', 5 koku
- Kyoketsu-shogi (grappling hook): Large, DR 0k1, double armor bonus to Armor TN, 9 bu
- Manrikigusari: Large, DR 1k1, 3 koku
- Rope Dart: Large, Ninja, DR 1k1, may initiate and maintain a Grapple out to 15', 5 bu
Heavy Weapons
- Dai Tsuchi (great hammer): Large, DR 5k2, 15 koku
- Masakari (axe): Medium, DR 2k3, 8 koku
- Ono (great axe): Large, DR 0k4, 20 koku
- Tetsubo (great club): Large, DR 3k3, 20 koku
Knives
Knives can be thrown using Athletics with a Range of 20'.
- Aiguchi & Tanto (knife): Small, DR 1k1, 1 koku
- Beastmaster's Claws: Small, DR 0k2, Lion Clan only (anyone else loses 1 point of Honor per skirmish for using these)
- Jitte & Sai: Small, DR 1k1, 5 bu
- Kama: Peasant, Small, DR 0k2, 5 bu
Ninjutsu
Using Ninjutsu weapons is considered using a Low Skill.
- Blowgun: Medium, DR 1 Wound (1k1 at Skill Rank 3, 2k1 at Skill Rank 7), Range 50', Free Action to reload, triple armor bonus to Armor TN, 8 zeni
- Shuriken: Small, DR 1k1 (no STR), Range 25', 2 bu
- Tsubute (stones): Small, DR 1k1 (no STR, dice do not explode), Range 30', 1 bu (round stones are free)
Polearms
- Bisento (glaive): Large, Monk, DR 3k3, 12 koku
- Nagamaki: Large, DR 2k3, 8 koku
- Naginata: Large, Samurai, DR 3k2, 10 koku
- Sasumata (man-catcher): Large, DR 0k2, may initiate and maintain a Grapple, 6 koku
- Sodegarami (entangler): Large, DR 1k1, may initiate and maintain a Grapple, 6 koku
Slings
The sling is a peasant weapon, yet is sometimes used by ronin, the Sparrow Clan, and the Unicorn Clan. Sparrow Clan samurai do not lose Honor for using it; at the GM's option, neither do Unicorn Samurai.
The sling Athletics/AGI for attacks. The GM may allow a Sling emphasis for Athletics.
- Sling: Small, Peasant, Range 100', DR 1k2. Reduction is doubled.
Spears
Some spears may be thrown using the Spears Skill.
- Kumade (rake): Large, Peasant, DR 1k1, breaks if it inflicts 26+ Wounds in one attack, 3 bu
- Mai Chong (hooked spear): Large, DR 0k3, Range 25', Boar clan weapon, 20 koku
- Lance: Large, DR 1k2 (3k4 when used on horseback after a Move Action), if used without a Move Action increase attack TN by +5 (horseback) or +10 (on foot), breaks if it inflicts 31+ Wounds in one attack, Unicorn/Ox clan weapon, 20 koku
- Nage-yari (javelin): Medium, DR 1k2, Range 50', 3 koku
- Yari (spear): Large, DR 2k2 (1k2 when thrown), Range 30', 5 koku
- Magari-Yari: Large, DR 3k2 (2k2 when thrown), Range 30', 7 koku
Staves
Double armor bonus to Armor TN against staves.
- Bo (staff): Large, Monk, DR 1k2, 2 bu
- Jo (half-staff): Medium, Monk, DR 0k2, 1 bu
- Machi-kanshisha (smoking pipe): Medium, DR 0k2, 20 koku
- Nunchaku: Monk, Peasant, Small, DR 1k1, 3 bu
- Pitchfork: Peasant, Large, DR 1k2, breaks if it inflicts 21+ Wounds in one attack, 3 bu
- Sang Kauw: A 3–4' shaft with a spearpoint at each end, with a crescent blade or a shield at the center; Medium, Monk, DR 1k2 (crescent blade) or 2k1 (shield), 10 koku
- Three-Section Staff: Large, Monk, Ninja, DR 2k2, 1 koku
- Tonfa: Medium, Monk, Peasant, DR 0k3, 5 bu
Swords
- Bokken: Medium, Samurai, DR 0k2, double Reduction from armor, 1 koku
- Katana: Medium, Samurai, DR 3k2, may spend 1 Void Point (only) to increase damage roll by 1k1, priceless (25 koku for crafting purposes)
- Ninja-to: Medium, Ninja, DR 2k2, concealed as a Small weapon, breaks if it inflicts 41+ Wounds in one attack, 5 koku
- No-dachi: Large, DR 3k3, 30 koku
- Parangu (machete): Medium, Peasant, breaks if it inflicts 31+ Wounds in one attack, 10 bu
- Scimitar: Medium, DR 2k3, Unicorn clan (Moto family) weapon, 20 koku
- Wakizashi: Medium, Samurai, DR 2k2, may be thrown with Range 20' (using Athletics), 15 koku
War Fans
- Tessen: Small, DR 0k1, 5 koku
Improvised Weapons (Jiujutsu)
- Torch: Peasant, Improvised, DR 0k1, enemies hit must roll REF (TN 10) to avoid catching fire (1k1 fire damage each Reactions Stage until extinguished, e.g. by Complex Action), 1 bu
Horses
Horses require roughly 1 koku per month of upkeep (feed, stabling, etc.).
- Rokugani Pony: 25 koku
- Gaijin Riding Horse: 75 koku
- Utaku War Horse: 250 koku minimum (possession by outsiders considered an affront to the Unicorn Clan's honor)
Miscellaneous Equipment
- Backpack: 3 zeni
- Ball, Kemari: 5 zeni
- Basket: 1 to 5 zeni
- Blacksmith's Hammer: 3 bu
- Blanket: 1 bu
- Bottle of Bleach/Dye: For clothing or hair; 1 bu
- Bottle of Sake: Rice wine; 1 bu
- Bottle of Shochu: Strong, distilled alcohol; 2 bu
- Bottle, Empty: 1 zeni
- Books and Scrolls: 1 to 10 bu
- Bowyer's Kit: 2 bu
- Brazier: 1 bu
- Bucket: 1 zeni
- Candle: 1 bu
- Chest, Metal: 8 bu
- Chest, Wood: 2 bu
- Chopsticks: 1 zeni
- Cloth, Silk Bolt: 2 koku
- Coin Purse: 3 zeni
- Daisho Stand: 1 koku
- Dice and Dice Cup: 25 zeni
- Divination Kit: Kawaru coins or yarrow sticks; 1 bu
- Finger of Jade: 1 koku (rare)
- Fishing Kit: 10 zeni
- Flint and Steel: 1 zeni
- Furoshiki Sack: 1 zeni
- Games, Traveling: Go, shogi, etc; 1+ bu
- Grapple Hook: 1 bu
- Kiseru: Smoking pipe; 3 zein
- Kubi Bukuro: Net bag for severed heads; 2 zeni
- Lantern, Metal: 4 bu
- Lantern, Paper: 1 bu
- Lucky Cricket: In a cage; 4 bu
- Medicine Kit: 10 uses; 1+ bu
- Mirrors: Polished glass or metal, 3 bu to 2 koku
- Mortar & Pestle: 2 bu
- Musical Instrument: Shamisen, biwa, flute, drum, etc.; 1 to 5 bu
- Palanquin: 10 koku
- Paper: 1 bu per 5 sheets
- Parchment & Charcoal: 3 zeni for 10 of each
- Personal Seal or Chop: Used to sign documents and verify identities; 4 bu
- Pet: Dog, cat, songbird, monkey, etc.; 1 koku
- Pillow Book: 3 zeni to 1 koku
- Pot, Iron: 15 zeni
- Quiver: Holds up to 60 arrows; 20 zeni
- Rope: 5 zeni per foot for reasonable quality
- Sake Cup: Bring your own; 1 bu
- Shovel: 5 zeni
- Small Back Banner: Name, rank, family, and Clan; 1 koku
- Small Folding Stool: 3 bu
- Small Knife: 5 zeni
- Small Painting or Sculpture: 3 bu
- Small Statue of Fortune/Ancestor: 1 koku
- Spices: 1 to 5 bu for small bottle
- Sweets: Small cakes, candies, buns, honeyed rice; 1 bu for 4 servings
- Tatami Mat: 2 zeni
- Tattoo Needles: Steel or bamboo; 1 bu per set
- Tea Set: 1 koku
- Tent, Chomchog: Large, elaborate tent used by Unicorn Clan; 20 koku
- Tent, Small: 2 people; 1 koku
- Tent, Yurt: Used by Unicorn Clan; 10 koku
- Traveling Rations: Dried rice or fish wrapped in paper; 5 zeni per meal
- Umbrella: Wicker or silk; 2 bu
- Walking Stick: 1 zeni
- Whetstone: Used to sharpen weapons (not the daisho); 1 zeni
- Writing Box (sumi-e): Brushes, ink stones, water bowl, sand; 1 bu
Clothing & Accessories
- Cap, Courtier's: 2 bu
- Fan, Courtier's: 40+ bu
- Hakama: Trousers; 75 zeni
- Haori: Jacket; 25 zeni
- Kataginu: Vest; 40 zeni
- Kimono: With obi (belt/sash); 1+ bu
- Makeup Kit: Face powders and paints; 1 koku
- Mask: Silk; 3 bu
- Mempo: Metal mask; 3 bu
- Netsuke: Jewelry (earring, ring, bracelet, etc.); 1 bu
- Obi Pouch: Belt pouch; 25 zeni
- Perfume: 2 bu per small bottle
- Sandals: 50 zeni
- Snow Shoes: 2 bu
- Traveling Cloak: 75 zeni
- Wide-brimmed Straw Hat: 1 zeni
- War Paint: Popular wit Crab, Lion, and Unicorn; 3 bu per vial
- Wig: For attention or disguise; 1 bu
Traveling Pack
Most school Outfits include a Traveling Pack, consisting of a furoshiki bag and 10 of the following:
- Basket, blacksmith's hammer, blanket, bottle of bleach/dye, bottle of sake, bottle of shochu, bottle of water, bucket, candles (6), chopsticks, coin purse, cooking pot, daisho stand, divination kit (kawaru coins), divination kit (yarrow sticks), fan, fishing net or pole, flint and tinder, grapple hook, incense brazier, ink brush kit, jewelry or accessory, lantern, lucky cricket (in cage), makeup kit, mask or mempo, miniature go or shogi set, mortar & pestle, musical instrument, parchment & charcoal (10 each), perfume, personal seal or chip, pet (dog, cat, monkey, songbird; counts as two items), pillow book, rope (50'), sake cup, set of dice, shovel, small back banner, small folding stool, small hand mirror, small knife, small statue, small tent, smoking pipe, snowshoes, spare kimono and sandals, spices, straw cloak, sweets, tatami mat, tattoo needles, tea set, vial of paint, walking stick, week's rations, whestone, wicker umbrella, wide-brimmed straw hat, wig
Jade Powder
Complex Action to apply jade powder to a weapon; lasts until used up or washed off (cannot be recovered once applied). First hit deals full damage to an Invulnerable creature; second hit deals ½, third deals ¼, then the powder is exhausted. In the Shadowlands, applied jade powder is consumed in 2 hours.