L5R is a game about resources. Every top player can wax poetically about the importance of a sound holding structure, undercosted personalities, and maximizing the value of your fate hand. Important concepts all.

None of these cards will be featured in today’s article. They sure are really good though.

The single most important resource in l5r, however, has nothing to do with any of those. It has no connection with the fate deck, or the dynasty deck, or anything that starts in play.

The single greatest resource in l5r is people. It is you. It is me. It is the globetrotting grizzled veteran, the nostalgic prodigal, and the wide eyed neophyte. It is the Mr. Suitcase obsessive collector, and the zealously clan obsessed who never needs to buy more than a few packs because he is hustling down his trades.

Today we are going to be talking about this crucial resource and some basic steps to prevent it from drying up.

The Importance of the Opposition

Garfield minus Garfield reveals what l5r would be like if you never had anyone to play against. The excitement of a new set. The joy of a new deck, and then the disappointment when you realize you have no one to play with. Without opponents, you will never really know if your deck is awesome. Nor will you be able to practice the different game states that will present themselves in tournament play. You won’t be able to get the necessary repetitions with the deck, and you’ll never get that ephemeral feeling that is critical to navigating your way to kotei success.

You can goldfish. You can exhaustively theorycraft. You can rely on the kindness of strangers or the largesse of AEG to provide with a pedigreed option. None of these are a good substitute for playing a game of l5r. They are also less fun.

Acknowledge the Humanity, yes even with Scorpion Players

Opponents are people. In games, it can be easy to forget that. There is a joke I make at tournaments. A cliche I have gone to many times. Whenever, the tournament organizer does a song and dance about “Does everyone have an opponent”, I wait for the beat and say, “I have no opponent, only friends”.

It isn’t actually a joke. I love playing l5r, I want more people to play l5r, and if you play l5r, you are my friend. Maybe not my best friend. Maybe not the sort of friend who gets an invite to my birthday party, but on some level, you are my friend. Until you demonstrate that you aren’t worthy of my friendship, you shall have it. No reservations.

I’d totes game with Bayushi.

Now, I’m not a naive Pollyanna. L5r has had, and still has, some number of cheats, liars, assholes, and other unsavory sorts. Any subset of people is going to feature those. You don’t have to accommodate the truly terrible, but it is important to separate what matters from what doesn’t. Let the political affiliations go. Worry less that he is a fan of Joss Whedon. Focus instead on the one critical factor happening right then. You two gaming. Its not the easiest thing to do, but for the purpose of excelling at l5r, you need an opponent who is focused on the game, so that you can focus on the game, so that you can make the proper play, and collect the valuable data that a real live game offers.

Of course you can be friendly, of course you can chat about other stuff. L5r is no one’s top priority in life. I love visiting with my friends, but not during the game. During the game, I’m focused on the game. Do I still make jokes? Of course I do. Indeed, I make more than most, but the the humor is about and surrounding the game. I want the game experience itself to a be great. I want my opponent to enjoy himself, so that we can play another game. Humor goes a long way to improving it. It also makes me happy. I love an audience. Even if it is only a captive one because he is forced to sit there as my opponent. Sucker. Befriend your opponent, have those great getting to know your conversations. Appreciate them as a person, but remember, the game is the thing. Shakespeare said that. Honest.

Fun doesn’t have to be zero sum

Winning is more fun the losing, but someone’s got to lose. Hopefully, the game of l5r will be close enough, riveting enough, that both parties will resist the urge to put on their mopey pants. In reality though, lopsided victories happen. Bad draws from variance, poorly constructed decks, unfamiliarity with a new deck, factional strength and or player skill imbalances can lead to runaway game states. This a critical juncture for a player. If you are getting destroyed by your opponent, don’t get upset, if he is having fun, ride it out, let him enjoy himself, when it is over, great news! You get to play another game. Which you should. If you get crushed over and over and it is starting to affect your cool, action must be taken. You can switch decks, or ask your opponent too. Don’t be afraid, its ok. Taking your lumps is one of the best ways to learn.

Now in a tournament, there is no second game. You lose and you’re out, so every game is potentially your last. So what. Get over it. Only one person gets to win a tournament. Don’t be a prick; be gracious. Not because it is the right thing to do, but because you selfishly want there to be as many l5r players as there can possibly be.

The first time an opponent of mine cuts me with a katana and draws blood, I am totally quitting.

I learned to play l5r from my older brother, Russell. He quit the game many years ago after losing in the top 4 to a player of note. A Dynasty team member. That grand player, who is a person I know to be a fine gentleman, was, on that day, a complete douchebag. That was literally the last time my big brother played any sort of collectible card game. It was over a decade ago, and it totally bums me out when I think of all the fun experiences we could have shared if a) my brother didn’t get so upset and was so damn stubborn and b) his opponent had shown some class.

One time. That can be all it takes for a person to switch from loving l5r to never participating with it again. So be mindful of your behavior. Make sure both you and your opponent are enjoying themselves. The game cannot survive without each you.