[Response] Jacob's comments on Ozaka

Jacob posted this on DrivethruRPG: (paragraph breakdown is mine since DT removed all line breaks).

So, some constructive criticism... I saw your game at MidSouthCon (I was one of the two who couldn't make it to your morning game!) and decided to take a look at your game even if I couldn't be in it. Me 'n my BF have been reading through it, and we have a few thoughts.

My BF has phrased it the most bluntly: Ozaka needs to commit more to either being Classic Japan But With DnD Fantasy, or being Wild Dungeon-Crawl Fantasy In Magical Demiplane Japan. You have the basis for either of those, but there are a few things that keep either idea from soaring. If you want to feel like old-school Japan, you've taken out too much of the interesting parts of old Japan for them to pop. I understand not wanting to burden players with honor or bushido, but... really, suddenly having to care about another culture's social mores that you haven't internalized would make some great gameplay, which is why L5R focused on that.

Likewise, trying to feel like this period of Japan also blocks the "oh by the way Magic Missile and Cure Light Wounds are abundant" weirdness of it. I know you don't like characters that are inherently "scary" or would cause friction with the locals, but it feels extremely weird that warlocks get a pass when they're seemingly on the supply side of Ozaka's monster problem. If you really don't want to engage with old social mores or social constructs (the lack of the state religions really jumped out at my BF as something that made the game feel very not-like-Japan), I'd advise a revision of the game leaning into the fantasy-weirdness and making something less historically Japanese but more bizarre and exciting: "the demiplane of Hong Kong and all its precariously dangerous politics" would make for an exciting smaller-scale 5e setting whether the characters were locals or visitors.

If you want to really engage with Japan-but-it's-5e, I'd advise excising the more Euro-Fantasy classes (...mostly the non-bard magic-users) and relying on your homebrew casters to help convey the feeling of a world that isn't just not-Europe.

The overall presentation of the game is good and you've got some good art and functional layout. I am, admittedly, also not a fan of 5e, so seeing your game work with 5e-isms instead of break out from them frustrates me a little. You have the start of something really cool here, and I'd love to see it bloom outward into something that really draws eyes across a crowd.

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Thanks, Jacob. A lot to unpack here.

TLDR: I took a middle-of-the-road approach, but whenever I had a choice, I picked that “let the GM decide for his/her game.” Also, I tried to be cognizant of future class/player options that may come in later books.

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First off, thanks for your purchase and feedback.

Second, you will have an opportunity to try the adventure at Gencon (search for "Legacies First Ones Entertainment") when the games become available. It'll be called "Fiends of Dreams," but there will be 3 other adventures set in Ozaka: "A Stolen Daisho," "Friends we make," and "Battle of Shiro Azaki."

The points you note about 5e-isms and the design of the settings are among the elements I had to determine early on as I laid the foundation for Ozaka. Do I write my own game or use 5e (or Pathfinder or GURPS)? The decision to go with core 5e was a deliberate one (driven by sales and game attendance). Which brought some oddities and 5e-isms with it, I agree. But do they detract from the enjoyment of the game? I think moreso while reading the book than when playing.

HOWEVER, if you look at the design of the book itself and skip the sections on character options/ monsters, you will find that the setting itself was written in a non-system-specific way. (Also deliberate). As such, the setting itself has no stat or system built into it.

I don't want to create a full game - don't have the time, people, or interest in doing that. So that decision has worked well for me and for FOE. As I write more and more, I find my role is to provide YOU, the GM, with the tools to create a compelling campaign for your table. Which WILL be different from another table. And that’s fine

That’s great!

The Honor system... Ha... Yes... I wrestled with that more than anything else. Being a fan of the original Oriental Adventures and of L5R (where that is less burdensome), I remember its system for honor, which became almost a mini-game in itself, with everything the player did adding +1, -2, +3, etc. I like the game to focus on... It inevitably led to its abandonment, or seppuku. And going back to “regular D&D where I don’t have to deal with that crap.”

Let the PCs do [stuff], rather than count beans for every off-colored joke or thinking of a dishonorable plan. Samurai were honorable, but also practical men. Let the world/story deal with the consequences of their acting like bandits, burning towns, stealing from temples, and the world around them treating them like garbage for it. Therefore, I chose this "light" system.

Okay, okay.

"But JP, you don't have a system for honor," you say. I admit. I present the concept, but let the story dictate how it's used. I prefer the less rigid approach to the rules (where my old-school roots shine through), and let the players do their thing - but now they have to worry about their honorability. I chose to place the onus of adjudication in the GM’s hands and to dictate the consequences.

Now... for "realism" vs "magic missile." I have spent years trying to create material historical gaming, and experience taught me that most people want to PLAY and don't want a HISTORY LESSON. As proof: The GURPS historical supplements are great. I have several of them that I read regularly. Whoever played them? No one. (Not sorry to the one guy who played it). Why? Because people have a passing knowledge of these subjects, and when they come to play RPG, they want the Japan-flavored D&D. Not the full-on Japan where the GM must spend 1h of the game slot explaining how it works, but that doesn't factor into the GAME.

I do.

Players don’t. They want to do “cool things.” (and they should be given the opportunity to do that.)

You are 100% correct that warlocks should be hunted. However, there are several types of warlocks that don’t deal with fiends or Cthulhu. There are some with angelic or divine ties. Would those be treated the same? How would the average person know of the pact vs a sorcerer? Or a strange type of bard? What happens if a daimyo is a warlock? Or one who becomes one? Or his wife? Would it be the same in Kobochi, Makida, or Midori? What about the Wakou?

Again. That leads to “the GM will decide for his campaign,” the story, and story potential dictating what should happen.

About the state religion. It is in there, perhaps not explicitly stated as such. The 5 gods of the pantheon (plus the Thousand Gods) are the only deities presented and discussed in the book.

I do not mind scary characters, don’t look at anything with the First Ones... (Power is Fickle, Tarsyn, Akhamet). What I mind are characters/players who have whole side-games designed around them. For example, the rogue who sneaks everywhere and never works with the party. Or the player who plays an orc just to get the NPCs to react to him. EVERY NPC.

Now, I’d LOVE to talk to you more about this. You can find my email on FoeLegacies.com (I can’t post it here). We can zoom/discord/phone. I’d like to hear about your idea for the Hong Kong setting…

I think I addressed everything. But let’s talk. I wanna pick your brain.

JP

FOE releases... The Fiend FOELio!

Since FOE was formed in 2013, I have ran several multi-year campaigns, one-shots, and the Legacies campaign that still runs yearly at Gencon and at other smaller events through the year.

These many events resulted in the creation of several different, new, and unique opponents. These stat blocks languished in various documents, and adventures, forgotten or ignored. Some were on roll20 where I created them. A few were on pictures of a scan of a partial stat block.

Over the past two years or so, I have been collecting these stat blocks in one location. Several of them needed new coats of paints: tightening the wording, creating new art, and bringing things in line with hour we create our stat blocks now.

I added some new art, from the usual artists I work with, and a several pieces using AI. This is capped by The British Shark's awesome cover inspired by X-Men 135 by John Byrne (one of my favorite comic of all time).

The book contains:
- Over 250 fully-statted creatures and NPCs to use as allies or opponents and seven major characters from the Legacies campaign over the years.
- Unique characters from Akhamet, Olympia, Ozaka, Rhym, Tarsyn, the Truskan Empire, and even fully-statted First Ones.
- New creatures from FOE settings, presented with notes on how to adapt them to other worlds.
- Updated creatures from older FOE products. Giving a little love to these creatures after years of playtesting. Cleaning and bringing them in line with more modern standards.
- Dozens of Book of Lairs-style encounters provide immediate adventure ideas for your table.
- Though written for the worlds of FOE, most of the material contained within can be used for any campaign setting.

This is a book that took over a decade to create!

It is available on:
- Amazon for physical books.
- DriveThruRPG for PDFs.

[Gencon 2025] After Action Report Part 6

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7

Ozaka

Following the events of last year, I decided that Ozaka would be isolated for this year and not participate in the global events as a while. In many ways, this simplified how to integrate everything together, BUT I was asked about if there would be an Ozaka special. Player was sad to hear my "not this year." But this is a temporary situation...

Next year, maybe...?

Safe inside my home By Chris Ketchum. Here, the PCs are sent to track down a missing patrol along the border.

This is Chris' first formally-written adventure.

• The duelist Nito has gone away to other pastures.
• The men of Yamane were rescued from the clutches of the Kobochi forces

Sound of a Biwa By JP Chapleau. The PCs are sent to deliver a scroll to a shugenja in the village of Akemizu. When they arrive there, things are not quite as they first appear.

• Kaito Hoichi remained in Yomi.
• Lord Taira was destroyed.

Tarsyn

FOE's new setting, Tarsyn, merges elements of Arthurian Legends and the Crusades. Gencon 2025 was the first time the campaign was played for the public. The combination creates a rather unique combination of influences.

This setting was written by Rebecca and I as we traded ideas. For Gencon, we decided to use different parts of the setting and produce a different adventure style. She took the "city adventure" and I took the "wilderness adventure" to expand and present different elements of the setting. From the feedback, the setting was well-received.

Hunt for the Lady's Bowl By Rebecca Price. A researcher sends the PCs to find an artifact hidden somewhere in Tarsyn. Finding the location of the Lady's Bowl reveals the layers of Tarsynian society and its complexities.

This is Rebecca's second adventure for FOE at Gencon.

• PCs kept the map to the Lady's Bowl.
• The Leper Knight were involved in the Hunt.

White Doe By JP Chapleau. The PCs are sent to deliver a wagon of supplies to the Leper Knight on the borders of Tarsyn. However, the appearance of a dying man may change their destination.

• Werewolves were defeated.
• Sir Hubert was brought back to Auriville.

All Together (with Skytorn)

Frozen Dreams By Brandon Alspach with JP Chapleau. Prophetics dreams and visions. The PCs visited a series of dream islands, each "not-quite-right" based on Akhamet, Olympia, Ozaka, Skytorn and Tarsyn. Yet in none of them all together... An oniric adventure that takes the PCs to a dream-realm where something wishes to get access to the Prime Material.

This is Brandon's first formally-written adventure and the first special not to be written by JP.

• The Architect came thru in Akhamet and Olympia

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7

[Ozaka Campaign] Big Finale!

Our winter campaign, set in Ozaka has come to an end as the PCs tackled a strange creature hunting the refugees from the Yaminoryu's depredations. With the situation in Aoshima only getting worse between the Tojo and the Wakou.

This game began with the greatest question a GM ever asked his table...

Do you carry any explosives on you?

Their investigation led them to a fog-covered cemetery where a light shun growing darkness. Then, the nian, a flaming monster mixing elements of a lion and a dragon. The nian represent the craziness associated with the annual celebrations of the Lunar New Moon... A celebration known for its fireworks displays.

What followed was an epic battle where the terrain itself fought for the nian... The lanterns (visible in the picture) exploded whenever the PCs came near them! Until finally, the creature was defeated.

This epic battle put out level 8 party against this new monster (which will be published in an upcoming Ozaka Monster book). Due to school-related timing issues (half our party are high schoolers), we closed this chapter of the campaign. As some players will no longer be available for a few months, I think it easier to end this chapter and start something new.

Whether we will come back to Aoshima, or even Ozaka, remains to be seen.

Stay tunes for more details!

Gencon Perks: Minis for the GMs Ozaka 2

Part of the GM perks for FOE is that you get some "products". I am never truly upfront with those because I never know ahead of time what I will be able to offer. This year, I managed to paint nearly everything that appeared in the adventure and offer baggies of miniatures to the GMs.

I printed and painted them myself.

Gencon Perks: Minis for the GMs Ozaka 1

Part of the GM perks for FOE is that you get some "products". I am never truly upfront with those because I never know ahead of time what I will be able to offer. This year, I managed to paint nearly everything that appeared in the adventure and offer baggies of miniatures to the GMs.

I printed and painted them myself.

[Ozaka Campaign] Facing the Dragon of Darkness

Back to Ozaka after a week where everyone was sick... This time, the party decided to bypass the dungeon and head to the roof to tackle the Yaminoryu, the dragon of darkness.

This dragon is a creature that corrupts everything that comes into contact with it. The party has been trying to track it down for quite a while now. They help defeat its army when it attacked the town of Aoshima and try to defeat it.

The dragon is inside its tower, forcing the PCs to cross the roof, climb the ichor-covered tower, and confront it there...

This is the climax of the Winter-Summer Campaign 2024. Our heroes are in the fight of their lives. Will they succeed? Tune in next time...

[Ozaka Campaign] Battle of Aoshima

With two players out tonight, I ran a one-off set in the campaign's main city while the party is away tackling another challenge.

Everything was peaceful before the Wakou opened on the town of Aoshima with their cannons. In no time, the docks were ablaze and the brave adventurers had to rise up to stop the onslaught. Galleon-born cannons quickly set buildings aflame as their barrage did not cease. The town's defenders held succeeded in slowing down the raiders.

As our brave heroes withdrew into the town, they rescued many people who took refuge in a warehouse only for the Wakou to chain the doors and set the place ablaze!

Finally, our heroes reached the House of the Sun, the Temple of Amaterasu in town where the Wakou were burning the Torii Arches and one of their witches performed a ritual against the building. Whatever she did, she succeeded partially when an uncontrolled yokai emerged from the portal and rampaged through town until stopped by our heroes.

They were relieved by the arrival of Tojo Hiroshi and his samurai. Their bravery was noted.

[Ozaka Campaign] Haunted Bamboo Forest

Tonight, my ozaka party went through the Haunted Bamboo Forest on their way to meet the Keep of Shadows...

[Ozaka Campaign] Village in the Trees

Tonight in my ozaka campaign for dnd5e... The PCs try to open the way for their army to face the Yame no Ryu (the Dragon of Darkness)

On the way, they investigated a tree-borne village with a surprise...

[Ozaka Campaign] The Ambush from the Trees

The beastmen ambush the party from a multi-level tree hideout!

[Ozaka Campaign] Shipwreck channel

I will post the short AARs for my current Ozaka Campaign organized in a Westmarch-style campaign where the PCs have to deal with the many problems of the town of Aoshima.

Tonight, the heroes investigated Shipwreck Channel, the site of a battle between a Wakou wizard and a pair of white dragons...

[After Action Report] FOE day at the TEC

NB I thought I had posted this but that it is published in November means I did not.

On Sunday October 8th, at the TEC center in Murfreesboro TN, FOE invaded the regular campaign day. On offer: two introductory adventures.

ActionMan ran "Ghosts of Kurogawa" (which appears in the Ozaka Campaign Setting). This is the same adventure we ran multiple times previously, it was designed to use not only

The only sad thing is that neither of us thought of taking any picture of his game - and I forgot to remind him to take any. So this adventure will live on only in the memory of the brave adventurers who faced the wilds of Ozaka.

I reached out to some of his players and they gave him some great feedback AND provided constructive criticism.

I'm so proud to see a new generation of GMs starting to see a new generation taking up our mantle. It is so crucial for a hobby to have a new crop of GMs to run games and grow. And what's the only way for them to become good? Why, they must GM of course!

Meanwhile, I ran a new adventure introduction adventure set in Olympia, built on a similar frame as "Ghosts" and simply named "Bandits of Mytenia". This showcase adventure is designed to be easily alterable, making it so what the PCs are doing or looking for can be changed easily. Not fully modular but not far from it.

This adventure also uses a map with 3e terrain as a focal point for the game.

[July 3rd] UK1 - Beyond the Crystal Cave 1e to 5e AAR

Before I go any further on this, let me give HUGE thanks to ActionMan, Chad, Dennis, Jesse, Justin, and Justus for participating in this event. It was a great way to spend my post-July 1st (Canada Day) and pre-July 4th. You guys really made this event memorable.

On July 3rd, I brought together a small group of players at my home, most of whom I never met before. And ActionMan.

Why?

To run an adventure set in Ozaka, and iron out the few issues with the character sheets and find out how the iconics would play in a setting different than a "regular" convention environment.

I chose a classic 1e adventure, UK1 Beyond the Crystal Cave. As the number indicates, this adventure was written in the UK. If you have never player any of their modules, they had a VERY different vibe than the Gygax-created adventure, with a different mixture of whimsical and grounded fantasy. It is odd to describe, but in many way, the adventures suit my style and preferences a lot more. This one is a strange sandbox and it is likely to play VERY differently from play-through to play-through.

Although there is a 5e-port available on DM's Guild, I chose to do the conversion myself and it worked out fine. I spent a few hours adding some notes. I have no intention of selling my port as I'm sure the existing one is decent.

So what happened?

Sent by Lord Azaki to investigate the appearance of a strange grey bubble where a hill used to be present, the party explored the homonymous Crystal Cave and the odd garden beyond. Of course, since I had to add some tie-in with the First Ones, because they are just so fun and exciting to run.

Now, I will be honest and say that this adventure contains a bit of a "gotcha" at the end (depending on the PCs' actions), which normally irks me because they rob players of some agency. This one though, does it in a way that is interesting and that creates more role-playing opportunities, leading the character to more adventure, more discoveries. So I have to say that I quite like

It has a charm all its own and I encourage you to try this one if you have a chance. I was so pleased with it, I think I may try to run more of that series but adapted to 5e.

The adaptation to Ozaka gave it a different spin a "regular" game setting would not have had.

If I have to give a rating to this adventure, I'll give it a 4/5 as written.

[Release] Ozaka Campaign Setting Released

Finally, after months of writing and play-testing, almost two years in fact! I have been working on this one effectively since the days of confinement. I had a very basic map, some basic ideas.

Some of the constraints I wanted:
- Japanese folklore should be prevalent but not be a course of Japanese history
- It had to fit and work together with Akhamet and Olympia, serve as a complement to those t
- I wanted the First Ones involved somehow, but not directly present
- I did not want a reskinning of Legend of the Five Rings
- I wanted to focus on an era that was more in-line with most of the samurai movies: the early Sengoku Jidai of the 12-15th centuries where bushido existed but was not as codified as it would be later, during the Tokugawa era.

So what is Ozaka?

Ozaka is a place in none of the other campaign setting, and in all of them. It is hidden beyond endless storms.

Once in Ozaka, the veil beyond the worlds is weak. Creatures from other planes can cross here easier.

This made the wilderness areas dangerous and traveled only by heavily armed and forces (such as armies, caravans, and adventurers) or swift-moving messengers (mounted couriers)

How is the game changed?

One thing I decided to add was the social caste, as a way to add flair. There are three castes: the samurai (nobility), the heimin (freemen), and the eta (foreigners, slaves, and those whose jobs are loud, dirty or smelly). These groups rarely socialize in polite society.

Members of low-castes respond with whatever they believe the samurai wants to hear, and most importantly, never say 'no' but come up with excuses as to why they cannot accomplish the story. "I would sama, but my wife is sick and I feel the same sickness coming over me." And members of higher castes tend to ignore or assume lower castes are telling them what they want to her.

However, since the wilderness is dangerous, the social restrictions are relaxed while outside the boundaries of cities. Adventurers therefore, are known to mingle with those of different castes - while they are "out there." Adventurers develop bonds of friendship and often ignore these strictures.

What is in the book?

Ozaka is the biggest book FOE produced to this day, clocking at over 200 pages. There are tons of new rule items, character options, new monsters, etc.

- Seven new character races, from the spidery Kumojin to the giant Akai-Oni or the fox spirit Kitsune.

- Two new classes to expand play: the courtier (ambassadors and diplomat) and the shugenja (mage-priest keeping the kami quiet).

- New archetypes for almost every class: cleric domains, the geisha, the shinobi, mystical tattoos, new spells, and a family history generator.

- How to use different social castes in your game.

- The religion of Ozaka, led by Lady Amaterasu and the Thousand Gods.

- Ten fully-statted NPCs to serve as mentors or opponents.

- Over thirty new monsters.

Ozaka is now available on DriveThru RPG.

If you want a hardcopy, you can get one on Amazon.com.

Meet the Iconics: Ozaka

Adachi Kaede

Female Kumojin Earth Shugenja, Clan Scion, Samurai Caste
Born to the Adachi family, you spent your childhood studying the earth kami. By your gempukku, you had spent more time in the mountain and its kami. You left your mother’s web to travel and seek a greater understanding, seeking to learn and keep the kami at peace. Earning vast riches and fame will attract worthy males and show up your sisters.

Akane

Female Kitsune Geisha (bard), Maiko, Heimin
You spent your youth training in the arts of the geisha, from a maiko you became a geisha but found the sedentary lifestyle too constraining. The road is filled with excitedment and sources of inspiration: from secret love affairs to spectacular sites. One day, maybe you will settle down and train others, maybe.

Chikako

Female Akai-oni Bushi (fighter), Duelist trainee, Heimin
As a child, you left your parents to follow a master swordsman to learn the tricks of his trade. Over the years, he used you as a servant: forcing you to prepare meals, and throwing all sort of things at you: food, plates, and tools. You hate him wanting to learn sword play.
Then one day you began to swat away the bowl, dodging food, and blocking the tools. He never sparred with you but one day you left his side having learned everything he had to teach. You have been selling your skills as a warrior or a duelist ever since.
You enjoy battleas it makes you feel alive.

Matsui Uchimoro

Male Kyojin Sohei (paladin), Yojimbo, Samurai Caste
Born to a samurai family, you trained to cover your family’s backs and keep everyone safe. Shortly before your gempukku, you discovered faith in Hachiman, the Lord of Swords, and entered a monastery where the harsh regimen appealed to you. Now you travel the land to test your skills and hunting down yokai of all sorts.

Noritsuke

Male Tengu Shinobi (rogue), Ninja-trained, Eta
Born to the lowest caste of society, you joined a ninja family and trained with them, learning skills that allowed you to thrive under the very nose of the rich and powerful. You pass yourself off as a servant and obey commands given to you while in public. Behind close doors, you are free to do as you please.

Sugawara Inu

Male Human Fire Wujen (Wizard), Magistrate, Samurai Caste
From a minor family, you grew to become an investigator for your lord. Your fascination and affinity with the fire kami led you to find ways to use their power to assist you in your work. Since then, you have been looking to expand your knowledge and understanding of the kami.

People of Ozaka

I 3d-printed many miniatures and these are some for Ozaka.

The purple ninja was someone I thought would be an interesting iconic but I changed my mind and went with a different character.

The blue guy is an alternative Kyojin. Kyojin are one of the descendant race of Oni and humans: they are large, blue, and brutish.

The monkey is a sarujin, the monkey-people. They are the same as the babiru from the Akhamet Player's Guide. Although stat-wise they are identical, their fluff expands, making them Ozakan.

The human fire shugenja is an alternate mini I have been using for one of the iconics.