Other Clans' PATHs

[MirumotoDaisuke]

[Kakita Shiro]

[Doji Pheelyp]

[Kakita Kasukaru]

Actually, assuming that one of our paths includes lending a helping hand to other Clans (and failing that, if we decide our own path along that way, sorry for the pun), I see a nice convergence between Dragon, Unicorn and Crane choices. Unicorn wander around to help heimin. Where there are heimin, there are monks. Dragons team up to help spiritually where the Unicorn help materially... and the Crane provide the necessary logistics. If we manage to get the Phoenix to stay allied with us (we can dream), that's a nice block of all the North and East of Rokugan, around Toshi Ranbo.

[Martino]

Why do we even care if the Phoenix ally with us anymore? They're a bunch of pacifist do-nothings. Where were they when the Mantis were attacking us? I don't want to waste capital on allies when our need for allies is primarily because we traditionally maintain a small standing army.

[Doji Satevis]

[Martino]

I want a means to interesting and impactful stories that feature important characters. And the Crane and Phoenix make terrible allies because the two clans, just like their customer bases, want to avoid any kind of meaningful conflict.

[Doji Honshingen]

[Asahina Shimato]

Which, generally speaking, only ever show up in fiction as a pretext for war. Or removal from office.

[Martino]

Those conflicts have never been written or presented in a meaningful way. The day it happens for the first time, I'll take interest.