I have gotten Qin the Warring State book. It is a very well written
book, the authors actually know their chinese history :) History is
very well written and took place during the Warring States period of
Chinese History. It mentioned both the historical events up to it and
religion during that time. I would call this a low fantasy rpg because
magic exist but don't dominate the game like L5R, and Jadeclaw. I like
the character classes that consisted of 7 archtypes and its 3 - 4
sub-classes. Though I wish it would flash out more on less popular
archtypes (artisan/tradesman, traveler, and artist) and sub-classes,
however, that occurred to every other game system that have character
class whose focus are non-combat and non-spell caster related.

A character stat is consisted of his Aspects (fire = social, metal =
martial, wood = mental, water = physical, earth = chi), skills, gifts,
and flaws. There are only 6 skill levels (beginner, apprentice,
competent, expert, master, legendary, godlike). Each skill cost = cost
of previous skill cost + current skill level (beginner, = 0,
apprentice = 1, competent = 3, expert = 6, master = 10, legendary =
15, godlike = 21). You have to pay for previous skill cost and current
skill cost in order to get current skill (cost to be competent = 4
points, to be expert = 10). Gift allows you to reroll and take the
better of the two on certain situation. Flaw let you reroll and take
the worse of the two on certain situation. Beside skills, there are
tao and martial arts. To put it simply, tao = martial arts in fields
on non-combat area.

Mechanic, here is what I love about this system. 2d10 (one black =
yin, one white = Yang) and the book used Yy as alternate to 2d10.
Anyway, a typical roll = difference between high - low number + Aspect
+ Skill to beat a target number of 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15. You gain
additional effect if the higher number is Yang when a test is physical
related (i.e. combat, athletic, and smith related) or when the high
number is Yin for mental test (i.e. playing chess, forgery, decipher,
perceive). A contest of skill is whoever has the higher result. When a
natural roll of Y = y, for 1 - 9, it is known as Yin Yang Balance, you
adds the number of the roll to your Aspect and Skill while at the same
time, you gain that much chi in return. When a natural roll of 0,0,
it counts as Yin Yang Deprived. He immediately lose 5 chi (down to 0),
and something bad happen in term of role-playing.

Chi is very versatile, for the game mechanic, it can modify the roll
at 1:1 ratio. It also used as cost to pay for using Tao, Spells and
martial arts.Chi can be regain through sleep (1 hour = 1 chi),
meditation (Yy differences on a successful roll), and critical success
roll.

Book is divided into equally of game mechanic and game background in
hardbound 272 pages. Background information dealt talked about
government structure, 7 Warring States, geography, thoughts and how
society function during that period of time. The graphic is an
attempted Chinese archaic calligraphy and calligraphy painting. There
is a nice map of China during Warring States period inside the hard
cover.

Already, there are 2 supplements coming out for QIn the Warring States
except that they are in French. All in all, this is the book I have
envision when I wrote Jadeclaw and how I want Romance of Three
Kingdoms to be.

--
Cordially,

Chuan Lin
owner

Romancing Cathay
10050 Montgomery Rd, #315
Cincinnati, OH 45242-5322
USA

tel: 513-290-7417

http://www.romanceofthe3kingdoms.com
email: han@...