Clan of Origin: Lion
Dojo: Shiro No Yojin

Description: The Ikoma Family has always served as the Lion Clan’s storytellers and historians: the keepers of the Clan’s memory. They have therefore accumulated an exhaustive library of information on virtually every major battle ever fought in Rokugan, and even a handful beyond its borders. The Family’s encyclopedic knowledge has made an Ikoma commander or subcommander an invaluable asset to many Lion Clan armies.

Students of the Ikoma style split their training between personal combat (with the katana) and tactical studies for Mass Combat situations. They have proven very effective in both roles, even simultaneously. Whether serving as a member of their general’s command staff, or as a general themselves, they are capable of turning the tide of any battle, large or small.

There are very few weaknesses in the Ikoma style…so long as the Ikoma fighter remains attached to his army. Cutting the fighter off from his allies, even temporarily, may shake his confidence and cause him to make rare mistakes that can prove fatal.

Basic Curriculum: Commander, Kenjutsu
Knacks: Orders (Advance, Charge, Envelop, Flank, Hold Ground, Regroup, Scout, Set vs. Charge, Trim Line, Withdraw)

New Swordsman Knacks: Orders (Advance, etc). Each of the Swordsman Knacks for the Ikoma Fighting Style corresponds to entries on the Army Tactics chart on page 101 of the Eisen sourcebook. When a General chooses a tactic that he has the Knack for, he adds a number equal to his Mastery Level (Apprentice = 1, Journeyman = 2, Master = 3) times his Rank in the appropriate Orders Knack to his Strategy roll for that Round of battle. Thus, a General who is a Master and has the Charge Knack at 5 would add 15 to his roll each Round he chose Charge.

The Ikoma fighter must have a minimum of four Knacks at a Rank of four to become a Journeyman, and a minimum of five Knacks at a Rank of five to become a Master.

Apprentice: An Ikoma fighter studies the secrets of his clan’s greatest generals, as well as history’s other great generals, to gain insights into the ebb and flow of battle. He may add twice his Mastery Level in Ikoma to his Initiative Total, and to all Contested Wits + Strategy rolls he makes during Mass Combat.

Students of the Ikoma Style train at the dojo at Shiro no Yojin, a castle formerly held by the Crane Clan, but captured by a Lion army nearly a century ago. The ferocity of the soldiers at Shiro no Yojin is unparalleled, and they often rush screaming across the battlefield to shatter the front lines of the enemy. If an Ikoma fighter chooses to attack with his first Action in any combat, he may increase his Damage Roll by five for that attack only.

Journeyman: An Ikoma fighter leams to goad his opponents into making costly mistakes. When making a Contested Wits + Strategy roll during Mass Combat, he may add twice his Rank in Wits to his result. In addition, he may add Rank in Wits to his TN to Be Hit in any combat.

Master: When an Ikoma fighter can go no further, he must change to suit his challenges. The Master may spend a Drama Die before an opponent makes an Attack Roll to make a Wits + Tactics roll. The result of this roll is compared to the opponent’s roll. If the Master’s roll is higher, he successfully anticipates the attack and avoids it entirely.

In addition, if the Master is a general in an army (or one of a general’s subcommanders, with a rank of Lieutenant or higher), he may spend a Drama Die to increase the total of his side’s Wits + Strategy roll during Mass Combat by five times his Mastery Level in Ikoma. This is in addition to any bonus he may add to the Roll for reducing his Personal Results Roll later in the Round.