The Player Design Team is pleased to give players a look at the primary themes of each Clan, as they are planned for the Celestial Edition arc. Today a look at the Scorpion Clan.
Scorpion
Primary Themes
Magistrates
The Scorpion Magistrates are the masters of punishing the dishonored individual. They will form the basis of a military dishonor strategy for Scorpion. Punishing the dishonored on the battlefield and through ongoing loss of honor. The deck will combine both loss of honor and military aggression as the knowledge and investigations of the Magistrates lead to the downfall of opposing generals before, during and after the battle.
The Scorpion Magistrate’s focus for victory will be either complete destruction of their enemies militarily, or complete destruction of their enemies politically. Either is fine to a Scorpion.
Ninjas
Ninjas are the intelligence gathering, espionage and assassination arm of the Scorpion Clan. Trained in the art of subterfuge and stealth from very early in their lives they strike at opponents on and off the battlefield. Many a worthy opponent has been rendered weak , ill or worse before ever reaching battle. In many ways the ninja are the equivalent of scouts, except rather than relying on knowledge of the ground, they rely on prior knowledge (and often interference) with the enemy leaders. The ninjas are characterized through use of poison and access to hidden information – often times knowing more about the other player’s deck than he does!
The Ninjas primary focus for victory will be militarily by poisoning their enemy. And their enemy’s families. And their enemy’s friends. And their enemy’s friend’s families. And their enemy’s friend’s family’s…
Secondary Themes
Courtiers
Where the Scorpion Magistrates punish individuals for their deeds, the Scorpion Courtiers are ruthless in destroying an entire clans power base. Any fault, any opportunity, any weakness and the Scorpion will use it to reduce the status of another clan. Their main arena is the courts and the political stage. Where the Crane will often put you down in order to make themselves look better, the Scorpion focus entirely on making you look bad. And looking bad in the eyes of the Empire, the Court and the Emperor spells certain doom.
The Scorpion Courtier’s main focus for victory will be to shame their enemies into non-existance so that their clan’s name is stricken from Rokugani history and the mere mention of it is a criminal offense.
Kensai
The Scorpion Kensai are the swordsmen of the Bitter Lies Dojo. However, their techniques are very different to many other Kensai. Some say they rely on making the most of chance or luck. No one is quite sure of their technique. Like all things Scorpion it is shrouded in mystery and to get too close can only end one way. However they operate, the Scorpion Kensai are a lethal, determined and ruthless opponent and Bitter Lies Swordsmen can be devastating on the battlefield.
The Scorpion Kensai’s main focus for victory will be military. As time progresses, their ability to use their “luck” to their advantage will be explored in their mechanics.
