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Kaigaku Second Edition

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This is the core book for the second edition of our bestselling Kaigaku RPG. Based on Stars Without Number Revised, by Kevin Crawford, it brings a more modern rules set to the game, while still respecting what's come before. This game is completely compatible with SWN, as well as Worlds Without Number and Cities Without Number.

Visit the perilous and beautiful land of Kaigaku as a member of the samurai class, or for the first time as someone born into the less-fortunate castes. Will you play as an honorable samurai? An empowered ascetic who channels ki through gemstones? A devious courtier? Or perhaps a shadowy ninja?

Building on Stars Without Numbers' original system, you can now create characters using hybrid classes. We've expanded the list of Foci, called Techniques in this game, with three dozen new specialties. Each of the new Techniques is also perfectly compatible with Stars Without Numbers Revised, too. There are several new Ascetic Disciplines, which merge well with SWN's Psychic class.

If playing as a human isn't your style, the core book offers support for non-human species, including the foxlike kitsune, shapeshifting tanuki and many others.

There are cultural notes in multiple sections to help you immerse yourself in this world that's based on Japanese lore and history. It's explicitly set in an alternate world to give you more freedom with your storytelling. We believe that you should be able to make Kaigaku your own saga, so we've painted the canon of this world in very broad strokes.

Please note that we're going to be updating this game very soon with some additional notes on more peaceful roleplaying and family-oriented play.

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Reviews (1)
Discussions (10)
Customer avatar
Steven W March 18, 2021 9:28 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Would it require much tinkering to use it with Worlds Without Number ?
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Customer avatar
Jacob R March 18, 2021 10:19 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It really shouldn't require too much tinkering. I changed the encumbrance system, but it's really just a different way of expressing the concept. Choose either one and you're good.

The other differences seem to be in character powers. I wrote this book before the SWN Revised magic system came out, so the Ascetics here work more like Psychics in SWN than Mages in WWN.

The 36 or so disciplines that are unique to this book seem to work fine with either system.

If you're using a mix, I'd recommend keeping an eye out to see if any ninja seem to be out-Experting your party's Experts. In that case I'd rule that the Experts could fold a skill or two into a "ninja" skill of their own.

Other than that you should be good to go!
Customer avatar
Dustin N September 04, 2020 5:57 pm UTC
How usable are these rules with the old AD&D 1st/2nd ed Kara-Tur setting and modules? Specifically class replacements and martial arts. I'm guessing there's no problem using monsters based on my experience with the excellent SWN rules.
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Customer avatar
Jacob R September 04, 2020 6:21 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
So it runs on SWN Revised, which, IIRC runs the same NPC rules as the first edition of SWN. I didn't make any changes to the core rules, except for a different expression of encumbrance (with the same net effect) and adding more character options.

If you like how things worked with that system, this should work just fine.
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Customer avatar
Dustin N September 04, 2020 6:25 pm UTC
Thanks Jacob. I'll give it a read.

Great minimalist cover design btw.
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Customer avatar
Jacob R September 04, 2020 6:26 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Customer avatar
Joaquin C March 15, 2020 1:38 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Jacob, How compatible is the second edition with "The ruined Kingdom" module? An also, do you have a date for the oficial character sheet for this book release?
Thanks
Customer avatar
Christon S February 25, 2020 11:11 am UTC
Jacob, this looking interesting, can you give us an update on the POD version?

thanks!
Customer avatar
Kevin M February 05, 2020 11:12 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Would love a POD version of this. Pretty cool product.
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Customer avatar
Jacob R February 05, 2020 11:32 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It's in the pipeline. I've allotted some extra pages for post-release content in an updated PDF and in the POD version. No matter how long I work on a game (like two years in this case, IIRC), there's always something that I just fail to include which players really want to see. I've already got the feedback and am working on integrating the new stuff. Once I get that assembled this product goes POD! :D
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Customer avatar
Kevin M February 15, 2020 9:05 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Terrific! I will keep an eye out for the POD version when it is ready. Thanks for the response.
Customer avatar
February 05, 2020 5:23 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is there a character sheet available for this edition, or should I use one from SWN/the first edition?
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Customer avatar
Jacob R February 05, 2020 11:32 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I haven't finished it yet, but I'll be releasing it soon.
Customer avatar
Stephen R February 03, 2020 9:44 am UTC
PURCHASER
Looks interesting and I'm looking forward to giving it a play, but the PDF is 132MB. Does it need to be this big? Also, any chance of having bookmarks in the PDF and and for the table of contents to have active links? There's no way to navigate the PDF at the moment which makes it very difficult to use. Can the watermark images on each page be done as a separate layer so they can be tuned off for when printing?
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Customer avatar
Jacob R February 03, 2020 2:08 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
You know, those are reasonable requests. I'll get started on that. It might have to be a separate file for printing.
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Customer avatar
Andrew M March 26, 2020 7:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Xodo Reader can handle it fine.
Customer avatar
Kyle S February 02, 2020 7:31 am UTC
PURCHASER
The SWN system you say? Iiiinteresting.
Customer avatar
William E February 02, 2020 6:40 am UTC
PURCHASER
This has caught my eye!

What percentage of this edition would you say is new over the previous edition? Was the focus of the revision primarily directed toward the player options?

Thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Jacob R February 02, 2020 7:12 am UTC
PUBLISHER
It's a completely different rule set. Setting is about 8 percent of the book. A few things are changed. There is a shogun in place now, and the clans of the first edition are now not the only major clans of Kaigaku. The first half of the book or so is character options, yes. Instead of choosing a single ryu and being dedicated to a rigid path you're free to choose abilities that are complementary and diverse.
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Customer avatar
William E February 02, 2020 7:42 am UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for the response!
Customer avatar
Román E February 02, 2020 4:11 am UTC
Kaigaku Premium edition is 1/4 the price of this one. Why is this edition so expensive compared with the Premium Edition?
Reply
Customer avatar
Jacob R February 02, 2020 4:13 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Development costs, my dear fellow.
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File Last Updated:
May 10, 2022
This title was added to our catalog on February 01, 2020.