The End of An Era: Legend of the Five Rings to become a Living Card Game

[Lampy 2.0]

To those who don't know, one of the longest running trading card games in the history of the hobby is a game called "Legend of the Five Rings," a card game in a Japanese-inspired fantasy setting. The game has been around since 1995 and is the 3rd longest running CCG (behind Redemption and Magic).

Today, it was announced that Fantasy Flight Games, the publisher who has made fantastic living card games like A Game of Thrones, Android: Netrunner, and and Lord of the Rings LCG has purchased the game from its current publisher and will release it as a Living Card Game in 2017. It's a shame to see the old game go, but I'm sure the new game will be fantastic.
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/9/11/a-new-emperor-rises/

[EmJayBee83]

Sadly, L5R has been visibly failing for some time now. The Emperor cycle (the cycle before the current one) had massive power creep issues that caused a huge outflow of players.  2014 tournament attendance was about half of what it had been 2 years previous, and this seasons Spring Kotei halved those numbers again.

Fantasy Flight is keeping the name and the setting, but basically everything else that makes up L5R is up for grabs.  In addition the game won't get rebooted until GenCon 2017, which leaves players with nothing new for a year and three quarters.

[Isildur]

Fantasy Flight is keeping the name and the setting, but basically everything else that makes up L5R is up for grabs.  In addition the game won't get rebooted until GenCon 2017, which leaves players with nothing new for a year and three quarters.

For what it's worth, all the previously released dead CCG's by Fantasy Flight have all kept their core gameplay mechanics. I have faith in FF games

[Lampy 2.0]

And FFG is a good company. I'm sure they'll do well with the game.

And this will probably never happen, but I hope they bring the Ratlings back.

[Prof Underwood]

Fantasy Flight Games, the publisher who has made fantastic living card games like A Game of Thrones, Android: Netrunner, and and Lord of the Rings LCG

I have faith in FF games

And FFG is a good company. I'm sure they'll do well with the game.

Always good to hear good things about FF.  My time working with them was an amazing experience, and I suspect that they will continue being awesome without me

The game has been around since 1995 and is the 3rd longest running CCG (behind Redemption and Magic).

Actually, I think that "Vampire: The Eternal Struggle" has been around longer than Redemption, which means we are still the #3 oldest surviving CCG.

[Sadness]

I looked up Vampire: the eternal struggle on wiki. White Wolf ceased production in 2010. From 1994-1996 Wizards of the Coast produced the game but abandoned it. White Wolf took over in 2000 and stopped in 2010. While it came out before Redemption, it's creators essentially abandoned it twice.

[Prof Underwood]

That's weird, because Board Game Geek lists it as active.  And the wikipedia page on the game indicates that they've released new cards around the beginning of October for the last few years (and including last October).

I'm certainly NOT recommending the game, but it does appear to still be active.

[EmJayBee83]

That's weird, because Board Game Geek lists it as active.  And the wikipedia page on the game indicates that they've released new cards around the beginning of October for the last few years (and including last October).

The October 2013 and October 2014 expansion are fan expansions printed as a PDF.

[Isildur]

Huh does that game have a active PC (Players Committee)? Seems odd that Board Game Geek would list the game as active...

[EmJayBee83]

Huh does that game have a active PC (Players Committee)? Seems odd that Board Game Geek would list the game as active...

Yeah--it is the Vampire: Elder Kindred Network (no links; google if you want to find them)--they are the ones who put out the last two mini-expansions. It appears to be a very active PC. They sanction events and provide prize support in addition to creating new cards.

[Prof Underwood]

Hmmm, well I think that even if there is an active player group putting out fan expansions and holding tournaments, that still shouldn't count as the same thing as a game that is still being managed by the original company that produced it and is still continuously putting out new content.  Therefore...

Redemption is now the 2nd oldest CCG
 still commercially alive!!!

[Lampy 2.0]

Redemption is now the 2nd oldest CCG
 still commercially alive!!!

And this is a real blessing.

[EmJayBee83]

One of the biggest L5R podcasts chimes in here.

Hmmm, well I think that even if there is an active player group putting out fan expansions and holding tournaments, that still shouldn't count as the same thing as a game that is still being managed by the original company that produced it and is still continuously putting out new content.  Therefore...

Redemption is now the 2nd oldest CCG
 still commercially alive!!!

That just means that Cactus is next on the FFG hit list.  Don't sell, Rob!!! No matter how many millions they offer you.