New: Dai Nihon (free, open-ended, email, human, historical, spanish, rpg, abstract)

From: donotreply@pbm.com (PBM List Autoposter)

Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 07:13:05 +0000

Name:		Dai Nihon
Costs:		Free
URL:		http://members.lycos.co.uk/dainihon/
Frequency:		N/A (Free-form)
Email:		jds3 zat aber.ac.uk
Type:		medieval japan
Last-Update:		2004May14
Keywords: free, open-ended, email, human, historical, spanish, rpg, abstract

Description:

"Dai Nihon..." The natives mutter. 'Great Japan.'

1593CE, a period where change is sweeping over the island of Honshu, Japan
does not seem so 'Great'. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, of the all-powerful Oda
shogunate, has instituted taxes, and is in the middle of a one-year-old
invasion of Korea, where Japanese forces have move up the peninsula to
engage the Chinese forces of Ming. Word across the land is that the
invasion is turning sour, and Hideyoshi is in negotiations with Ming.

The introduction of guns half a century before, and their use in battle
had completely changed the face of combat in the country. In 1585,
Hideyoshi ruled that no farmers should have weapons of any sort in the
'Great Sword Hunt', and they were ordered to hand in their weapons or face
the possibility of attack. In 1591, the 'Edict on Changing Status' stated
that all warriors who had returned to village life should be expelled so
that no warrior worked the lands, also no villager could become a
townsperson or trader, and finally that the hiring of warriors who
deserted their lords was completely forbidden. Hideyoshi had ensured he
would remain Shogun.

In the Hakone Mountains, a village remains of these forbidden 'Samurai of
the Land'. The deserted their Hojo lords in 1590, and moved into this
small, enclosed village. They live as ordinary villagers, but are always
prepared to pick up their weapons to protect it. They forwent the
sacrificing of their lives to their Hojo lords, and now they disobey the
ruler of all of Japan. Their position is unknown, however, and they rarely
reveal their past to outsiders, however they chose to train the villagers
whenever possible, and store weapons for the direst of times.

However, the arrival of Kusukabe Shinbo has thrown a new future into their
laps. They have a chance to become righteous, warriors, and legends... and
the prospect is open to all.

Dai Nihon is a free-form, play-by-e-mail game set in late 16th Century
Japan. In the first stage of play, you can become a villager, train to be
a warrior, and look ahead to serving with the infamous bandit, taking from
the rich and corrupt, and handing wealth to the villagers in the
countryside.

This is a game suitable for over 15s only

[ This is a new entry for the PBM List. You can find the list
itself, and instructions for adding games or comments, at
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/pbm_list/ -- greg ]