Hey, folks!

Luke Peterschmidt here, and as you most likely know by my conspicuous absence from the "Message from the Brand Manager" column, I have moved away from the day-to-day business of running the L5R TCG. Ed Bolme has taken over the reins, and I'm sure he'll do a great job. My new job, (besides keeping my wandering Kolat eye on Ed) has me working on some other projects, but I am certainly still a huge L5R squid. My Mantis deck is 5 and 1 in the Wizards of the Coast internal league! (Mantis and Crab--I'm a fan of the underdog, I guess.)

Once the L5R world gets into your bloodstream, it doesn't leave. The game is fun, the story is wonderful, and the fan experience is like that of no other product I have ever even heard of. My prediction is that in 20 years people will look at the L5R TCG as one of the most inventive products ever made and a testament to the best side of the gaming industry.

I feel privileged to have been able to participate in the greatness of the L5R experience. I have had the joy of working with real teamwork people who keep egos out of decisions. I got to sit in the "inner circle" at the finals of the War in the Heavens tournament. I witnessed the strength of the L5R game as it survived one of the most chaotic times in the gaming industry and emerged stronger than ever. And my Mantis deck is 5 and 1 in the internal league.

The responsibility of the position was never lost on me. I did not want to leave the game in the same shape as it was when I took it over-I wanted to improve it without losing the core of what makes it special. I made all sorts of decisions and tried all sorts of new things. Some went really well, like global storyline tournaments and the improved sealed-deck environment. Others weren't so hot, as we proved that no one in this building can count to 40 without using the number 35 twice (ugh). It was chaotic at times, but I hope that the players all see the value in trying new things and I will be encouraging Ed to also try new things to keep the game on the cutting edge of innovation.

One of my last big L5R projects is the upcoming Heroes of Rokugan set. While the L5R story has many mythical heroes, the real heroes of Rokugan are the players, new and old, who make the game what it is today. Brand mangers will come and go. We will succeed, and we will fail. The only constant is you, the players. Some of you will leave and new ones will come i: but the L5R brand will always be more than a game; will be the sum of its players. No other game can say that.

I am being sent home, but not destroyed. I'll be hanging out in the fief. As I leave, I bow to the players. Luckily, I was sent home with Refugees, so I added a token. Gratified with my newfound token of wisdom and pride, I glance back towards the fight and see that it will indeed be a brilliant L5R victory!

In case I forgot to mention it, my Mantis deck is 5 a 1 in the internal league.

Cherry blossoms fall
Empty tea cup, pencils down
Sword beneath my desk

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