Select Page

750% FOUNDED ON

Kamon is the original Feudal Japanese Fantasy Setting for the 5th Edition of the most famous RPG ever created.

The project was born in 2018 by an Italian author, Fabio Attoli (Pendragon Game Studio, Stratelibri, Origami Edizioni), inspired by his third trip to Japan.

During the trip, Fabio visited castles, museums, ancient samurai homes, and isolated shrines across the country taking notes and references to elaborate a coherent evolution and adaptation of clans, religions and the most evocative places.

Kamon is the result of this massive work: a fantasy setting with a deep and extensive historiographical foundation. Fabio and his team created an alternate history, diverging in 1281, during the second Mongol invasion.

In this new historical context, fantasy elements were added, all based on Japanese mythology, legends, and traditions.

In Kamon, classes, backgrounds, equipment, and spells are designed to offer through new game mechanics a unique and immersive experience, able to combine the epic nature of 5th Edition with the classic atmosphere of feudal Japan.

Kamon is an act of love for Japan and its history.

Welcome, Rōnin!

THE WORLD OF KAMON

In 1281 the Mongol army led by the grandson of the great conqueror Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, was preparing to invade Japan again with an immense fleet. Kublai Khan sent numerous emissaries to persuade the Emperor to sign a surrender. An understanding, though, was impossible, as impossible was to find high-ranks to bribe. Eventually the Emperor rejected any treaty and decided to face the Mongol army.

After gruelling and long battles in the western coasts, the Samurai, exhausted and supported only by their courage and unshakable discipline, sighted off the coast the Chinese fleet arriving as reinforcement to the Mongol troops. Hopeless in the face of the new, overwhelming force, the Japanese people prayed for the Kami to intervene, hoping to turn the tide of the war.

It was then that the winds, which raged for years on the Japanese coasts, became more intense, foreshadowing gloomy omen. Japan was covered in darkness and the storms that followed wiped out the enemy fleet.  Celebrating the victory, all the samurai shouted at once “kamikaze!” which means “divine winds”.  They couldn’t know they were facing the dawn of a new era.

 Since that day, no one was able to overcome the severe storms off the coast and leave or enter the waters of Japan. 

The Kami, who had been called in aid, decided to stay in the mortal realm and inhabit the land they just saved. Their presence and unearthly nature materialised the Amenoukihashi, the mystical hovering bridge in the sky, which connected the heavens to the earth; at the same time the massive boulder closing the passage leading to Yomi, the realm of the death, crumbled, allowing the Yūrei and the Oni to wander in the realm of the living. Isolated and at the mercy of these unnatural creatures, the proud people of Japan had to fight again to claim back their Empire.

 The great fortresses were expanded, the martial arts pushed beyond their limits, the priests were bestowed with even greater divine powers. In this dark and dangerous new world, the emperor’s wardens came to aid the Daimyo to protect the people in danger.

Will you fight for yourself, for your clan or for the Emperor?

Newsletter

Subscribe to the Kamon Newsletter, we’ll soon send you a free PDF copy of the Kamon Quickstart!

NEW CLASSES

In Kamon, you can choose among 9 new classes to live an immersive and unique 5E gaming experience. All classes are heavily inspired by the history of feudal Japan. Beyond the classes, Kamon’s handbook will also feature more than 20 new archetypes and 6 new bloodlines.

  • Samurai are warriors, philosophers and politicians who represent the power and military strength of the empire. They are the highest example of virtue, and live by following the strict Bushido rules.
  • The Bugeisha are fearsome warriors who specialize in a large number of weapons and military techniques. Despite they belong to the aristocracy, they are not allowed to use Samurai weapons or hold publicly any political roles.
  • Shinobi and Kunoichi are commonly referred to as ninja. They are infallible saboteurs, spies, experts in disguises and poisons, fierce warriors and exceptional raiders.
  • The Sōhei and Miko are warrior-priests specialized respectively in the use of the naginata and the bow. Together, they represent an order of fighters devoted to the Kami.
  • The Yamabushi are hermit warriors fortified by ascetic practices deriving from Buddhism. Also known as “the immortals”, they live a deep bond with nature, they are expert herbalists and doctors, great thinkers and fighters with a supernatural endurance to pain.
  • The Rōnin are Samurai and Bugeisha who no longer serve the lord of a clan. They often belong to a fallen or renegade clan, other times they are fighters estranged from their own family who become mercenaries, unable to take their own lives with honour as imposed by the code.
  • The Sumotori are mighty warriors belonging to the aristocracy, trained from an early age in the arts of war, refining the combat style with bare hands and the practice of ancient propitiatory rituals capable of invoking the protection and favour of the spirits.
  • Geisha and Taikomochi are artists whose sensitivity and perfect execution is able to summon, seduce spirits or bewitch the Kami themselves in order to obtain their services.
  • Onmyoji are powerful sorcerers capable of summoning Shikigami, the servant spirits. In addition to being precious allies thanks to their divination skills, they master the art of origami that can bind spirits and creatures to their will.

The new bloodlines are inspired by the most famous Yōkai of Japanese mythology and are called Han’Yo, or half-demons. The Han-yo present in the Kamon manual are inspired by the following Yōkai:

  • Kitsune.
  • Tengu.
  • Bakeneko.
  • Oni.
  • Kappa.
  • Tanuki.

Samurai

Miko

Geisha

Shinobi

Bugeisha

Taikomochi – Han-tengu

Miko – Han-kitsune

Sumotori

Rōnin

Kunoichi – Han-bakeneko

Yamabushi

NEW CONTENTS

Oni

The handbook is for both players and masters. It introduces 40 new spells dedicated to Kami, new items, more than 50 new weapons and armours, and new amazing game mechanics that will make Kamon an immersive and unique setting!

Here are some of the new contents:

  • Mutilations. New game mechanics to manage weapon sharpening and limb mutilation.

  • Martial arts. New game mechanics to use the weapon techniques and fighting styles of feudal Japan.

  • Death. New game mechanics to manage death and journeys in the dark kingdom of Yomi.

  • Meditation. A new skill to gain inspiration.

  • Bestiary. More than 30 new creatures and monsters inspired by Yokai and Yurei from feudal Japan legends and mythology.

  • Backgrounds. More than 10 new backgrounds inspired by Edo society..

  • Clan. More than 40 clans inspired by the real history of Feudal Japan of the 12th century.

  • Castles. More than 40 really existing castles, correctly mapped and placed in a new historical context.

  • Feats. Each clan, according to the castle it controls, offers new feats to customize their heroes during creation.

  • Onmyōdō. A new kind of magic tied to the Onmyoji class.

  • Campaign. An epic new campaign in the north of the Island, plus many hooks to create your adventures.

Moreover, you will find new mechanics for the language, the writing and the honour, new tools and new conditions, new magical items and new rules for crafting.

The handbook has a rich and comprehensive section dedicated to customs and traditions with insights that cover topics such as hospitality, crafts, food and popular beliefs. This information will help the Dungeon Masters to add more depth to their games and will provide useful information to the Players to better understand and experience the lore.

ART

This project benefits from the contribution of extraordinary artists already known on the international scene for their collaborations with major publishers on highly successful projects. Their involvement will increase based on the success of the campaign and other talented artists will contribute to the making of Kamon.

Katerina Ladon (Wizards of the Coast, Paizo Inc, Monte Cook Games LLC, Wyrd Edizioni), Alessandro Pavioli (Lex Arcana, Nightfell, Xenoscape), Biagio D’Alessandro (Paizo, Monte Cook Games, Fantasy Flight Games, Green Ronin Publishing, Mongoose Publishing), Pietro Bastas (Not The End) and Eleonora Guggeri (Origami Edizioni).