The game uses the Legend of the Five Rings setting, primarily the nation of Rokugan, which is based on feudal Japan with influences from other East Asian cultures.

The fictional setting of Legend of the Five Rings is similar to feudal Japan, though it also includes aspects of other Asian cultures, as well as magic and mythical beasts.

Legend of the Five Rings uses eight traits: Stamina, Willpower, Strength, Perception, Agility, Intelligence, Reflexes, and Awareness.

Oriental Adventures was published originally in 1985 by TSR, Inc. as an expansion for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and was set in a land called Kara-Tur.

It was decided to make this new version of Oriental Adventures a showcase for their recently acquired Legend of the Five Rings property.

An official (but not 100% comprehensive) update of Oriental Adventures to the v.3.5 rules can be found in Dragon Magazine #318 (April 2004), pp. 32–48.

Listed by AEG reference number in parentheses followed by title (d20 System) (Oriental Adventures) The reviewer from the online second volume of Pyramid stated that "I have a great deal of nostalgia for FGU's classic game Bushido, and Legend of the Five Rings captures much of Bushido's Oriental swords & sorcery feel, with, thankfully, much more comprehensible rules.

[8] Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game won the 2006 Gold Ennie Award for "Best Interior Art".

The setting, an amalgam of Asian culture called Rokugan, overwhelmed, and although my mindset is distinctly and irrevocably western, I still fell into this game head first.

"[10] Scott Taylor for Black Gate in 2013 rated Legend of the Five Rings as Honorable Mention #2 in the top ten role-playing games of all time, saying "Where games like Bushido and Oriental Adventures failed to hold market share, L5R stayed the course and not only taught us what honor truly means, but also gave everyone the ability to live out a samurai fantasy that sat unattended in their imaginations.

Certainly helped along by its popular collectible card game of the same name, L5R nonetheless has produced some absolutely fantastic role-playing books in the half a dozen editions since its inception.