Heroes of Rokugan is an ongoing, living-style campaign set in the troubled Empire of Rokugan, a mythical land combining elements of feudal Japan, China, Mongolia, and the mythical East that never was. The Great Clans of the empire are engaged in a constant struggle for power against one another, while still trying to preserve the Empire as a whole from the threat of the foul Shadowlands and the increasing influence of gaijin foreigners.

The characters are samurai of the Empire; they may serve one of the eight Great Clans, a Minor Clan, or the Imperial Families, or may be masterless ronin. They may be bushi, the stout warriors that defend their clan; shugenja, the priests who call upon the kami (spirits) to perform magical deeds for them; or courtiers, whose words can be just as deadly as a warrior's katana. A few clans also include monks, philosophical men and women whose asceticism can grant them wondrous abilities.

Adventures in Rokugan may include the traditional bandit-hunting, monster-slaying fare found in many other RPGs. However, the just as frequently involve political intrigue between the clans, investigations where the word of a samurai outweighs any mere evidence, or moral tests in which the PCs must decide how strongly they value their honor and the values of bushido (honor, duty, compassion, courage, honesty, loyalty, and courtesy). Role-playing is important and valuable in the system; those who are just looking for a bunch of action scenes may find themselves bored by Heroes of Rokugan.

Mechanically, the system uses Legend of the Five Rings Third Edition (revised) a simple but flexible d10 system that is quick to learn and resolve.