I like to think I have good intentions as a host with some potentially exciting ideas, but I'm a terrible, _terrible _roleplayer.

So the players are not spread out, we could minimize the conflict to a specific area in the land.  For example, in the game "Way of the Samurai 3" you had three factions: the Ouka clan, Shuzan Fujimori, and the Peasants; we could have like 3-4 clans in a specific region vying for power.  This way it will separate the players, but keep them relatively connected (as in, not have each player be part of a separate clan, destroying possible character development between them).

Another idea I had was starting to copy Star Wars, but I liked it.  It mixed Chinese and Japanese elements.  It concerned a dojo where the Grandmaster taught his students in the ways of the Samurai (warriors), Ninja (rogues), and Monks (mages).  The dojo was located atop a mountain, and the only way up the mountain was to climb the treacherous slopes; only then could one prove themselves they had the determination, strength, and courage for the Grandmaster to train them.  Unfortunately, the Grandmaster's former ally returns on his flying machines and devastates the dojo, kills the Grandmaster, and many of the students are killed.  The survivors must then descend into darkness as they try to find a way to defeat this old 'ally' and put an end to his schemes.