In the Factory (Part 1).
Here are the first revelations on Senji, Asmodee's new game, which takes place in the heart of medieval Japan.
A new game getting ready at Asmodee always causes a certain hubbub in our office. Senji, the latest offering by the highly creative B. Cathala and S. Laget (Wicked Witches Way, Shadows over Camelot), is no exception to the rule. For many months now, the game has been tested and retested by our team. Originally called Rising Sun, it was shown during the 2007-2008 AsmoDays season (a series of French conventions).
Senji intends to take you many hundreds of years into the past, to the time of medieval Japan. The Emperor is aging and his family is weakened. Each player takes on the role of a Daimyo trying to gain the much-coveted title of shogun. To do so, he will have to prove his worth and skill by accumulating, over many seasons, honor points, which may be won through military actions, diplomatic dealings, or economic trading.
Only one will get the supreme title, but no one can succeed alone. It will be up to you to forge alliances, and to break them at the right moment (whoever said anything about treason or back-stabbing?), and maybe even sacrifice your best samurai in order to be the first to reach the goal of 60 honor points, which will allow you to be "crowned" shogun!
Each player begins the game with a samurai card (chosen between three randomly selected ones). Each samurai card shows a number of things: a name (1), an illustration, an honor value (2), a special skill (3) and a kami color (4).
Each player starts the game with the amount of honor points indicated on the samurai they've selected, and thus places his token on the corresponding square on the honor track. Whoever has the highest honor has the privilege to host the emperor and his retinue.
The special skills the samurai have will allow players to intervene during the game's different phases, whether they are military, commercial, or diplomatic.
Next week, we will unveil Senji's game board. Sayonara!
Senji
A game by B. Cathala and S. Laget
For 3 to 6 players. From 12 and up.
Game length: about 90 minutes.
Expected release date: June 2008
A few more teasers of samurai cards (French Version):
In the factory (part 2).
A curtain is raised to unveil Senji, an upcoming Asmodee game. Today, we focus on the box and the game board!
After showing you the samurai and their cards (discover them here), we now give the spotlight to Asian aesthetics with the box and game board.
The gorgeous illustration gracing Senji's box is signed Bertrand Benoit, a name not wholly unfamiliar to those who keep up with Asmodee games (both ours and those on the French side of things). He just so happens to be the main illustrator for Hell Dorado (and the man behind the concepts for the miniatures), he illustrated the cards for Hero i.k.'s third dungeon (the Den of Dementia), and the box art for Renaissance is also his.
Bertrand's work (which turned out to be exquisite) was meant to reflect the true nature of the game: at the heart of medieval Japan, daimyos (the players) struggle on many fronts (through steel, commerce, and diplomacy) to become the Shogun of the Sengoku Jidai, the age of the clan wars. So yes, unfortunately for wargamers, Senji isn't a game of pure warfare! You'll have to "deal" with the other daimyos to get into a winning position!
We now move on to the unveiling of the game board. As you can see, it depicts three islands of Japan: Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. The black borders represent the borders of the 18 provinces, controlled by the daimyos. At the heart of each province lies a fortress, the color of which matches the color of the daimyo controlling it. More images of the game board can be found here…
The dotted lines around the island of Shikoku represent the zones that are free from danger (storms, pirates, etc.), where armies can cross. Maritime movements are done between coastal provinces, the separation between the north and south seas being illustrated by a red line between the three islands.
At the edge of the board, you can see the score track where the players' honor is measured. To be named shogun and win the game, you'll have to be and remain the most honorable among your peers!
Senji
A game by B. Cathala and S. LagetFor 3 to 6 players. From 12 and up.
Game length: about 90 minutes.
Expected release date: June 2008
Fire and Water. (DT expansion)
This expansion for Dungeon Twister is placed under the sign of the elements, with new and very dangerous rooms and characters. All of who are very subtle and extremely difficult to trap. This "Special Edition" Expansion will contain many surprises unlike its French counterpart. But shh...If I say any more it will no longer be a surprise...Fire & Water will be available this Summer.
This spring...
