Overview

Bushido: Der Weg des Kriegers (Bushido: Way of the Warrior) is a board game set in feudal Japan where competing Daimyos aim to gain enough honor to become the next Emperor of Japan. This is not a conventional conquest game — loyalty, tradition, and honor matter more than land and victorious battles. Players take turns as the acting Daimyo, assigning roles to other players and managing territory, combat, and honor.

Components

• Game board depicting feudal Japan with provinces
• Role cards (Samurai, Bushi, Sensei, Hatamoto)
• Province tiles
• Honor tracks (Daimyo Honor and Samurai Honor)
• Combat katana tokens
• Month/round tracker
• Player screens and components

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Each player chooses a Daimyo and takes the corresponding player components.
3. Distribute starting provinces to each player as indicated in the rules.
4. Set the month tracker to Month 1.
5. Set each player’s Daimyo Honor and Samurai Honor to their starting values.
6. Shuffle and prepare the role cards.

Turn Structure

The game is played over 12 months (rounds). Each month, one player acts as the current Daimyo. During the Daimyo’s turn:

1. Role Assignment: The current Daimyo assigns role cards to the other players.
2. Role Actions: Each role performs their designated actions.
3. Honor Adjustments: Honor is gained or lost based on the turn’s events.
4. Next Daimyo: The Daimyo role rotates.

Actions

Roles and Their Functions:

• Samurai: Leads the Daimyo’s forces into combat. The Samurai fights battles on behalf of the Daimyo, and successful combat earns Samurai Honor.
• Bushi: Defends the Daimyo’s territory. The Bushi protects provinces from attack.
• Sensei: Provides counsel and utilizes special effects. The Sensei uses cards or abilities to aid the Daimyo’s strategy.
• Hatamoto (5-player games only): Has the option to lead a revolt against the Daimyo. This adds a betrayal element in larger games.

Honor System:

• Daimyo Honor: The main victory currency. Earned by holding provinces, converting Samurai Honor, or through other game effects.
• Samurai Honor: Earned through winning battles. Can be converted into Daimyo Honor.
• Combat Katanas: A surplus of combat katanas can also contribute to honor.

Territorial Conquest:

• The Daimyo directs military operations to conquer new provinces.
• Provinces generate resources and contribute to Daimyo Honor.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• Immediate Victory: If a Daimyo reaches 50 Daimyo Honor at any point, they become the new Emperor and win the game immediately.
• End-Game Victory: If no one reaches 50 honor by the end of Month 12, the Daimyo with the highest Daimyo Honor total wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Role Assignment Strategy: The Daimyo chooses which roles to assign to other players, creating a dynamic of negotiation and strategy around who gets which role.
• Hatamoto Revolt: In 5-player games, the Hatamoto role introduces a possible betrayal — the player assigned this role can choose to revolt against the current Daimyo, adding tension and unpredictability.
• Honor Conversion: Players must decide when to convert Samurai Honor (earned in battle) into Daimyo Honor (needed to win). Timing this conversion is a key strategic decision.
• Not a Pure Conquest Game: The game emphasizes honor, tradition, and loyalty over pure territorial expansion. Winning battles is important, but the honor system determines the actual winner.

Player Reference

Role	Function	Available
Samurai	Leads combat for the Daimyo	Always
Bushi	Defends territory	Always
Sensei	Provides counsel and effects	Always
Hatamoto	May revolt against Daimyo	5-player only

Victory: Reach 50 Daimyo Honor (instant win) or highest honor after 12 months Honor types: Daimyo Honor (victory points), Samurai Honor (from battles, convertible)