Rising Sun

2018

Immerse yourself in Rising Sun, a strategic board game set in legendary feudal Japan. Lead your clan to victory through alliances, political maneuvering, and battles, all while honoring the ancient Kami.

120
minutes

3 - 5
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Rising Sun is an exceptional board game that engulfs players into a world of mythical creatures, legendary gods, and formidable warriors. Set in the enchanting realm of feudal Japan, this game is a vivid tapestry of strategic warfare, diplomatic alliances, and cultural folklore.

The core of Rising Sun is its intricate mechanics. It’s a strategy game that blends area control, resource management, and negotiation. The game features a board of Japan, divided into several provinces. Each player commands a clan, striving to achieve the most legendary deeds and secure their rule over the land. The game unfolds over three seasons, with each season divided into a political phase and a war phase.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Rising Sun is a strategic board game inspired by feudal Japan, where you play as a clan leader looking to gain power and influence. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Preparing the Board

Firstly, place the game board in the center of the table. The board is divided into provinces, make sure these are clearly visible to all players. The number of provinces used depends on the number of players. For example, a three-player game uses only eight provinces.

Step 2: Assigning Player Roles

Each player chooses a clan and takes the corresponding Clan Screen, which details the clan’s special abilities, and their starting resources. The players also take colored bases matching their clan’s color to be put on game figures to distinguish them from other players. The clan’s Daimyo, Shinto, and Bushi figures are placed behind the Clan Screen.

Step 3: Setting Initial Resources

Each player starts the game with the following resources, as indicated on their Clan Screen:

Coins: The Clan’s starting wealth.
Ronin tokens: Used for battles, these are kept secret behind each player’s Clan Screen.
Strongholds: Players start with one on the board.

Step 4: Preparing Season Cards

Separate the Season cards into three decks (Spring, Summer, and Autumn). Shuffle each deck separately and place them face down near the board. Draw the top 4 cards from the Spring deck and place them face up next to the deck. These are the available actions for the first season.

Step 5: Setting Up Honor Track and Political Mandates

Place each clan’s Honor token on the Honor track as indicated by their Clan Screen. The clan with the highest Honor goes first. Shuffle the Political Mandates and place them face down in a draw pile. Draw the top four and place them face up. These are the available actions for the first round.

Step 6: Random Elements

The game includes a few random elements, like the War Number tokens. These tokens, numbered from 1-8, are shuffled and a random one is placed face-down on each Province. These will determine the order of battles in the War phase.

Now you’re ready to play! Remember, Rising Sun is a game of strategy and negotiation. Forge and break alliances, plan your actions carefully, and may the sun rise on your victory!

Game flow Round and round we go

Rising Sun is a strategy game set in feudal Japan. The game consists of three seasons: Spring, Summer, and Autumn, each with different phases. The Winter season is for final scoring. In each season, players will go through several ordered phases: Tea Ceremony, Political Phase, War Phase, and Seasonal Cleanup.

Tea Ceremony

The game begins with the Tea Ceremony. This is a negotiation phase where players can form alliances. Allies gain special benefits during the game, but there can be a cost when it comes time for battles.

Political Phase

After the Tea Ceremony, the Political Phase begins. In this phase, the players will take turns playing Political Mandate tiles. The player who plays the tile, and their ally, will get a more powerful version of the action described on the tile. These actions include:

Recruit – Players get to summon their forces onto the map. Allies get to summon an extra unit.
Marshal – Players can move their units around the map and build strongholds. Allies also get a cost reduction for stronghold builds.
Train – Players can purchase cards that provide various advantages. Allies also get a discount on their purchases.
Harvest – Players can gain resources from territories they control. Allies also gain a bonus resource.
Betray – Players can replace two of another player’s figures with their own. If they betray their ally, they must break their alliance.

War Phase

After all the Political Mandates have been used, the War Phase begins. Battles are resolved in the order of the War Province tokens. During a battle, players will secretly bid their resources on different War Advantages. The player who bids the most on each advantage gets to use its effect, which can include Seppuku, taking hostages, hiring Ronin, and Imperial Poets.

Seasonal Cleanup

At the end of the War Phase, there is a Seasonal Cleanup. Money is returned to the common pile, Shinto on the Kami spaces return to their owner’s reserve, and War Province tokens are removed from the board. The game then continues onto the next season, starting again with the Tea Ceremony.

In the Winter season, final scoring takes place. Victory points are scored for the territories controlled, sets of War Province tokens, and any bonuses from seasonal cards. The player with the highest score wins the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of Rising Sun is played over three seasons: Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Each season is divided into three phases: Tea Ceremony, Political Phase, and War Phase. After the Autumn War Phase, the game ends, and final scoring occurs.

Game End:

The game of Rising Sun ends after the War Phase of the Autumn season is completed. At this point, players should ensure they have resolved all conflicts and the game board is correctly updated to reflect the results of the final War Phase.

Victory Conditions:

Players are competing to earn the most victory points (VPs) by the end of the game. Victory points can be earned in a variety of ways throughout the game:

Province Tokens: Players earn VPs equal to the number of Province Tokens they collected during the War Phases.
Winning Battles: Players earn VPs for each battle they win during the War Phases.
Season Cards: Players earn VPs for any Season Cards they have that award VPs.
Alliances: Players can earn additional VPs if they had the most successful alliances during the game.
Oni of Spite: If a player has the Oni of Spite figure, they earn VPs equal to the number of Strongholds the richest player has.

Final Scoring:

During final scoring, players add up all their VPs earned from the above sources. Additionally, players score VPs for the following:

Money: Players earn 1 VP for every 10 coins they have.
Monsters: Players earn VPs for any monster figures they have on the map, with the amount of points being specific to each monster.

The player with the most VPs is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most coins is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player who has the first move in the turn order is the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Rising Sun is a strategy board game with a complex scoring system. Players accumulate victory points (VPs) throughout the game through various means, with the player having the most VPs at the end declared the winner.

Scoring during the game:

Harvesting Provinces: During the Tea Ceremony phase, if a player has the most force in a province when a Harvest mandate is played, they gain the province’s Harvest reward. This can include VPs.
Winning Battles: In the War Phase, winning a battle can earn a player VPs based on the War Province tokens they gain.

Scoring at the end of the game:

War Province Tokens: At the end of the game, each player earns VPs equal to the total sum of their War Province tokens.
Clan Bonus: The player earns the VP amount shown on their clan screen.
Season cards: Many Season cards offer VPs at the end of the game.
Oni of Spite: The player controlling the Oni of Spite monster earns 1 VP for each Oni they have.

Tie-breaking rules:

If two or more players have the same amount of VPs at the end of the game, the tie is broken by comparing the total number of coins each tied player has. The player with the most coins wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most War Province tokens wins. If there is still a tie, the player who went earlier in the turn order wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Rising Sun is a game filled with strategic depth and unique rulesets, and while the overall game mechanics are straightforward, there are a few special rules and exceptions that players should be aware of:

1. Seasonal Income: In the first three seasons (Spring, Summer, and Autumn), players earn income in the form of coins. However, during the Winter season, no income is earned. This may seem like a small detail, but it can greatly impact a player’s strategy, particularly towards the end of the game.

2. Kami Turn: During each season, after all players have had a turn, there is a special Kami turn. During this turn, the players who have the most Shinto in each Kami’s shrine will receive a special favor. It’s important to note that this turn is not considered a part of any player’s turn.

3. War Advantages: During the War Phase, the player with the most force in a province will have the advantage. However, if there is a tie in force, the tied player with the highest honor wins. This is a unique twist that reinforces the importance of honor in the game.

4. Hostage Taking: One of the most unique rules in Rising Sun is the ability to take hostages. During a battle, a player may choose to take a hostage instead of killing an opponent’s figure. This figure is then removed from the board and one coin is taken from the opponent.

Rule Clarification: When taking a hostage, the figure is not considered to be killed or replaced, and thus does not trigger abilities that respond to such actions.

5. Monster Figures: Monster figures have special abilities and rules associated with them. For example, the Oni of Spite gains 3 force if the player has the lowest honor, and the Komainu can move with a Shinto to a shrine for free during the Kami phase.

Rule Clarification: Monsters count as figures, but they do not count as Bushi. This means they do not benefit from certain Clan abilities or Season cards that specifically affect Bushi.

Understanding these special rules and exceptions can greatly enhance your gameplay experience and strategic planning in Rising Sun.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Rising Sun is a complex and deeply strategic board game that offers a multitude of play strategies. To help players of all skill levels, below are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Make clever use of alliances. While alliances can help you gain extra benefits, they may also limit your flexibility. Evaluate the pros and cons before entering into an alliance. Remember, the game is about diplomacy, and breaking an alliance at the right time can lead to victory.
Pay close attention to the Season cards. They can drastically change the power dynamics of the game. Try to purchase cards that work well with your clan’s special ability or that disrupt your opponents’ strategies.
Control the map. Having control over provinces not only provides victory points but also provides a strategic advantage. Use your forces wisely to control critical provinces.

Beginner Tips:

Understand your clan’s unique abilities. Each clan in Rising Sun has a unique ability that can significantly affect your strategy. Spend some time understanding what your clan does best, and build your strategy around it.
Don’t underestimate the power of diplomacy. Forming and breaking alliances is a key part of Rising Sun. Use it to your advantage.
Stay flexible with your strategies. The game’s dynamic nature means that no single strategy guarantees victory. Be ready to change your tactics based on the game’s progression.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Spreading your forces too thin. While it’s tempting to try and control as many provinces as possible, it’s often better to focus on a few strategically important locations.
Ignoring diplomacy. Alliances in Rising Sun can make or break your game. Pay close attention to the diplomatic landscape and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Not utilizing your clan’s special abilities. Each clan in Rising Sun has a unique power. Ignoring these abilities often leads to a disadvantage.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan ahead. Each phase of the game offers unique opportunities and challenges. Try to plan your moves a few turns in advance.
Balance your resources. Money, Ronin, and Force are all important resources. Make sure to balance them to maintain a well-rounded strategy.
Take calculated risks. Sometimes, the best move is the risky one. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks to gain a strategic advantage.