Samurai

1998

Samurai is an engaging board game set in medieval Japan. Players strategically place tiles to gain favor with samurais, peasants, and priests, competing for majorities. Experience the thrill of the Knizia tile-laying trilogy!

60
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium

About the game

Samurai is an engaging and strategic board game that is set in the feudal period of Japan. The game takes you back in time, immersing you into the world of samurai, rice fields, and ancient temples. Your role is to use your influence to gain the support of the Samurai, Rice Farmers, and Buddhist Monks to become the ruling force in Japan.

The game’s core mechanics are based on tile placement, area control, and set collection, offering a unique blend of strategies and tactics that ensure no two games are alike. The beautifully designed components and the thematic depth of the game create a truly immersive atmosphere.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Samurai is a strategic board game developed by Reiner Knizia and it involves several components to play. Each of these components has a specific function in the game.

1. Game Board: The game board is a map of Japan, divided into several territories. The territories are the spaces where players place their pieces in order to control and influence the areas.

2. 40 Samurai Tokens: These tokens represent three types of societal figures: the Buddha, the Rice Field, and the Helmet. The objective of the game is to gain control of these figures. Players do this by surrounding them with their tiles. The player who has the most influence points in a specific figure type at the end of the game wins that figure.

3. 80 Cylinders: There are 20 cylinders for each of the four players. These represent the players’ influence and are used to surround and capture the Samurai tokens. They come in five different types: Samurai, Ship, Ronin, Rice Field, and Helmet. Each type has a different point value and can be used to influence different types of Samurai tokens.

4. 4 Player Screens: These are used to hide each player’s cylinders from the other players. This adds a level of strategy and uncertainty to the game, as players must estimate what their opponents are planning based on their moves on the board.

5. 5 Special Tokens: These include 4 ‘Fast Play’ tokens and 1 ‘First Player’ token. The ‘Fast Play’ tokens are used to speed up the game and the ‘First Player’ token determines who starts the game.

6. 4 Scoring Markers: These are used on the scoring track to keep track of each player’s score. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

Each of these components interacts with each other to create a complex and strategic game. The objective is to strategically place your cylinders to control the Samurai tokens, while also trying to predict and counter your opponents’ moves. The game ends when all the Samurai tokens have been surrounded, and the player with the highest score, based on their captured Samurai tokens and remaining cylinders, is the winner.

Game flow Round and round we go

Samurai is a strategic board game designed by Reiner Knizia. The game is set in medieval Japan and the objective is to gain majority influence over three castes: rice farmers (represented by rice paddies), religious leaders (represented by Buddhas), and warriors (represented by helmets).

Setting up the game:

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding set of tiles.
The game board is placed in the center of the table. It represents Japan and is divided into several provinces.
The caste figures (rice paddies, Buddhas, and helmets) are distributed randomly across the provinces on the game board.

Gameplay:

At the beginning of each round, players draw five tiles from their stack. These tiles represent different types of influence over the castes.
Players take turns placing their tiles next to the caste figures on the board, in an attempt to exert influence over them.
When a province is surrounded by tiles, the player with the most influence over a caste figure wins that figure.
The round ends when all the figures of one caste have been claimed or when four figures have been removed from the game because they couldn’t be claimed.

Scoring and ending the game:

When the game ends, players count the number of caste figures they’ve won in each category.
The player with the majority in each caste scores a point.
If there’s a tie in a caste, no one scores for that caste.
The player with the most points wins. If there’s a tie, the player with the most total figures wins.

Strategy:

Players must balance their influence across all castes. Focusing too much on one caste can leave a player vulnerable in the others.
The placement of tiles is key. Players must consider not only the current province, but also how their tiles might influence neighboring provinces.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Samurai is a strategic board game where the goal is to capture the most figures of each type (Buddha, Helmet, Rice field) by surrounding them with your tiles. The following is a comprehensive outline of actions and strategic choices during a player’s turn in Samurai:

On a player’s turn, they can perform two main actions: Place a tile and Draw a tile.

1. Place a Tile

Players can place one tile from their hand onto any empty space on the game board. This is the primary action in the game and directly affects the capture of figures.
The tile could be a figure tile (Buddha, Helmet, Rice field) that influences the capture of corresponding figures, or a Samurai tile that influences all figure types.
The tile could also be a ship tile, which can be placed on water spaces. Ship tiles affect all figures in the same manner as Samurai tiles.
Another strategic choice is the placement of a fast boat tile. Similar to the ship tile, it can be placed on water spaces but it only affects one figure of the player’s choice.

2. Draw a Tile

After placing a tile, the player then draws a tile from the stack to refill their hand.
Players must always have five tiles in their hand at the end of their turn.

Additionally, during a player’s turn, figures may be captured.

Capturing Figures

If a figure is surrounded by tiles on all sides, it is captured. The player with the highest total value of tiles adjacent to that figure captures it.
In case of a tie, the player who placed the last tile wins the figure.
Captured figures are kept by the player and count towards their final score.

Strategic decisions and careful planning are crucial in Samurai — the placement of tiles affects figure capture, and controlling figures of a specific type can help players win the game.

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

The game of ‘Samurai’ ends when all of the caste figures of at least one type have been removed from the board, or all of the cities and villages on the board have been emptied of figures. At this point, the game comes to a halt and the final scoring begins.

Victory Conditions:

Majority Control: The player who has captured the most figures of at least one type (Buddha, Rice Field, or Helmet) and has more figures of a second type than any other player is declared the winner.
Tiebreakers: If two or more players share the most figures in one type and have the same number in a second type, the player with the most figures in the third type wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most total figures wins. If there is still a tie, the player who triggered the end of the game wins.

End of Game Actions:

Halting the Game: The player who triggers the end of the game completes their turn as normal. All other players then finish their current turn so that all players have had an equal number of turns.
Scoring: Players count the number of each type of figure they have captured. They can do this by sorting their captured figures into piles by type.
Determining Majorities: Players compare the number of figures they have in each type to determine who has majority control. The player with the most figures of a type claims that type. If players are tied for a majority, no one claims that type.
Determining the Winner: The player who has claimed the most types is the winner. If players are tied on the number of types, the player with the most total figures wins. If there is still a tie, the player who triggered the end of the game wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The scoring system in the board game Samurai is quite unique and involves collecting different types of figures: Buddha, Rice Field, and Helmet. Here is a detailed breakdown:

Primary Scoring:

At the end of the game, players count the number of each type of figure they’ve collected.
The player with the most of each figure type gets to keep them for scoring. The remaining figures are returned.
The player with figures in at least two types is declared the winner.

If there’s a tie in the number of figure types, then the following tie-breakers are used:

Tie-Breakers:

The player with the most total figures wins.
If there’s still a tie, the player with the most Buddhas wins.
If still tied, the player with the most Rice Fields wins.
If still tied, the player with the most Helmets wins.

If there’s still a tie after all these tie-breakers, the game is a draw.

Also, please note the following special rule:

Special Rule:

If a player manages to collect the most of all three types of figures, they automatically win the game, regardless of the total number of figures.

This unique scoring system provides a strategic depth to the game, making it both exciting and challenging for players.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The board game Samurai by Reiner Knizia has a unique set of rules that combine strategy and luck. Although the basic rules are simple, there are some special rules and exceptions that players need to know about.

Special Tile Placement Rule:

Players cannot place a tile on a city space unless it is adjacent to a figure. This means that you cannot place a tile in a city space that is empty, even if it is next to a tile that you have already placed.

Exception to the Tile Placement Rule:

There is an exception to the tile placement rule. If a player has a Samurai tile, they can place it on any city space, even if it is not adjacent to a figure. This allows for strategic placement of tiles, as the Samurai tile can be used to block opponents or to create a path for your own tiles.

Rule Clarifications:

End of the Game:

The game ends immediately when the last figure is removed from the board, even if players still have tiles in their hands. This means that players need to carefully plan their moves and make sure they are not left with unnecessary tiles at the end of the game.

Winning the Game:

A player wins by having the highest total influence in each of the three figure categories. If there is a tie in one or more categories, the player with the most overall figures wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most Samurai figures wins.

Rare Rule:

In the rare case that all players pass consecutively without placing a tile, the game ends immediately. The player with the highest total influence in each of the three figure categories wins.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Samurai is a complex and strategic board game that requires the players to think critically. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay in ‘Samurai’:

Advanced strategies:

Focus on controlling key areas: It’s not just about collecting figures, control of the key areas can provide substantial benefits.
Try to understand your opponents’ strategies: Be observant and adjust your strategy based on your opponents’ moves.
Use your Samurai tiles wisely: The Samurai tiles are powerful but limited. Use them strategically to maximize their impact.

Beginner tips:

Learn the basics: Understand the rules thoroughly before playing. The game is complex and knowing the rules will give you an edge.
Start with simple strategies: Focus on collecting figures or controlling areas, then gradually incorporate more complex strategies.
Practice makes perfect: The more you play, the more you understand the game. Don’t be discouraged by early losses.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Overlooking your opponents: Always keep an eye on your opponents’ moves. Ignoring them can lead to unexpected losses.
Rushing your turn: Take your time to analyze the board and plan your move. Rushing can lead to poor decisions.
Wasting Samurai tiles: As mentioned earlier, Samurai tiles are valuable. Don’t waste them on insignificant moves.

Ways to optimize gameplay:

Develop a flexible strategy: The game is dynamic and requires constant adjustments. A flexible strategy will help you adapt to unexpected situations.
Balance your approach: Don’t focus too much on one aspect of the game. A balanced approach can lead to more victories.
Study the game: Read guides, watch tutorials, or join online forums. The more you know about the game, the better you’ll perform.