The Shitennō are the four great Generals of the legendary Shogun Togukawa Ieyasu who unified Japan at the end of the 16th century. The players will play these loyal and famous samuraïs, with the goal of becoming the Shogun's favorite by controlling as many provinces as possible. In Shitenno, you do not fight on the battlefield, but through planning and manipulation in the Shogun's court. A game turn starts with a "distribution phase" in which the active player creates card lots, one for each player, but takes the lot remaining after all other players have taken their cards. (All part of following the Japanese code of honor.) In the next stage, players can gain control of provinces. The rules are easy to understand, but if you want to win, you have to judge your opponents aptly and guess their secret intentions. Every choice is crucial, every move is decisive...
B**S
An easy yet complex game
Shitenno is a game with simple rules and moderate length. It is based on the "I cut, you choose" mechanism. The start player makes up a lot of cards and a turn-order tile; he then offers this to the next-ranked player. If all the other players pass on the lot, the start player takes it and yields the selection to the next-ranked player who has not yet taken a lot. Everyone thus gets a card lot in each round. Players use their cards to establish influence in regions of Japan. This earns bonus tiles which can give them warrior cards, one-time extra warriors, or the right to trade money for warriors. Each player has a special power according to their turn-order tile. The money can also be used to "bribe" the shogun to let the player place an influence token. There are victory points awarded for each of these token placements, as well as a final area-majority scoring. The tempo of play tends to accelerate as the bonus markers give the players more options. The game ends when the money deck runs out or when one player runs out of markers. Each "koku" (money) counts as one victory point at the end, and the player with the most victory points wins.I give this game only four stars because there is a good bit of luck involved with the card draws. Also, I expect the game is more chaotic with four players than with the three in my weekly gaming group. On the plus side, the game is easy to play, once the cut/choose mechanism is understood, and it does not outstay its welcome. No matter how unfavorable the cards might be, there is usually something to accomplish. If the cards are not favorable, the next lot may fit with them really well. I expect a 10-year-old could play this, but it is inviting to adults as well, especially the beautiful artwork.
G**R
bon jeu
bon jeu, parti rapide et vraiment agréable a plusieurs. plutôt 3 ou 4 joueurs plutôt que 2. je recommande ce jeu.
