Clan War is a table-top fantasy war game. That is to say, miniature figures are used to
represent people or creatures on a battle field that occupies a table top. Since it is a
fantasy game, there are monsters and magic as well as infantry and cavalry.
Clan War is based in a fictional world called Rokugan, which is a pseudo-japanese fantasy
world full of Samurai, Dragons, and hideous Oni. This is the same world of a very popular
Collectible Card Game and Role Playing Game. The background of Clan War revolves around 6
great clans (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, and Unicorn) who war with each other to
see which will seize control of the Emerald Throne and rule the empire. Although loosely
based on feudal Japan, Rokugan is different in many ways. It is a more accurate
translation of the Collectible Card Game than Japan. There are many similarities,
including duels between leaders, honorable and dishonorable characters, and always the
hand of fate, interfering in the lives of mortals.
In addition to the factions struggling for power, the lands south of Rokugan are a place
of evil known as the Shadowlands. In this corrupt and vile place dwell Goblins, horrible
Oni, and even the most foul of all corruptions, the Undead. Ancestors who have become
agents of evil, and slay the living, only to watch them rise up and join their ranks.
Do you have what it takes to lead the armies of your clan to victory, and the rank of
Emperor?
Mechanics
Clan War has a simple command and control system to represent the environment of a battle
field in feudal Rokugan, and a morale system to represent the fighting spirit of the
warriors involved. Personalities are important for commanding units, but do not dominate
the game. Although these systems do a fair job of representing what combat would actually
be like in that day and age, they do not bog the game down in unnecessary detail, but
rather keeps the game fast paced and entertaining.
The Box Set include 6 command figs, one for each of the great houses of Rokugan (Hida
Sukune, Daidoji Uji, Mirimoto Daini, Matsu Gohei, Shiba Tsukune, and Shinjo Yasamura), and
52 metal miniatures (26 infantry and 26 archers) that can be used in almost any army in
Rokugan. Also included are The Rules, The Clans (a list of all the various clan special
troops), two decks of tactical cards, and Force cards for each unit described in The Clans
plus others. You also get other accessories for playing such as rulers and dice.
High Points:
- Command and Control system simulates battlefield constraints without slowing down game
play. Command models can issue orders or employ tactics to modify a units actions.
- Personalities do not dominate game play, but are important for enhancing the potential
of units. Units without leaders are possible, but it becomes very difficult for them to do
much more than move straight at the enemy.
- Morale system that is better than clash-flee-and-die system. Units first become Broken,
and attempt to withdraw to cover. If they lose morale again, they flee.
- Initiative system allows all units to act in a given turn, instead of staggered turns as
in many other games. During each phase (maneuver, cavalry maneuver, ranged attacks, close
combat, and reserve movement) the units go in initiative order. Unit Leaders and Generals
can use their battle skills to modify a units initiative, as each side tries for strategic
advantage.
- Magic system does not dominate game play. Instead the spells are designed more to
enhance or inhibit the units on the table, rather than being very powerful forces of their
own. Spells are purchased rather than selected at random, so now you can design a strategy
that includes magic without worrying about whether you will get that spell or not. Spells
are also assigned a cost according to their power
- Each player gets a custom deck of 30 Tactical Cards that change the nature of play. Each
turn the player gets to draw one or more cards from this deck, and they can be played
during the course of the game to modify rolls, enhance the abilities of a unit, or even
call out an opposing leader for a duel.
- Game play does a great job of simulating a battlefield without getting bogged down in
minutia. Play is fast and entertaining, while maintaining enough detail to make you feel
like a general commanding an army on a battlefield.
- Base sizes that actually fit the miniatures! Putting 10 figures into a unit is no longer
an exercise in jigsaw puzzles solving.
- The miniatures are highly detailed, rivaling those of the best figures on the market.
•Since most of the armies battling for the Emerald Throne are human, the figures in
the box set can be used for any army just by changing their paint job. You do not have to
buy a box full of figures you cannot use just to get the rules of the game. This fact
combines with the fact that you get 58 metal figs in the box to make the Clan War boxed
set a great deal!
- System included to take Legend of the Five Rings RPG characters and bring them into Clan
War. Clan War can be used as a mass combat system for the L5R RPG.
- Background of Rokugan is vibrant and full of detail. The background for this game has
been developed for years in the Collectible Card Game, and then the Role Playing Game.
There is a rich and colorful tappestry that adds to the game play.
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