Bower's Game Corner #1304: Gunshi: The Art Of Strategy Review

From The Publisher: 2 tacticians battle to infiltrate or capture the other's Shogun in a strategic game similar to Chess or Shogi. The tacticians send messages to and from the battlefield which causes a delay in the actions being taken.

The key to victory is to understand how to properly utilize the special command, the Chain Message, which allows game pieces of the same kind, positioned next to each other in a vertical or horizontal direction, to advance in the same way and in the same turn.

The player who can fulfill one of these requirements, wins:
infiltrate the opponents base 3 times
capture the opponent's Shogun
On a turn:
Reveal and activate your previous planned action card
Earn strategic energy
Plan a future action by placing a card in your queue
There are only 3 types of troops, infantry, cavalry, archers. Each with their unique moving style and ability. Among one of the pieces you will hide your Shogun who will act as a troop. Protect and hide him well so he doesn't get captured.

This is the new second edition of 軍師軍略 (Gunshi Gunryaku). There are some small changes to the rules. Other changes are:
1. the box will will be redesigned
2. the game board is redesigned
3. the soldier pieces are redesigned
4. the command cards care redesigned
5. there is an addition of 24 king's deciding chips
6. there is an addition of 6 expansion command cards and expansion rules

[MissMerc]

Ooh, nice review Bower! Definitely going to share this game with some friends that like strategy games.

[a.d.samano]

Something abstract with the Japanese theme? I remember Kenjin which is out of print already. It can be played up to 4 players. Good review and planning to get this if it hits retail here in the Philippines.

[a-blivvy-yus]

Games with no luck?
I'm biased, but I made one i'm quite a fan of - it's a card game called "Clean Cut".
Years ago I got into simultaneous turn-based PC games, with Frozen Synapse, and since then, a couple of my favourite games have been using similar gameplay mechanics. Concealed Intent is a space strategy game focused on stealth and has really interesting systems in play. Another good one is TASTEE: Lethal Tactics. This game looks like it's very streamined but manages to do so without losing depth - that's something I really love in a game, so I'm pretty interested to see where it goes.

[EfrainRiveraJunior]

Puerto Rico is my all-time favorite game.