How to play(rule)
It’s very easy & simple; all you have to do is to match 3 cards to complete the name spelling in kanji of a general from Sengoku period!
Even small children can enjoy this game since the family crest designs will be the clue to winning it!
You don’t need to remember all names of the Sengoku generals – aim to collect 3 cards with a matching family crest to spell out a name!
* It might get trickier if multiple generals share the same family name but have different kanji letters in their first names when they are fathers/sons/brothers. (e.g. Takeda Shingen/Katsuyori, Ikeda Tsuneoki/Terumasa, etc.)
Preparation
(before game)
Start!
- 1) 1 player draws 1 card from the deck of cards.
- 2) When you manage to collect 3 cards to form a full name of Sengoku general, then show it to everyone.
*You can set the rule to not show your completed set to everyone.(Refer to “Another rule” section for further detail).
- 3) Whether you can form a full name or not, always discard 1 card to the discard pile (to keep the no. of cards in hand to a multiple of 3).
* You have time, until the next player finishes drawing a card from the deck, to grab a card from discard pile to complete a full name (= “Grab-it! rule”. Refer to the right side for detail).
- 4) The next player repeats Steps 1 – 3, and so on. When all deck cards are gone, then the game is over and it’s time to decide the winner!
About ”Grab-it! rule”:
Players other than the one who discarded a card, have time until the next player finishes drawing a card from the deck to grab a card from discard pile to complete a full name using 3 cards. Show the completed name to everyone!
-
- ”Grab-it! rule” applies only when 1 more card is needed to complete a full name.
- Players other than discard the one who discarded a card, can grab a card.
- When you grab a card from the discard pile, you need to discard 1 card from your hand in return. Always keep no. of cards in your hand to a multiple of 3.
- When you grab a card, you need to say out loud “Grabbin’!”.
- The card you can also be grabbed by others when “Grab-it!” rule is applicable.
- The order of gameplay won’t change even after “Grab-it” rule is used (i.e. the right to draw a card next won’t move to the player sitting next to the “grabber”).
Completing a game
-deciding winner/loser-
When multiple players have the same no. of cards in hands:
-
1) If they all have the same no. of “First Name Cards”
e.g. if Player A and Player B both have 4 “First Name Cards”, then the player with the least total no. of family crests on their cards will be the winner.
2) If they have different no. of “First Name Cards”
e.g. if Player A has 4 “First Name Cards” and other players have more than 4, then other players need to adjust the no. of cards to the player who has the least no. of cards in hand (4 cards in this example). When doing this, make sure to choose cards with the least no. of family crests, because the player with the least total no. of family crests on their cards will be the winner!
“Another rule”
*Differences between the normal rule:
-
-You are not showing your hand even when you could complete a full name of Sengoku general.
-You need to say aloud “Kamon*!” when you are 1 card close to completion of a full name.
(*Kamon is a Japanese term for “family crest”)
-”Grab-it!” rule can be applied, but you need to show your completed set to everyone after you use “Grab-it!” rule.
à If you show 3 out of 12 cards to everyone, then you will have 9 remaining cards in hand. Unless you use “Grab-it!” rule to complete another set, you keep playing the game with these 9 remaining cards without showing them to everyone. But if you are 1 card close to completing a full name, then say aloud “Kamon!”.
-Doing multiple “Grab-it!” will reduce the no. of your cards in hand. When you have no more card left in your hand, then you will be the winner at that spot!