Zipang Portable
Zipang Portable Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- Character cards (30)
- Quick Reference cards (6)
- Mangoku coins (30)
- Rulebook (1 sheet)
Character Cards
Each card shows Battle (BTL) points and Honor (HNR) points. The number after each name is how many copies are in the deck (out of 30).
| Card | BTL | HNR | Copies | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kabuki | 0 | 3 | 1 | Choose 1 card from the discard pile and use it immediately. |
| Peasant | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 card: no effect. 2 cards: you can make an attack of 5 BTL. |
| Bandit | 2 | 0 | 3 | Steal 1 Mangoku coin from another player (also from a player excluded from the battle). |
| Merchant | 1 | 0 | 1 | All players each put 1 Mangoku coin into the center (including players excluded from the battle). |
| Princess | 0 | 3 |
A. Victory Conditions
The game consists of a series of "battles". The game ends when, at the start of a battle, one or more players have no Mangoku coins.
The player who has won the most Mangoku coins when the game ends wins. The remaining players are ranked by their total Mangoku coins.
If the Mangoku coins won by the 1st-place players are tied, the realm is not unified and the Sengoku era continues. The players start a new game.
B. Game Setup
- Each player starts the game with 5 Mangoku coins (4 in a 2-player game). The remaining Mangoku coins are not used in the game. [Note] Players must always keep their own Mangoku coins visible to the other players.
- Depending on the number of players, remove the following cards from the game:
| Players | Cards removed |
|---|---|
| 2-3 players | Bandit (2), Captain (2), Peasant (4), Monk (1), Commander (3) |
| 4-5 players | Bandit (1), Captain (1), Peasant (1), Monk (1), Commander (1) |
| 6 players | No cards are removed |
- Choose the starting player at random (or let the youngest player start first). Start the first battle.
C. How to Start a Battle
- Shuffle the cards and deal 2 cards to each player; the remaining cards become the draw pile. Each player checks their own hand without letting the other players see it.
- Place the top card of the draw pile face down, sideways, next to the pile, as the start of the discard pile.
- Each player places 1 Mangoku coin in the center, and 1 coin is then removed from among them. This becomes the coin area.
D. How to Play a Battle
- When your turn comes, draw 1 card from the draw pile. If there is no card to draw at the start of a player's turn, the battle ends immediately (see F, Preparing the Next Battle).
- From your hand, now 3 cards, choose 1 card, discard it face up to the discard pile, and activate that card's effect. If you attack with a Captain, Commander, Warlord, or 2 Peasants, see E, Battle. [Note] As an exception, a Peasant can be played 2 cards at a time (see "Ikki" in E, Battle).
- Continue in clockwise order. If there is no next player at your last turn, the battle ends (see F, Preparing the Next Battle).
Card Replenishment Rule
If you have not been excluded from the battle, keep 2 cards in hand as far as possible (when you draw from the draw pile on your turn, you temporarily have 3 cards). If a card is taken from you, refill your hand immediately until you have 2 cards. Do this before the taken card is used. If several players need to refill at the same time, draw in clockwise order starting from the active player. If you cannot draw a card and have no hand, that player is excluded from the battle.
E. Battle
Attacking side
When you play a Warlord, Commander, Captain, or 2 Peasants (see "Ikki" below), you can attack the other players. The BATTLE points (BTL) of the played card are the strength of the attack. Except for Peasants, only 1 card can be used per attack. Attacking multiple players simultaneously is possible.
"Ikki" (Peasant Revolt): If you play 2 Peasants at the same time, you can make an attack of BTL 5 against all the other players.
Defending side
Each defending player's defense strength is the total BATTLE points (BTL) of all the cards in their hand. If that total is equal to or greater than the attacker's BTL, the defender shows their hand to the attacking player and blocks the attack. In that case, the defender may keep the cards as their hand. If the defending player's total BTL is less than the attacker's, the defender is excluded from the current battle.
If you are attacked before your first turn of each battle: you can block the attack by adding 1 Mangoku coin to the coin area in the center. You can do this once for each attack you receive.
Player exclusion
A blocked attacking player remains in the battle. A defeated defending player is excluded from the battle and discards their entire hand. They keep their Mangoku coins and wait for the next battle to begin. Even when excluded from the battle, a player can still be affected by the Bandit, Merchant, and Princess.
F. Preparing the Next Battle
a. When only 1 player remains after a battle, the battle ends and that player is the winner and takes all the Mangoku coins in the center. The next battle starts with this player. If one or more players have no Mangoku coins, the game ends immediately (see A, Victory Conditions). Otherwise, start the next battle.
b. When the Emperor card is played, or when the draw pile runs out, the battle ends. Total the HONOR points (HNR) in your hand; the player with the most points wins and takes all the Mangoku coins in the center. If one or more players have no Mangoku coins, the game ends immediately (see A, Victory Conditions). Otherwise, start the next battle.
If two or more players are tied for the highest HNR, the Mangoku coins stay in the center and the next battle begins. In this case, the start is from the player who started the previous battle first.
If one or more players have no Mangoku coins, the game ends immediately (see A, Victory Conditions). Otherwise, start the next battle.
G. FAQ
Q1 In a battle, what happens if I do not have a Mangoku coin to block an attack before my first turn? A1: You cannot block the attack, and you are excluded from the battle.
Q2 What if I cannot make my hand 2 cards at the end of my turn? A2: The battle ends, and the HNR of the hands you hold becomes your score.
Q3 If I have no Mangoku coins and a Bandit or Merchant is used on me, what happens? A3: Nothing is taken, and you remain in the battle.
Q4 When a Bandit, Merchant, or Princess is played, do players excluded from the battle also have to pay Mangoku coins? A4: Yes. They pay as long as they have Mangoku coins.
Q5 May I reveal another player's hand to the other players? A5: For the spirit of the game and for the sake of your honor, you must not.
Q6 If I play the Emperor and end the battle, is the Emperor's HNR added to my total? A6: No. Only the HNR of the cards remaining in your hand is counted.
Q7 Can I obtain a Peasant card from another player or from the discard pile and combine it with a Peasant in my hand to make an Ikki (Peasant Revolt)? A7: Yes.
Q8 Can I play a Monk on my own turn, not against an opponent's play? A8: Yes, but nothing happens.
Q9 Can I cancel a Monk, Emperor, Ikki (2 Peasants) or Shrine Maiden played by another player with my own Monk? A9: The effects of the Monk and the Emperor cannot be cancelled. For the other cards, you can cancel only the attack (effect) directed at you, but it does not affect the other players.
Q10 Can I use 2 Peasant cards as an Ikki for defense? A10: No.