Milton Bradley's Shogun Strategy

[Axis Forever]

After being a fan of A&A for 10 years, playing many of the different versions, my friends and I decided to get a copy of the original Shogun and give it a try!

We played it once last weekend and loved it, we are playing it again next weekend.

Does anyone have any strategies for this game?

My downfall last game was spreading myself out to thin, and my main enemy took the north sea road from the east with his daimyo army and took province after province without any problem, he quickly became richer than me and could out bid me for the ninja.

Would you suggest building up the outer parameters with larger forces? and what are general good strategies to follow?

[Private-Panic]

Assuming that this is the same Shogun as I have had for many years, I would say that the key is to always use your daimyo armies to the full AND then make sure they are safe at the end of the turn.

Defending borders with non-daimyo garrisons and castles can be expensive and yet ineffective. A better defense is the threat of counterattack by your own daimyo. And a better use of castles can be to provide your daimyo army with a safe haven.

The loss of a daimyo army is a significant set-back. The biggest threat is a two or more daimyo attack on one, so always beware this from your opponents and try to create such a possibility for you.

Lastly, the fluid alliances of this game make the diplomatic aspect critical. If any player looks like winning, it makes sense for the others to gang up on him/her. So if you can surprise your opponents with the win, so much the better. For example by going first. Or by taking out an opponent.

Enjoy your next game AF! :-)

[Wolfshanze]

Well he said Milton Bradley, not Queen Games, so I assume he meant this one (see pic):

[Private-Panic]

Okey-dokey Wolf. Mine is MB then. I just checked.

[Wolfshanze]

Ya, there is another game called “Shogun” by Queen Games.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/20551/shogun

But it’s totally different than the Milton Bradley “Shogun”
https://www.amazon.com/Milton-Bradley-Shogun-Gamemaster-Series/dp/B001NHE7BW

Which was later renamed “Samurai Swords” and released by Ikusa
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/221/ikusa

But you had the right game in-mind, so game-on!

[zooooma]

@Private:

I would say that the key is to always use your daimyo armies to the full AND then make sure they are safe at the end of the turn.

Defending borders with non-daimyo garrisons and castles can be expensive and yet ineffective. A better defense is the threat of counterattack by your own daimyo. And a better use of castles can be to provide your daimyo army with a safe haven.

The loss of a daimyo army is a significant set-back. The biggest threat is a two or more daimyo attack on one, so always beware this from your opponents and try to create such a possibility for you.

Totally this.  That game’s lots of - but very long!

I once had a Shogun edition - not sure what became of it.  I have a Samurai Swords edition now.  
:-(

[Wolfshanze]

@zooooma:

I once had a Shogun edition - not sure what became of it.  I have a Samurai Swords edition now.  
:-(

I have an attic in my home, that has boxes and boxes of all the old wargames of my youth… I liberated the old 1980s A&A from the attic when I got back into A&A last year… I know Fortress America is still up there… I honestly can’t remember if I had the old Shogun game or not… it may, or may not be up there… the 1980s was a long time ago… my memory is foggy on what I had back then!

[IWillNeverGrowUp]

@Wolfshanze:

Ya, there is another game called “Shogun” by Queen Games.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/20551/shogun

But it’s totally different than the Milton Bradley “Shogun”
https://www.amazon.com/Milton-Bradley-Shogun-Gamemaster-Series/dp/B001NHE7BW

Which was later renamed “Samurai Swords” and released by Ikusa
https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/221/ikusa

And is now entirely out of print :(

I had the original Shogun that mysteriously disappeared in my teens.

Several years ago I picked up Ikusa. It’s the same game, with “upgraded” art, but no little plastic swords (#sadface). I was sad to find it’s now unavailable to purchase new.

@Private:

I would say that the key is to always use your daimyo armies to the full AND then make sure they are safe at the end of the turn.

Defending borders with non-daimyo garrisons and castles can be expensive and yet ineffective. A better defense is the threat of counterattack by your own daimyo. And a better use of castles can be to provide your daimyo army with a safe haven.

The loss of a daimyo army is a significant set-back. The biggest threat is a two or more daimyo attack on one, so always beware this from your opponents and try to create such a possibility for you.

Lastly, the fluid alliances of this game make the diplomatic aspect critical. If any player looks like winning, it makes sense for the others to gang up on him/her. So if you can surprise your opponents with the win, so much the better. For example by going first. Or by taking out an opponent.

Pretty much this. I’ve never found a strategy that I have stuck with but this advice is golden.