Shogun Big Box: Command Your Armies and Conquer Feudal Japan

The clash of steel, the thunder of hooves, the cunning whispers of advisors – the allure of commanding armies and shaping history has captivated us for centuries. While video games offer digital battlefields, there’s a unique, tactile satisfaction that comes from gathering around a table, deploying miniature forces, and outmaneuvering your opponents in a board game. And when that board game transports you to the tumultuous Sengoku period of feudal Japan, the experience becomes even more compelling. Welcome to the world of Shogun Big Box.

The Warlord’s Table

Shogun Big Box, published by Queen Games and designed by Dirk Henn (of Wallenstein fame), is a strategy board game for 2 to 5 players, although it truly shines with at least three. The game immerses you in the power struggles of 16th-century Japan, where powerful daimyo (feudal lords) vie for control of the provinces and the coveted title of Shogun.

Inside the (substantial) box, you’ll find a beautifully illustrated game board (double-sided for variety), five player boards (also double-sided), hundreds of colorful wooden cubes representing your armies, province cards, action cards, treasure chests (representing koku, the currency of the time), building tiles (castles, temples, and theaters), and, of course, the centerpiece: the Cube Tower. This imposing cardboard structure isn’t just for show; it’s the heart of Shogun’s unique battle resolution system.

The game unfolds over two years, each divided into four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each season brings different challenges and opportunities. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are action rounds, where players secretly plan their moves, collect resources, and engage in conflicts. Winter is a time of reckoning, where players must feed their provinces and face potential revolts if resources are scarce.

The Art of War, Cubed

Forget dice rolls. Shogun throws a curveball (or rather, a cube-fall) at traditional wargaming with its iconic Cube Tower. This ingenious device introduces a controlled element of chance into battles, simulating the unpredictable nature of warfare far more effectively than a simple roll of the dice.

Here’s how it works: When a battle occurs, both the attacking and defending players take their respective army cubes (and any supporting peasant cubes) and drop them into the top of the tower. The cubes tumble down through a series of internal baffles. Some cubes will emerge at the bottom, while others will get stuck inside. Only the cubes that exit the tower count towards the battle’s outcome.

This creates several fascinating dynamics. First, it introduces uncertainty. You might drop ten cubes into the tower, expecting a decisive victory, only to have a mere three emerge. Perhaps a sudden gust of wind scattered your troops, or a treacherous path slowed their advance – the Cube Tower elegantly abstracts these unforeseen events. Second, it creates persistence. Cubes that remain trapped in the tower represent ongoing sieges or units bogged down in difficult terrain. They might emerge in subsequent battles, suddenly shifting the balance of power. Third, it introduces a subtle but significant element of probability. While the outcome of any single drop is unpredictable, over time, a larger army will tend to have a higher probability of success.

Let’s do some simple calculation. Let us imagine the Cube tower has a 50% chance for a single cube to go through, in a simply one-on-one battle, if both A and B put one cube, there will be four outcomes:
1, both cubes go through(25%), A and B both have one strength.
2, A’s go through, B’s stuck (25%), A win.
3, B’s go through, A’s stuck (25%), B win.
4, Both cubes stuck(25%), both has zero, but the cubes will stay in the tower, which may effect the future battle.
Now, If A puts two cubes and B put one cube, there will be 8 outcomes:
1. Both A’s go through, B’s go through. 1/8 chance.
2. Both A’s go through, B’s stuck. 1/8 chance.
3. First A’s go through, Second A’s stuck, B’s go through. 1/8 chance.
4. First A’s go through, Second A’s stuck, B’s stuck. 1/8 chance.
5. First A’s stuck, Second A’s go through, B’s go through. 1/8 chance.
6. First A’s stuck, Second A’s go through, B’s stuck. 1/8 chance.
7. Both A’s stuck, B’s go through. 1/8 chance.
8. Both A’s stuck, B’s stuck. 1/8 chance.

We can clearly see the probability influence the game, but it still maintain a level of uncertainty.

Planning Your Conquest

Before the cubes ever reach the tower, however, Shogun is a game of careful planning and strategic deception. Each action round, ten action cards are laid out – five face-up and five face-down. These actions allow you to do things like:

• Tax Provinces: Collect koku (money) from your provinces, but risk increasing unrest.
• Collect Rice: Gather rice to feed your provinces in the winter.
• Recruit Armies: Build up your forces for future conquests.
• Build Structures: Construct castles (for defense), temples (for victory points), or theaters (also for victory points).
• Move Armies: Deploy your troops to different provinces, preparing for attack or defense.

Each player has a set of province cards corresponding to the provinces they control. Secretly, each player assigns one province card to each of the ten action cards. This determines which province will perform which action. This is where the bluffing comes in. Do you place your most valuable province on a crucial action, risking your opponent guessing your intentions? Or do you feint, placing it on a less important action to mislead them?

Special cards also come into play, offering bonuses like extra income, rice, or armies. Players bid on these cards using their treasure chests, and the highest bidder gets the bonus and determines the turn order for the next round. This adds another layer of strategic depth, as you must weigh the benefits of the bonus against the importance of acting early or late in the turn.

Fields of Blood

When two or more players have armies in the same province, a battle ensues. As described earlier, the Cube Tower is the arbiter of these conflicts. Each participating player gathers their army cubes from the contested province, along with any peasant cubes (representing local support or resistance), and drops them into the tower. The cubes that emerge determine the outcome.

For each cube that exits the tower, a strength point is assigned. The player with the most strength points wins the battle. The loser must remove all of their cubes from the province, representing a complete rout. The winner, however, may suffer some casualties, depending on the number of cubes that remained trapped in the tower. This elegant system captures the often-pyrrhic nature of victory in warfare; even a successful campaign can weaken your forces for future engagements.

Importantly, battles aren’t just about military conquest. They’re also about controlling resources and suppressing unrest. If a province revolts (due to lack of rice or excessive taxation), peasant cubes are added to the defending side, making it more difficult to conquer. This forces players to carefully balance their military ambitions with the needs of their people. A wise daimyo knows that a well-fed province is a loyal province.

Beyond the Base Game

The Shogun Big Box truly lives up to its name by including four expansions, each adding new layers of complexity and strategic options:

• Tenno’s Court: This expansion introduces the Imperial Court, a new location on the board where players can send courtiers to gain favor with the Emperor. This favor can be used to acquire special privilege cards, providing powerful bonuses. However, focusing too much on the court can divert resources from your military campaigns.

• Samurai: This expansion provides each player with a set of four unique bonus cards at the start of the game. These cards offer asymmetric abilities, giving each daimyo a distinct strategic advantage. This adds to the replayability and encourages players to explore different playstyles.

• Military Leaders (Heerführer): This expansion allows players to deploy military leaders to their provinces. These leaders enhance the actions available in that province and allow players to build monuments, which provide victory points at the end of the game. This adds another layer of strategic planning, as players must decide where to best utilize their leaders.

• Chambers (Künste in Japan): This expansion introduces a new board and tokens related to the arts. Players can send representatives to different regions to acquire artists and gain cultural influence. This adds a new dimension to the game, rewarding players for pursuing cultural achievements alongside military conquest.

These expansions, combined with the double-sided game board, ensure that no two games of Shogun Big Box are ever quite the same.

Echoes of History

While Shogun is a game of abstract strategy, it cleverly evokes the realities of warfare and governance in the Sengoku period. The constant struggle for resources, the threat of peasant revolts, the importance of strategic alliances (and betrayals!), and the unpredictable nature of battle are all reflected in the game’s mechanics.

For example, the need to collect rice to prevent winter starvation mirrors the historical importance of rice cultivation and distribution in feudal Japan. The ability to build castles reflects the strategic significance of fortified locations in controlling territory and withstanding sieges. Even the Cube Tower, while a purely game-mechanical invention, captures the chaotic and unpredictable nature of pre-modern warfare, where factors like terrain, weather, and morale could dramatically influence the outcome of a battle. Consider, for instance, the Battle of Okehazama (1560), where Oda Nobunaga, vastly outnumbered, defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto in a daring surprise attack aided by a sudden thunderstorm. The Cube Tower, in its own way, encapsulates the potential for such dramatic reversals of fortune.

A Game of Skill (and a Little Luck)

Shogun strikes a delicate balance between strategic planning and the element of chance. While the Cube Tower introduces randomness, it’s not the only factor determining victory. Careful planning, resource management, strategic positioning, and skillful bluffing are all crucial for success. You can’t simply rely on lucky cube drops; you need to create situations where luck is likely to favor you.

The game rewards players who can think several steps ahead, anticipate their opponents’ moves, and adapt to changing circumstances. It’s a game that demands both long-term strategic vision and short-term tactical flexibility. This blend of skill and luck makes Shogun a deeply engaging and rewarding experience, even after many plays.

Why Shogun Stands Out

In a crowded field of area control board games, Shogun distinguishes itself in several key ways. First and foremost is the Cube Tower. It’s a unique and memorable mechanic that adds a level of excitement and unpredictability not found in many other games. It’s not just a gimmick. It’s an integral element.

Second, Shogun offers a compelling blend of strategic depth and historical theme. The game mechanics are tightly integrated with the setting, creating a truly immersive experience. You’re not just pushing cubes around a board; you’re feeling the weight of your decisions as a daimyo, struggling to maintain control of your provinces and vying for power in a turbulent era.

Third, the Big Box edition offers exceptional value. The inclusion of four expansions provides a wealth of content and replayability, ensuring that the game will remain fresh and engaging for years to come. While games like Risk rely heavily on dice rolls, and Axis & Allies can be bogged down in complex rules, Shogun offers a more streamlined and elegant approach to area control, with the Cube Tower providing a unique and satisfying alternative to traditional dice-based combat.

Beyond the Battlefield

Shogun Big Box is more than just a game; it’s a gateway to a fascinating historical period and a testament to the enduring appeal of strategic board games. It’s a game that rewards careful planning, clever tactics, and a bit of luck. It’s a game that encourages social interaction, strategic thinking, and a healthy dose of competitive spirit. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s a game that’s simply fun to play. Whether you’re a seasoned strategy gamer or a newcomer to the world of board games, Shogun Big Box offers a rich and rewarding experience that will keep you coming back for more. It is also a valuable tool to study, at a high level, some probability. By playing and seeing the effect of different number of cubes, it enhances our understanding on the math.