UPDATE - This wasn't in my demo, but apparently each samurai has a whole bunch of cards and effects unique to them, which addresses one of my main complaints at the end. Kickstarter link - www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoneswordgames/senjutsu-battle-for-japan - - - - - - 0:00 - Introduction 0:58 - Overview of Play 3:45 - Playthrough 17:29 - Impressions
@@shawnkays6821 I get the feeling that, no matter what they do, it's never going to reach the full variety of BattleCON. But I would say even Exceed doesn't do that! ;)
That was really fun and easy - I love that I now have a rudimentary understanding to begin playing immediately for when my copy arrives (next week?)- Thanks, Mike. I'll be watching your updated review tomorrow! 🤗
A great overview as usual. The theme really appeals to me as a longtime martial arts practitioner and solo gamer. This would be easy to get to the table and the short playtime, which initially seemed like a negative, means that I could easily get a game in. There are some similarities to Way of the Samurai, a card game that I love and so I think that I will be backing it.
This gave me an immediate and palpable feel for the game--so helpful! I'm backing this and looking forward to solo, the solo campaign "graphic novel", and the PvP play. Cheers!
First, thx you for the vid. Second, almost everything seems perfect for me: The setting, the art, the minis, a campaign etc. What has me on the fence is the gameplay. It’s not bad, it just seems repetitive even if I mix up the different characters, cards, and maps, at its core it’s just playing cards and moving a mini each game. I’ll enjoy it no question but after a few plays I’ll feel like putting on the shelf and coming back to it months later.
I don’t necessarily disagree. A big part for me is how varied the heroes end up (and it sounds like they are working a lot on this). If my ninja is very different from my ronin, for example, I can keep it feeling fresh by switching my characters up.
I am a bit also on the fence about the gameplay right now, I find it very.. luck based, missing a bit of mind reading and reaction gameplay. Sure, if you know the opponent's deck, but you won't really with deck building. so.. all you can do is "hope the opponent is not faster". Seems like it is missing a layer...
@@yview7315 it's going to be random for sure, but the game is so quick that I didn't mind. And you can play cards to hopefully predict your opponent, like a slow attack hoping they move into range before you. Feels pretty awesome when it works.
The only criticism is that I have is that at 14:07 blue should've been forced to move and therefore stun both you and blue! It seems like it isn't much, but that could change the outcome of the duel! Otherwise I absolutely love the video and you played very well! :D
Interesting... pretty sure that collision rule wasn't in the prototype version of the rules I had, but I DO see it now in the file on the KS page. Certainly might have helped if blue drew the stun in a future turn!
I’m not fully sure. In any case, it’s in the wrong spot of the rulebook. Why put it in the solo section when it clearly applies to movement in any game mode? 😜
There will also be some game modes for multiplayer. One that I know of is basically Capture the Flag. The Lord of one team has been killed and the team has to stop the other team from stealing the body. One of the teams is given an adantage/disadvantage like less wounds or less cards to balance it out.
Does that work with the automa though? Since we only cover solo and coop content here, I don't know if we would ever play those modes. But still, they sound cool!
@@OneStopCoopShop Ah, my bad, I should have realised this was only for solo & co-op. My guess would be that it's only for real players. There is a co-op campaign that has been added to the base game.
@@OneStopCoopShop They just put up an update today that mentions that the Fallen Lord game mode can be played co-op and solo. 👍 There are also 2 other modes. Last Stand, which is a sort of wave/horde mode with waves of enemies and bosses thrown in every now and then. AND Noblewoman Escort, where you have to escort a noblewoman to a boat without her getting cut down by the enemy team. All 3 are playable VS, Solo and Co-Op. Edit: Last Stand is only Solo & Co-Op.
I'm one of those people who's more of a fan of deck construction than pre-made decks. I'm also more a fan of non-random cards than drawing a hand from a shuffled deck, but this game seems really cool to me even with that element that isn't a favourite for me.
@@OneStopCoopShop Yeah, I'm on a tight budget *THIS* week, but the KS is still live so hopefully before it's over I can line up the funds to throw some money at it! (and if not, I guess it'll be time to hope for late pledges or retail?)
I have a video on the channel for it, and it's posted on BGG, but here's a direct link. Let me know if you have any questions! docs.google.com/document/d/1JLmiL7QQqU0VcHc3_CCVUCL7iCNs0zi9BnZkw9ISi-4/edit?usp=sharing
It recently crowdfunded, so they are going to be working on it for months before it delivers and can be purchased, but if you go to the page linked in the video description you might be able to late pledge it.
@@guitargangster66 not sure what their plans are, sorry! But they have frequent updates on the KS page that could probably answer your questions. I'm not affiliated with them in any way; I just played a prototype :)
@@OneStopCoopShop Wow I'm impressed but I totally understand why you play so many games before putting out content on a game. I'm normally the one teaching in my group and it's super rare that I get everything right in my very first game of any game. Nonetheless, I really enjoy your content and your colleagues content too ;) Thanks for the video!
i came here to see how the game plays.. because i was confused on how hard will it be to play this solo.. but i see its not TOO hard.. i think i would have to remember that i have to face the enemy to attack as well as just move by them
@@OneStopCoopShop would you consider this fun for someone barely starting into solo gameboards? or would this game be more for experienced players like a game like spirit away or whats it called
Do not like the bland looking board plus not a fan of skirmish games anyway so pass. I reckon I’d be bored after about 5 minutes. A Kickstarter called Harakiri looks more promising and has an awesome looking map.
The card art looks very sparse and sure could do with better design and to be honest actual images depicting what they represent. As is it looks like a icon fest and super abstract
Yeah my biggest criticism would be the white cards with icons and text. Should go for the Magic route of art on half the card, rather than the Gloomhaven route
UPDATE - This wasn't in my demo, but apparently each samurai has a whole bunch of cards and effects unique to them, which addresses one of my main complaints at the end.
Kickstarter link - www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoneswordgames/senjutsu-battle-for-japan
- - - - - -
0:00 - Introduction
0:58 - Overview of Play
3:45 - Playthrough
17:29 - Impressions
Sounds kind of important to include in the demo. As someone whose favorite game is BattleCon, the demo doesn't seem to live up without unique samurai.
@@shawnkays6821 I get the feeling that, no matter what they do, it's never going to reach the full variety of BattleCON. But I would say even Exceed doesn't do that! ;)
That was really fun and easy - I love that I now have a rudimentary understanding to begin playing immediately for when my copy arrives (next week?)- Thanks, Mike. I'll be watching your updated review tomorrow! 🤗
Tomorrow is just a play, sadly (but a very GOOFY play). Review will have to wait until I've played through the campaign further.
Just got my copy and came back to get a better understanding! Can't wait to play
I need to play more too, to finish up a review
You, sir, are legend. Thank you for this playthrough. Fantastic work as usual.
Hahaha, I do what I can. Thanks for watching!
A great overview as usual. The theme really appeals to me as a longtime martial arts practitioner and solo gamer. This would be easy to get to the table and the short playtime, which initially seemed like a negative, means that I could easily get a game in. There are some similarities to Way of the Samurai, a card game that I love and so I think that I will be backing it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This gave me an immediate and palpable feel for the game--so helpful! I'm backing this and looking forward to solo, the solo campaign "graphic novel", and the PvP play. Cheers!
Definitely excited to see the campaign, and since I already play BattleCON and Exceed with my sons I figure this might fit into the PVP rotation too.
Looks fantastic. I really like what they are adding to the kickstarter. The stretchgoals keep getting better and better.
I hope they don’t overcommit, but yes, so cool to see the great stuff they have planned.
Thanks for this play-through and impressions. This game looks very intriguing.
It’s fun!
Awesome work Mike, really got a feel for the game as always :)
Excellent! That's the best praise I can hear. I'm glad it was helpful :)
Ughh the wait is killing me for this to come out!
I'm really excited to see all the stuff they added since I played this prototype.
First, thx you for the vid. Second, almost everything seems perfect for me: The setting, the art, the minis, a campaign etc. What has me on the fence is the gameplay. It’s not bad, it just seems repetitive even if I mix up the different characters, cards, and maps, at its core it’s just playing cards and moving a mini each game. I’ll enjoy it no question but after a few plays I’ll feel like putting on the shelf and coming back to it months later.
I don’t necessarily disagree. A big part for me is how varied the heroes end up (and it sounds like they are working a lot on this). If my ninja is very different from my ronin, for example, I can keep it feeling fresh by switching my characters up.
I am a bit also on the fence about the gameplay right now, I find it very.. luck based, missing a bit of mind reading and reaction gameplay. Sure, if you know the opponent's deck, but you won't really with deck building. so.. all you can do is "hope the opponent is not faster". Seems like it is missing a layer...
@@yview7315 it's going to be random for sure, but the game is so quick that I didn't mind. And you can play cards to hopefully predict your opponent, like a slow attack hoping they move into range before you. Feels pretty awesome when it works.
Very helpful, great video as usual!
Thank you!
Nice play through and talk around great good thanks
Can’t wait for this to deliver!
Oh man, you mentioned Bushido Blade. I used to play 1 and 2 on playstation one. Great games!
Me too! Great games. Spent hours in 1v1 and story mode!
@@OneStopCoopShop do you think this game is similar anyway to Onitama?
Never played it, so can’t say. Sorry!
The only criticism is that I have is that at 14:07 blue should've been forced to move and therefore stun both you and blue! It seems like it isn't much, but that could change the outcome of the duel! Otherwise I absolutely love the video and you played very well! :D
Interesting... pretty sure that collision rule wasn't in the prototype version of the rules I had, but I DO see it now in the file on the KS page. Certainly might have helped if blue drew the stun in a future turn!
@@OneStopCoopShop that makes a lot of sense since you seemed so comfortable with the rest of the rules! Thank you for the reply to explain it 😄
I’m not fully sure. In any case, it’s in the wrong spot of the rulebook. Why put it in the solo section when it clearly applies to movement in any game mode? 😜
@@OneStopCoopShop ahaha that’s true 😅 in any case at least it may help to know in future games of Senjutsu!
This is awesome. Thanks!!
Thanks for watching!
This reminds me somewhat of AD1666 with a Samurai theme.
Looks good!
I hadn't heard of that one, but looking it up I see the similarities. Though that seems to be more squad-based?
Correct, you usually have 4-6 characters each including named characters and mooks.
@@alexpartenopei1021 nice! But no solo play, right? :(
not officially yet, no but there is one coming with the next expansion and there is one on BGG.
@@alexpartenopei1021 neat, thanks!
There will also be some game modes for multiplayer. One that I know of is basically Capture the Flag. The Lord of one team has been killed and the team has to stop the other team from stealing the body. One of the teams is given an adantage/disadvantage like less wounds or less cards to balance it out.
Does that work with the automa though? Since we only cover solo and coop content here, I don't know if we would ever play those modes.
But still, they sound cool!
@@OneStopCoopShop Ah, my bad, I should have realised this was only for solo & co-op. My guess would be that it's only for real players.
There is a co-op campaign that has been added to the base game.
I was very happy when they announced the coop campaign. So much cool stuff coming for this one!
@@OneStopCoopShop They just put up an update today that mentions that the Fallen Lord game mode can be played co-op and solo. 👍
There are also 2 other modes.
Last Stand, which is a sort of wave/horde mode with waves of enemies and bosses thrown in every now and then.
AND
Noblewoman Escort, where you have to escort a noblewoman to a boat without her getting cut down by the enemy team.
All 3 are playable VS, Solo and Co-Op.
Edit: Last Stand is only Solo & Co-Op.
I'm one of those people who's more of a fan of deck construction than pre-made decks. I'm also more a fan of non-random cards than drawing a hand from a shuffled deck, but this game seems really cool to me even with that element that isn't a favourite for me.
I think this could be a big hit for you then!
@@OneStopCoopShop Yeah, I'm on a tight budget *THIS* week, but the KS is still live so hopefully before it's over I can line up the funds to throw some money at it! (and if not, I guess it'll be time to hope for late pledges or retail?)
I know it says 2-4, but does that mean 1v1 or 2v2 or can you do a 3 player free for all?
I see no reason the rules wouldn’t still work for 1v1v1
This remind me Bushido on android. Love it.
Very cool!
Cool 😎 one of my complaints was the art card and the creator wrote that they are working to improve it so… back back back
Yes, I’d love some graphic design upgrades.
Would love to know where I can get the solo mode you worked on for BattleCon
I have a video on the channel for it, and it's posted on BGG, but here's a direct link. Let me know if you have any questions!
docs.google.com/document/d/1JLmiL7QQqU0VcHc3_CCVUCL7iCNs0zi9BnZkw9ISi-4/edit?usp=sharing
I recently tried Marvel Champions and found I also do not like deckbuilding....at all. Great vid, Mike.
Pre-set decks are included from day 1!
I was going to say the same as Stone Sword. I played only the pre-sets, and still enjoyed myself.
I'm wondering how this would compare to Street Masters. Different approaches and themes but both map based fighting with cards.
This one is certainly more vicious and fast-paced, whereas street masters mixes things up with scenarios and villains and minions
Any way in which CoOp mode mixes things up?
I haven’t heard details yet, so I’m not sure, but the KS page makes it sound like they are adding some co-op specific elements.
CoOp Campaign is being added at £240k and we're nearly there after just 6 hours!
@@stoneswordgames crap, that's awesome!!! Didn't even know that was a possibility.
The SW license is a whole thing, but I wonder how well this would work as a lightsaber dueling game with force powers and what-not...
That could be pretty awesome :)
I can't find this game anywhere
It recently crowdfunded, so they are going to be working on it for months before it delivers and can be purchased, but if you go to the page linked in the video description you might be able to late pledge it.
@@OneStopCoopShop oh ok. Will there be a retail version? Like The Night Cage?
@@guitargangster66 not sure what their plans are, sorry! But they have frequent updates on the KS page that could probably answer your questions. I'm not affiliated with them in any way; I just played a prototype :)
Just want to let you know that the Klingon subtitles are not available for the video atm.
I only turn them on once errors have been found and corrected. At this point, as far as I know, all of the rules in the video are correct :)
@@OneStopCoopShop So you got this perfectly on the first try! Impressive ^.^
Oh no, this was my 7th or 8th play and I was taking to the designers :)
@@OneStopCoopShop Wow I'm impressed but I totally understand why you play so many games before putting out content on a game. I'm normally the one teaching in my group and it's super rare that I get everything right in my very first game of any game.
Nonetheless, I really enjoy your content and your colleagues content too ;)
Thanks for the video!
Only skipping this because i'm all in on Unmatched but the AI/Solo mode might have me change my mind on this.
Funnily enough I’m in the opposite space. I’ve been dying to play unmatched but there is no solo/coop.
Though maybe I can design some….
i came here to see how the game plays.. because i was confused on how hard will it be to play this solo.. but i see its not TOO hard.. i think i would have to remember that i have to face the enemy to attack as well as just move by them
Yeah, shouldn’t be too challenging once you have a few plays in
@@OneStopCoopShop would you consider this fun for someone barely starting into solo gameboards? or would this game be more for experienced players like a game like spirit away or whats it called
Do not like the bland looking board plus not a fan of skirmish games anyway so pass.
I reckon I’d be bored after about 5 minutes.
A Kickstarter called Harakiri looks more promising and has an awesome looking map.
Yeah, if you don’t like skirmish games or 1v1 fighters I can’t imagine this will change your mind!
The card art looks very sparse and sure could do with better design and to be honest actual images depicting what they represent. As is it looks like a icon fest and super abstract
Yeah my biggest criticism would be the white cards with icons and text. Should go for the Magic route of art on half the card, rather than the Gloomhaven route
They said they were going to keep working on the graphic design, but I’m not sure if they’ll find a way to fit art on there or not.