Clan Rankings

[trevorcuba]

How do we feel about the power level of the clans?

I think Crane is obviously the strongest (maybe needs to be nerfed)

Next I would personally put Scorpion. If you stockpile influence they can reach their objectives easily and seem to have a flexible toolset.

I think Phoenix might be 3rd strongest but I have personally NOT had great success with them. I need to use their library more. Has anyone been able to consistently score the "collect 8 wood" objective?

Dragon is probably next. They are very powerful when everyone is new to the game but at higher level tables their lack of focus starts to hold them back.

Crab are REALLY good at holding a location and can camp out of Toshi Ronbo, but they take so long to get their tools online i think the game is over before they can become a real threat.

Lion can blitz early objectives really well but their focus on military highlight how few objectives require military to win. I really think the barracks needs to produce 2 troops a round to be effective.

Ironically, Unicorns inability to fight keeps them back. They never seem to have enough resources or troops to do what they want to.


These are just my thoughts.

[Dix de sabre]

1. Crane | 2. Scorpion | 3. Phoenix | 4. Unicorn | 5. Dragon | 6. Lion | 7. Crab

I also think the market (and the dojo) needs to be nerfed or redesigned. There are a lot of comments about this on BGG. What are the publisher and the designers doing? Even the most enthusiastic players say the market is broken, so they should listen to them.

If the Crane clan can build the market on turn 1, it's just no fun and leaves no hope of winning. In Gunsen, occupying an opponent's building three hexes away from a watchtower is unrealistic and too expensive. So, there's no solution.
The market gives 2 kokus per turn. It's too much (if it is built on turn 1, by turn 6 you'll have 12 kokus to finish off your opponents).
The dojo is not as powerful, but it breaks the rules. It kills the economic war aspect of the card market, which is one of the most interesting aspects of the game in my opinion.

I think the barracks don't work as a very efficient troop factory, but they work well as a lure, bait, or trap to build next to Toshi Ranbo, for example.

My favourite clans are the Unicorn (it evokes a cavalry of hussars raiding the countryside and waging a war of harassment) and the Crab (a scavenger/carrion eater).

[etherial]

My personal best are Crane and Lion. My only Scorpion win was against someone on their first game.