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Storm Over Arnhem
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Rules assistance for Banzai
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.3/5
Rules assistant for Banzai
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Banzai is an expansion for Up Front released in 1984 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Courtney F. Allen and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Simulation, and Events.
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About the game
Banzai expands upon 1983's most innovative and acclaimed game system to bring the steaming jungles of the SW Pacific to your gaming table. The mystique, incredible courage, and tragic flaws of the Japanese soldier are vividly portrayed in the tense, exciting games of simulated man-to-man combat which only Up Front presents in such panoramic splendor. Owners of Up Front will find the game system extensions included herein to be the ultimate of simplicity and convenience; while adding rich detail to the portrayal of the Japanese and British nationalities, as well as accounting for American marines. Twelve new scenarios depict not only typical SW Pacific encounters, but allow more variations for Up Front's existing European scenarios as the British take on the Germans, or the Russians test the Japanese in Manchuria. Several new scenario types list European variations, thus expanding the scope of Up Front's possible encounters. And of course, the complicated T. O. & E. and capabilities of the new nationalities have been distilled into the eminently playable Personnel cards of the Up Front game system. Contents: 1 Rule Book (Contains 12 Scenarios) 63 Counters 60 Personnel Cards 20 AFV Cards
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
- Wizards of the Coast
Questions and answers
Banzai supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Banzai is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Banzai for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Banzai has a complexity rating of 3.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Banzai belongs to these categories: Card Game, Wargame, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Simulation, and Events. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Banzai are: Courtney F. Allen. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Banzai as an expansion for Up Front. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Up Front to use it. Check that your edition of Up Front is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.