- BGG rank
- BGG #7,511
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Ninja Taisen
- 2 players
- 20 min
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- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,545
- BGG rating
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Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌)
2015
Rules assistance for Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) is a board game released in 2015 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Katsumasa Tomioka.
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About the game
Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) is a two player game in which one player takes on the role of the god of riches and the other assumes the role of the god of poverty in a friendly competition for control over a small village. On their turn, each player places one of their god’s followers on one of the buildings in the village. Each god has the same two types of followers: Tsukumogami (Spirit Objects), household items possessing a soul that animates them and Zashiki-warashi (Kid Ghosts), playful child-like spirits. Each follower has a strength value and once a building has five followers placed on it, the total strengths of each god’s followers placed there are then compared. Spirit Objects have a number that represents their strength, while Kid Ghosts have strengths that can vary through powerful special abilities which are triggered by the arrangement of other spirits at the same building. If the strength of your faction is greater, you place one of your god’s possession markers on the building. Using clever placement of your followers to better capitalize on each Zashiki-warashi’s special ability is key to victory in Fan and Mallet. The first player to place all seven of their possession markers wins the game.
Questions and answers
Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) 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 Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) is 30 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 Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) for ages 10 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.
Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) belongs to these categories: Card Game. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) are: Katsumasa Tomioka. 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 Fan & Mallet (団扇と小槌) as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.