- BGG rank
- BGG #22,798
- BGG rating
- 5.9
James Clavell's Tai-Pan
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,640
- BGG rating
- 5.7
James Clavell's Shogun
1988
Rules assistance for James Clavell's Shogun
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.6/5
Rules assistant for James Clavell's Shogun
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
James Clavell's Shogun is a board game released in 1988 for 2–5 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ian Bailey and Ian Waddelon.
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About the game
From the publisher: The family game of diplomacy, duplicity, and military conquest in feudal Japan. Each player, as one of the five Regents, attempts to increase his control over the central provinces of Honshu Island and to suppress his fellow regents so that he alone can become Shogun. Includes game board depicting the 25 central provinces of Honshu Island; the three principal cities of Yedo, Nagoyah, and Osaka; and the Great South Road of Tokaido. Also, 39 Troop Unit markers, 2 Leader units, 136 influence markers, 23 event markers, 80 pieces of game money, 115 Karma cards, 39 honor tokens, 25 plastic bases, 5 turn order cards, 2 ten-sided dice and a rules book. Note: combat is resolved by means of combat results table.
Questions and answers
James Clavell's Shogun supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for James Clavell's Shogun is 120 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 James Clavell's Shogun 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.
James Clavell's Shogun has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
James Clavell's Shogun belongs to these categories: Wargame, Medieval, and Novel-based. 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 James Clavell's Shogun and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of James Clavell's Shogun are: Ian Bailey and Ian Waddelon. 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 James Clavell's Shogun 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.