{"product_id":"commands-colors-samurai-battles","title":"Commands \u0026 Colors: Samurai Battles","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Commands \u0026amp; Colors games are relatively simple, two-player wargames. As you'd expect, the players have units (wooden blocks) to manoeuvre on the battlefield (the plain board, laid with hexagonal tiles to show terrain). However, at the heart of the game are players' hands of cards. These provide the players with tactical options while also constraining them – you may have an attacking opportunity on the left flank, but without the right cards, it's wasted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis may sound artificial, but it is a brilliant way of simulating the way commands go astray, commanders make mistakes and units head in the wrong direction (think Charge of the Light Brigade). Instead of having a God-like oversight of the battlefield, players are reduced to mere mortals, fumbling to get the right forces in the right place at the right time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the title suggests, \u003cem\u003eCommands \u0026amp; Colors: Samurai Battles\u003c\/em\u003e is about conflicts between Japanese clans from 15th to 17th century – including the introduction of firearms. What's different about this game is the 'Honor' mechanism: players accumulate Honor points that they can spend to gain advantages. However, they can also lose Honor – if units (particularly Samurai) retreat, for example. And running out of Honor is bad news.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a brilliant mechanism that really adds to the atmosphere of the game. It captures the flavour of the period's warfare, while remaining accessible to casual players and playing in a sensible length of time. Great stuff!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI also have the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/CDG-Solo-System-1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCDG Solo System\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e that makes a great way of playing the game solitaire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor 2 players, aged 12+, playing time 60 minutes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCommands \u0026amp; Colors: Samurai Battles\u003c\/em\u003e was designed by Richard Borg and is published by GMT.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFind out more:\u003cbr\u003e    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/boardgamegeek.com\/boardgame\/259066\/commands-colors-samurai-battles\" title=\"More about Commands \u0026amp; Colors: Samurai Battles on BGG (in\na new window)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCommands \u0026amp; Colors: Samurai Battles\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e on BoardGameGeek\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pevans.co.uk\/TWJO\/TWJO0218.pdf\" title=\"To Win Just Once issue 218 (PDF, 1 Mb)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ePevans reviews \u003cem\u003eCommands \u0026amp; Colors: Samurai Battles\u003c\/em\u003e in \u003cem\u003eTWJO\u003c\/em\u003e issue 218\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Games from Pevans","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58452148453701,"sku":"851","price":80.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1072\/0116\/7685\/files\/CnC-Samurai-Battles-cover.jpg?v=1783095633","url":"https:\/\/games.pevans.co.uk\/products\/commands-colors-samurai-battles","provider":"Games from Pevans","version":"1.0","type":"link"}