Portland, OR — Game design and Japanese history merge in KATANA, an innovative two-player samurai action card game now available for pre-order on Kickstarter. The game casts players as samurai on a quest to become supreme commander of Japan, or shōgun. To succeed, players must manipulate their action cards, summon the powers of Shintō kami, and outwit their opponent. Currently at 37% to its $5,000 goal, the Kickstarter campaign ends July 10.

KATANA is a two-player game with battles that last 15–35 minutes. The game is suitable for ages 10 and up. Gameplay is handled through cards. Each turn you use cards to take an action, respond to your opponent’s attacks, and set a defensive stance. The ultimate goal is to eliminate your opponent’s health to remain standing as shōgun; however, brute force is only one approach to the game, as other strategic paths are available.

What makes KATANA unique is its intense, thought-provoking action. Distinct from the steel-clashing swordsmanship of medieval European knights, Japanese sword battles were surprisingly cerebral as samurai sized each other up and planned two, even three moves in advance of their opponent. The lethal nature of these encounters made samurai cautious, but effective warriors; one would think of any associated risks as well as the possible rewards that might derive from an action. Turn-based card battles correspond nicely to this, resulting in a test of wills between players eager to be the next shōgun.

Two editions of KATANA are available: Rōnin and Daimyō. KATANA Rōnin Edition includes: action cards (50), kami cards (12), shrine cards (24), health cards (10), armor cards (12), instructional Samurai’s Guide, Quick Start Guide, all enclosed in a tuck box for $25 USD.

KATANA—Daimyō Edition includes: an action deck (50 cards), kami deck (12 cards), shrine deck (24 cards), 10 health tokens, 12 armor tokens, instructional Samurai’s Guide, Quick Start Guide, all enclosed in a drawer box for $40 USD.

FEATURES
Turn-Based Action—Wield cards to attack, defend, and even reflect your rival’s strikes in your quest to become the next shōgun.

Unique Kami Powers—Summon kami, supernatural beings or phenomena capable of tide-turning abilities and kamikaze attacks.

Innovative Stance Mode—Outsmart your opponent by playing the right card in Stance Mode, an action that occurs when your rival takes a turn.

Contact game creator Tracy Alan (tracy@tracyalan.com) for questions, assets, and review copies.