The Imjin War relates the story of one of the toughest conflict in the end of the 16th century, depicting the invasion of the Joseon kingdom of Korea by the Japanese, from 1592 to 1598 (end of second invasion). The Japanese must capture possibly the whole of the peninsula from their Busan foothold in the South. The Korean player must repel the invasion with the help of China…

The Grand Campaign scenario lasts up to 105 turns, each representing one week between May 1592 and April 1594. There are smaller scenarios covering parts of the 1592-1593 campaign, as well as a scenario on the second invasion of 1598.

One player represents the Samurai armies of Japan’s master Hideyoshi, the other has the Koreans, with Joseon Koreans and Ming Chinese forces. Both sides, depending on events and card play may possibly control the land units of the Manchu Jurchen tribes (green).

The Japanese have very numerous land forces at the start of the game, but their navy, although numerous, is weak and poorly led and their goal is to conquer all of Korea in order to reach – and conquer – China.
The Korean player must first hold desperately against the initial invasion and superior enemy troops, waiting for Chinese reinforcements, counting on local rebellion, and most of all his powerful navy to alter the course of events.

Keeping forces in supply and seizing the main towns will prove the decisive factor in winning this war.

The map represents the Korean peninsula, with its 7 most important historical provinces at the time. There are off-map boxes covering nearby areas in Manchuria, China and Japan, as well as many sea zones (and areas used for naval trade).

Both sides will handle thousands of land troops, hundred of warships (including the famous Turtle ships), irregular forces and various rebels and raiders.

The game has hundred of cards and events for weather, income, loyalty of populations, diplomacy, combat and sieges. Special detailed rounds of combat cover the specificities of that war, both at sea (gunfire broadsides, boarding) and on land (harassment by horse archers or guerrillas, firepower of arquebus and cannon, samurai ability in close combat, etc…).

Unit scale: regiments or equivalent, ships by squadrons of 1-6 units. Time scale: 1 turn = 1 week. Map scale: 1 region = 40 km².

The Japanese win the game if they conquer the whole of Korea and capture the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Zhili. Their opponent wins if he expels the Japanese from the peninsula. In case of absence of decisive victory, accumulated victory points will determine the victor.

The game event cards allow full replay ability thanks to the numerous various situations that their create on the diplomatic, military, political or economical fields

Average Duration: 18h+

Favored Side: None

Most Difficult Side to Play: Koreans

SGS Imjin War screenshots