III. Player Factions

There are three playable factions: the Samurai, the Sohei, and the Bakufu. Each of the factions has a competing interest in how the game turns out and is looking to either maintain of expand their influence over the country.

• Samurai Clans are looking to consolidate local power, and should they become powerful enough might even make a bid to become Shogun of Japan and put an end to the civil war.

• Sohei Temples are looking to maintain their independence from the ruling Samurai class, though the current instability has made them militarize. A stable but weak central government would suit their needs best.

• The Bakufu are looking to restore the power of the central government under any figure, as long as they maintain control of the country as the bureaucratic elite. Any Samurai clan trying to take charge by force is a major threat to the current status quo, but any samurai willing to play by established Bakufu rules may be the key to restoring power.

Each faction has unique abilities that are covered in the next few pages. The number of teams is dependent on the number of players.