1472: The Lost Samurai (2020) Board Game

1472: The Lost Samurai is a board game released in 2020, designed by Mike Heiman. The game is set in the year 1472, during Japan’s Sengoku period, a time of great unrest and conflict. Players take on the role of samurai warriors who have become lost in a mysterious land and must find their way back home.

Game Components of 1472: The Lost Samurai

Game board or map sheet

Dice for rolling and resolving actions

Markers or pens for writing on the map

Event cards or charts

Character trait cards

Resource tokens (food, water, etc.)

Tetromino grid for forming patterns

How To Setup 1472: The Lost Samurai

To set up the game, start by preparing the map sheet and placing your character markers. Initialize your resources, such as food and water, to full capacity. Shuffle the event cards and place them within reach. Ensure you have the dice and writing utensils ready.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Manage food, water, and other resources to keep your character alive.

Map-Making: Roll dice to determine movement and explore new areas on the map.

Dice Rolling: Roll dice to resolve actions, such as navigating, battling, or gathering resources. Subtract the bottom number from the top to determine success.

Event Resolution: Consult event charts when arriving at specific points on the map, which provide story snippets and choices.

Tetromino Formation: Gather clues and form tetrominoes on a grid to gain character traits.

Objective: The primary goal is to survive the Senkoku Period, manage resources, and gain honorable traits to progress through the story.

Player Experience

Playing **1472: The Lost Samurai** is an immersive experience that challenges players with resource management, strategic dice rolling, and narrative decision-making. The game requires balancing various elements, such as exploring new areas, managing resources, and gaining character traits. The addition of tetromino formation adds a unique and intriguing mechanic, although it may feel thematically disjointed.

Pros

Immersive Narrative: The game provides a rich and historical setting with engaging story snippets.

Complex Mechanics: Combines resource management, dice rolling, and tetromino formation for a varied gameplay experience.

Solo Play: Designed for solo play, making it a great option for those who enjoy playing alone.

Cons

Rule Complexity: The game has multiple mechanics that can be confusing to balance, especially for new players.

Thematic Disconnection: The tetromino mechanism may feel out of place in the otherwise historically themed game.

High Difficulty: The game can be challenging, with players easily losing due to poor resource management or bad dice rolls.

Personal Thoughts on 1472: The Lost Samurai

**1472: The Lost Samurai** is ideal for players who enjoy complex, solo Roll-and-write games with a strong narrative focus. It suits those who appreciate historical settings and are willing to navigate multiple game mechanics. However, it may not be the best choice for beginners due to its complexity and potential for thematic disconnection. If you’re looking for a challenging and immersive solo experience, this game is definitely worth considering.

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