Akebono (2010)

As day breaks upon Sekigahara pass, two armies stand ready to lay claim to the future of Japan. Two years before, Toyotomi Hideyoshi died leaving a son too young to rule. The council of regents sworn to defend his son split into two factions intent upon seizing power for themselves. As the fog lifts from the mountain pass, each faction stands poised for battle. Only the victor will witness the beginning of a new era in the history of Japan.

Akebono, the Japanese word meaning both “daybreak” and “beginning”, summarizes the tension and anticipation in the Sekigahara mountain pass, scene of the decisive battle of 1600 that would usher in the Edo period of Japanese history.

Akebono is a tactical dice driven game in which each player must present multiple flanks to ensure that at least some of the attacking troops will push forward. Units must be moved into a position to attack when their defeat is less likely.

In the end, the winner will be the player who best balances his aggressive and defensive tactics on the battlefield.

To play Akebono you will need:

• Rules
• Game board
• Game pieces
• Miscellaneous components:
  • stands for pieces (plastic stands, binder clips, etc.)
  • 4 dice, 2 red and 2 white
  • 2 stones, 1 red and 1 white

This game is free to print and play, though the author welcomes any contributions.