New Rulebook, Kamae Trees, Solo Cards! + New Senjutsu Character + Daimyo + Viking Senjutsu
11 months ago
– Wed, Apr 30, 2025 at 09:57:50 AM
Good morning, afternoon and evening samurai!
V1.5.0 Release + Files
Being the now sole decision maker on graphic design and at SSG, I've been able to spend the last year reviewing and improving Senjutsu's files.
Alongside Dan and the brilliant Anthony Howgego, we've made a digital 1.5.0 release for you to download straight away. These files should fix the poor quality rulebook and improve the game using ideas that have been generated since the game's release.
This week we are releasing the Rulebook, new Kamae Trees and new Solo Cards / Solo Character Consoles.
Next week I intend to publish the new expanded FAQ and Path Of The Ronin + Solo Rules. There are very few changes in here beyond improving quality of life for gamers and clarifying some niche interactions not covered by the original rules.
Physical Versions + International Versions
You will be able to order a physical version of these files at a later date (for free plus large letter postage). This will be avaliable on our store and included in the future reprint of Senjutsu: Battle For Japan as part of the Daimyo Kickstarter campaign.
You have my express permission to print your own versions of these shared files too.
Licensees have access to the files and where willing and able, will be hopefully be producing translations of these files.
To download a file, you simply hover over it and click download. You don't need to request access to the dropbox! See below:
(All files will also be uploaded to BGG and our website eventually.)
Rulebook
The rulebook has had a complete overhaul.
- The rules have been condensed to improve the flow of the game and teach.
- Page count has gone from 40 to 20.
- The rulebook has been reordered to get you playing a game more quickly.
- Graphic design mistakes and (hopefully all) poor formatting have been fixed.
- Solo has been removed and has been moved to Path Of The Ronin.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ebf08jf99yfheft44a974/ACJcM1DY8eP6jEVFHGbrous?rlkey=nv7tp99m5dbaax2qi5nk56ipc&dl=0
Kamae Trees
As part of this rules and graphic design overhaul, character Kamae Trees have been updated.
Focus Positions have been removed, replaced by pink adjourning lines with the same mechanical outcome as the original cards.
The benefit of removing the position has been that no decisions need to be made regarding where you must move the token after reaching a Focus Position.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o9ce7dqtfwfneh2682wq5/ANhyLBppaEhD_8IHpnjLs0A?rlkey=ps0m814b0u5abnp88hpqth2jr&dl=0
Solo Cards
All Solo Opponents now have their own card list and consoles.
The Solo Opponent consoles allow you to track an opponent's behaviour, stance and preferred range without referencing the solo scenario.
The back of this console includes their card list, shortening setup time. Solo Ability Cards now have a unique back as well.
These files can be printed and gutter folded around an existing card before being sleeved.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zzghffqxnitfb264rvqcd/ADXHKg0EE79bMxKemLXTaOE?rlkey=1k7k3cy7kfld5ofq60g0d8bjp&dl=0
Future Releases
Daimyo: Battle For Japan
Daimyo: Battle For Japan by Martin Wallace is finished and ready for crowdfunding, but we have delayed the project until tariffs and their future becomes a little clearer.
Unlike Senjutsu, Daimyo's files are finished and ready to go to print before the campaign launches. We are looking to launch Daimyo no later than September regardless of any tariffs.
Come follow the project here! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoneswordgames/daimyo-battle-for-japan
Returning backers will receive the Takeda Shingen miniature and cards for free in their pledge as a thank you from myself for sticking by me.
Takeda Shingen is a brand new character for Senjutsu that includes bespoke ability cards and solo cards.
Swordsaga - "Viking Senjutsu"
I am currently designing a game previously known in studio as Viking Senjutsu, now named Swordsaga.
Swordsaga is built off the game design of Senjutsu and pits fighters from history against each other in an ultimate-warrior-style duel to the death.
So far the roster includes Vikings, Crusaders , Roman Gladiators and Samurai in a game system that simplifies deck construction to get you to the table faster.
Many lessons have been learnt and applied, Swordsaga will only be released when it is ready, hopefully in Q4 2025 - Q1 2026.
I'll be back next week with the Path Of The Ronin and expanded FAQ.
If you have any file feedback please email [email protected] or [email protected] and we will happily get back to you.
Much love from me and the team,
James
Post Kickstarter update #52 Wave 3 + Fulfilment Update
over 1 year ago
– Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 07:16:23 AM
Good morning, afternoon and evening backers!
UK Wave 3:
The final UK pledges will be going out next week via DPD (From the 15th). This will be the pledges of all remaining UK backers (Wave 3) and all UK retailers.
Wave 2 is completed alongside the Wave 2 replacements and parts for the UK.
If by the end of next week, you haven't received an email from DPD regarding your parcel- please get in touch via [email protected] and Dan and I will look into your pledge status / pledge email address.
Damaged Box Replacements:
Once UK's Wave 3 has landed with backers and we've replaced any missing / damaged parts we will be submitting a reprint for boxes to replaced any damaged box requests we've agreed to via [email protected] (as we will know the precise numbers).
We may also be able to use boxes from copies used to fix missing / damaged parts. Your box replacement will be dealt with on an ad-hoc basis. Dan will be emailing you with tracking once it has been dispatched.
English Language Stock:
Post Wave 3, all English language copies of Senjutsu will have been delivered to backers, giving us the final worldwide stock counts for the English language.
Please get in touch with Dan via [email protected] if after Wave 3 you're still expecting any SKU in the English language.
If you missed a Duel Pack- remaining stock will be placed on our store once fulfilment is fully completed.
Switzerland + Remaining EU Retailers:
Aside from Wave 3, we are outstanding a small amount of non-English copies for Switzerland and EU Retailers. These include replacements to backers who have got in touch regarding missing parcels.
These are currently being sent alongside their paperwork from available hubs, with the current tranche being remaining French Language Deluxe to Switzerland.
Additionally any remaining English language sets for EU Retail will be sent out at the same time as Wave 3 above.
Other territories:
North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), South America, Australia, New Zealand, Rest Of The World and Asia are fully completed- so if you're in one of these territories and haven't got your games, please get in touch via [email protected] .
I will put out a mini-update next week signing off Wave 3 and an update on the Swiss progress.
James (and Dan)
Stone Sword Games
Post Kickstarter update #51, UK and US/Can/Mex fulfilment news
almost 2 years ago
– Fri, May 31, 2024 at 09:28:11 AM
Good Morning, Afternoon and Evening backers.
This will only be a short update as James and I are at UKGE this weekend however we have had some fantastic news regarding US and UK fulfilment.
First up the big one.
UK WAVE TWO HAS ARRIVED AT SSG!
It has finally been released from customs and we received a notification while at UKGE yesterday (Thursday May 30th) that it was arriving today. I have spent today back in Nottingham and I have just finished unloading and inventorying the Wave 2 stock. I am happy to report that after an initial count we have received more than needed to fulfil all the outstanding wave 2 orders in the UK.
Timeframe:
As we are both at the Expo this weekend wave 2 shipping will begin in earnest on Monday (June 3rd) This won’t impact delivery as we will be unable to book a collection with DPD until then.
Monday AM I will be double (and triple) checking the count against the wave 2 pledges. Based on todays check I do not foresee any issues. Once this is done, I will start running off labels so wave 2 backers can expect to start receiving tracking from Monday afternoon onwards.
James and I will then be in the warehouse for the rest of the day packing pledges to send out.
Please note that you will get a tracking email as soon as I print the label, this does not mean that your order will be in transit straight away, I will still need to pack it and then book a collection with DPD to get it moving. I am expecting orders packed on Monday to be picked up on Tuesday/Wednesday which is when you will start to see your parcel moving.
We are expecting to have all of wave 2 out of the door and on the way by the end of the week, if for some reason we cannot get them all out during this timeframe I will post another update to let you know.
WAVE 3 IS ON A BOAT!
Wave 3 is on the way to us from manufacture and is due to arrive at the end of June. Assuming it clears customs under a normal timescale these orders will start going out through July. I will post an update with a timescale like the above when it arrives with us.
US/CAN/MEX Outstanding orders:
The outstanding orders from Bridge are now also on the way out. The vast majority of these have been parcels that have gone missing in the postal service and Bridge have been investigating and raising claims with couriers. As of this morning approximately half of these remaining orders have been shipped and tracking has been sent by ShipHero. As I double check them, you will also get an email from me with your tracking details so that I can make sure you have them. Please don’t panic if you have not had a ShipHero email this side of the weekend. I will be putting some time aside on Monday to go through the remaining orders.
I know that there will be backers in other regions waiting on news and I will get James to pull together that additional info for another update after UKGE and after wave 2 shipping is complete
For now, I am back off to Birmingham for the weekend.
Dan (and James)
Post Kickstarter Update #50. Changes at SSG, fulfilment news.
almost 2 years ago
– Tue, Apr 30, 2024 at 08:44:57 AM
Good morning, afternoon, and evening.
This update is a lot later than we would have liked however due to an unexpected bereavement James has been out of the office.
Company Update:
Paul has made the recent decision to resign as Director and shareholder at Stone Sword Games Ltd.
I want to express my sincere appreciation for our years of collaboration and shared vision. I extend my best wishes to Paul in his future endeavours and look forward to the next chapter in our company's journey.
There are major changes coming to the team, with reformed systems and processes and new staff, including a dedicated graphic designer and a social media manager.
You will see these changes implemented in future campaigns, for example with Daimyo, new Senjutsu content and a possible Hogs Of War reprint.
-James
FULFILMENT:
As always, all dates are estimates only.
USA/CAN/Mexico: We are now down to less than 50 missing orders in this region. Dan continues to chase Bridge to get these last orders moved.
If you have already emailed in then you do not need to do anything else, we have your details, your order has been chased with Bridge and as soon as they send out a replacement pledge you will receive new tracking information.
If you are in this region, do not have your game and have not yet send an email in to let me know, please send your details to [email protected] so that Dan can get it sorted.
Europe: Sleeves were sent to the hub before Easter to get the last of the EU orders delivered however, they have been held at customs due to an inexplicably high valuation by the customs office despite sending them invoices, evidence and repeated emails clarifying the issue.
We have instructed the hub to send these orders on without sleeves for now and as soon as we get the issue with customs resolved the sleeves will be posted out to you separately.
UK:
Wave 2:
Wave 2 stock was sent to us before Easter but has not yet arrived at the office. It is currently making its way through customs. There are no issues that we have been made aware of, they are just taking their time processing it.
As soon as it arrives, we will post an update and will provide a timetable for expected delivery of Wave 2 orders. Due to the extreme delay in getting Wave 2 orders out we will be adding a free copy of Senso to all these orders when they ship.
Wave 3:
We’re finalising the shipping details for the Wave 3 stock. It should be on the boat shortly, and then in the UK by the end of June (customs willing). Door-to-door fulfilment will begin immediately upon receiving the stock.
RoW:
Israel:
Zatu games have contacted us with a viable fulfilment option to Israel (assuming there is no further change of circumstances).
We are currently working with them to get that set up and the product shipped. These games will be shipping in May, please keep an eye on your inboxes for tracking details.
ALL REGIONS: REPLACEMENT PARTS:
Replacement parts orders continue to be sent out.
If your replacement part is a box, these have now been ordered. We estimate these boxes will arrive with us in June, ready to be shipped straight away.
German Language Big Boxes are being produced by the same supplier to the same timeline. We will use the information on your pledge for sending this replacement part.
If you need to update your address for a German Language Big Box please email [email protected] .
April Battle Challenge:
Due to Paul leaving and James’s unforeseen bereavement absence, we have not been able to create a Battle Challenge for this month.
April’s challenge will be sent out alongside the Battle Challenge for May, so you will receive two next month.
James and Dan
Post Kickstarter Update #49. Learn to Play guide, fulfilment news and an Easter Egg Hunt
about 2 years ago
– Wed, Mar 27, 2024 at 09:42:56 AM
Good morning, afternoon, and evening backers,
Two Player Learn To Play Guide:
We have put together a two player ‘Learn To Play’ guide for new players.
Using the Master and Student, this guide takes you through the first few turns of your first game to help get to grips with the rules and introduce the basic concepts.
You can find the guide on our website here: https://www.stoneswordgames.com/senjutsu
Or grab it from our Dropbox here: https://tinyurl.com/2dfs4aww
Fulfilment:
As always, all dates are estimates only.
USA/Canada/Mexico:
PLEDGES: Fully complete. Everything has now been sent out from Bridge.
I am currently working with them to get missing orders rectified.
If you have already emailed me to advise your order has not arrived, that has been passed to Bridge and you do not need to do anything else.
The staff at Bridge are working on getting new orders out for those that have gone missing in transit. If you have not received your game, and you have not already emailed me, please send your details to [email protected] .
REPLACEMENT PARTS: Replacement parts for missing and damaged items are currently being processed. Card replacements have been shipped.
Europe:
PLEDGES: The EU hub has a shortage of sleeves. If you have not received your pledge and you added sleeves to your order, this will be why. A case of sleeves has been air freighted to the hub and the last of the orders will go out once the sleeves clear customs and arrive at the hub. These orders are boxed and labelled and ready to go, they just need the sleeves adding so we don’t anticipate it taking very long.
There is a small amount of Spanish, French and German orders remaining (sub 50).
REPLACEMENT PARTS: Replacement parts for missing and damaged items are currently being processed. Most of these will be sent from the UK.
GERMAN BIG BOX TYPOS: We are aware that there are typos on the German Language Big Box lid. This was an error solely caused by Stone Sword Game’s graphic designer. This is something we should have caught at the proofing stage but didn’t and we sincerely apologise for this mistake.
This error was not made by Giant Roc’s translation team. Giant Roc did not licence the Big Box or translate it or were expected to proof it.
Shortly we will be submitting a print run order to the factory with the corrected Lid to replace all affected German Language Big Boxes.
As the print time on these boxes is short (14 days), some outstanding German All-In orders will have the box changed over before the game is shipped.
If you have one of these incorrect boxes you do not need to contact us, you will receive an email when we have replacement boxes available, to check and confirm your address. You will not be charged for this new lid.
UK:
WAVE 2: Wave 2 stock from the other hubs is on the way to us. It should arrive at Stone Sword Games after Easter, and Wave 2 orders will start going out as soon as it arrives.
We are currently short-staffed with Paul absent for personal reasons and we haven’t yet hired a new Ops manager so please bear with us with Wave 2 fulfilment, James and I will be working as hard as we can to send these parcels out.
WAVE 3: Wave 3 manufacturing is finished, we’re now waiting on a boat to freight it to the UK. We will let you know when we have those details.
REPLACEMENT PARTS: UK replacement parts will go out after Wave 2 shipping once we know what stock can be dismantled for parts.
Australia and New Zealand:
All backer fulfilment is complete including replacement parts.
Rest Of The World:
All non-Israel backer fulfilment is complete including replacement parts.
If your game has not yet arrived, you should have received tracking for it. Otherwise email [email protected].
Israel:
Sadly the solution we thought we had for Israel has not proven to be a viable option. Although FedEx are shipping to Israel, they are charging over $100 per parcel to get them just into Israel, this cost does not even cover the delivery of the game to customers from the hub.
We have been told by Surfin’ Meeple that they're not using this service due to the spike in costs, additionally any unclaimed parcels are returned from Israel at a huge cost beyond their acceptable threshold for risk.
Freight Forwarding:
Like the solution for our Ukrainian backers, if you are in Israel and have a have a freight forwarder we can send the package to them.
If you would like to use this option, please email [email protected] with your forwarder’s details. Otherwise, we need to wait for shipping to Israel to normalise.
Battle Challenge 5: Easter Egg Hunt
Since it is Easter this weekend, I have put together an Easter Egg hunt for you all.
The latest challenge can be found here: https://www.stoneswordgames.com/senjutsu
Or grab it from our Dropbox here: https://tinyurl.com/jhakxj8p
As it is Easter this weekend, we have a 4-day weekend in the UK, this means that email response times will be slower than normal.
Dan (and Team SSG)
