@Jermofoot:
@AgentOrange:
That is true; people don’t easily forgive an assassination attempt on their daimyo’s life. However, I’ve seen that people will bid on the ninja, succeed, and just hold on to it “until the moment is right”. Is that correct? Can someone really keep the ninja for the whole game if they want?
I thought bidding happens every round? That is…if you get him on one turn, and don’t use him, you wasted your money. But it’s been a while since I’ve played.
Jerma, actually, that’s not correct. If you don’t use the ninja to assassinate your opponent’s general, you get to use him to “peek” at one of your opponent’s purchases before you have to make your purchases – a little espionage, if you will. That way, you know how much you have to pay to out-bid that opponent for either the sword choice OR the ninja. If you are in the lead, it makes good sense to out-bid everyone else for the ninja because, chances are, you will have more of your generals (probably all) still alive, making you the most likely target of a ninja attack. So you buy it up to make sure your opponents don’t. Then, you use him for espionage. I only use the ninja myself if I am trailing and trying to knock off the leader.
I’ve played this game several times with my nephews when they’ve visited in the last year. It’s still just as much fun as it was 20 years ago in college!