My brothers, I almost wish I was bearing bad news. I feel somewhat guilty for all the treasures the Empire has been bequeathed us for months on end. Despite the fact that we, as a Clan, are certainly due for our fair share of “ordinary” or “so-so” cards… clearly our greaters have decided to continue the tradition of bestowing our great families with more yet gifts in Drums of War.
It’s a tough job, but some Clan has to do it…
It all begins with our Personalities. Unlike most clans in Drums of War, we are receiving three Experienced Personalities, all of them favorites. In addition to Shosuro Maru, we also see Bayushi Muhito (beautifully rendered by Miguel Coimbra) and Shosuro Yudoka (again, more mastery by Coimbra). All Scorpion Personalities in DOW save Maru carry the Ninja trait.
And for a change, we get “the numbers treatment”. Yudoka’s ability adds Force for his entire army, Rishou has 5F himself, and Nakako adds Force to her unit. Shuuko’s ability alone could potentially add +6F to her army, so clearly we must have been lacking in this area… or else our ancestors would not improved us so. We bow to them.
Another minor theme that we also get to play with is: making things more expensive for our opponents to do. Nakako’s action taxes an opponent a hefty 6G, as does the Action card Shadow on the Court. And should we ever need more Province Strength for our Hidden Catacombs, look no further than Shamed by Valor. There’s nothing like forcing an opponent chose the lesser of two evils. Especially when everything’s evil.
I am truly sad, fellow Scorpion, that we have to bear yet again the hardships of receiving such worthy cards. But we will do what we have to do for the Empire, at whatever cost.
Bayushi Muhito
4F/4C
—HR, 8G, 2PH
Scorpion Clan Ninja • Champion of Rei • Samurai • Duelist • Unique • Experienced
Reaction: Once per duel, before Muhito focuses, discard a card from your focus pool: Discard the card the other player last focused this duel instead of focusing.
Shosuro Yudoka
3F/4C
—HR, 8G, 0PH
Scorpion Clan Ninja • Tactician • Ninjutsu 2 • Shosuro Daimyo • Experienced 2 • Unique
Reaction: After Yudoka gains a Force bonus of 1 or more from a Tactical action: All other Ninja in this army gain +2F.
Shosuro Rishou
5F/4C
—HR, 9G, 0PH
Scorpion Clan Ninja • Samurai • Ninjutsu 3
Reaction: After Rishou turns face-up during a battle: The enemy leader shows 3 random cards from his hand. If one is a Battle Action card, you may play it at your next chance to do so.
Shosuro Nakako
3F/3C
—HR, 7G, 1PH
Scorpion Clan Ninja • Ninjutsu 1
Reaction: After another player targets Nakako with an action while she is in an army: The action costs 6 additional Gold. Give each card in this unit +1F.
Soshi Shuuko
3F/3C
—HR, 7G, 1PH
Scorpion Clan Ninja • Shugenja • Ninjutsu 1
Reaction: After Shuuko is targeted by another player’s action while he is in an army: Target up to 3 cards in Shuuko’s army. For each target, you may either straighten it or give it +2F.
Action
Bayushi Lineage
0G
Reaction: After a target Personality becomes Dishonored, target a Scorpion Clan Personality in your discard pile: Bow or straighten the Dishonored Personality. If he bows, he may not straighten this phase. If he straightens, he may not bow this phase.
3FV
Action
Silent Kill
0G
Ninja Limited: Target a face-down Ninja Personality you control and a Holding another player controls. After the next time this game the Holding bows, flip your Ninja face-up, paying its Ninjutsu cost. Permanently remove all of the Holding’s abilities.
4FV
Action
Shadow on the Court
0G
Political Reaction: After another player’s Limited action targets a Personality you control, bow one of your Courtiers: The player must pay 6 Gold or negate the effects of the action.
3FV
Action
Shamed by Valor
0G
You can only play one Shamed by Valor per battle.
Reaction: Before battle resolution at a Province: The attacker may choose to give the Province +8 Strength. If he does not, he loses 5 Honor and discards 2 cards from his hand at random.
1FV
Sincerely,
Mark Jelfo
mjelfo@cox.net
Bonus :
