KAITŌ
KAITŌ Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Materials
- 36 tiles consisting of:
- 17 tiles in each color (red and black), each color with 7 Katana tiles, 3 Kabuto tiles and 7 Mon tiles (2 valued 3, 2 valued 2, 3 valued 1)
- 2 opening tiles
- 1 Kaito piece
Explanation of Japanese terms: Kaito = Master of thiefs. Katana = sword. Kabuto = Helmet. Mon = Traditional Clan emblem.
Object
The aim of the game is to take out all of your opponent's Kabutos (helmets) or all of his Katanas (swords) or to prevent him from moving the Kaito.
Preparation
Shuffle the tiles, face down, and arrange them in a 6 x 6 grid. Each player chooses a colour and then a start player is chosen. Flip all the tiles, face up. The second player will remove from play the two opening tiles, clearing two spots at the grid, and then he will place the Kaito piece on one of the open spots, with the opponent's colour side up.
The first player will start his turn by moving the Kaito.
Example set up: 1. Set the tiles in a 6 x 6 grid. 2. Remove the two opening tiles. 3. The black player chooses to place the Kaito piece on one of the open spots, red side up.
Play
Each player, at his turn, will have to move the Kaito in a vertical or horizontal manner to a spot with a tile on it. When moving the Kaito, flip it so the opponent's color will be face up. The Kaito can be moved any number of spaces and can jump over vacant spots as long as it lands on a tile. The tile that the Kaito lands on is captured and will be taken by the active player. As a last action, the active player can then perform a "Mons trade", see below, before ending his turn.
Example for movement: The red player starts the game; he moves the Kaito piece to capture the nearby black Sword, flipping the Kaito, black side up and ending his turn.
Example for movement: The black player moves the Kaito in a vertical manner, to capture the red 3 Mons, flipping the Kaito and ending his turn.
Captured Tiles
Whenever you capture an opponent tile, place it with the symbol on top in front of you. When you capture one of your own tiles place it aside with the blank side on top. Notice, players can capture their own tiles.
While capturing tiles always remember, you will win if all of your opponent's 7 Swords or 3 Helmets are removed from play regardless by which player.
Mons Trade
Each player has 2 Mons valued 3, 2 Mons valued 2, and 3 Mons valued 1, of his color. The Mons tiles are precious traditional clan emblems.
At the end of your turn you can trade your captured opponent's Mons:
- at a sum of 4 for one of your captured Swords, or
- at a sum of 5 for one of your captured Helmets.
Pass the captured Mons tiles to your opponent. He will put them aside with the symbols face down and has to give you the piece you asked for. Place your returned Sword or Helmet tile beneath the Kaito.
Example for Mons trade: The red player moves the Kaito to capture the red sword, flipping the Kaito, black side up. Before Red ends his turn, he chooses to pay 5 Mons to return a red helmet and to place it beneath the Kaito. Now it's Black's turn.
The black player, trying to save his last helmet, will avoid moving in a horizontal manner and will be forced to move the Kaito down to capture the black mon. The red player can then move back up, capturing his own helmet to force the black player to stay on the horizontal line, and then capture the black last helmet and win the game.
Notice:
- Only one trade is permitted each turn.
- If you trade a tile for 2 Mons valued 3 (sum of 6), you will not receive any change.
Returning a tile is a strong move. It is wise to capture at least a sum of 5 of your opponent's Mons for the trade, and also capturing your own Mons could prevent your opponent from gaining enough Mons to trade back his Helmets / Swords.
Game End
There are 3 cases in which the game will end, and you will win the game:
- Your opponent can't move the Kaito at the start of his turn (no tile to capture).
- Your opponent is left with no Swords.
- Your opponent is left with no Helmets.