Imjin War 1592-1593

Description

With Imjin War 1592-1593, the Gold & Steel system expands into East Asia and introduces a decisive new dimension: war at sea. This game tells the story of one of the most dramatic conflicts of the late 16th century: the Japanese invasion of Korea.

As the Japanese player, you command powerful and numerous land forces, launching a rapid invasion from your foothold at Busan. Your objective is clear: conquer the Korean peninsula and open the road to China.

As the Korean player, you face overwhelming odds. You must delay, resist, and survive—waiting for Chinese reinforcements, encouraging local uprisings, and relying on one decisive advantage: control of the sea.

For the first time in Gold & Steel, naval warfare becomes central:

• Fleet movement and naval battles
• Strategic control of sea routes
• Direct interaction between land and sea campaigns

Victory will not come from strength alone, but from:

• Timing your offensives
• Managing alliances
• Winning both land and naval engagements
• Controlling key regions of the peninsula

 

The Game Board

It represents both land and sea areas. Land areas are grouped into eight provinces, each identified by their historical names and a different color code.

The map features different types of terrain, including plains and mountains, as well as roads and rivers that influence movement and operations. Fortresses play a crucial role, as they are key to controlling provinces and securing their resource points.

A dedicated track allows players to monitor which provinces are controlled by each side, as well as the status of Ming Chinese and Jurchen alliances, which may shift during the game.

The board also includes a turn track (14 turns), a victory point track, and reserve areas for reinforcements and eliminated units that may return to play.

Units & Counters

Gold & Steel: Imjin War features a rich and visually striking set of 605 counters, spread across 5 beautifully illustrated and color-coded sheets.

Two distinct shapes immediately guide gameplay:

• Rounded-square counters represent land units
• Circular counters represent naval forces

Each counter is designed for clarity and immersion, displaying key information such as movement, combat strength, firepower, and resource cost.

Players command a wide variety of historical troop types—infantry, cavalry, arquebusiers, siege engines, and more—alongside diverse fleet squadrons ranging from small vessels to powerful warships, including iconic ships such as Korean Turtle ships and Japanese Atakebune.

The game also features the major historical leaders of the conflict, both generals and admirals, each with their own tactical abilities and command capacities, bringing personality and strategic depth to every battle.

Together, these components create a system that is both highly readable and deeply thematic—where every counter on the map tells part of the story of the Imjin War.

The Aids

Army and fleet movements take place on the main map. When opposing forces meet in the same area, a land battle, naval battle, or siege is triggered.

Units are then deployed onto a tactical map, each side organizing its forces within its own camp and distributing them across different tactical zones, following historically inspired deployment formations.

The clash can then begin, as players make the best use of their troop types, combine tactical options, and exploit the abilities of their leaders.

Rulebook (preliminary version – not final)

Please use the link below to download a PDF version of the rulebook for Imjin War.

Imjin War 1592-93: First Japanese Invasion of Korea – Rules