SENGOKU JIDAI

Sengoku Jidai is a war game combining both strategic and tactical elements in a simulation of medieval
Japanese warfare in the 16th century AD. This was a period in Japanese history known as the Age of
Warring States, or Sengoku Jidai.

The object of the game is to possess and hold four castles. If this is not accomplished within 30 moves the
player with the most castles is the winner. The number of moves left is reported on the screen at the
beginning of every cycle of turns.

First the computer asks if two or three people are playing. If there are two players the green castle
    becomes a neutral yellow castle. Then each player gives the computer his name.
After a wait for initializing the screen shows the map-board. The terrain elements (see chart 1) have
    been placed randomly, making every game different.
Each army has been given 100 soldiers, composed of random numbers of foot soldiers, archers, and
    samurai. To find out how many of each type an army has press SHIFT 7 when it is that army's turn.
    Every turn an army is outside a castle each type of soldier is augmented by a random amount up to
    three. Every time an army captures a castle each type is augmented by a random amount up to 15.
Each group of four armies of the same color is given a random battle cry, which sounds when one of
    its armies gives battle.
When it is an army's turn it flashes on and off four times. The army may then maneuver in a
    combination of moving and/or shifting position.

When it is an army's turn it may move in any of the eight points of the compass. Press E to move
    north, S for west, D for east, X for south, W for northwest, R for northeast, Z for southwest, and C for
    southeast. Each army has three moves every turn, but to go on to some terrain costs more moves (see
    Chart 1). An army may not move on to a lake, an enemy or friendly army, an enemy castle, or off the
    edge of the screen. Press SPACEBAR to end the turn.
To shift the position of an army costs one move. From the defensive position the player may point an
    army up (J), down (H), right (Y), or left (U). An army not in defensive position may turn clockwise
    using H or counterclockwise using Y (see Chart 3). The position of an army relative to an enemy army
    in attack or defense is important in calculating the results of the battle (see Chart 2).
In addition to affecting the number of moves, the terrain causes certain types of soldiers to fight more
    or less effectively (see Chart 1).
An army may go into one of its own castles.

An army which lost a battle in defense cannot give battle in its following movement turn. An army
    which lost on offense cannot give battle again in that movement turn. To check whether an army
    whose turn it is may attack press SHIFT 7.
Given the above restrictions, an army pointed at an enemy army or castle will attack at any point in
    its movement turn. The results of the battle are then reported on the screen. Casualties are calculated
    slightly in favor of the attacker. Samurai are more resilient than other types. An army inside a castle
    is strengthened in effectiveness.
Attacking an unoccupied castle is similar to attacking an army, in that the attack will either be
    successful or not successful. A successful attack will turn the castle into the attacking army's color and
    it may move in. Attacks by an army of less than 45 men have no chance of succeeding.
To capture an occupied castle the army inside must first be routed, then the castle captured as in 3c.
A routed army will never reappear.