Prepare for the Siege of Toshi Ranbo

The air hums with the tension of drawn steel and elemental magic as ancient shrines smolder and village alliances shift like the wind…

This fall, the Great Clans of Rokugan march their armies toward Toshi Ranbo, the battleground city of the north. Office Dog is releasing Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo, and to celebrate the game’s debut, players around the world will have a chance to participate in organized play online and in stores! 

Gunsen is a fast-paced area-control board game for 2 to 6 players with multiple paths to victory. Each player commands one of the seven Great Clans—the Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Scorpion, and Unicorn—as they clash for control of the legendary fortress Toshi Ranbo, formally known as Violence Behind Courtliness City. 

The organized play season, dubbed the Siege of Toshi Ranbo, will last from mid-July through late October. The results from the games played on Board Game Arena and at participating game stores will be tallied to determine the overall results. We’ll provide updates along the way to show where in the rankings each clan stands. At the end of the organized play season, we’ll begin crafting a short chronicle that features the overall winning clan and the runner-up in a historic battle for control of Toshi Ranbo. The chronicle will be shared here on LegendoftheFiveRings.com in early 2027 to immortalize the Siege of Toshi Ranbo. 

Online Organized Play 

In the six weeks leading up to Gunsen’s official retail release, the digital adaptation will be free to play on Board Game Arena, allowing players to practice the game and get a feel for the rules. All games played during this free period will have their outcomes recorded, so we’ll know how many victories each clan scored in total. The aggregated results will inform the starting military positions of the clans, which will be reflected in the resulting chronicle. The chance to play Gunsen for free on BGA will end after the game officially goes on sale in late August. 

In-Store Organized Play 

After Gunsen reaches stores in late August, participating retailers can host Siege of Toshi Ranbo events where players can enjoy the full tabletop experience. Each participating store will receive an organized play kit with sticker sheets for participants and victory fan prizes. Stores will have eight weeks to host events and report their results to us. While the siege is ongoing, we encourage participating players and stores to share their tales of conquest and glory by tagging us on social media or using the hashtag #SiegeofToshiRanbo. 

This event is predominantly taking place in the United States, but select global retailers will also be participating. Talk to your local game store to find out whether they’ll be hosting Gunsen organized play events in person. This store finder can help you locate game stores that will be carrying Gunsen, but you’ll still want to reach out and confirm if and when they’ll be running in-store events. 

Gunsen at Gen Con 

There will also be Gunsen organized play at Gen Con during the Battle of the Clans in Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2. These events are separate from the Siege of Toshi Ranbo organized play season that will run on BGA and in stores later this fall. Tickets to play Gunsen at Gen Con are still available as of this article’s publication. 

The Call to Battle 

Stay tuned to LegendoftheFiveRings.com for updates on when the Board Game Arena and in-store organized play officially begins. Pre-order your copy of Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo today, and prepare to lead your clan to victory!