On July 21, 2026 James Mendez Hodes and Evil Hat Productions are re-releasing Thousand Arrows in PDF and POD formats!
It is the sixteenth century. All Japan is at war. The gallant cavaliers of eras past have become ruthless warlords, each one fighting to unify Japan’s warring states under a single armored fist. Soldiers drill with musket and spear as secret agents stalk the shadows and monks rouse congregations to zealous fervor. Chivalry and loyalty fade and fall as castles and ambitions rise. They look to you—the knight-commanders, religious luminaries, spymasters, and rebels—to lead them at court and into battle. Even the gods and spirits will bear witness as you rewrite history in gunpowder, blood, and betrayal.
Thousand Arrows is a tabletop roleplaying game of samurai warfare, drama, and tragedy in the Warring States Period. Three to six players plus a gamemaster take on the personae of political and military leaders among the samurai clans, revolutionary leagues, and religious sects. You’ll contend with—or play as—historical figures like Hattori Hanzō and Takeda Shingen. A dynamic system Powered by the Apocalypse focuses the action on emotional intensity and momentous decisions amid the chaos of strategy and negotiation. The story you create will be worthy of Kurosawa Akira’s camera, Yoshikawa Eiji’s pen, or Miyamoto Musashi’s brush.