#Zone Tactics (區域戰術)

Contents

Zones are not distance labels. They are the battlefield form that determines which maneuvers shine and which tactics are blocked.

Related Entries: Energy and Breath · Maneuver System · Zone Layout · Zone Gimmicks

Zones are where characters stand, and the tactical conditions that decide which weapons and Kata become favorable. The same katana feels different on the Front Zone and in the Core Zone, and even the same squad requires different orders in the Flank Zone and the Rear Zone.

#1. Maneuver Modifiers by Zone (Final)

#Front Zone (前列)

Modifier	Effect
Yari Techniques Enhanced	All yari techniques gain +1 bonus. Spear Wall stance grants additional Domination +1.
Mounted Techniques Unlocked	Mounted charge techniques can be used only on the Front Zone.
Tanto Techniques Weakened	Tanto attack techniques suffer -1 penalty (the Front Zone has more distance).
Front Zone↔Front Zone Engagement	Techniques with "range: adjacent" can be used against enemies in the opposing Front Zone.

#Core Zone (心府)

Modifier	Effect
Long Weapon Techniques Weakened	Yari/nodachi techniques cost Energy +1.
Short Weapon Techniques Enhanced	Tanto/unarmed techniques cost Energy -1 (minimum 1).
Friendly Fire Risk	When using ranged techniques from outside→inside, make a friendly fire check.
Domination Cancellation	Domination bonuses from stances are nullified.
Grapple/Push Enhanced	Unarmed grapple/push techniques gain +2 bonus (crowded press).

#Rear Zone (後列)

Modifier	Effect
Ranged Techniques Enhanced	Teppo/Archery techniques gain +1 bonus (stable shooting posture).
Melee Techniques Restricted	In the Rear Zone, melee techniques cannot be used unless enemies have entered.
Upkeep Techniques Enhanced	Upkeep techniques used in the Rear Zone (loading, treatment, etc.) cost Energy -1.

#Flank Zone (外廓)

Modifier	Effect
Infiltration Techniques Enhanced	Infiltration-related techniques gain +2 bonus.
Ambush Unlocked	Move from Flank Zone to adjacent zone + attack = basic ambush (first attack check +2).
Squads Disadvantaged	Squad order techniques cost Energy +1 (spread-out deployment).

#Outside Zone (外部)

Modifier	Effect
Entry Restricted	Can enter only through specific techniques/traits.
Enhanced Ambush	Outside Zone→anywhere movement + attack = enhanced ambush (first attack check +2, target cannot use reaction techniques).

#High Ground (高所)

Modifier	Effect
Ranged +2	All ranged techniques +2.
Melee -1	Enemy melee techniques targeting this zone suffer -1.
Leap Attack Unlocked	Leap attack techniques can be used from high ground→adjacent zones (requires Lightness Skill or Horsemanship).

#Water (水場)

Modifier	Effect
Unarmed Combat +2	Grapple/push enhanced (using the water's resistance).
Firearms Unavailable	Teppo/fire-attack techniques cannot be used.
Movement +1 Energy	All movement techniques cost more Energy.

#2. Zone Control and Tactical Monopoly

Zone control is not merely a rule that forces Breakthrough checks. The side that controls a zone enjoys its tactical advantages first, and the opponent cannot fully exploit those advantages.

Control State	Allied Maneuvers	Enemy Maneuvers
Allied Control	zone modifiers apply normally	enemy does not receive the benefits of that zone's modifiers (penalties still apply)
Stalemate	both sides normal	both sides normal
Enemy Control	allies gain no benefit	enemy normal

Example: If allies control the Front Zone, allied yari receive the Front Zone bonus (+1), but enemy yari do not. If the Front Zone is taken, the reverse is true.

This becomes the reason to control zones. Beyond simply "a Breakthrough check is required," allies monopolize that zone's tactical advantages.

#3. New Category: "Battlefield Terrain Traits"

Some traits have conditions that trigger only in specific zone types.

Trait	Condition Zone	Effect
Immovable Formation (samurai)	Front Zone	Domination +4. Only +1 if not on the Front Zone.
Seal of Asura (esoteric monk)	Core Zone	melee technique Energy -1. Does not apply outside the Core Zone.
Shadow Crossing (shinobi)	Outside Zone	0 Energy movement. Cannot be used outside the Outside Zone.
Spear Wall (yari license)	Front Zone	Domination +3. Only +1 if not on the Front Zone.
Slip Inside (tanto B technique)	Core Zone	`[Pierce 3]`. Only `[Pierce 1]` outside the Core Zone.

→ Depending on character build, "this character is strongest on the Front Zone" or "this character is strongest in the Core Zone" becomes clear. Zone choice is build choice.

#4. Zones and Movement

Movement Energy costs and common definitions are covered in Energy and Breath. The Zone Tactics document organizes what battlefield situations make each movement maneuver meaningful.

Situation	Common Maneuver Used	Meaning in Zone Tactics
ordinary adjacent movement	Walk / Run	basic axis for repositioning among adjacent zones such as Front Zone, Rear Zone, and Flank Zone
entering/leaving high ground	Leap	high ground is entered and exited by leaping, making landing attacks or shooting advantage easy to create
movement while maintaining infiltration	Stealth Movement	core of Flank Zone operations. Handles movement and maintaining infiltration together
entering the Core Zone	Free Core Zone Entry / Forced Core Breakthrough	cost and risk differ by class and skill
Outside Zone operations	Outside Zone Entry	special entry axis centered on shinobi and Infiltration Masters
squad redeployment	Squad Order	squad movement demands both command cost and tactical choice

→ Movement costs belong to 03-04; tactical meaning by zone belongs to 03-08.

#5. Pincer Attack (挾攻)

#Scent — Strike from Front and Back at Once

Allies press the same enemy zone from both adjacent sides at once. The enemy does not know where to point the blade. The instant they raise it toward one person, their back opens; the instant they guard their back, the front opens. That is the essence of a pincer attack.

#Law — Rule

#Trigger Conditions (all 3 required)

For the same enemy zone, allies must occupy both adjacent zones
Both sides must perform attack actions within the same round (merely occupying the positions does not trigger a pincer attack)
Both sides must activate [Kata] or [technique] at least 1 time (including squad volley fire)

A shinobi merely flanking to the Flank Zone does not trigger a pincer attack. The pincer is established only if they also attack from the Flank Zone → forces additional Energy spend.

#Effects

Enemy squads/units in the pincered zone suffer Defense -2 (attention split to both sides, Defense -N)
Enemy squad Cohesion checks suffer -1 penalty
Enemy Breakthrough checks inside the pincered zone suffer +2 (escape is difficult)

#Release

If allies in one adjacent zone all retreat or are removed, the pincer immediately ends
Pincer effects refresh by round — both sides must attack again on the next round to maintain it

#Example

Deployment:
 [Allied Front Zone] — [Enemy Front Zone = pincer target] — [Enemy Rear Zone (occupied by flanking shinobi)]

Round 1:
 Allied samurai uses katana Horizontal Cut [Kata] (against enemy Front Zone)
 Shinobi who flanked through the Flank Zone uses kunai [technique] (against enemy Front Zone)
 → simultaneous attacks from both sides + both adjacent sides occupied → pincer triggers
 → enemy Front Zone squad **Defense -2**, Cohesion check -1

Round 2:
 Samurai only declares a duel (no attack)
 → pincer ends (simultaneous attack condition not met)

#6. Summary: Why Zones Matter Again

Maneuver Modifiers: available techniques change by zone.
Control Monopoly: if you control a zone, allies monopolize maneuver benefits.
Build Linkage: character build determines "which zone am I strongest in?"
Movement Linkage: movement costs stay in the higher-level rule, and the zone document defines their tactical meaning.
Zone Binding of Stances: maintaining a stance prevents movement → you "take root" in a zone.
Pincer Pressure: simultaneous attacks from both sides split the enemy and weaken them.

The battlefield is a stage. Where you stand decides what you can do.