Ran is the 12th volume in the Great Battles of History series and the 2nd game on the battles in 16th & 17th Century Japan following Samurai (Vol V). Ran covers several of the less famous battles of the Sengoku Jidai - the age when powerful Daimyo (feudal lords) strove to maintain and extend their power bases while seeking to attain the office of Shogun.

Ran simulated the highly personal form of warfare developed by the Japanese Samurai, wherein formal battles played out almost as backdrops to individual feats of courage, bravery and devotion - much of it outstanding, some of it rather foolhardy, all of it very Homeric.

Although political and tactical victory was the bottom line, collecting the severed heads of enemy Samurai reigned a very close second in importance.

In terms of tactics, as in Europe, this was the Dawn of Modern Warfare, with the introduction of guns - arquebuses - by the Portugese. Even with the revelatory effect of musketry, Japanese battles were still pretty much a swirling, non-linear affair.

Ran was also the title of legendary director Akira Kurosawa's historical epic movie based on William Shakespear's King Lear. The title refers to a Japanese character which translates as "chaos."

The Battles:
* Mimasetoge, 1569 The Takeda too far from their base opt to retreat. The Hojo plan an ambush at Mimase Pass.
* Nunobeyama, 1570 The Mori move to besiege the Amako castle base, but are attacked during a river crossing.
* Mimigawa, 1578 Chaotic battle between warlords Tawara Chikataka & Shimazu Yoshihisa near Takajo castle.
* Nagakute, 1584 The climactic battle between two great warlords, Toyotomi Hideyoshi & Tokugawa Ieyasu.
* Okitanawate, 1584 The Ryuzoji clan, headed by Takanobu battle Iehisa & Arima forces west of Moritake castle.
* Suriagehara, 1589 The battle arose when Ashina, seeing Date's grab for power, marched out to meet him.
* Tennoji, 1615 Last major battle of the Sengoku era; the Toyotomi's last gasp to take power from the Tokugawa.

Game Contents:
* Five countersheets (9/16 inch)
* Two 22x33 inch mapsheets backprinted
* Four Charts & Tables Cards
* Rules Booklet
* Scenario Booklet
* One 10-sided die