Surrounded is a variant of Legend of the Five Rings developed by Dale E. Buonocore. In it, one solo player tries to hold off a team of two allied Clans. In Surrounded, all the normal rules apply with the following exceptions:

• The Solo player starts with 5 provinces
• The Allies:
  1. Start with 3 Provinces each
  2. Can't win individually by honor
  3. Go first
  4. Share a combined turn wherein they undertake each phase of their turn simultaneously, and in this regard function as if they were one player
  5. 5. Can attack and defend together (no honor gain for doing so), and defend each other's provinces
  6. 6. Can combine their rings to fulfill conditions for an enlightenment Victory.

In addition:

A. A combined total of 80 honor is needed for an Allied honor victory, with an eliminated ally's finishing honor counted in.
B. The first player to have 40 honor at the beginning of his turn is granted a +5 honor bonus.

"We have also devised a related 4-player variant wherein teammates sit together across from the opposing team and essentially function as Allies in terms of exceptions #4,#5, above," says Dale. "It should be re-emphasized here that in all other respects, normal rules and procedures apply, with any ambiguities or uncertainties to be dealt with in an honorable manner by all players as they arise."

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