Who goes first?
From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Samurai Sword?

dV Giochi base game (English)

The player dealt the Shogun role takes the first turn. Play then proceeds clockwise.

If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.

Rule details

For four to seven players, shuffle the Role cards appropriate to the player count and deal one facedown to each player. The Shogun reveals that role; the other roles remain secret.

In the four-to-seven-player setup, starting hands depend on position: the Shogun receives four cards, the second and third players clockwise receive five each, the fourth and fifth receive six each, and the sixth and seventh receive seven each, when those seats are present.

With three players, randomly deal one player the Shogun role; the other two are Ninjas. Normal turn order still applies, while the Shogun starts with six Honor Points and each Ninja with three. The Shogun also draws one additional card during each draw phase.

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