Xiàhoù Dūn 夏侯惇 (*SP010)

Translated Description:
“The Grey Wolf who swallowed his Eye-ball 啖睛的苍狼 (dàn jīng dè cāng láng)""

Who is he:
Most are pretty familiar with Xiahou Dun. After all, not only is he one of Cao Cao 曹操's most famous generals, he is also one of the most popular original SanGuoSha characters. I honestly don't think there's a need to release this SP version of Xiahou Dun, but i'm outspokenly biased against all SP cards anyway, so i'll let you be the judge of this.

So why is he an SP character? Beats me!! Perhaps it is because the original Xiahou Dun has become synonymous with anal rupture. Yep, you read that right. Original Xiahou Dun = Ass tearing, because his infamous "Eye for an Eye 刚烈" ability has the same Chinese pronunciation as "torn anus 肛裂". In fact his nickname is widely known as "肛裂哥" or "Big Brother Torn Ass" in China. So perhaps this is just YOKA's way of stemming the sacrilege?

Character ability 1: "Ferocious Courage 愤勇 (fèn yǒng)"
Every instance you receive damage, you can rotate your health card such that it is vertical. When your health card is vertical, you prevent all damage that you receive.

Character ability 2: "Vengeance is mine 雪恨 (xuě hèn)"
During the Ending phase of every player, if your health card is vertical, you must rotate it back to horizontal, then choose one of the following options.

1. Discard X cards from the player who's turn is ending (X is the units of health you have lost thus far)

2. Regarded as using one ATTACK 杀 on any player.

Ability relation to story:
Yes yes yes... he is incredibly courageous to have gone on fighting even after he ate his gooey eyeball, and good for him to have avenged his little goblet of vision by mutilating the perpetrator. That we already know. I'll be more concerned that his "Ass Tearing" nickname will still stick. I mean just look at the abilities, isn't just a super-sized version of his original "Eye for an Eye" ability? I can so imagine people calling him "Mega Ass Tearing Brother"... wouldn't you?

Lǖ Méng 吕蒙 (*SP006)

Translated Description:
"The Charisma of Ministers 国士之风 (guó shì zhī fēng)"

Who is he:
Admit it, you can't stand it when another player uses the original Lu Meng, especially when he is sitted right next to you. That hoard of cards is always a danger, and you can never really tell who's side he's on.

You are probably hoping that in this revamped version, that irritating ability to store infinite on-hand cards in removed. But hell no!! They just made him even more insanely powerful. I mean, this guy just makes Demi-God Lu Meng seem as dangerous as Grover from Sesame Street! How does one spell IMBA?

Character ability 1: "Taunt the Tiger 探虎"
During the action phase,  you can conduct Points Duel with another player. If you win, you acquire the following abilities till the end of your turn.

1. Your distance from that player is 1.

2. Non-Time Delay Tool cards used on that player cannot be neutralized by NEGATE 无懈可击.

Limited to once per phase.


Character ability 2: "Strategic Judgement 谋断" [Transformation ability]
Under normal circumstances, your token should have "Warrior 武" facing up and you possess the abilities "Ardor 激昂" and "Humility 谦逊".

When your number of on-hand cards is 2 or less, you must flip your token over such that "Strategist 文" is facing up, and change those 2 abilities into "Dashing Hero 英姿" and "Self Mastery 克己". You can flip the token over by discarding a card before the start of any player's turn.

(Note:
Humility 谦逊 (qiān xùn) (Lu Xun 陆逊's ability)
You cannot become the target of STEAL 顺手牵羊 and ACEDIA 乐不思蜀.

Ardor 激昂 (jī áng) (Sun Ce 孙策's ability)
Whenever you use (or become the target of) DUEL 决斗 or a red-suited ATTACK 杀, you can draw a card.)

Dashing Hero 英姿 (yīng zī) (Zhou Yu 周瑜's ability)
You can draw 1 additional card during your drawing phase.

Self-Mastery 克己 (kè jǐ) (Lu Meng's ability)
If you do not use any ATTACK 杀 cards during your action phase, you can skip the discard phase.)

Ability's relation to story:
“Taunt the Tiger” comes from Lu Meng’s bravery and aspiration to challenge difficulties. In his younger age (15-16 years old), he followed his brother-in-law secretly to fight the bandits. His mother was enraged and scolded him, and he replied, “It is difficult to survive in poverty; if we can prove ourselves through hard work, then wealth would come eventually. How can we get the tiger's cub if we don't enter the tiger's den?". In his older age, he challenged Guan Yu 关羽, one of the Tiger Generals of Shu. In the game, he can “Agitate the Tiger” in both his Warrior and Strategist form. If he wins, he can approach his enemy, and he can use his ploy without being negated.

“Strategic Judgement” can be split into two parts: 谋 (plotting schemes) and 断(make a judgement). It is said that capable rulers, generals and strategists must be good at both plotting schemes and making decisions. (Yuan Shao 袁绍 and Liu Biao 刘表 were said to be good at plotting schemes with their strategists, but were poor at making decisions). I translate is as “Strategic Judgement”, suiting the literal meaning and the essence of this ability: decide your “form” strategically to maximize your gain.

In his Warrior form, he gets “Ardor” and “Humility”. His Warrior form shows his younger life, a reckless warrior who fights bravely in the front line and is humble to Sun Quan 孙权's word to learn more. Both his abilities bolster his defense outside turn. In his Strategist form, he gets “Dashing Hero” and “Self-Mastery”. This shows his later life, a well-respected general who restrains himself from hasty actions, waiting to strike at the right moment. He can fill up his cards easily and store them without discarding.


How to obtain this character:
Click here to purchase this character from Sino-Games.com!

Dà Qiáo 大乔 (*SP008)

Translated Description:
"Transient but Joyous Happiness 韶光易逝 (sháo guāng yì shì)"

Who is she:
I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate seeing the original Da Qiao character. No no no, it's not because her ability wasn't good, but quite the contrary. Da Qiao had fantastic ability! Her ability to put everyone else to sleep with ACEDIA 乐不思蜀 was incredibly useful, and frustrating when she's not on your side. THAT is why I hate her, because I seldom ever choose her and she's seldom helping my side!

In this revamped SP version, the character seems less overpowered than the preceding characters. Her new abilities also mirror some of her old abilities, so it's not a complete overhaul either. It does appear that this SP Da Qiao is rather interesting from the face of it.

Character ability 1: "Gentle Smile 言笑 (yán xiào)"
During the action phase, you can place a card with suit of Diamonds in the judgement area of any player. Players with "Gentle Smile" in their judgement area gets to keep all the judgement cards during that player's judgement phase.

Character ability 2: "Quiet Elegance 安娴 (ān xián)"
Whenever you cause damage when you use an ATTACK 杀, you can prevent that damage and force the victim to discard 1 on-hand card, after which you draw 1 card from the deck.

Whenever you become the target of an ATTACK, you can discard 1 on-hand card to render the ATTACK useless, after which your attacker draws 1 card from the deck.

Ability relation to story:
You guessed it, none.

Look, we know Da Qiao is beautiful, elegant, and probably has a smile that could have melt the iceberg that sank the Titanic. How that translates into letting others keep judgement cards is a stretch... a long stretch. But hey, the abilities do seem balanced and is not aggro, so i'm pretty happy to ignore the fact that the ability isn't linked much to the story.

How to obtain this character:
Click here to purchase this character from Sino-Games.com!

Gān Níng 甘宁 (*SP009)

Translated Description:
"The Crow with Bells 怀铃的乌羽 (huái líng dè wū yǔ)"

Why is he an SP character?
Just as there was a time before Captain Jack Sparrow became "Captain", there was a time before the Gan Ning that we know became a proper soldier. You might already know that Gan Ning was a pirate before he joined a proper military. What you probably didn't know was the head-hunter style dress up that he adorned whilst he was plundering the lands; bone-ornaments to adorn their hair and silver bells around their waists. You could almost imagine an aboriginal cannibal from some far-away tropical rain forest. Now how's that for a rags to riches story?

Character ability 1: Silver Bells 银铃 (yín líng)
During your action phase, you can discard 1 black-suited card and select another player. If you do so, you acquire 1 card from that player, then place that card on top of your character card. This card will then be known as ”Brocade 锦". (Max number of Brocades = 4)

Character ability 2: Militant's Might 军威 (jūn wēi)
At the end phase of your turn, you can discard 3 "Brocades" into the discard pile. If you do so, you must ask one player to choice between 1 of 2 options:

1. Display 1 DODGE 闪 card, which you then take and pass to any player.

2. Lose 1 unit of health, after which you select 1 card from that player's equipped items area and move that card out of the game. Once that player's turn has ended, that card that was moved out of the game shall be returned to its original position.

Ability's relation to story:
Jingle bells, anyone? According to records, Gan Ning's victims were so traumatized by his plundering that they shudder in fear whenever they heard the jingling of bells. I guess the ability somewhat symbolizes "robbing" another player. Better yet, they gave the loot a fancy-smancy name 锦, which is expensive embroidery and fabric.

"Militant's Might" is just a random name for an ability, I guess. I could be wrong.

How to obtain this character?
Gan Ning (2012) is now available on Sino-Games.com! Click here to purchase.

Wáng Yuánjī 王元姬 (Sticker Add-on)

Translated Description:
"Civil and Understanding Empress文明皇后 (wén míng huáng hòu)"

Who is she:
It is fitting that Wang Yuanji is released together with Sima Zhao 司马昭, simply because these two were husband and wife. From a young age of 15, Wang Yuanji was married to Sima Zhao. Little is known about her except that she's incredibly scholarly from a very young age, is obviously very smart as you shall read about later on, and is very humble as the wife of the defacto leader of the kingdom. Sounds like the kind of wife most men would want: loyal, humble, and intelligent such that she is his most loyal advisor. Even by today's standards, such women are incredibly rare!

Character ability 1: "Smother 扶亂 (fú luàn)"
During your action phase, you can discard 3 cards of the same suit to flip the character card of a player within your attacking range. If you do so, you cannot use ATTACK 杀 in your turn. Limited to one use per phase.

Character ability 2: "Virtuous 淑德 (shū dé)"
At the ending phase, you can draw cards such that your number of on-hand cards is equal to your health limit.

Ability's relation to story:
"Smother" refers to her prediction of the rebellion of Zhong Hui 钟会. Zhong Hui was very talented and presented many schemes to Sima Zhao, but Wang Yuanji reminded Sima Zhao that Zhong Hui was extremely ambitious, and should not be trusted completely. During the invasion of Shu Kingdom, Sima Zhao allocated troops on the boundary, said to be taking precautions against Zhong Hui. The mechanism of the ability is that Wang Yuanji can smother the action of her enemy if given enough power.

“Virtuous” refers to her personality. It is said that Huang Yuanji was wise and frugal. However, the ability does not relate to any virtue. It seems that the designer just needs a name to nominate this ability.

Technically speaking, the meaning of 扶亂 leans more toward being supportive in nature instead of being antagonistic, however the reference of her smothering Zhong Hui's rebellion, as well as how the ability is designed to be antagonistic in nature. It may not really be 100% suitable with Wang Yuanji's personality, if you are very strict about it.

How to obtain this character:
Wang Yuanji can be obtained from the August 2012 issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine, alongside *SP008 Da Qiao. It is available as an add-on "sticker" to be pasted on the "blank" character cards that are originally provided within the original pack as back-ups.

Sīmǎ Zhāo 司马昭 (Sticker Add-on)

Translated Description:
"The Ambitious Wolf Cub 狼子野心 (láng zǐ yě xīn)"

Who is he:
This was no ordinary "Prince-to-be". The contrast between Sima Zhao and Liu Shan 刘禅 is as stark as Ivanka Trump and Paris Hilton - capable and effective versus trashy and generally useless. Despite the bulk of the dirty work being accomplished by his father Sima Yi 司马懿, Sima Zhao did not simply rest and enjoy the fruits of his father's labour. Inheriting his father's combination of cunning, prudence and patience, he seized control of Wei and became the puppet master behind the scenes, then struck down Shu kingdom in one fell swoop. As if that wasn't enough, he was also able to guard himself against the very adviser that aided his Shu conquest, Zhong Hui 钟会, who began to show signs of rebelling with the help of the enemy, Jiang Wei 姜维.

But what is even more interesting is the fact that Sima Zhao did not proclaim himself Emperor of all China when he easily could have. Although Shu was defeated, Wei territory spread across China, and he alone was in control, Sima Zhao chose to leave the formation of the Jin Dynasty to his son Sima Yan 司马炎. Some say that the Sima family learnt this move from Cao Cao 曹操's family, where the formation of Wei Kingdom was delayed for two generations after Cao Cao.

Though the bad guy that he is portrayed as in the story, there is no doubt that Sima Zhao was an extremely pivotal person that shaped the history of China from 250 AD till today!

Character ability 1: "Obvious Intentions 昭心 (zhāo xīn)"
At the end of your drawing phase, you can immediately display all your on-hand cards. This is seen as having used ATTACK 杀 on a player within your attacking range. Limited to once per phase.

Character ability 2: "Cautious Wolf 狼顾 (láng gù)"
Whenever you sustain 1 unit of damage, you can flip a judgement card and you can replace this judgement card with any of your on-hand cards. Then, inspect the on-hand cards of the player that is the source of your damage. You can discard any of his/her cards with the same suit as the judgement card.

Ability's relation to story:
“Obvious Intentions” comes from Cao Mao 曹髦, the puppet emperor of Wei Kingdom. As Sima Zhao’s power and influence increased day by day, Cao Mao feared that Sima Zhao would kill him to seize the seat as an emperor. Cao Mao gathered his loyalists and launched a resist, but Sima Zhao’s subordinate killed him. The name of the ability “昭心” also has the meaning of “Sima Zhao’s intention”. The mechanism of this ability is that Sima Zhao exposes his intention (showing all his on-hand cards) and launches an attack on someone (use and ATTACK on a player within the attack range).

Oddly, “Cautious Wolf” refers to his father, not Sima Zhao himself. It is said that Sima Yi could turn his head 180° around on his neck to look backwards without turning his body. The game mechanism symbolizes a damage-triggered ability that involves making a judgement, correlates to the two abilities of Sima Yi. Perhaps this ability symbolizes Sima Zhao inheriting his father’s awareness to the surrounding environment and his ability to seize power?

How to obtain this character:
Sima Zhao can be obtained from the August 2012 issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine, alongside *SP008 Da Qiao. It is available as an add-on "sticker" to be pasted on the "blank" character cards that are originally provided within the original pack as back-ups.

Liú Beì 刘备 (*SP007)

Translated Description:
"The Shining Martyr Emperor of Han Dynasty 汉昭烈帝 (hàn zhāo liè dì)"

Who is he:
Really? You do not know who he is? Come on!! Let's go straight to why the original Liu Bei needed an upgrade, shall we? He wasn't much of a Ruler character at all as he had little offensive powers and was more supportive and self-preserving.

Or was he?

My honest opinion is that the original Liu Bei is fine just the way he is. If i'm playing a large match with 6 or more players, any side with Liu Bei is at a strong advantage.

That being said, this new SP character does have some interesting abilities. At first glance, it seems SP Liu Bei is over-powered, but on closer evaluation, he does seem quite balanced. Bear in mind that his first ability contains the component of choice on the part of the victim, so it's not as insane as it first sounds. His 2nd ability sounds really cool as well! But we'll have to play him to be sure.

Character ability 1: Shining Martyr 昭烈 (zhāo liè)
During your drawing phase, you can draw 1 card less, then ask a player within your attacking range to display the top 3 cards from the deck. Discard the non-Basic cards and PEACH 桃 amongst these 3 cards, (the remaining basic cards will be needed below).

The player must choose 1 out of the following 2 options:

1. You inflict X units of damage on that player. The player then gets to acquire the remaining basic cards.

2. The player discards X number of cards, and you acquire the remaining basic cards.

(X is the number of non-Basic cards discarded amongst the 3 cards displayed.)


Character ability 2: Oath of Vengeance 誓仇 (shì choú) [Ruler Ability] [Single-use Ability]
At the beginning of your turn, you can select 1 player from the Shu allegiance and give him 2 cards. Every instance you receive damage throughout the game, this other player will receive the same amount of damage on your behalf, then this player will draw as many cards as damage received. This ability will perpetuate until this player enters brink of death for the first time.

Ability's relation to story:
Liu Bei was given the title "The Shining Martyr Emperor of Han Dynasty 汉昭烈帝" posthumously, which is seemingly where this ability title came from. In no way does his first ability seem "shiny" nor "martyr-ish", but it does have an air of "I am the bloody Emperor and watch me command you to do stupid things in a condescending manner, now spill your blood for me!".

The title "Oath of Vengeance" refers to his historically huge blunder by attacking Wu to avenge Guan Yu 关羽. That does not seem to have much link to the ability though, as there was no mention of surrogates in the story relating to this event. In fact, "Oath of Vengeance" has the undertones of "Bad idea" associated with it's name, which is supposed to come back and bite Liu Bei. This ability does not seem to show any of this.

How to obtain this character:
Click here to purchase this character from Sino-Games.com!

Zhang Fei 张飞 (*SP005)

Translated Description:
“Spear-Ready, Horse-Mounted 横矛立马 (héng máo lì mǎ)”

Who is he:
If you don't know Zhang Fei, you must be completely new to ROTK (in which case, you can read about him here). The hairy one gets a makeover, but thankfully his facial hair is just as overwhelming. I would have thought Zhang Fei is one of the last to need a revamp. His old character was simple, brutal, and very flexible. I think the new complicated mechanics are to Zhang Fei what variable acceleration technology is to a food blender: unnecessary.

Still, i'm sure some out there would appreciate the more complex nature of the newer characters, and hopefully this new update would appeal to you.

Why is he an SP character?
There is only one reason I can think of that warrants an SP version of him. His ability was too simple (ie: had too few words), and was too clear-cut. Ambiguity is vogue now, and if don't have to re-read the ability description at least thrice, it's clearly out of fashion.

Character ability 1: "Indignation 嫉恶 (jí è)" [Enforced ability]
When you use red-suited ATTACK 杀 cards, the damage caused is +1.

Character ability 2: "Battle Cry 大喝 (dà hè)"
During your action phase, you can pick a player to points duel. If you win, all DODGE 闪 cards of that player that are not hearts-suit become ineffective till the end of the turn. You can pass the points duel card of that player to any player whose health is not more than yours. If you lose, you must display your hand of cards and select one card to discard. Limited to once per turn.

Ability's relation to story:
The words “嫉恶” originates from the phrase 嫉恶如仇 (abhor evil as a deadly foe). It refers to Zhang Fei’s personality. When Zhang Fei saw wrongdoings, he would get enraged easily. There have been numerous instances where Zhang Fei lost his cool and did some pretty impulsive things, whipping an official and even fighting Guan Yu 关羽 just to name two.

“Battlecry” referred to Zhang Fei’s contribution in the Battle of Changban. This section has been written extensively in the original Zhang Fei post as well as in DISMANTLE 过河拆桥.

Incidentally, 大喝 (Battlecry) and 咆哮 (Barrage) have similar meanings in chinese. In the game, “Battlecry” is more likely referring to the whole action of Zhang Fei in the Battle of Changban. If Zhang Fei wins, Zhang Fei literally stunned his enemy. His ATTACK is less likely to be dodged, and he can take this chance to protect his comrade (by giving a card to him). If Zhang Fei loses, he is at a disadvantage, so his enemies can see through his intention (reveal on-hand cards) and one card needs to be ‘dismantled’ by Zhang Fei himself.

How to obtain this character:
Purchase the 15th issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine (April 2012) to get this limited character card as a free gift! (Coming soon to Sino-Games.com)

Pang Tong 庞统 (*SP004)

Translated Description:
"Genius of Jing Chu 荆楚之高俊 (jīng chǔ zhī gāo jùn)

(Note: Jing Chu is the ancient name for the area that is Hubei province today.)

Who is he:
The first time I came across the original Pang Tong character, a friend commented that his "Nirvana 涅槃" resurrection ability was to compensate for the early death of this historically important person. Yet somehow, despite being given "one life more" than others, the old Pang Tong could never quite live up to expectations of such a brilliant man.

I think this "upgrade" has been well deserved and the tweak has made him seem slightly over-powered. Oh well! Consider it payback for all the neglect that the old Pang Tong suffered. Finally, the phoenix has truly risen!

Why is he an SP character?
Pang Tong was probably one of the most under-powered characters in the original deck, and subsequently also one of the most under-utilized. I must say that I do adore his "Shackle 连环" ability from last time, though this complete makeover is most appreciated.

Character ability 1: "To Hell with Work 漫卷 (màn juàn)"
Whenever you are about to receive a card, you must place that card in the discard pile. If this happens within your turn, you can pick up any one card with the same number (Ace to King) from the discard pile and place it in your on-hand cards.
[Updated 25/04/2012] 

Character ability 2: "Plastered 醉乡(zuì xiāng)" [Single-Use ability]
At the beginning of your turn, you can flip over 3 cards from the top of the deck and place them on your character card. You cannot use or play any card of the same "type" (basic card, tool card, weapon card, etc.) as those placed on your character card. All cards of the same type also have no effect on you. For every turn henceforth, you must flip over another 3 cards and place them on your character card, until any 2 cards placed on your character card has the same number (Ace to King). When that happens, all the cards on your character card will go into your on-hand cards.

Additional info based on changes:
According of ZYZ magazine, his two abilities comes from the story of Pang Tong clearing100 days of leftover work in one afternoon (RoTK Chapter 57). When Pang Tong first joined Shu,  Liu Bei 刘备 sent him to a magistracy to work. Yet in his new position, Pang Tong refused to work (to hell with work!). Scrolls of complaint were accumulated on the table for 100 days and the town was in disarray. Upon hearing this news, an angry Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei 张飞 to check him out. When Zhang Fei arrived, he was surprised to find Pang Tong drunk (plastered). However Pang Tong promptly cleared his 100 days of leftover work in one afternoon without the slightest mistake.

One interesting trivia here is that both of the abilities have been drawn into the portrait illustration. "To hell with work" can be seen with him tossing scrolls worth of work over his shoulders, which is a literal depiction of 漫卷 (Translated: to toss scrolls into the air like you couldn't care less). "Plastered" can be seen with him holding a big drinking bowl, a huge vat of wine to his left, and a smile so wide you would think he was at the pub on Friday night.

[Updated 25/04/2012] Left this portion out when I first writing up this article. "To Hell with Work" paints a nice analogy, because when someone gives you work, you toss it away like you don't care. In this case, when someone gives you cards, you toss it away too! The mechanism for "Plastered" is a smart way for the creator to simulate the character getting drunk. You basically lose a few of your body psychomotor functions after having a drink too many, and this ability replicates that by making you almost useless after "drinking" 3 cards. Drink some more and you have the fighting ability of wallpaper. The not-so-children-friendly twist to this is that after drinking a ton of wine, the ability jolts you with a massive stack of cards and you instantly regain all your abilities.

That... doesn't quite happen in real life.

How to obtain this character:
Purchase the 15th issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine (April 2012) to get this limited character card as a free gift! Or simply click here to purchase it separately through Sino-Games.com!

Cao Ren 曹仁 (*SP003)

Translated description:
"Quitting is not an option 险不辞难 (xiǎn bù cí nán)"

Who is he:
You are probably familiar with him by now. Before this SP release, Cao Ren was considered one of the least popular characters. I especially did not look forward to skipping one full round of action despite having additional cards. I felt like a wealthy paraplegic whenever I used him.

Sad to say, I'm still not a fan after this update. True, his defensive abilities have remained, and its usefulness is now pegged to player skill. He now has a 2nd ability that gives him slightly more playability. His portrait also looks fantastic and I would gladly hang a life-size poster on my bedroom wall.

But his most crippling weakness still remains: that "skip-a-turn" cost for using his first (and most useful) ability. Ultimately, I feel like i'm still handicapped and restrained. It's an improvement no doubt, but I'd still wouldn't use him.

Why is he an SP character?
The answer is simple. The old Cao Ren was as energetic as a kettle, and just as respected. If there was a character that needed tweaking, he was it.

Character ability 1: "Break Out 溃围 (kuì wéi)"
At the Ending phase of your turn, you may draw 2 + X cards, then flip your character card over. If you do so, you must discard X cards at the beginning of your next drawing phase. X is the total number of weapon cards in all the equipped areas of all characters.

Character ability 2: "Discipline 严整 (yán zhěng)"
If the number of your on-hand cards is larger than your health, you may use any of your equipped cards as NEGATE 无懈可击.

Additional info based on changes:
Being a master of defensive warfare, Cao Ren knew that simply entrenching was the worst defensive tactics, as the cut of supply would slowly deplete the defense. Only by counterstriking and breaking through the encirclement could save his troops. Cao Ren himself performed two amazing breakthroughs in the history. The first one was in the defense of Jiang Ling 江陵. After the defeat of Cao Cao 曹操 in Red Cliffs, Zhou Yu 周瑜 led his troops to attack the city of Jiang Ling. Cao Ren was assigned to protect Jiang Ling, and he sent Niu Jin 牛金 and 300 troops to challenge  the vanguard of Zhou Yu's troops. Niu Jing's troops were encircled quickly. Neglecting the advice of Chen Jiao 陈矫, Cao Ren managed to lead some elite cavaliers personally to save Niu Jing, which was a success. The adviser stopped him just before exclaiming, "General, you are truly a man from Heaven!".

Betrayed by the name, "Breakthrough" is actually a defensive ability like his previous ability "Entrenchment". Perhaps the action of drawing cards reflected the preparation of Cao Ren and the action of discarding reflected the depletion of power after counter attacking?

"Discipline" was the backbone of army, and Cao Ren was good at promoting discipline of his army, just as almost all Wei generals. Discipline was an essential concern of Cao Cao, who aimed at conquering/liberating (pick the one you like) the whole China, Being a respected general and a master of defense, Cao Ren knew the importance of discipline very well. His army was one of the most disciplined troops at that time. This ability allowed you to convert equipped cards to NEGATE. Perhaps it shows that you have to discard the impure troops to maintain "无懈可击 (No flaw to be exploited)"?

How to obtain this character?
Purchase the 14th issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine (March 2012) to get this limited character card as a free gift! Or simply purchase it separately through Sino-Games.com!

Diao Chan 貂蝉 (*SP002)

Translated Description:
"The Malevolent Puppeteer 暗黑的傀儡师 (àn hēi dè kuǐ lěi shī)"

Who is she:
There is only so much I need to say about Diao Chan. She's probably one of the top 10 most famous people in ROTK, as well as in SGS! In the previous version, the artwork is more kiddy, wide-eyed, bambi-like.

Not anymore.

Meet the succubus of ancient China. If looks alone couldn't kill, she can easily seduce another man that gladly will. Personal opinion? I prefer matured, crafty, sadistic women. This Diao Chan... I like.

Why is she an SP character?
Technically speaking, Diao Chan is already over-exposed in SGS. Her 2011 SP version created quite a stir, as so many wanted a glimpse of her fresh out of the shower. Her original ability "Seed of Animosity 离间" was perfect as well. Do we really need another Diao Chan?

Well if you read into her new ability in this evil version, it is just absolute evil and merciless. It kind of makes the male victim seem like a useless empty shell really. The closest example I can think of to describe what I feel about the new Diao Chan are the "Mermaids" in Pirates of the Carribean: Fountain of Youth. Beautiful, seductive, and absolutely deadly. Oh I love it!

Character Ability 1: Soul Surrender 离魂 (lí hún)
In the action phase, you can discard one card and flip over your character card. If you do so, you can acquire all the on-hand cards of one male character. At the end of the action phase, you must return that male character one card for every remaining health unit that he has.

Limited to one use per turn.

Character ability 2: Envious Moon 闭月 (bì yuè)
At the end of your turn, you can draw one card from the deck.

Additional Info based on changes:
Her new ability is dangerous both towards her enemy and herself. She can 'focus' her charm towards a male character, claiming their "soul" (ie: his on-hand cards) and leaving him totally vulnerable. If you can injure him heavily, or even kill him, good for you. This ability is especially powerful when she gains damaging cards like DUEL 决斗, BARBARIANS 南蛮入侵, RAINING ARROWS 万箭齐发, etc.

And let's not forget the carnage she can unleash with the Ancient Scimitar 古锭刀 equipped.

However, this ability comes at a cost. Discard one is no big deal since she can easily take over her victim's cards, but flipping her character card will cost her one full turn. "Envious Moon" will grant her some extra defense, but one extra card for one turn lost can only do so much.

How to obtain this character:
Purchase the 13th issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine to get this limited character card as a free gift!

Mǎ Chāo 马超 (SP011)

Translated Description:
"The Lion of the West 西凉的猛狮"

Who is he?
Cao Cao 曹操 once said: “If Ma Chao does not die, I am going to meet a terrible end.” That gives you an idea of how strong Ma Chao was. He was one of the Five Tigers in Shu Kingdom in fiction, which was pretty close to factual history. Prior to that, Ma Chao was extremely aggressive fighting against his nemesis, the man who slew his entire family: Cao Cao. That explains why he eventually decided to join Liu Bei’s campaign.

Why is he an SP character?
He used to be one of the biggest warlords in west and had a strong reputation even before he met Liu Bei. Thus for completing the whole world of Three Kingdoms in SGS, YOKA released this "younger" version of Ma Chao.

Character ability1: “Horsemanship 马术 (mǎ shù)” [Enforced ability] 
You will always be -1 distance in any range calculations.

Character ability2: “Iron Calvary 铁骑(tiě jì)”
Whenever you use ATTACK 杀 on any target player, you can choose to flip over one judgement card from the deck. If the judgement card is of a red-suit (hearts and diamonds), the ATTACK cannot be evaded with DODGE闪.

Additional info based on changes:
Nothing changed but his drawing, just like most other SP characters. Too bad about the Magneto-looking helmet though.

Wiki Links:
- Ma Chao Wiki

How to obtain this character?
He isn’t available on SGS online so far! For obtaining a card, purchase ZYZ magazine issue #11 (November 2011).

Zhao Yun 赵云 (*SP001)

Translated description:
“The Vanguard on a White Horse 白马先锋 (bái mǎ xiān fēng)”

Who is he:
For goodness sake, this is Zhao Yun! I'm pretty sure you do not need me to describe who he is. But just in case you do, here's a one-sentence summary.

Zhao Yun is one of Liu Bei 刘备's most accomplished generals, but while he was younger he was part of Gongsun Zan 公孙瓒's army, thus the Neutral Heroes allegiance here.


Why is he an SP character:
I'm going to be politically incorrect here. I do NOT think that Zhao Yun needs an SP version. The official reports state that the SP versions are an upgrade so that the original characters will not fall behind.

Rubbish!

The original Zhao Yun is still strong as heck, and has one of the best abilities ever created in this game: creative, adequate, simple. So why do they need to make Zhao Yun unbalanced? Well, I guess everyone will have their opinion. Who knows? I might just like this character after I lay my hands on it.

Or maybe not.

Character ability 1: "Dragon Heart 龙胆 (lóng dǎn)"
All ATTACK 杀 and DODGE 闪 cards can be used interchangeably.

Character ability 2: "Formation Piercer 冲阵 (chōng zhèn)"
Whenever you use or play an on-hand card to activate “Dragon Heart”, you can immediately take an on-hand card from the opponent.

Note: "Opponent" here refers to either the player who caused you to activate "Dragon Heart" (the player that uses "Raining Arrows 万箭齐发"), or the person on the receiving end of "Dragon Heart" (you use DODGE as an ATTACK on that player).

Additional info based on changes:
This is the young Zhao Yun serving Gongsun Zan, the Whitehorse General. According to Zhuo You Zhi magazine, his 3 units health reflects his immaturity while his new ability reflects his contributions in The Battle of Jie Bridge 界桥之战. In that battle, Yuan Shao 袁绍 rained arrows on Gongsun Zan and almost decimated his entire army. When Gongsun Zan’s was on the brink of collapse, the young Zhao Yun charged into Yuan Shao’s vast army and single-handedly killed Yuan Shao’s general with one strike, with time left to spare to save Gongsun Zan's rear-end.

Trivia:
Zhao Yun became the 3rd character with more than two character cards in SGS. The first was Zhuge Liang 诸葛亮 and the second one was Lu Bu 吕布. Note that the card of young Zhao Yun is two-sided and slightly smaller than the usual character cards. This card is not meant to be shuffled into the character's deck, but rather to be substituted for the original Zhao Yun card if the player chooses to use him.

Wiki Links:
Zhao Yun Wiki

How to obtain this character?
Purchase the 13th issue of Zhuo You Zhi magazine to get this limited character card as a free gift!

Jia Xu 贾诩 (SP012)

Translated Description:
“Never a strategy miscalculated 算无遗策(suàn wú yí cè)”

Who is he?
I remember it clearly when the celebrity Chinese scholar Yi Zhong Tian 易中天 (famed for his televised lectures of ROTK) said: “Jia Xu was probably the smartest character during the whole Three Kingdom era.” As an advisor, Jia Xu’s work experience seems to be a little complicated. He previously served Dong Zhuo 董卓, Li Jué 李傕 and Zhang Xiu 张秀 before finally joining Cao Cao 曹操. Then he served as an official in Wei Kingdom under Cao Cao's son, Cao Pi 曹丕. Despite his flip-flopping loyalties, Jia Xu was an exceptional advisor. Not only did he know what his ruler was thinking, he also knew what his enemy was thinking. He always considered every detail and possibility, then predicted what would happen next with uncanny accuracy. According to historical records, he never made a single strategic mistake in his entire life. In the last few years of Cao Cao's rule when the irate ruler became extremely paranoid, many great advisors were slaughtered, but not Jia Xu. In my personal opinion, this man really is a legendary figure. If you want to know more details about him, just check out Ricky’s write-up about him and find out!

Why is he an SP character?
Just as the other SP characters, he changed his allegiances in history. SGS decided to make an SP version of him to complete the whole story of the Three Kingdoms.

Character ability 1: “Unmitigated Murder 完杀 (wán shā)” [Enforced ability] 
During your turn, with the exception of yourself, only characters who are on the brink of death (health equals zero or less) can use PEACH 桃.

Character ability 2: “Descend into Chaos 乱武 (luàn wǔ)” [Single-Use Ability] 
During your action phase, your can force every player, other than yourself, to use an ATTACK 杀 on another player at the least distance away. If a player is unable to do so (no ATTACK cards to use or attack range cannot reach any player), the player will lose 1 unit of health. Recipients of the ATTACK need to use DODGE 闪 to evade. This ability will proceed in succession starting from the player on your right.

Character ability 3: “Behind the Curtain 帷幕 (wéi mù)” [Enforced ability] 
You cannot become the target of tool cards with the suit of "clubs" or "spades".

Additional info based on changes:
Nothing really changed except his allegiance and drawing. Well, this drawing does look better than the previous one, which is way too scary. However, lots of people think that his abilities should be changed after the change of his allegiance. His abilities do not support any of the Wei Rulers. Furthermore, Jia Xu never employed his “descend into chaos” ability again after joining Wei.

Wiki Links:
- Jia Xu Wiki

How to obtain this character?
He is not available on SGS online yet. For obtaining a card, purchase ZYZ magazine issue #12 (December 2011).

Contributing Writer:
- Cherry Cat

Silver Moon Lance 银月枪 (yín yuè qiāng) (SP010)

Description:

Unlike some of the other weapons in SGS, the Silver Moon Lance didn’t really exist in history. It’s an imaginary spear that was designed by Kayak, one of the founders of the game. According to Kayak, the aim of this weapon was to introduce Zhao Yun 赵云’s weapon into SGS, yet the name was completely made-up because the real name of Zhao Yun’s weapon could not be found in any records. According to the historical descriptions, we only know that it was a lance, not exactly helpful for generating a "magical" killing tool.

This card first appeared in 2008 when SGS was created, but early players quickly found its ability over-powered, especially when equipped by certain characters. In 2009, YOKA “fixed” the bug by inexplicably making it even more destructive than the Zhu Ge Crossbow 诸葛连弩. It was also a lot more confusing to calculate damage. The writings were clearly on the wall for this card and YOKA removed this weapon altogether from the current deck we know today. As if in repentance for all that power in this weapon, the card is replaced with a NEGATE 无懈可击 card, a form of atonement perhaps for all the units of health that were lost while the Silver Moon Lance roamed.

Special ability:
Whenever you play a black-suited card outside of your turn, you can immediately ask a player within your attacking arrange to play a DODGE 闪 card or else that player will lose one unit of health.

Characters that match this weapon best:
All the characters that have abilities related to black-suit cards. For example, Zhao Yun and Demi-god Zhao Yun (who can use a black-suit ATTACK as a DODGE), Zhen Ji 甄姬 (who can use any black-suit card as a DODGE), Younger Zhuge Liang 卧龙诸葛亮 (who can use any black-suit card as a NEGATE), Sima Yi 司马懿 and Zhang Jiao 张角 (who can replace or exchange cards with their black-suit cards).

Why is it an SP card?
This is probably the first card that became a collectible because it is part of SGS Legend. It is also the only weapon in SGS whose ability can be activated outside of a player’s round. That means it’s not only a weapon but also acts like an armour. It can be incredibly powerful when paired with characters mentioned above. So in order to prevent a game from being over too quickly, the card was removed from SGS. It is for this exact reason that this card has become valued as a collector's item!

How to obtain this weapon?
It is not available on SGS online (and won’t be available in the future either). For obtaining this card (2011 version), you can purchase ZYZ magazine issue #10 (October 2011). If you want to obtain the first-edition card (2008 version), you have to look for it via websites like e-bay and it would be pretty expensive, good luck!

Contributing Writer:
- Cherry Cat

Cài Wén Jī (Lady Cai) 蔡文姬 (SP009)

Translated Description
“Extraordinary Talent 金璧之才(jīn bì zhī cái)”

Who is she?
If you ask me who was the most beautiful lady during the whole Three Kingdoms era, I really can't name one. The beautiful ladies always leave their names in history (just like Da Qiao 大乔, Xiao Qiao 小乔, Diao Chan 貂蝉). But if you ask me who was the most talented lady at the time, I am sure that must be Lady Cai, who is also called Cai Wen Ji 蔡文姬 in history. The proof is that she did not only leave her family name but also her first name (蔡琰Cài Yǎn) in the history books. In ancient China, that was a special honor reserved for only the smartest of ladies such as Zhen Ji 甄姬 (whose real name was 甄宓Zhen Mi), and Huang Yue Ying 黄月英. Lady Cai was a poet, a composer and was famous for her incredible memory in literature. Want to know more about her? Just check out the previous write up!

Why is she an SP character?
Technically speaking, Lady Cai is indebted to Cao Cao 曹操. Though she was born in a noble family, she spent 12 years as a prisoner under the Huns, until Cao Cao paid a heavy sum for her freedom. In  return, she worked for Cao Cao and his Wei Kingdom. This special experience was really tragic, and also made her a special female character, both in history and SGS game. I guess the game-makers wanted to give her a sense of loyalty to her benefactor, thus this Wei version as the SP character.

Character ability1: “Dirge 悲歌 (bēi gē)”
Every instance a player suffers damage from an ATTACK, you can discard a card (on-hand or equipped), and the player who suffered the damage flips a judgement card.

If the judgement is “hearts”, the victim regains 1 unit of health.
If the judgement is “diamonds”, the victim draws 2 cards.
If the judgement is “clubs”, the attacker discards 2 cards.
If the judgement is “spades”, the attacker flips his/her character card over.

Character ability2: “Sorrow 断肠(duàn cháng)” [Enforced ability] 
The player who kills you loses all of his/her character abilities until the end of the game.

Additional info based on changes:
Nothing much has changed except her portrait (and the allegiance). It’s probably just due to the unpleasant players’ reviews about the original portrait. The original was indeed quite scary, yet according to history, Lady Cai was a beautiful woman. This version presents that quite well but the sorrow on her face has gone. Anyway, for the readers out there, which one do you prefer?

Ricky: Actually I prefer the old portrait, which had that abandoned vagabond psycho-killer look. The old version reminds me of The White-Haired Demon 白发魔女 while this new version looks like she's totally decked out from a shopping spree.

Wiki Links:
- Cai Wen Ji Wiki

How to obtain this character?
She is not available on SGS online so far. For obtaining a card, purchase ZYZ magazine
issue #10 (October 2011).

Contributing Writer:
- Cherry Cat

Lǚ Bù 吕布 (SP008)

Who is he?

I guess you are already very familiar with him. Lǚ Bù 吕布, the strongest fighter during the whole Three Kingdoms era. There have already been two versions of him in SGS (Neutral Heroes and Demi-God), but they have really outdone themselves this time. These two SP versions are both Demi-Gods, and pretty much insane!


Why is he an SP character? 
Because it’s created for the SP mode: HuLao-Pass. HuLao-Pass Mode is designed according to the story of a famous battle in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. With regards to the HuLao-Pass mode, the game designers said: “Nowadays there are more and more expansions of SGS. People gradually concentrate more and more on the various and complicated abilities of new characters, and forget about the cultural background, the comprehension of the characters’ personalities, and enjoying the balance of the game. The design of HuLao-Pass Mode and this Demi-God version of Lu Bu are supposed to help players get back to the Three Kingdoms’ world and enjoy the simulated battle.”

Translated Description:
“The Myth of the Formidable 最强神话 (zuì qiáng shén huà)”

Character ability 1: “Horsemanship 马术 (mǎ shù)” [Enforced ability] 
You will always be at -1 distance in any range calculations.

(Note: Same ability as Ma Chao 马超)

Character ability 2: “Without Equal 无双(wú shuāng)” [Enforced ability] 
Whenever you use ATTACK杀, your target has to use 2 DODGE 闪 cards to successfully evade the attack. During a DUEL 决斗, your opponent needs to use 2 ATTACK cards for every one ATTACK card that you use.

(Note: Same ability as the original Lu Bu 吕布.)

When your health decreases to 4 units, your character card has to be changed immediately into this next character card.

Translated Description:
“The Furious God of Battle 暴怒的战神(bào nù de zhàn shén)”

Character ability 1: “Horsemanship 马术 (mǎ shù)” [Enforced ability] 
You will always be at -1 distance in any range calculation.

Character ability 2: “Without Equal 无双(wú shuāng)” [Enforced ability] 
Whenever you use ATTACK杀, your target has to use 2 DODGE 闪cards to successfully evade the attack. During a DUEL 决斗, your opponent needs to use 2 ATTACK cards for every one ATTACK card that you use.

Character ability 3: “Asura 修罗(xiū luó)” 
At the beginning of your turn, you can discard one on-hand card in order to discard one Time- Delay Tool Card that is in your Judgement Area. The card you discard must be of the same suit as the Time-Delay Tool Card.

Character ability 4: “Divine Aura 神威 (shén wēi)” [Enforced ability] 
During your drawing phase, you can draw an additional 2 cards. Your on-hand card limit is increased +2.

Character ability 5: “Divine Halberd 神戟 (shén jǐ)” 
When you have no weapon equipped, your ATTACK card can target up to 3 different players.


Tip:
There are no LIGHTNING 闪电 cards and no expansions SO FAR in HuLao-Pass Mode on SGS online. Since this character is designed for HuLao-Pass Mode, the Time- Delay Tool Cards would only refer to ACEDIA 乐不思蜀.


Ability's relation to story: 
Most of Demi-God Lu Bu’s abilities are extremely aggressive. They just represent his courage, bravery, and exceptional fighting prowess. Also, this Demi-God version of Lu Bu is designed for a battle with three other characters. That’s why he also has some efficient defensive abilities; for example, “Asura” can prevent him from being affected by ACEDIA, “Divinity” can let him have more cards to better defend himself during the game.


Additional info based on story: 
Since these character cards are designed for HuLao-Pass Mode, you really need to know what happened at HuLao-Pass then. Ricky has made an excellent write-up for this story, just check it out on Lu Bu’s page.


Links and resources: 
- Lu Bu Wiki
- Battle of HuLao Pass Wiki
- Asura Wiki


How to obtain this character? 
Those two cards are available in HuLao-Pass Mode on SGS online now! (Of course VIP only, and there is no way to see them in other modes) For obtaining the cards, purchase ZYZ magazine issue #8 (August 2011).


Contributing Writer:
Cherry Cat

Páng Dé 庞德 (SP006)

Translated Description:
“Carrying The Coffin 抬榇之悟(tái chèn zhī wù)”

Who is he?
An admirable man. He is Pang De,a brave fighter and an exceptional general living in the Three Kingdoms era. In his entire life, he changed rulers multiple times, but nobody questioned his loyalty. He proved his devotion with his own life: he fought against enemies valiantly, and he even carried his coffin into battle to show his courage (See Ricky’s write-up about him, the “Most famous achievement” part). Unlike Lu Bu 吕布, who also changed ruler quite often (because the idiot killed his own ruler before jumping ship), Pang De gains all the
valiant titles from the historians, which I guess proves his heroic personality. Lu Bu, on the other hand, gets titles such as “Brave but without cunning, violent but without benevolence”, titles worthy only for a short-sighted boar.

Why is he an SP character?
Because the previous drawing of him is too ugly!!! But no, ZYZ magazine simply chose to release several SP characters with different allegiance and portraits. Pang De is just another one of them. All the new designs are supposed to help complete the whole Three Kingdoms’ story. The original version of him is considered as a neutral hero, whereas this SP version represents his last days as a general of Wei Kingdom. Anyway, personally, I am really happy to see this “carrying coffin” version of Pang De, which makes him 30% cooler!

Character ability1: “Horsemanship 马术 (mǎ shù)”
You will always have a -1 distance advantage (default “-1 horse” equipped)

Character ability2: “Fearsome Advance 猛进 (měng jìn)”
Whenever your ATTACK 杀 is evaded by DODGE 闪, you can forcefully discard one of the opponents cards (on-hand or equipped). Note that you select the card for discarding and not the opponent.

Additional info based on changes:
Nothing special to say about this part. Both of his abilities are aggressive ones. Change of his allegiance really does not affect him too much. On the whole, his abilities are not cooperative with any Ruler Abilities and he could die early in the game from lack of defensives.

Wiki Links:
- Pang De Wiki

How to obtain this character?
He is not available on SGS online yet. For obtaining a card, purchase ZYZ magazine issue #7 (July 2011).

Contributing Writer:
- Cherry Cat

Guān Yǔ 关羽 (SP007)

Translated Description
“Marquis of HanShou 汉寿亭侯(hàn shòu tíng hóu)”

Who is he?
Even if you cannot identify him through his new appearance, you should have noticed the Red Hare 赤兔 and the Green Dragon Crescent Blade 青龙偃月刀. Bingo! He’s our loyal “second brother”, the warrior saint in legend, the bearded gentleman in history, Guan Yu.

Wait a minute... The frame of this card is blue? Is this like 徐庶Xu Shu, who has a blue frame but still belongs to 蜀 Shu? Oh my god he doesn’t even belong to Shu Kingdom any more? Why was his allegiance changed to 魏 Wei? Designer’s mistake? Printers ran out of blue ink? Don’t panic, Guan Yu never betrayed his only ruler and "Elder brother" 刘备Liu Bei. Want to know what’s going on here? Keep reading and find out!

Why is he an SP character?
Just like the SP Sun Shang Xiang 孙尚香, SP Guan Yu was created for the completion of the whole Three Kingdoms’ story. This SP version is designed to represent Guan Yu’s life experience under Cao Cao 曹操’s military. In return for being treated respectfully after being captured by Cao Cao, Guan Yu fought for Cao Cao against Yuan Shao 袁绍 for a short while, and was very successful! So successful in fact that Cao Cao really wanted Guan Yu change his allegiance. Guan Yu, of course, refused because of his loyalty to Liu Bei. It was actually Cao Cao who gave him the title of Marquis of Han Shou whilst under his service. After some time Guan Yu left Cao Cao with nothing but his Red Hare and Green Dragon Crescent Blade, riding through thousands of miles to finally rejoin his brothers. This special experience also explains why he let Cao Cao escape after the huge loss at Battle of Red Cliffs 赤壁之战. For more info, just check Ricky’s write up of Guan Yu (蜀Shu) under the “Most famous achievement” section.

Character ability1: “Warrior Saint 武圣 (wǔ shèng)”
Every card with a “heart” or “diamonds” suit (effectively all red-suit cards) can be used as an ATTACK 杀card.

Character ability2: “Single Calvary 单骑(dān qí)” [Awakening ability] 
At the beginning of your turn, if your number of on-hand cards is larger than your current health units, AND the RULER for the game is Cao Cao, you must reduce your maximum health by 1 unit. You then permanently acquire the ability “Horsemanship 马术”

(Recall: Horsemanship 马术 = You will always have -1 distance in range calculations).

Additional info based on changes:
I guess it would really take some time for the players to get used to his new allegiance, because he cannot use ATTACK 杀 for Liu Bei any more! However, he can now react to both “Royal Escort” of Cao Cao and “Exalt the Powerful” of Cao Pi 曹丕.

Wiki Link:
- Guan Yu Wiki

How to obtain this character?
He is not available on SGS online yet. For obtaining a card, purchase ZYZ magazine issue #8 (August 2011).

Contributing Writer:
- Cherry Cat

Sūn Shàng Xiáng 孙尚香 (SP005)

Translated Description
“Exceptional Marriage 梦醉良缘(mèng zuì liáng yuán)”

Who is she?
A beautiful young bride wearing a traditional red wedding dress, sitting in the bridal chamber smiling mysteriously at you. Through the red chiffons, you seem to be able to smell the faint aroma around the new wedding bed, is she waiting for someone? Oh, I forgot I am not writing an erotic novel! So this girl is the SP version of Sūn Shàng Xiāng 孙尚香, Sun Quan 孙权’s younger sister and  Liu Bei刘备’s second wife. You are probably very familiar with her and her abilities in SGS. But why did they totally change her appearance? Keep reading and find it out!

Why is she an SP character?
According to the designers of the SP characters, the female characters are always extremely popular and welcome among SGS players. That’s why they made a new version of Lady Sun. They didn’t just change her appearance, but also changed her allegiance from Wu to Shu. These two changes perfectly match both the story and the traditional custom in ancient China: From the moment she married Liu Bei, she no longer belonged to the kingdom of her birth. Makes you wonder then, if the normal Sun Shang Xiang is considered "single"... with cleavage showing and all it's no surprise!

Character ability1: “Marriage 结姻 (jié yīn)”
During the action phase, you can choose to discard 2 on-hand cards and pick any male character that is not at full-health. By doing so, both the male character and yourself will recover 1 unit of health each. Limited to only 1 use per turn.

Character ability2: “Warrior Lady 枭姬 (xiāo jī)”
Whenever any equipped card is removed from your equipped items area, you can immediately draw 2 cards from the deck.

(Note that 2 cards can be drawn for each equipped card that is removed. This applies also to changing the equipped item (ie: replacing one weapon with another weapon).

Additional info based on changes:
There is no doubt that this version of Sun Shang Xiang is stronger than the previous one because the cooperation between her and Liu Bei is more useful and efficient than the one between her and Sun Quan. That’s why she always gets the most attacks in the game (there is a saying in Chinese 红颜薄命 which means “A beautiful girl often leads an unfortunate life). Anyway, the guys should feel really lucky that no matter how her appearance changes, she still keeps her G-Cup. Woo hoo!

Note: according to the game designer, Sun Shang Xiang and SP Sun Shang Xiang won’t appear in the same game on SGS online. But for the off-line game there is no such limitation. And when SP Sun Shang Xiang uses PEACH 桃 to save her brother Sun Quan, he can no longer get an extra unit of health back.

How to obtain this character?
She is available on SGS online now! (Of course VIP only, or you can just buy it in SGS online market) For obtaining a card, purchase ZYZ magazine issue #6 (June 2011).

Wiki Link:
- Sun Shang Xiang Wiki

Contributing Writer:
- Cherry Cat