Enfilade 2025 - Siege of Ulsan

Well folks I'm finally making a post again. Apologies for being away so long, but I mentioned a while back of having to deal with some major issues with our home. We're still not finished with the problem, but getting there. Anyway, I hosted my Imjin War- Siege of Ulsan game twice yesterday. Both games went very well. Much better than the play test earlier last month. The besieging Ming and Koreans were able to scale the Japanese fortress walls and fight their way onto the ramparts with several units. They even managed to break down the main gate in both games. However, they were held off by the defending Japanese inside. I used a modified version of Hail Caesar, and homebrew rules for the scaling ladders and assaulting the main gate. The Japanese relief force met stiff resistance from the Korean right, and weren't able to provide direct support to the defenders.  Here are some pictures from both games. 

I also managed to get into two great games with old buddies. This morning's session I Bruce Meyer's (Company B) Archeologists v. Zombie Terracotta warriors game.  And I the afternoon, Kevin Smyth's One Hour Skirmish Moro vs. US game.

My buddy also gifted me back my old Warhammer Empire core troops which he bought from me almost a decade ago. He said only wanted me to paint a 54mm Prussian figure in memory of an ancestor of his for him. 

Still have tonight and tomorrow morning. I'm in another game hosted by Kevin tomorrow - Shrewsbury,  LionRampant. Again, apologies for being away so long, but I should be back in swing soon. 

Siege of Ulsan - Imjin War Playtest

I was finally able to get a playtest in for the Siege of Ulsan game at today's gameday down in Olympia. There were 5 players - 3 for the attacking/besieging Ming, and 2 players for the Japanese - one inside the fortress and one bringing on relief forces opposite the Ming. The Osprey book below was the inspiration and reference material for the fortress (wajo).

As this was a only playtest, and on 6x5' table, I left off most of the Korean forces, as well as some of the Japanese troops. 

The rules were a modified version of Hail Caesar - which was used before for a Siege of Haenju game (Japanese besieging Koreans during the Imjin War). It worked well, but there are a few things that will be modified for the game being hosted at Enfilade next month. During today's game, it was found that the simplified break test results used were a bit too brutal - basically a lot of units (including supporting units) were being destroyed by failed tests. We also found a good way to have units use the scaling ladders once laid against the fortress walls. If a unit on the ladder is killed off by the defenders, nearby units with enough movement can use the same ladder. The ladder rules have one move needed to reach the wall, another to have it raised, and a final move to climb/mount it for combat. 

Below are pictures taken during the game, in no particular order. We played over 10 turns, as the rules played pretty fast. I did mod the activation a bit by allowing players to move one unit a single move on a failed activation.

Above: Ming foot reaching the walls, with heavy infantry bringing up ladders. We did a quick mod to the rules to have defenders not being able to shoot at enemy below them within 3" of the wall - too vertical of an angle for missile fire.

Above: A unit of Korean heavy infantry reaching the walls with their ladder raised.

Above: A view inside the fortress with Ming infantry having defeated a unit of Japanese arquebusiers and occupying a section of the wall. Samurai below them later moved up and destroyed the Ming. However, we called this a spritual victory for the Ming for getting inside the fortress.

Above: Another view of Ming using scaling ladders to enter the fortress. This game only used 3 ladders, but for there will be several more for the game at Enfilade.

Above: Japanese relief forces coming on. They were allowed to bring half of their forces onto the table at Turn 2, and the rest in subsequent turns.

Above: About Turn 2 or 3.

Above: Ming heavy cavalry advancing to meet the Japanese relief forces.

Above: Samurai and ashigaru sally forth out from out of the fortress to assist their relief forces.

Above: Kato Kiyomasa inside of the fortress.

Above: Ashiguru manning the battlements.

Above: A view of the battlefield from the side the Ming entered the table.

We called the game as a  close Japanese victory since the Ming weren't able to overcome the defenders inside. However, the Ming were able destroy several of the Japanese relief forces and ultimately halt their advance. Otherwise, it was a very good playtest and the few mods will be made and should be good for the convention next month. 

Siege of Ulsan - Initial Table Set-up

Seeing some of my buddies games already being playtested for our convention in May, I was inspired (shamed) into setting up the table for the game I'm hosting there. This is the first time I've set up the Japanese fortress walls for the scenario, and may change it around, but it seems like a good location as I plan to have Japanese relief forces come on the opposite side of the table later in the game.

Right now, I just threw on all the units just to see how they'd fit. I think I'll have the foot units with 12 figures each, and the mounted a little smaller in units of 5 or 6 each.

Plan to use a modified/simplified version of Hail Caesar for most of the game. The assaulting and scaling of the fortress will be some kind of easy house rules. Again, still need to play test the game.

The fortress walls are manned by missile troops. According to historians, Kato Kiyomasa, the commander of the fortress during the siege, gave highest priority to the matchlock troops. While others were starving, he ensured they received enough rations. For the record, the siege was in the dead of winter - and quite harsh.

A playtest will need to be scheduled.

Scaling Ladders for the Siege of Ulsan

Of course, these could be used other scenarios too. Picked these 3D printed resin scaling ladders up from ebay. They're very nicely sized, however, the ladder steps are too close together to put figures onto them directly.

They look better than the balsa wood ones I scratch-builed earlier. Wanted to up the look of my game for the convention after seeing some of the other ones folks will be hosting.

The ladders on the carts are moveable, and I used brass rods for axels to allow the wheels to spin.

Still need to playtest the game, but these ladders should be it for actual terrain and figures.

Samurai Castle/Wajo Main Gate Update

Updated the main gate for the Japanese castle/wajo. Added steps, and upper walls on a wooden platform.

Wanted to give the gate a better look along side the taller wall sections.

The upper deck can support troops.

Styrafoam base for the steps coated with plaster and Mod Podge. Balsa wood for the top support structure. Resin sections for the top walls.

I have a playtest later this month for game based on the Siege of Ulsan which will use this gate, along with the rest of the wall sections.

Samurai Castle/Wajo Walls And Gate

Finished up the project today. The fit and finish of the stone walls aren't the best, but should be good enough for gaming.

The top walls and gate are resin pieces from Tabletop Terrain. Very nice and sturdy. The gate can swing open on brass rods inserted into holes provided in the door and frame.

The corner sections were made by using the ready-made end pieces and adding sections from extra straight wall sections. This was only done because I used my own scratch-built lower stone walls. Tabletop Terrain makes the lower walls which would fit the corner sections they also make. Figured I'd try to save some money and make them myself.

Glad to have finished this up - especially since I just received an update from TAG that my order has been shipped. It was delayed a few weeks due to issues with their machinery - according to Pete.

As you may notice, the inner walls don't align well with each other very well, but again, should be good enough to game with.

A WIP shot.

Thanks for checking out this blog update, and hope you all are doing well.

Japanese Castle/Wajo Walls - WIP +1

 Finished up the main wall sections. Waiting on some corner pieces, as well as a gate.

Tops of the stone walls are wide enough to fit 40mm squares.

Added dowels to hold the upper walls in place - and still be removable for storage/transport.

Hopefully the end/corner sections won't be too difficult to make. Until then, thanks for stopping by and checking out the blog. Best wishes to you all.

Nippon Army Ready To Invade Korea

Three divisions with a total of 6 small samurai units, 7 ashigaru spear units, 5 ashigaru bow units, 6 ashigaru matchlock units, and 2 samurai cavalry units.

All the samurai figures are Perrys, and all the ashigaru figures and samurai cavalry are Old Glory. Most of the command figures are Perrys.

A group photo of the Joseon army will follow. On the gaming front, my buddy who bought my ECW army is having a TYW game using those figures this Friday. Will post photos and a report of the game.

Old Glory Samurai Cavalry With Perry Sashimono

10 of the figures were already painted a long time ago, but added another 10, and also Perry metal sashimono - along with Perry decals from the Kato Kiyomasa set.

Since Old Glory cavalry normally comes in sets of 10 figures, based a couple for each unit on singles to have an even frontage when in two ranks.

Paired a figure each from the older completed ones with the newer ones to make them blend in better. Some of the older figures had a stronger (dirtier) Minwax stain.

The Samurai army is pretty much ready for invading Korea. Plan to take a "family portrait" of all the units next. 

Perry Kato Kiyomasa

This is the Perry Kato Kiyomasa command pack - along with Perry decals for the set. The Perry website shows the banner on the right looking to be hand-painted. Thankfully, they came out with this decal set.

The helmet has decals that are for small sashimono, but work well for this. I may replace the spear shaft with brass rod as this one looks a bit "bendy."

The Perry website has the helmet's "court cap" painted silver with red suns, but there are examples of it black with these gold rings - which I thought looked a bit more menacing, and appropriate for the "Devil General."

Kato was one of three senior commanders during the Imjin War, and was known to have hunted tigers in Korea. He was one of the most warlike Samurai of the time - which says a lot in itself. He died in 1611, after being possibly poisoned by rivals.

Next up are some Old Glory mounted Samuria with spears - they'll also get Perry sashimono. Thanks for stopping by and checking out the blog.