TAG Heian/Gempei War Mounted Samurai Command

 This is the mounted samurai command pack from TAG. Painted the standard with the Taira butterfly mon.

Really didn't "need" more figures for this period, but this was a pack from TAG which I didn't have before. I like to have most, if not all, of the figures from a range that I like. This range from TAG was one of the very first 28mm figures I collected, and still like them a lot.

There are only 3 horse poses from this range, but they look nice.

What I based the crest on. Not exact, but close enough.

The o-yoroi armor with its large sode (shoulder armor) allows for painted various lacing patterns.

A painting depicting Taira cavalry - some carrying similar banners.

Still have my Imjin War game scheduled for next week. Plan to use a simplified version of Hail Caesar for the rules - which will include scaling walls with ladders. Until then, wishing you all the best and hope you're enjoying the summer weather.

Verlindend 120mm Resin Leib Hussar

Added the plastic parts from the 1/16th ICM kit. The sabre blade is a bit flimsy, but good enough for a quick fix.

Painted the sabretache as plain black leather which appears to be common on campaign - and saved me some trouble to boot.

Glad to have finally completed this figure after so many years being "short-handed."

Revisiting An Old 120mm Verlinden Leib Hussar

The figure painted, for the most part, was painted years ago. It was bought off of ebay for very cheap - because it was missing it's right hand (holding a sabre), as well as the scabbard, and sabretache. Just picked up another cheap ($10) ebay plastic kit in 1/16th scale - approx. 120mm. Using the new kit's right hand and sabre, and scabbard. Fashioned a sabretache from plastic card. Used another old Verlinden figures (Chasseur a Cheval) as a guide for the sabretache.

Used copper wire for the bottom ring on the scabbard. Kind of got too much glue on the scabbard - will need to sand it down later.

Not doing any other painting, but will be hosting an Imjin War game later this month. Also, spending a little time with my youngest son who's visiting to attend a friend's wedding here. He's a recently (about 6 months ago) promoted captain in the Army. He just finished his Captain's course a few weeks ago, and will be assigned to the 1st Armored Div at Fort Bliss next month. He was previously with the 1st Cavalry Div at Fort Cavasos (formerly Fort Hood). Otherwise all is well, and hope the same to you all.

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.

Shadows of Brimstone

My buddy invited me over to play a game of Shadows of Brimstone. He's part of a larger Tuesday night gaming group, and I've been over a few times for other rules, but this was the first time for me playing Shadows of Brimstone. The rest of the group has played it in the past, but not on consecutive gatherings. In fact, this was one of the few times I've played this kind of game - RPGish? Anyway, my buddy had me play a new character that hadn't been introduced before - a Wandering Samurai. I did enjoy playing it, although admittedly not fully versed with all of the mechanics. My buddy was the GM and played the various "bad guys", zombie-like Indians and Confederate soldiers who had been transformed into weird creatures. We finished the game entering a new portal and were advised the next place would be the Northland. Looking forward to playing it again.

I think I did well enough, survived with a few points and restored to full health. I did do some damage to one of the largest Confederate soldier turned creature with some decent dice rolling.

Again, this isn't the sort of gaming I'm used to, but happy to have been invited to partake.

Battle of Ichi no Tani - Tribal Gaming

Just wrapped up a four player Tribal game using the Battle of Ichi no Tani during the Gempei War as the scenario. The Taira clan who were in their beachside fortess were to repel the attacking Minamoto forces coming along the beachhead. The Taira had a secret victory condition which was to flee out to sea with the boats at the shoreline - if they couldn't destroy the Minamoto on land. They chose to remain in and around the fortress and battle it to the bitter end. The Minamoto had a hidden movement that started at the start of turn 3. Two mounted warrior units along with three mounted characters, the warlord, Minamoto Yoshistune, along with the monk hero Benkei and a banner man. They did some damage within the fortress but the Taira held their own. Both sides had units of foot and mounted samurai with Elite Marksmen skills in light armor and short weapons (katana). Both sides also had units of foot Warriors with long weapons (naginata). The Minamoto had several units of Warrior monks in light armor - two Elite Marksmen with short weapons and one with long weapons. At the end of turn 5, the Taira had more Honor points than the Minamoto and they were declared the victors. For the record, one of the players (on the Taira side) played the rules for the first time, and admitted that he didn't like card driven games, but he really enjoyed this one. Anyway, here are pictures from the game - I was able to take a few as I was umpiring the game

Daimyo in deep contemplation prior to the battle.

Minamoto standard bearer in combat with the Taira warlord inside the encampment.

Minamoto Yoshitsune about to take out remaining Taira bowmen - his loyal companion, the warrior monk Benkei closely behind him.

Taira foot and cavalry defending the breach.

Benkei in combat with Taira bowmen.

Minamoto cavalry wreaking havoc inside of the Taira encampment.

Taira bowmen manning a tower near the main gate.

Action with the Taira fortified encampment. The Minamoto cavalry having successfully descending unopposed down a cliff in the rear of the camp.

Minamoto and Taira forces clash at the palisades after a breach having been made.

Minamoto and Taira foot in woods surrounding the Taira camp.

Minamoto and Taira cavalry clash inside the Taira camp.

Minamoto samurai at the breach in the Taira encampment.

Minamoto Yoshitsune and picked cavalry descending from steep cliffs into the rear of the Taira encampment.

Battle on the flanks inside woods.

Minamoto samurai having successfully torn down a section of the Taira palisades.

View within the Taira camp from their left flank.

Sohei bowmen.

Minamoto samurai on their left flank.

Genre/period appropriate gaming aids and refreshment.

All in all a good game which worked well with the rules. As mentioned in the earlier post, I've played this same scenario with a modified version of WAB and also Lion Rampant. In those games, Taira units always made an attempt to reach the boats on shore, and in some cases successfully escaped to sea. In this game, the Taira players chose to stay in and around the encampment. Historically, the Taira managed to escape to sea for the most part. Only to be destroyed completed soon after at the naval Battle of Dan no Ura - but that is another story for another time.

Battle of Ichi no Tani (Gempei War) - Tribal Set-Up

Initial set-up for a Gempei War Tribal game I'm hosting this Friday. Still thinking of how to break down wall sections, and also to start fires to wooden structures, including boats. I made the terrain (except for the hootches and large ship) a long time ago, and was used with WAB and Lion Rampant. It'll be interesting to see how the scenario plays out with Tribal. The basic scenario is the Minamoto forces attacking the seaside fortress of the Taira. The Taira are to either destroy the attacking Minamoto or to escape to sea on the boats. A "surprise" attack by Minamoto cavalry coming from the rear of the camp after descending a steep/sheer cliff.

The little sake cups are containers for the Honor tokens. The honor tokens are nicely made (and inexpensive) Asian (Chinese?) coins. They look and feel really good.

In addition to the warlords, there are several heroes on each side - including some with banners for the Rally Around the Flag rule. The allows units with 2 long card lengths away from it to never lose a round of combat.

The retainer units have either naginata for the long weapon rule or bows. The samurai units will have light armor and be classed as Elite Bowmen so that the will also have their preferred hand weapon - swords. Monks will be either Elite Bowmen with swords or a unit with long weapons (naginata or tetsubo).

I have 4 players showing up with two having experience with the rules - one having played in today's Tribal game day.

Below is a grainy screenshot from a TV miniseries on the Gempei War showing the Taira camp at Ichi no Tani. I sort of based the look of the terrain from this.

Well, enough for now. Looking forward to the game and will try to remember to take photos during game play. I should be able to as I'll be GMing and not playing myself.

Tribal Refresher Game

Used some of my Late-Romans for a Tribal game day. I played against David Sullivan's (I Live With Cats blog) Picts. He eventually won, but my warband inflicted a number of casualties early on. Enough to give David a scare. Several others were also playing, including Kevin Smyth (A Gamer's Tales). I plan to host a Samurai Tribal game on Friday. More to follow. 

Will be sure to post pics from this coming Friday's Samurai Tribal game.