Greetings…
The other week the youngsters and I gathered at our friend Matt’s house for a game of Clash of Katanas…
It was the first time I had played this game, fortunately Alessandro had played before and volunteered to run things for us…
The scenario involved Alessandro (Takeda Clan)and Steven (Oda Clan) on the one side (The baddies ) and Israel (Hosokawa Clan), Matt (Shimazu Clan) and myself ( Using our friend Nye’s toys which were based on the Hojo Clan) on the other ( The Goodies)…
Alessandro and Steven were facing off against Israel and Matt and while this was going on I had to make my way in disguise across the table…In the company of my personal bodyguards.
If Alessandro or Steven spotted me… On a dice roll based on the distance they were from me… They would attack me immediately… My Daimyo was basically unarmed so could only rely on my bodyguards. And of course the intervention of my comrades Israel and Matt.
An overview of the of the battlefield…
My starting point on the bridge… My escape route was down through the village and off the edge of the table at the end of the road.
It doesn’t look that far… But if I made a mad dash for it I risked drawing attention to my identity and therefore increasing the chance of attack… Apparently Steven and Alessandro’s men really hated me and wanted my head… I expect it was because my glowing good looks and intelligence made them feel inadequate… Honest! 🤔.
Israel’s troops advance cautiously into the village…
Steven’s cavalry also charge towards the village…
The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed something is missing from one of the figures…
Yup!… It’s the Japanese headless horseman…
His head came off/ went missing on the way over but we used him anyway… He was actually promoted to the leader of the Oda Clan. 🤣
A view from above…
I haven’t moved much… Alessandro is trying to sneak up behind me and Matt’s men have started to enter the fray…
Headless orders his arquebusiers to fire… It looked impressive but even the barn door walked away without a scratch…
I send my bodyguards forward to clear the road ahead…
Takeda (Alessandro ) throws his Samurai at Shimazu’s (Matt’s) Ashigaru…
Oda ( Steven) follows suit and heads (less) into attack Hosokawa (Israel)…
Again the keen eyed will notice some ‘ minimal’ basing on show… “youngsters today “ you might say as you roll your eyes…🙀
But I shall remind you good reader… That is six more cavalry than I managed to start let alone finish 🤣.
Ouch! Not looking too good for Israel… But Steven should be able to pick up a few spare heads to replace his own… 😁.
Matt’s Ashigaru …surprisingly… do much better against Alessandro’s Samurai…
Isreal adds his Ashigaru into the fight…
I send my rear bodyguards to slow down Alessandro’s pursuit… Even though it might attract attention to my important self…
An overview of the battlefield…
Much to everyone’s surprise… The fighting in the village still continues.
The dice gods appear to be shining on both sides… I suspect that they are simply enjoying the carnage 💀💀💀.
I order my forward bodyguards to attack Steven’s infantry… I think they all now know that I am the Dashing Daimyo
“Sore o toru!”
It looks like Oda is about to lose his H…!?? 🙀🤣🤣.
My bodyguards see off Alessandro’s men… Hurrah!
I start dashing…
My bodyguard don’t do as well as I would wish… But more importantly their bravery and loyalty is buying me time.
Looking in the rear mirror ( I have a very modern palanquin) I noticed that my men are a bit thinner on the ground than I would wish…
I continue to dash…
I reach the relative safety of Hosokawa and his brave warriors…
A lone Hosokawa Samurai decides to go and show Oda’s Ashigaru who is boss… And manages to force them back onto the spears of Shimazu’s warriors…Hurrah!
We decided to end the game here…
A victory for the Dashing Daimyo… Hurrah!
What a very enjoyable game in excellent company…
I think we will be playing these rules again.
My new Shiny Napoleonic unit continues slowly but steadily forward… Just over half way now.
All the best. Aly
