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
A lovely looking game, perhaps once I finish the ECW I’ll get some of my samurai painted . Lovely french unit too 👍
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a lovely looking game Matt…
DeleteAnd a lot of fun…
All the best. Aly
What a marvellously entertaining AAR and, of course, a Dashing Triumph!
ReplyDeleteThank you David…
DeleteA Dashing Triumph from a Dashing Fellow 🤔🤣🤣🤣
All the best. Aly
Super looking game and a cracking read, must admit I did see the headless horseman but thought my eyes were playing tricks on me!! Lovely looking French regiment, they look stunning.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donnie…
DeleteI think it was a cunning trick be Steve’s to confuse us all 😁.
I am really pleased how the Shiny Napoleonics are coming a long.
All the best. Aly
Well done on your triumphant escape, Aly, a lovely looking game. The "unpainted " figures only seemed to require the bases to be finished off?
ReplyDeleteI recognize those good old Minifigs castings at the end too, I probably had 4 or 8 of them all(bar the officer etc)
Thank you Keith…
DeleteThe bases didn’t stand out too badly during the game…
I was just taking a chance to tease my friend 😁.
The “Intermediates” are my favourite iteration of the Minifigs ranges…
All the best. Aly
Looks like you had a great game Aly!! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed Jay…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Brilliant! Brings back fond memories of putting on games at the club with my Dixon's Samurai back in the early 80's.
ReplyDeleteI have a real soft spot for those early Dixon Miniatures Samurai…
DeleteThey painted up rather well and had a lot of character…
All the best. Aly
Interesting scenario, colourful troops and a neat board. You’ve got it all going on there matey. Nice one. Shiny Naps look super too!
ReplyDeleteYes everything worked really well… Matt did a fine job setting everything up…
DeleteThank you I’m pleased with how the Napoleonics are coming together.
All the best. Aly
Oh how this makes me lament my decision to sell off my Dixon Samurai. I never did get around to painting them, but lordy they were lovely figures!
ReplyDeleteIt’s always the way isn’t it David…
DeleteYou see someone else’s toys… And off goes the butterfly.
But alas that’s when you remember… Selling them 🙀🙀🙀
The Dixon Samurai were rather nice.
All the best. Aly
Looks like a great game and the shiny Napoleonics also look very nice!
ReplyDeleteIt was a cracker of a game… made all the better by victory.
DeleteThank you… The Shiny Napoleonics are coming together nicely.
All the best. Aly
I’m here for the shiny Napoleonics! Amazing as usual!
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you like them old chap….
DeleteAll the best. Aly
You did well there, Aly, making your escape. What a great looking game. Great looking Shiny's too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ray…
DeleteIn fact Dashed good fun 😁.
Glad you like the Shiny’s.
All the best. Aly
Nice game. Love the village.
ReplyDeleteA nice game indeed Rob…
DeleteThe village was simple but very effective…
All the best. Aly
Lovely looking Samurai game and a win! Shiny chaps are great!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you Iain…
DeleteMatt certainly set up a cracking game…
And a glorious victory for my Dashing hero…😁
All the best. Aly
Lovely looking game, carry on don't lose you head! I just happen to have a box of Dixon Samurai that I've been planning to paint up but have stalled looking for a suitable rules to game. This might be just what I'm looking for...
ReplyDeleteLovely the shiny Napoleonics as well, what's not to love.
We are going to have another game soon… A straight up fight so we can get a handle on the basic rules but without considering how the the scenario is working out…
DeleteI am pleased with the Shiny’s… I will be posting about them soon.
All the best. A ly
Aly plays and wins,
ReplyDeleteA rare event from his game reports,
The Daimo lives again!
Nice to see some shiny toy soldiers too...
Neil
A rare event indeed Neil…
DeleteLet’s hope I can do it again 😁
It’s nice to get some Shiny’s painted…
All the best. Aly