This image is © Osprey Publishing and I’ve used it here
entirely without their permission (but since I’ve been effectively giving them
all sorts of free promotion- by getting all you reader jazzed about playing –
and buying – the game, I’m hoping they won’t mind!)
While about 14 people have expressed interest in playing,
but I’m expecting about 10 players will actually show up.
Friday Evening
7pm-ish until we’re done
Get to Know Your Buntai (and the others)
We will sort out who is playing which Buntai and then play a few fun, pick up games to learn the rules – for those that haven’t played yet – and gauge the relative strengths and weaknesses of the various Buntai.
7pm-ish until we’re done
Get to Know Your Buntai (and the others)
We will sort out who is playing which Buntai and then play a few fun, pick up games to learn the rules – for those that haven’t played yet – and gauge the relative strengths and weaknesses of the various Buntai.
For previous campaigns, we’ve usually had one big
mega-battle. Ronin doesn’t really lend itself to that sort of play, so I’m
hoping over the next seven weeks to get in a lot of games with as many of the
local players so I’ll have a cadre of players who will know the basic ins and
outs of the game.
Saturday
9am until whenever we get sick of it… (I’m hoping to get in at least five games)
Ronin Campaign/Tournament.
9am until whenever we get sick of it… (I’m hoping to get in at least five games)
Ronin Campaign/Tournament.
I will have TEN different Buntai ready for everyone to play
with (though players are free to bring their own as well!). Everyone will start
with a 400 point master roster with ~150 points being used per game – with
casualties being kept track of – some, that don’t DIE, will be able to recover
over the course of the campaign. Some guys will be able to advance in ability
through an experience system. This is why I’m calling it a “Campaign”
Both the master list and what is fielded in each scenario
should conform to the composition requirements for the Buntai. By the last
scenario it may be more of a “play with whatever you have left” situation… I’m
still trying to work out how to deal with any luckless player who, after three
games going very poorly, finds himself without ANY models left in his buntai….
I’m currently thinking them ninjas and let them play assassination scenarios…?
We shall see.
We will determine who is playing whom, through a Swiss-draw
system - hence “tournament”. I figured this would be easier than some sort of
map campaign – but maybe we could try that next time!
The overall winner will be determined by number of
victories, ties will be broken by total accumulated victory points, if there is
STILL a tie it will go to who ever has the most points remaining in their
buntai
Sunday
This image is © Wizards of the Coast and I’ve used it here entirely without their permission (Again, I’m hoping they won’t mind the free promotion!)
For those who haven’t had
enough… we will be playing Ikusa - a
big multi-player strategy board game set in Feudal Japan for 3 to 5 players.
In The Meantime…
So what do I need to do between now and then? Well I sat
down last night to do a bit of stocktaking to see where I am at and planning to
make sure I have everything ready. I started by making up some actual Buntai
with all the figures I have to get a sense of what I will actually NEED to have
painted for the weekend…
(Remember: click on the pictures
for a bigger version):
Here are nine of the Buntai. They are (front row, left to right; Ikko-Ikki, Peasants, Bandits, "Lion Clan" Bushi Buntai, Sohei; back row, left to right; "Crane Clan" Bushi Buntai, "Dragon Clan" Bushi Buntai, "Crab Clan" Bushi Buntai, and "Phoenix Clan" Bushi Buntai,…) There is one more on it’s way as well A second Sohei Buntai) as a few more figures for one or two of the other Buntai.
Almost all of them I will have all 400 points worth of
miniatures painted – which is about double what I really NEED – because only
150 points worth will ever be on the table. The exceptions are the Peasants
- as the will have between thirty and forty in the master roster, but only a
dozen will likely ever be on the table… Also I think the second Sohei Buntai
will be one figure short of 400.
As I finish up the buntai I’ll try and post pictures of
them. The only complete one at the moment is the Lion Clan Bushi Buntai. I have
painted all the figures I have for the Sohei
and Ikko-Ikki
- though there are a few figures in the mail that I’m hoping to add to them
before the campaign. The Peasants
are also done, except for a few more Peasants en route from Black
Hat Miniatures. The Bandits are also very close to being done. The
remaining Bushi buntai are what need the most work. I probably won’t even need
them. If I get ten players and couple of them are Paul and/or Cory and/or Curt
(who are the awesome kind of dudes that paint their own damned toys!) I’ll only
need seven or eight of them. But I do want to have ten ready incase I end up
with a dozen people on the day!
In all I think I figured I have about 75 figures that I
still have to paint. I could probably get those done by the end of January or
first week of February (given my regular rate of painting) – and that would
give me a couple of weeks to make some new terrain and game boards and such –
and, if need be, paint up a few more guys – if January’s play-testing has
turned up and major problems with any of the Buntai.
Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:
The Lion Clan" Bushi Buntai!
After that I'll hopefully have a Wargaming
Nineteenth Century Europe 1815-1878 report for you as I ams supposed to be heading over to John Bertolini's tomorrow for a game!
I'm wishing I still lived within driving distance of SK.
ReplyDeleteJohn Bertolini - he's the chap who casts and paints his own Old School 19th century figures, as I recall? If so, I met him at Curt's place in Regina last winter, amazing guy. It was awesome to play with a table full of figures cast and painted by one man. Not often you see that in the hobby.
If so, tell him Mike Peterson says hello.
Will do Mike!
DeleteHey Tim will you be sending out invites to your chosen victims...I mean competitors. As well I really hope you save yourself a spot at the table this year, you need to play!
ReplyDeleteGreat sounding games and troops!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun-packed weekend in store! Interested in the 'Ikusa' game - looks uncommon like the 'Shogun' game that enjoyed some popularity in this burg about 20 years ago (and we still have the boxed game in this house). Excellent game and concept, I thought...
ReplyDeleteThanks! Ikusa is, essentially, the same game. Wizards of the coast/Hasboro bought the rights to it some time ago. Or maybe they just got the rights to it when they bought Avalon Hill? I can't remember... Anyway, same game, new name. Though perhaps like Axis & Allies there's been a few tweaks.
DeleteHi Tim, I'm planning to run a Ronin campaign here in Finland. I would appreciate if you could send over the specs you had for your campaign at: teemu . kujala at kolumbus . fi
ReplyDelete