Misc. (Samurai), Black Powder (modified), 28mm 

I don’t really get Samurai. I mean, in 1561, men should be dressed in tights, with big ruffs around their necks, and rapiers at their side. I don’t understand this whole dressing up like Darth Vader business which was supposedly going on it Japan at the same time. Still, my pal Dale is really into his Samurai, and as he staged a League of Gentlemen Wargamers weekend using his own figures, it would be churlish of me not to join in the exotic Oriental fun!Fortunately I didn’t have to sail to Japan for this – I just had to take the overnight ferry to Aberdeen, then drive for 40 minutes to reach Kirriemuir, where the LoGW weekends are held. I really enjoy these, as I’ve know the guys for many years, and it’s fun hanging out with them. However, I was blown away by the number of Samurai figures Dale had amassed. He must have had a couple of thousands figures there, without counting boxes of them in reserve! It began with us being divided into two teams – and I found myself fighting for Takeda Shingen –  the guy who was Kagamusha in the film.  Kieron played the role in the game. His opponent was Uesugi Kenshin, who was heading to the plain of Kawanakajima to do battle. Dale told us this was the fourth (and bloodiest) of six battles fought on the same spot! I think Charles played the role of  Usesugi  in this great clash, with teams of six players on each side. I was Oda Toramasa, one of the allies and generals of Takeda Shingen. My first job, together with Bill (playing someone called Oyamadu I think) was to seize the ford over the Chikuma River, which was held by Donald’s baddies. This was a sort of pre-game game, which would dictate the arrival of reinforcements to the main battle. So, in theory the stakes were high. So, we both formed up into our kakuyoku (crane’s wing) formation, and advanced. Of course, I don’t really have a clue about Samurai warfare – give me a pike block any day – but the main thing it seems was to get stuck in quickly. Bill though, suffered from poor command rolls, so for the first few turns it was up to Toramasa’s red-coated chaps to gain a foothold on the far bank. Surprisingly, the first assault by ‘expendable’ Ashigaru forced back the Samurai defenders, and gained me a toehold. Then it was the turn of the cavalry, but Donald’s people were outnumbered, as he had to split people off to cover the attack by Bill’s yellow-coated people on my right flank. they’d finally reached the river, and began their own assault. Over the next few turns Team Takeda drove back the defenders on all fronts, and won the day. It turned out though, that this did little to alter the course of the battle – only that Bill and I arrived a turn earlier than planned!Meanwhile the others had been on the big table, representing the Plain of Kawanakajima. it was devoid of anything, save for big clumps of lichen that kept getting moved out of the way. that’s the table above – about 14 feet long and 6 feet wide, groaning with Samurai figures. The forces of Uesugi Kenshin are on the left (above), while those of Takeda Shingen are on the right – including the newly-arrived red and yellow contingents…The battle at the ford game was really so we could get our head around the rules. It’s Black Powder, which we all know pretty well, but Bill had made adaptions for Samurai battles, and we had to get used to that. As the umpire, Dale had also invented some over-complex system involving challenges, duels, assassinations and honour, but throughout the weekend we pretty much ignored all of that frippery, and just concentrating on the big fight. Obviously, with a battle the size of the 4th battle of Kawanakajima, there’s a lot going on, and your little faction gets swallowed up in the huge lichen-covered table. I had about eight to ten units – about 150 red-coated figures – one of the smaller factions, and some players had more than one force – for instance the leaders on each side, who had their own guard types, and lots of extra troops. It was a spectacle, right enough, but a confusing one!In the end I landed up fighting Donald again, this time supported by Charles, while some of the time Bill was backing me up, although he’d just doubled the size of his contingent. I successfully charged and routed Donald’s cavalry – for the second time that day – but my infantry were gradually being weakened by Charles’ archers and musketeers. When Bill got sucked into the fight in the centre of the table I was badly outnumbered, and left to my own devices!Charles and Donald made good use of their missile troops, and although I charged and broke a unit of pesky musket (tanegashima,) troops, my small command was  getting whittled down, but so far my two tormentors hadn’t charged me, save for this splendid black-coated unit of Charles’, which got repulsed. However, the long-awaited assault would have to wait, as it was time for the pub – and Saturday dinner. So – to be continued…

Tags: Black Powder