With all of May and June travel and visitor hosting in the rearview mirror, time to return attention to bringing up a game. Having enjoyed the four-game series of Montebello, I was very tempted to move directly on to Marengo. However, a change of pace and period seemed good too, so I switched gears to something different. Since the Feudal Japan collection has seen no action in a very long time, I figured bringing those armies to the table would provide another series of enjoyable challenges.
I needed a scenario, though. The search for a suitable scenario was not long in the offing. Scrolling through the Commands & Colors Samurai Battles website brought up the 1615 Battle Among the Tombs.
A quick order to Brookhurst Hobbies provided the required Peter Pig Torii Gates. I must say that the turn-around time from Brookhurst Hobbies was impressive. The package was posted the same day ordered. The impression of tombs was fashioned from several Litko bases. The results are simple but effective additions to denote these BUAs on the battlefield.
My interpretation of Samurai Battles' battlefield deployment is shown below. The situation shows the action after the Tokugawa had already driven the Osaka back from the river.
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| Battle Among the Tombs |
Clever tombs. Nice you get out the Japanese forces for a game.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe! Getting the Samurai back out on table will be very good.
DeleteNifty looking tombs there Jonathan 👍🏻 Look forward to the clash of katanas in due course.
ReplyDeleteGlad you approve, Phil! I look forward to a clash too.
DeleteLooking forward to this one Jon, be nice to see your Samurai collection on the table. The tombs look great, neat idea and modelled very nicely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donnie!
DeleteLove the tombs, Jon. I've not heard of the battle before, so shall follow with interest.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You will be able to do more than follow with interest. I would like to see you and the Rejects get into a game!
DeleteWoo hoo! I'm in!
DeleteLet’s set it up.
DeleteSamurai no gēmu o miru no wa itsumo tanoshīdesu ne. Rippana hakadesuga, dzuka dake demo jūbundatta kamo shiremasen.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to watch samurai games. It's a magnificent tomb, but perhaps just a mound would have sufficed.
Courtesy of Google translate....
Neil
Thanks, Neil! Your Japanese is much better than mine!
DeleteVery simple yet good looking tombs. Looking forward to seeing this game in action. Great looking armies.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir! "Simple" could be my middle name. I am looking forward to seeing how this battle unfolds too. There is an interesting twist or two in the scenario design.
DeleteNice work Jon simple and effective and good looking setup as well 👍
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt! Maybe you will try your hand at command when you return from your travels?
DeleteA nice change of period etc there jon and those tombs look good yet are functional too:). Excellent turn around time on the order!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve! Yeah, the order arrived lickety-split and just in time.
DeleteThe tombs look very effective Jon and will look great with your Samurai collection.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keith!
DeleteThe tombs look really good, Jon. The games and sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteHope the scenario provides some challenges to both armies. We will see if scenario survives contact.
DeleteI think they look very nice and thematic and will be easy to pick out on the tabletop.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them, Dai!
DeleteThe tombs are a nice addition and help set the scene for the scenario.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter!
DeleteA great, and ominous sounding, game, Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteWe will see, Dean, we will see.
DeleteReally great work Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGreat additions to the terrain pile Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the game and as others have said a very ominous battle name, sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings 😁
Thanks, Ben! Terrain always plays second fiddle to figure painting but I figured I needed a couple of tomb BUAs for this one. The name is ominous sounding, isn’t it?
DeleteBUA = Buried Under Army? :)
DeleteGood one! Built Up Area…
DeletePS. Your post popped up relatively quickly. It was at the top of my list.
ReplyDeleteYes! This post hit the blogroll about 30 minutes after posting. I tried a different tack this time. Let’s see if it is repeatable or just coincidence.
DeleteThat's a great idea to use the C&C scenarios for inspiration and the tombs are a great addition. You may be familiar with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook's podcast The Rest is History, they recently did a great series on the rise of the samurai and I found it great fun. That and re-watching Kurosawa's Ran almost got me into buying a samurai army but I know that my life is within natural limits and my existing lead mountain is high. Curious to see how this battle will go. Cheers, Michael
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michael! I have used several CC Samurai Battle scenarios for inspiration. I may pull up the podcast and listen when I’m in the gym or painting. Are we EVER too old to begin a new project? For me, that jury is still out.
DeleteLooks to be a great game coming!
ReplyDeleteI hope so!
DeleteThose Tombs look very effective, look forward to seeing the game unfold
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neil!
DeleteI know very little about Samurai era warfare (apart from watching Kurosawa films!) so I'll be interested to see how this plays out.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned, Martin!
DeleteLooks superb Jonathan! I think impetus really lends itself to hexes. Great work.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I agree wholeheartedly the BI is great on hexes.
DeleteThis is going to be interesting. Were the figure bases ever intended to go with a specific sized hex?
ReplyDeleteOn basing, the answer is “Yes.” I began by playing on two inch hexes with one BMU spanning two hexes.
DeleteLove the tombs ! Im at the planning stage for my samurai project and a Tokugawa army will be one of them, so I look forward to this event with interest!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain! I await your dip into the period!
DeleteExcellent result on the tombs: clean lines and not overdone. Good to see that someone else has found good use repurposing wargame stands.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ed! Given my skillset, simple is best.
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