Massive Samurai v Classical Indian

Tokugawa Ieyasu

My modelling and painting skills are pretty limited, mostly focused on getting the metal where the table is. peter Pig is a manufacturer I love. However I have painted four Samurai armies now, and I think this will be my last, that of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the 1560s.   At that time his name was Matsudaira Kurandonosuke Motoyasu.  Choosing this period I can also do his overlord and pair the army off against the warrior monks.

The man himself

An easy conversion of a Peter Pig Figure just chop the helmet to make a simple style. circa 1564

Honda Tadakatsu

Again a sharp knife on the horned general and I have antlers for Honda Tadakatsu

Banner Shot

Great Peter Pig figures for the ADLG general bases

Imagawa head viewing

Finally some faithful Ashigaru

Samurai Monks

ADLG has been a great system to play encouraging me to get out all the old amies, here is a favourite Samurai, figures are principally Peter Pig.  The main focus has been on the Ikko ikki.  I like to do matching opponents so started re working towards a proper Samurai army that of Togugawa Ieyasu in his early years when he took Mikawa.  He fought the local ikko ikki with the help of his own Samurai Monks.of the Jodo Sect.  The other Pure Land sect of monks were leading the ikko ikki.

The enemy  Abbot Monk command group

I use this group as a commander included in a unit of monks.  I based up the monks as 8 to a base for the Ikko ikki and 7 to a base for the Tokugawa supporters

The Ikko ikki with their own monks

Another shot of the Abbot

Close up of Monks

Samurai in action

Raady for their Slogan

Hail Caesar Samurai

After playing a few Early Imperial Roman battles with Hail Caesar I joined the Yahoo group, which led me to the discovery of Rick Priestly file for late samurai armies.  Fantastic, I was eager to play my favorite Japanese armies the Ikko Ikki and using the basic rules I was able to field the following army.  We set up to play at Willie's garage on the last cold dark rainy  night of this year.  

Training

More training

Cant get enough training

Army Lists

Clan 1& 2

Experienced Taisho CD8

Unit of naginate armed Monks

Unit of Teppo Ashigaru, professional

Unit of Yari Armed ashigaru, professional

2 units of Levy Ashigaru

Ally Clan commanded by Willie

A unit of samurai cavalry

2 Units of Samurai foot

Unit of Teppo Ashigaru, professional

Unit of Yari Armed ashigaru, professional

Jp fielded two clans 

Clan 1

Daimyo CD9

2 Cavalry Samurai

2 foot samurai

a unit of monks

2 Tari Ashigaru, professional

1 Unit,small Ronin

Clan 2

Taishi CD8

1 Foot samurai

1 Yumi ashigaru, professional

3 Yari Ashigaru, professional

2 Units,small Ronin

"My right flank"

In command Sohei monks

"They call me The Daimyo"

Battle analysis, first impressions

We did get a different game from the previous Roman battles.  Every peasant unit from clans 1 & 2 got into the fight. The right flank came very close to breaking JP's Clan 2.  JP needed to commit seriously to breaking the peasants and making sure every unit went down.  Use of my commanders became essential to boost the attacks.

Most troops dont give support so movement to the flanks seemed to play a bigger part or the use of reserves for the right moment. The Yari Ashigaru are good enough to hold up the samurai but unlikely to defeat them in one on one combat.  Teppo Ashigaru can do more damage to the samurai. This includes the levy ashigaru

The monks are much better at smashing ashigaru and stand up better to Samurai.

Cavalry do give you mobility but with most units having long spear it takes the edge off their punch. They can get surrounded so this discourages charging a mass of enemy, both Willie and JP cavalry battle stagnated with only one charge made by JP on Yari armed foot samurai.