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Miniatures Adventure => Adventures in the Far East => Topic started by: Osmoses on February 05, 2021, 10:38:26 AM

Title: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 05, 2021, 10:38:26 AM
It's not all 6mm here, there's 28mm too...
Having another go at solo Test of Honour. I've tried various forms of 'A.I.' for the bad guys, but the problem is it always slows the game down while you generate decisions for each action, so I thought I'd just go back to basics and try a more straightforward 'Rangers of Shadowdeep' approach.

Toranosuke, a rope-maker's son from a village in Owari, travels to Atsuta to take revenge on the man who killed his brother. He and some companions try to assassinate their target in his house, but they arrive to find the place empty. Outside, their quarry waits in ambush...

Figures mostly Zenit/Kensei, buildings hand-made or heavily modified TT Combat.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtdF23TXcAANEhx?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtdF23cXYAgPtuY?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtZYdIuXUAI3cNU?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: has.been on February 05, 2021, 11:37:47 AM
Looks very nice. Well done.
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: OSHIROmodels on February 05, 2021, 12:23:43 PM
Brill  :)
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: mmcv on February 05, 2021, 11:16:45 PM
Very good. Looks like a fantastic setup, you always have beautiful tables. How do you find the rules? I've had the starter set sitting unloved for a couple of years as reading through the rule book didn't really inspire me to put them together yet.
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: Wellington on February 06, 2021, 12:31:27 AM
Nice table and miniatures! I have to make some signs for my buildings too.

Test of honour is one of my favourite games. A little bit crazy but fun.
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: Codsticker on February 06, 2021, 03:48:43 AM
Wonderful figures and buildings- really well done.
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: Osmoses on February 06, 2021, 11:17:09 AM
Cheers. I really like Test of Honour as a game, but I think most skirmish games come down to whether or not you like the mechanics. It is very 'chanbara' but for this kind of game I don't really mind that. I was going to try and 'de-cinematise' it, but I think Feudal Patrol will be better for a more realistic skirmish game for me. So I'm going to use ToH as a sort of hybrid skirmish game/RPG. I did change the honour rules a bit (i.e. what triggers honour cards), and tone down some of the weapon effects, though. And I won't be using any ninja or warrior monks  :)

As Wellington says, it can be a bit crazy. I started this game and the bad guys were almost all cut down in a few turns, then I realised I'd made a rules mistake and reset it. On the second play the good guys were slaughtered, Toranosuke barely escaped with his life, and no bad guys were harmed.
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: Osmoses on February 06, 2021, 01:16:18 PM
Toranosuke manages to escape the ambush at Atsuta. Badly wounded, only he and his companion, Iemon escape. They are found by a gang of river bandits and agree to take part in a raid on a merchant's storehouse....

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtiyoiSXUAIOG24?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtiyoiYXMAEtqCT?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtiyoisXEAMxSzr?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: Metternich on February 06, 2021, 04:39:22 PM
Great vignettes and wonderful photography.  Some of them look just like a shot out of a movie.
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: racm32 on February 07, 2021, 12:31:10 PM
looks beautiful, very inspiring!
Title: Re: Test of Honour revisited: Showdown in Atsuta.
Post by: Bloggard on February 07, 2021, 01:37:19 PM
great board and photos
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 07, 2021, 02:59:09 PM
Thanks.
Part 3: The raid on the merchant's storehouse went spectacularly wrong, after the guards put up heavy resistance. Now the bandit leader, Rokurō, has been captured. Toranosuke and the surviving bandits must try and rescue him before he is handed over to the authority for a fair trial and subsequent execution....

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtoA0DtWQAI2mu-?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtoA0D2WQAI0imU?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Codsticker on February 09, 2021, 04:23:45 AM
Wonderful photographs of the action.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 10, 2021, 03:42:16 PM
Bit of an overview of the solo rules and the campaign:

https://adcgaming.wordpress.com/2021/02/10/solo-test-of-honour/ (https://adcgaming.wordpress.com/2021/02/10/solo-test-of-honour/)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Wellington on February 10, 2021, 08:42:08 PM
Great Pictures and thanks for sharing your solo rules!
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Mr. White on February 10, 2021, 08:52:44 PM
Incredible. Not only does you table look great, but the eye for capturing the essence of the game through photography on display here is amazing.

Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 12, 2021, 12:43:17 AM
Thanks very much.

The first part of the campaign comes to an end. The bandits are nearly wiped out in a fight with a rival gang.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Et8ZsX3XUAA7YVR?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Et8ZsX5XYAY8dKl?format=jpg&name=large)

The survivors go their separate ways. Toranosuke and Iemon return to Atsuta and this time succeed in their revenge killing. They flee to the west of Owari to lie low.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Et84JwNXIAEUtUj?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Et84JwaXUAAdRja?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 14, 2021, 09:39:36 PM
Chapter two:
Toranosuke and Iemon have travelled to the Kiso river region, on the border between Mino and Owari. There they hook up with a former member of the river bandits, Genzaburō, and work at transporting goods along the river. The three quickly fall back into criminal ways and take a job smuggling stolen matchlocks.

The old 'smuggling guns in a palanquin' trick:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuHzHqdXUAA0leG?format=jpg&name=large)

Robbers attack the group but are easily defeated.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuH56M5XEAA-Y7R?format=jpg&name=large)

Some time later, the village is attacked by one of the numerous bandit gangs that operate around the border area.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuMxzfWXMAAMCvK?format=jpg&name=large)

The trio and their crew quickly move to defend the villagers, but the bandits loot and burn part of the village:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuMxzgKWYAYUql9?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Vagabond on February 20, 2021, 09:28:19 AM
I had an enjoyable  read through your blog, thanks for the link earlier, you should include it in your signature thingy here.

Lots of interesting things in 28mm, I like how you've put the campaign into a series of games, it works well. Table and figures are spot on.

I did look to see if there was anything about your scenery but only found a post about bamboo, is there anything on the buildings? There's lots of nice additions to the basic structures, mesh on windows, slats on doors etc and I like the way you've done the wooden roofs and clapboard walls. Very impressive and looks time consuming.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 20, 2021, 12:33:06 PM
Thanks. My main 'blog for Sengoku is focussed on 6mm, and the 28mm started out as a bit of a side project that grew unexpectedly rapidly.

I've not done anything on the buildings. They're mostly shells by TT Combat with added detail. Extra panelling and roof tiles are card, the windows are mostly from Warbases, thatching is a towel.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Muzfish4 on February 21, 2021, 07:31:19 AM
Great looking miniatures and photography.

Your blog is a very enjoyable read.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Marauderman on February 23, 2021, 09:58:56 AM
@Osmoses, enjoying you posts here, like the way you painted up your miniatures, buy any chance do you remember which manufacturer the female miniatures on page two of this post are from?
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on February 23, 2021, 10:09:36 AM
Cheers. One of the figures is by Perry from their SAM 51 Townspeople pack. The other is from the 'Unlikely Allies' set by Grey for Now Games. I did alter the hair on the latter one as the original has an Edo-period hairstyle.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Marauderman on February 23, 2021, 11:35:45 AM
@ Osmoes, thanks for getting back to me, great job on the conversion of the Unlikely Allies one by Grey for Now Games, I have that set but didn't even click it was from that set with the great job you done on it. Thanks also regards the Perry Miniatures one.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Metternich on February 27, 2021, 10:33:20 PM
Wonderful blog with fantastic, atmospheric photography.  One shot in particular of the could have done for a colorized picture out of Yojimbo.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on March 03, 2021, 12:11:06 AM
The Ji-zamurai’s steward.

Toranosuke and Iemon travel to meet the steward of the ji-zamurai responsible for the village to ask for greater protection against attack by robbers. Genzaburō, ever cautious, takes some men and follows the two in case something goes amiss. The interview with the steward and his secretary becomes heated. The ji-zamurai’s men stand up and draw swords, Toranosuke is unarmed, and Iemon has only a concealed dagger.…

Toranosuke tries to disarm the steward, Morinari, but is pushed away. The other man strikes at Iemon injuring him, but Iemon is able to stab the man with his concealed dagger. Morinari is briefly distracted and Toranosuke wrestles him to the floor, stunning him. More men enter the house. Toranosuke grabs Morinari’s sword and flees outside, where Genzaburō and the crew rush to help.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuWy_byXUAUHo5r?format=jpg&name=large)

Morinari comes to, grabs a sword from one of the men and pursues Toranosuke outside. A running fight ensues, with Toranosuke and the rest forced back. Toranosuke cuts down one of the pursuers, causing Morinari and his men to shrink back. Toranosuke and the others flee back toward their village.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuWy_cPWQAIcSJI?format=jpg&name=medium)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuWy_caXMAUoZmt?format=jpg&name=medium)

Toranosuke and the others return to the village. Why did Morinari try and kill Toranosuke? What will the villagers decide to do next?
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Mr. White on March 03, 2021, 01:59:04 AM
This log is incredible. Amazing from top to bottom.

But it makes me wanna quit the hobby...ha! ;)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on March 13, 2021, 07:22:53 PM
Toranosuke leaves the village and ends up fighting for the Saitō. A summary of chapter 2 and a few ideas for solo narrative campaigns on the 'blog:

https://adcgaming.wordpress.com/2021/03/10/tora-no-monogatari-a-solo-test-of-honour-campaign-part-two/ (https://adcgaming.wordpress.com/2021/03/10/tora-no-monogatari-a-solo-test-of-honour-campaign-part-two/)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Evf3WgwWYAUDdZS?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ev96Z55XYAQj2CT?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Metternich on March 20, 2021, 07:32:45 PM
Am greatly enjoying this.  Wonderful world you have built, with a great narrative.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on March 20, 2021, 07:43:44 PM
Thanks. I'd had a few goes at a solo RPG-style skirmish campaign before, but had a real breakthrough with this way of doing it.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on March 20, 2021, 07:45:04 PM
Chapter 3.
1.The ikkō-shū
   Toranosuke heads back down the Kiso river, intending to return to Owari and possibly visit his family. On the way he meets a group of ikkō-shū adherents, followers of the Hongan-Ji Jōdo Shinshū sect. They are heading to Nagashima to seek employment as temple guards. Because the group are well armed, they decide to push on ahead of the main group of travellers and reach the next village. But it’s a violent age, and inevitably trouble ensues.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwhDOnDWEAIJFMM?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwhDOnUWEAAUwCn?format=jpg&name=large)

Bandits emerge from the trees and circle round the travellers. One of the ikkō, Kotarō charges them, but is cut down by 2 brigands. Some of the ikkō fall back, Toranosuke shouts at the group to attack the left. He charges the brigands, cutting down two, but is wounded when only one of the ikkō follow. The ikkō-shū leader, Nagayori, cuts down another one of the brigands, and Toranosuke kills the man who wounded him. The rest of the ikkō have shrunk back, leaving Toranosuke and Nagayori alone. But the brigands have had enough and retreat back into the trees.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwhDOn2XMAgIUex?format=jpg&name=large)

Kotarō is dead and another of the ikkō badly injured. The group carry him to the next village.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: orc on March 24, 2021, 08:00:04 PM
After read your reports, and saw your wonderful  sceneries and minis...I must give a try to test honor rules!!! thanks for sharing!!! Arigatoo  8)
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Lascaris on March 24, 2021, 09:44:25 PM
I think these might be the best miniature action photographs I've ever seen. Brilliant job.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on March 25, 2021, 04:57:47 PM
2.The Vendetta

   Toranosuke parts company with the ikkō-shū as they head on towards Nagashima. He is staying at a village one evening, and gets to talking to a retainer of the Hachisuka clan named Sadatsugu. Toranosuke is relating his tale of the fight against the brigands on the way there, when a commotion is heard outside. Toranosuke and Sadatsugu rush out to find a well-dressed man fleeing in terror, a man with drawn sword hesitantly backing away from a group of armed men.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ewhizl0WgAEnQUu?format=jpg&name=large)

The two walk forward to see what is going on, when the group attack. Sadatsugu immediately strikes down one of the assailants, and contemptuously pushes another aside. The other man rushes forwards and cuts down one of the attackers, but is himself cut down by another attacker. Toranosuke darts forward and strikes the assailant dead. The others flee.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ewhizm0XMAEK47b?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ewhizm_WUAAw_hs?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

It seems that the group were attacking a merchant as part of some vendetta. They had overcome the man’s guards but he had managed to flee with one of his bodyguards. The irony of intervening in such a matter to protect the merchant is not lost on Toranosuke.

Sadatsugu and Toranosuke go back to their talk. Sadatsugu is on a mission for the Hachisuka clan to locate and destroy a band of brigands who have been menacing nearby villages. He offers to employ Toranosuke, which, given Sadatsugu’s cool headed behaviour in the fight, is an offer Toranosuke accepts.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 05, 2021, 09:24:51 AM
3.The ikkō-ikki

The Hachisuka forces conduct a sweep towards the border. Sadatsugu’s own men, along with Toranosuke, take the centre. The ‘brigands’ it turns out, are in fact members of an ikkō-ikki that had crossed the border from Ise and entered the lands of Hattori Tomosada. From there, they had infringed upon Hachisuka territory.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwiuuKNW8AcRAaf?format=jpg&name=large)

Sadatsugu’s group encounter a force of ikki troops and move to engage. Toranosuke defeats one of the apparent leaders, as does Sadatsugu. But then, cries of confusion break out, as some of the Hachisuka have changed sides…

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwnKMP6WQBQjtkr?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwnKMP-WQAQgc0o?format=jpg&name=large)

Toranosuke leads the attack with his group, while Sadatsugu defends his position with his now characteristic cool-headedness. In a hard fight, where Sadatsugu’s sashimono bearer is knocked unconscious by a teppō ball, the Hachisuka eventualy drive off the bandits. The cost is heavy, however. Between death and desertion, there are only 7 men remaining. Sadatsugu wryly observes that at least there are 7 that he can trust.

The ‘traitor’ event was inspired by one of the clan traits from the Sengoku expansion. The event naturally followed from an extremely favourable result of the meeting with Sadatsugu. There had to be a reason Sadatsugu was so keen to take on Toranosuke, and it was a reasonable inference that he couldn’t wholly trust some of the men he had hired. Historically, one of the reasons for the antipathy powerful daimyō had for the ikkō-shū was that some of their own vassals were members and could have divided loyalties.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 05, 2021, 09:28:32 AM
4.The pursuit
   Sadatsugu meets up with the other Hachisuka forces. The left wing had decisively defeated the ikkō-ikki force, but the right had been led into a trap by traitors and annihilated. Sadatsugu sends the left wing force to find the main ikkō-ikki force, while he and the reserve group sneak into Hattori territory and try and catch any stragglers. Sadatsugu’s force encounters a band of ikkō-shū and attempts to stop them escaping into Hattori territory. Toranosuke is given command of one of the groups. Initially the Hachisuka prevail against the ikkō-ikki, but the fight turns against them, and the ikkō-shū men successfully break through and escape.
Overall, the operation has been only partly successful. Sadatsugu returns to Hachisuka Masakatsu to report.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ewx9Y-QWQAUl4--?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ewx9Y-vXEAQobta?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ew273X4WEAEVKMu?format=jpg&name=large)

5.Hachisuka Masakatsu
   Masakatsu-dono is surprisingly favourable given the lack of success. Sadatsugu explains the problem with ikkō-shū members within the clan being asked to fight their co-religionists. Sadatsugu gives Toranosuke a good reference and Masakatsu suggests that Sadatsugu take him on as a retainer.

This battle was a bit larger than normal so was played using ‘Feudal Patrol’ rules. It could probably have just about been played with ToH using a lot of groups, but I thought I’d have a go at integrating another game into the campaign for larger actions. Feudal Patrol is very adaptable and you can create characters with better than normal stats to cross over ToH characters. 
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Wellington on May 05, 2021, 12:16:28 PM
Beautiful as usual! Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Kikuchiyo on May 06, 2021, 12:52:03 PM
Really great work

I've been toying with the idea of a solo Samurai adventure for a while - I've played through ROSD with a samurai band and even used proxies for the villans but a TOH setup looks like a winner
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 06, 2021, 03:40:35 PM
I played a Japanese-themed ROSD too. I leaned heavily on the ROSD 'AI' to use with solo Test of Honour. I think ToH works well for a solo game as there aren't really that many choices to make, so it's much easier to use with a simple AI like ROSD has.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Kikuchiyo on May 06, 2021, 07:00:10 PM
just been looking at your blog

realy like your honour/dishonour approach

I don't have TOH as I'm more a solo player these days but you may have changed that - otherwise I'll be looking at trying a similar approach with vanilla daisho - minus the magic and monsters

solo with a ROSD AI
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: mkultra99 on May 07, 2021, 07:10:03 PM
So inspiring! Great work!
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: blacksoilbill on May 13, 2021, 12:51:11 PM
I've just worked my way through this thread. Your campaign sounds really engaging and the games look gorgeous!
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 14, 2023, 07:53:31 PM
It's been a while, but I've picked up this campaign again. Again, it's a version of Test of Honour played solo, with an 'AI' that's very similar to 'Rangers of Shadow Deep.'

Chapter 4:
Hachisuka Masakatsu had been a retainer of Saitō Toshimasa in Mino, but after Toshimasa was killed in his own son’s rebellion had returned to Owari. First supporting Oda Nobukata until he was defeated by Oda Nobunaga and Oda Nobukiyo. Now he had switched support to Nobukiyo, who in turn had turned against Nobunaga. Internal Oda politics was dynamic and confusing.

The Hachisuka were one of a number of independent kokujin on the Kiso river border region between Owari and Mino. They were engaged in the profitable river trade there. At the moment, Hachisuka Masakatsu had three main concerns, getting dragged into the ongoing war between the different branches of the Oda, preventing criminal gangs muscling in on the Kiso river trade and dealing with frequent incursions from the Hattori lands over the border in Ise, sometimes by aggressive Ikkō-shū members from the temples near Nagashima.

This last concern has led Sadatsugu and Toranosuke to be on a tour around the villages in the area to monitor signs of incursions. It is while engaged in this mission that the party is ambushed by raiders.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwG2BE8WwAoeoj7?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwG2BFAWYAI5Ppd?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwG2BE-XwAYf2kL?format=jpg&name=large)

A small group blocks the road ahead while a group off to the right emerges from the trees and attacks. Sadatsugu drives them back. But Sadatsugu’s  hata-sashimono bearer is shot in the throat by an arrow, demoralising the ashigaru around him. Toranosuke cuts down the leader of the group on the road, but is wounded in the process.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwG2THxXwAALl1w?format=jpg&name=large)

Sadatsugu has pursued into the woods, and Toranosuke tries to hold off the raiders while calling the ashigaru to rally to him. Hemmed in and outnumbered he strikes down a raider, and, seemingly inspired, one of the ashigaru leaps forward and cuts down another leader. The raiders shrink back, but one of the ashigaru is slain.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwG2TIGXsAAaJmm?format=jpg&name=large)

Another wave surges forward. Their leader aims a blow at Sadatsugu, who dodges back cutting the assailant. Toranosuke rushes over and impales the man with his yari. The remaining raiders lose heart and back off into the trees.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwG2TImWwAIMOY5?format=jpg&name=large)

Searching the bodies there is some evidence that the raiders may have been ikkō-shū members. The two interrogate one of the survivors who reveals the nearby location of an ikkō-shū cell leader. Sadatsugu forms a plan....
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Vagabond on May 18, 2023, 06:40:45 AM
Excellent,  I'm pleased you resurrected your campaign, hopefully you will keep it going.

I've not read ToH rules, presumably the ambushers lost heart and fell back when their leaders were cut down, rather than you deciding that was their best option?

From your battle description it sounds as if the activation system is - one figure activates then another and so on, if so, do you think that gives a good reflection of combat in this part of the world at this time? i.e. individuals acting individually, rather than as a group.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 18, 2023, 08:34:13 AM
It’s been good to get back to it. It’s also a good accompaniment to finding out what was going on in Owari around this time, sort of like a virtual tour but with swordfights…

Like a lot of skirmish games, ToH scenarios end when a victory condition is met, and everyone left on the table kind of stops fighting and wander off. Never terribly realistic but saves having to figure in some kind of overall force morale, or play out a disengagement. In this case, once the attackers were effectively down to half strength, that was the end of the scenario.

ToH is basically alternate activations of individual figures, and those figures can move and/or shoot and fight etc on that activation. ‘Characters’ have 2 or 3 activations per turn rather than 1. It’s essentially more of a ‘chanbara’ game than anything else. I’ve changed some of the rules to make it a bit more ‘historical’ and but it’s still more cinematic than realistic. Though, I don’t think many skirmish wargames are particularly realistic, certainly not pre-modern ones. Casualty rates and shooting accuracy are usually way too high. I suspect that the average Sengoku Jidai skirmish would look more like a fight between gangs of rival football fans, albeit armed ones, than a Kurosawa film.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Digits on May 18, 2023, 10:04:44 AM
Nicely painted minis and I love the setting!
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Kikuchiyo on May 18, 2023, 12:31:01 PM
I played a Japanese-themed ROSD too. I leaned heavily on the ROSD 'AI' to use with solo Test of Honour. I think ToH works well for a solo game as there aren't really that many choices to make, so it's much easier to use with a simple AI like ROSD has.

That's a great idea
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Vagabond on May 18, 2023, 02:54:37 PM
Thanks for the info, activation is an interesting subject.

I  use group activation but a group can be any size even 1 figure. All groups have a leader, he does the activating. Each member of the group has his or her own morale and so may not always follow the leader. If they become separated from the group because of a morale result they then become their own group and activate accordingly.
Activation is randomly decided by group but the better the quality the leader is the better their chance of activating early in a round.
It sounds complicated but gives lots of unpredictable results, something I like for a solo game.
Hope to catch your next post sooner rather than later.  :)
Cheers
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 18, 2023, 03:40:23 PM
That sounds very similar to what I'm eventually going to do with a bigger skirmish game, around 30-50 figures a side kind of thing. Probably using Feudal Patrol as a base.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 18, 2023, 06:16:01 PM
2.The Long-haired Priest.

Sadatsugu decides to attack the house of the ikkō-shū priest agitator, kill the man and take his head back to Masakatsu-sama. The plan is to wait until nightfall and then swiftly storm the house, take the priest’s head and get away, aiming to meet up at a pre-arranged spot after. This seems like a rather reckless plan somewhat at odds with Sadatsugu’s normally cool-headed approach.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwMBdvtXgAE7mVT?format=jpg&name=large)
(Not going to bother adding a darkness filter to the rest of the photos, you'll have to imagine it. Or wear sunglasses while reading.  :))

The group move up to a position close to the house, but there are guards around. Possibly the survivors of the earlier ambush may have come through here. Toranosuke goes one side, Sadatsugu the other. Toranosuke attempts to take one of the guards by surprise, but badly misses his cut in the darkness. The guard retaliates and then another appears. Toranosuke is quickly on the back foot.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwQse91WAAIkCaQ?format=jpg&name=large)

All surprise is lost as the alarm is raised, Toranosuke finds himself in a hard fight, and his inability to fend off the guards is not inspiring the rest of his men with much confidence.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwQse95WcAIQMnd?format=jpg&name=large)

Sadatsugu and the others manage to force back the guards on their side, but the now alerted priest makes a run for it on the other side.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwQsvzOWwAAm5zD?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwQse-MXwAIlCw9?format=jpg&name=large)

Toranosuke finally cuts down one of the guards, and the others back off into the darkness. But the priest has fled.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwQsvz4WcAAYiaq?format=jpg&name=large)

Sadatsugu is fairly sanguine about the whole mess. He decides to head back to Masakatsu and report that perhaps a greater military presence is needed on the southern border.

This game was a version of a scenario from the ‘Sengoku’ expansion, with the rules for night fighting. In the game itself, Toranosuke managed to roll 3 fumbled attacks in a row. Given that the way I use dishonour cards in ToH meant drawing one for each fumble, some of the ashigaru in the group failed their nerve tests rather easily. As the failure was clearly Toranosuke’s fault, I rolled a reaction on the Bushido RPG table for Sadatsugu. Who wasn’t particularly impressed, but neither particularly angry.
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Vagabond on May 20, 2023, 07:54:33 PM
(Not going to bother adding a darkness filter to the rest of the photos, you'll have to imagine it. Or wear sunglasses while reading.

That's very slipshod, if you don't mind me saying. I've done this a couple of times to try and get atmospheric photos, although I just turned off most of my lights. Problem is that you can't really see the figures when it's too dark. How we suffer for our art.  ???

Again another fine game and story, I really like it when things don't work out how you expect or hope in a solo game, it always gives a good story.

Toranosuke seems to have got away with his poor performance in the raid, but I'll be interested to see how it plays out.

I've read most of what you have written about honour in a Japanese setting, it sounds very similar to the Viking Sagas and very differeto how we would perceive it today. Makes a refreshing change to a scenario.
Cheers
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 20, 2023, 08:57:33 PM
Yes, I think there are things that solo games often do better, hidden movement, unequal battles and better narratives. This one could have ended with Toranosuke and Sadatsugu having a blazing row and going their separate ways.

Karl Friday wrote about the warriors from the Heian and Kamakura period that they were men "whose lives centered on the concept of honor but who seemingly held no notion of fair play." Unfortunately, most games that try and represent Japanese warrior honour equate it with modern notions of 'fair play.'
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Gibby on May 30, 2023, 07:38:42 PM
This thread is brilliant - I've enjoyed reading the narrative on your blog. I like the methods you have used to weave it all together - and I imagine that solo gaming it all gives you even more freedom. Your figure collection is great, I've tried to spot all the minis that aren't Kensei/Zenit and so far I've only recognised Perry ones. Any other notable mini ranges among them? Size wise they all seem to work well!
Title: Re: Tora no Monogatari: An ongoing Test of Honour solo campaign
Post by: Osmoses on May 30, 2023, 10:28:53 PM
The vast majority are Zenit and Perry. There are some Grey For Now in there and the odd Bushido GCT figure. Also a Dixon palanquin and bearers, and some nanban traders from Eureka in the following town pics:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwpkbH_XoAA4U3R?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwpkbIIWwAAz1mI?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwpkbIAXwAIMdUj?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwpkbIHWwAEMHtj?format=jpg&name=large)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FwplSuFXoAIzQ3C?format=jpg&name=large)