Japanese skirmish rules with a focus on bandits, ninja, ronin, monks etc.?

[Bowman]

I’ll add my $.02

I’ve run a few Samurai skirmish games at conventions, using Rich Jones’ wonderful “Bushi no Yule” rules. They use the Ganesha Games system and are deep, but very easy to learn. After turn 1 the players all know the game well enough to concentrate on the scenario. A great convention game.

I’ve also played Test of Honour twice at different conventions, and enjoyed that also.

But for playing at home, with players familiar with the rules, I really prefer Ronin (and En Garde, a game with similar mechanisms, and both written by Craig Woodfield). It has a bit more depth and an interesting combat mechanism that keeps the players engaged. The only downside I see is that the game is a bit difficult to adapt to solo wargaming.

Those are simply my preferences, but to be honest, the only games I have tried. I don’t think you can go too wrong with any of the suggestions give here. Best wishes on your entry into Samurai era skirmishing.

[Khusru2]

I'm looking to dip into some feudal Japan skirmish rules with an emphasis on the characters in the title rather than entirely samurai.

What rules might fit the bill here that I should have a look at?

Look no further than Dixon Miniatures!
Ronin rules complement them

[Ultravanillasmurf]

If you want solo rules, what about mapping and reskinning Five Leagues From The Borderlands.

Enemies Within and Enemies Without will provide you with mundane opposition.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Regarding the rules referenced above as “Bushi no Yule”, some may be confused, as I initially was, by the typo. The correct title is Bushi no Yume. They are available to download from scribd.com. The download itself is free but there is a monthly fee of £10.99 to use the site after the first month’s free trial.

[Osmoses]

You can also download them here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lfzqxe5qykfq3vw/Bushi%20no%20Yume%20web.pdf?dl=0

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

…which is cheaper.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Regarding the rules referenced above as “Bushi no Yule”, some may be confused, as I initially was, by the typo. The correct title is Bushi no Yume. They are available to download from scribd.com. The download itself is free but there is a monthly fee of £10.99 to use the site after the first month’s free trial.

I thought for a moment someone had a ruleset with a subscription business model, it is tge website that requires subscription.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Yes, the subscription is for Scribd rather than the rules, though now you mention it I believe Wizards of the Coast have plans to make players of "One  D&D' - or whatever they're calling it now - pay a subscription as part of their continuing efforts to monetize the game. Fortunately I'm not aware of any similar plans from other publishers.

Oddly, though, I encountered a similar message from Dropbox just as I was about to download the rules from them, even though I've had an account for years. I've only used it to store existing files, however, none of which were downloaded via Dropbox so I'm really not sure what is going on here.