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

[Moonglum_]

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?

[Cat]

Test of Honour covers that quite nicely.  Ninjas, monks, bandits, ronin are all included in the troop types and you can build up forces however you like.

[OSHIROmodels]

Ronin might fit the bill. I’ve never played it but I’ve heard good things that might suit what you’re after.

[Moonglum_]

Ronin might fit the bill. I’ve never played it but I’ve heard good things that might suit what you’re after.

Test of Honour covers that quite nicely.  Ninjas, monks, bandits, ronin are all included in the troop types and you can build up forces however you like.

Thanks both. I will have a look at each of these.

[EnclavedMicrostate]

Test of Honour will be a slightly pricier pick but it's a nicely 'fluffy' sort of game with lots of options for individualised special rules. Ronin is a very elegantly simple system but in such a way that it doesn't offer lots of room for little tweaks. That being said, I still have ideas for a Shinobi force in my back pocket...

[Moonglum_]

Looking on the websites for both games,  I see some of the same figures being sold in both places?

[Daeothar]

Bushido is my favourite. Although a lot of mythical and magical figures are included, it's perfectly possible to play games with 'realistic'  characters as well... 

[Moonglum_]

Bushido is my favourite. Although a lot of mythical and magical figures are included, it's perfectly possible to play games with 'realistic'  characters as well... 

That piques my interest as well so I'll take a look.

[EnclavedMicrostate]

Looking on the websites for both games,  I see some of the same figures being sold in both places?

Yes, North Star produced some minis for Ronin, and these are also being sold through Grey for Now's storefront, along with the range by Footsore (who did a couple of tie-ins when Test of Honour migrated from Warlord) and Grey for Now's in-house range.

[Cat]

For even more great mini options, check out Perry Miniatures and Bad Squiddo Games.

[Moonglum_]

For even more great mini options, check out Perry Miniatures and Bad Squiddo Games.

Love the Perry line of course (currently buying up as many of their middle-earth figures as I can as GW seems like they may start phasing them out any day now).

This is particularly cool: https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product/sam33-defeated-daimyo-committing-hara-kiri-with-loyal-retainers-discarded-armour/

[Schogun]

If you want historical skirmish, I'd say Ronin.

If you want some Asian mythology thrown in and a "beat the Boss" type game, Hametsu from Black Site Studio.

[traveller]

My search for the same purpose ended up with Test of Honour, which I think are great set of rules. I really like the scenarios and campaigns included. For faster games I use One Hour Skirmish Wargames (Medieval).

[Moonglum_]

If you want historical skirmish, I'd say Ronin.

If you want some Asian mythology thrown in and a "beat the Boss" type game, Hametsu from Black Site Studio.

My search for the same purpose ended up with Test of Honour, which I think are great set of rules. I really like the scenarios and campaigns included. For faster games I use One Hour Skirmish Wargames (Medieval).

I'm interested in both but historical moreso. I'm going to pick up both Ronin and Test of Honour.

How do the North Star, Grey for Now and Perry figures hold up next to eachother?

It looks like Wargames Atlantic is another good option?

Lastly, are there any go-to sources of Japanese terrain?

[Cat]

How do the North Star, Grey for Now and Perry figures hold up next to eachother?

I mix them all, plus Wargames Atlantic, Bad Squiddo and Bac Ninh, and they all work just fine.  I even use old Ral Partha 25mm figures, they're just shorter people in the crowd