A Samurai game using the 'Pikeman's Lament' set of rules.
I took control of Clan Takeda while Peter Duckworth led the Mouri Clan.
Mouri Hiromoto (Pete Duckworth)

Takeda Kojro (Me

)

Bird's eye view of the battlefield. Takeda will deploy to the left & Mouri to the right.
Kurosawa's castle is at the bottom of the page.

Kurosawa's castle.

The Lord himself.
"There is Honour to be had this day" he was heard to say to his adviser.

Civilians await the fight.

They don't have to wait long before Takeda troops start to deploy.

Even the local artist downed his brush & came out to see the battle.

...and if the fighting upsets him too much he can calm down at his carp pond.

The Mouri left wing troops cross the stream ... using the... bridge!!!!..a shabby Mouri trick!

My right wing, archers & warrior Monks await them.

Meanwhile the bulk of Mouri troops sneak across the other stream. Note how Mouri Hiromoto is hiding at the back,
surrounded by elite mounted Samurai.

Unfortunately this is where my photographs run out!
My 'plan' was to attack his archers, who were the 'elbow' in his deployment. I personally led a unit of common soldiers
to achieve this. I took the storm of arrows and came within attack range. I then threw the dice to attack...DOUBLE ONES

For those unfamiliar with the rules, that means something bad happens. They ran away!! Taking me along with them.
Arrows in the back didn't help. When I regrouped & tried again, another 'Snake's eyes'

this time two ninja arose from the rice paddy!!!!
I managed to fight them off, but I began to realise it was NOT going to be my day.

Mouri outfought me all the way.
My last fighting unit, the Warrior Monks ended the day right in front of Lord Kurosawa, surrounded by three Mouri units, which included
the mounted Samurai. At least they went down fighting.
Kurosawa's words rank hollow on Takeda ears, 'There is Honour to be had this day'
I started the game only needing one point to go up to the next level..I scored zero, zilch, bubkiss, naught. Mouri garnered Six Honour points.

Then my luck changed. As my leader had fled the field I had to dice for his fate.
I threw a twelve!!!! Escapes the enemy ...through a daring and honourable adventure. He will gain fame... + 3 Honour...I get promotion

That entitles me to another trait, dicing for that got me, 'Favoured' a fine gift from the General AND FIVE HONOUR !!!

I decided to share the gift with my men...well the survivors

A barrel of the best saki.
A good time was had, not just by my drunken troops, but both players too.