Daisho, skirmish wargaming in mythical Japan

[craig cartmell]

This month sees the launch of a brand new skirmish game based set in the marvellous, medieval and mythical history of Japan. It is the latest game written by Charles Murton and Craig Cartmell, co-authors of the successful, and Beasts of War award nominated steampunk game: In Her Majesty’s Name.

The rules have been released by our distributor, North Star Miniatures, in May under our own publishing imprint – The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare. You can find them here: http://northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=201&page=1

In Daisho, each player has a group of 5-15 figures called a buntai. This includes leaders, specialists and troops. Players can pick their buntai from the ones included in the rules or create their own as the full points system is included. They can also hire one of a selection of legendary heroes to assist them.

Players can choose to just use human buntai including two types of Samurai, Ronin, Ninja, Kabuki-mono, Bandits, Ryu, Ikko-Ikki and Sohei Monks, or pick one from the legendary forces like Oni, Bakemono and Tengu.

The rules include extensive, costed, listings of equipment, weapons, armour, magical powers, individual skills and heroic Ki powers. They also have many scenarios, landscapes and a full campaign system.

It takes between 45 and 90 minutes to play a game with a force of about 250 points on a table 3’/1m square. The rules can be learned in a single game and by your third you should only need to occasionally use the reference sheet

You can find out more about the game, get free additional material and see battle reports at our dedicated blog: https://daishogame.wordpress.com/

Cheers,

Craig & Charles

[Mike]

Can it be used to play Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon style games, ie not that realistic?

[craig cartmell]

Hi Mike,

The game is designed to be played at three levels:

1. Historical – think Shogun & Kagemusha,

2. Heroic, with the addition of Ki powers for heroes, think 13 Assassins, and

3. Legendary, adding magical powers, demons etc., think 47 Ronin.

Level 2 is probably what you’re thinking of there mate.

 

[craig cartmell]

Using Northstar’s Ronin miniatures in Daishō
Many of you who are reading this doubtless have one or more of the excellent Northstar Miniatures Ronin figure sets. If you don’t then you should, as these have been sculpted by the marvellous Steve Saleh specifically for skirmish gaming and give you a complete force to put on the table for Ronin or for Daishō.

Throughout the Daishō rulebook, you can see many pictures of these fine figures painted and photographed by that esteemed master – Mr Kev Dallimore. He was kind enough to let us use the photos for the book.

When our first game, In Her Majesty’s Name, came out Nick’s crew produced sets of figures to support it. Then Charles and I wrote Company listings based on the figures in the boxed sets so people could start playing IHMN straight from the box.

So for Daishō we have spent some time and produced a comprehensive cross-reference document for those of you who have already acquired, or who are going to acquire, these beautiful miniatures. You can find it in the Bonus Materials section of the Daishō blog (https://daishogame.wordpress.com/bonus-material/).

[Mike]

Crikey they are pretty.

[Lagartija Mike]

Craig, the figures are beautiful. As a long time admirer of Steve Saleh’s sculpts (and a sohei obsessive) I need to ask if there are any plans on him adding to the range (especially the monastics).

[Paul]

Playing 13 Assassins? Now THAT would be a cool skirmish game.

Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let's go kill them!

[craig cartmell]

Paul wrote:

Playing 13 Assassins? Now THAT would be a cool skirmish game.

It would indeed Paul 🙂

[craig cartmell]

Lagartija Mike wrote:

Craig, the figures are beautiful. As a long time admirer of Steve Saleh’s sculpts (and a sohei obsessive) I need to ask if there are any plans on him adding to the range (especially the monastics).

 

As far as I know Mike, Steve Saleh is no longer working for Northstar Miniatures. He is freelancing and does have his own range (Lucid Eye).

[craig cartmell]

Well, it has been a busy couple of weeks over in the world of Daishō. If you haven’t heard yet 4Ground have renamed their Shogunate building range Daishō.

We’ve published an article on using Northstar’s Ronin range of miniatures in Daishō, complete with points costs. There is also an updated points calculator by Andy Wilson.

His friend John Ewing has produced a marvellous battle report. Hopefully, the first of many, for you to read.

And finally I have been interviewed in YouTube by that splendid gamer Billy Salazar.

If that wasn’t enough we are putting the final touches to a new buntai that just missed the cut for the book.

[craig cartmell]

So now we have a second excellent battle report from John Ewing:

In a Monastery Garden – a new battle report by John Ewing

[Angel Barracks]

These would work for Daisho I assume?

FIGURES

[craig cartmell]

Angel Barracks wrote:

These would work for Daisho I assume? FIGURES

These used to be the pre-painted figures sold by EM4 were they not? I have seen these being used for Daisho and they are great.

[Author]

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