Bushido The Game

[Athanadros]

No worries, looking forward to your next installment.

[FatherKnowsBest]

No worries, looking forward to your next installment.

Thanks!

Painting buildings and my bridge now.

[Mistake Not]

Played my first game today, it was an interesting experience.

Things I've learnt:
- Prefecture Spearmen are so durable, it's just silly. I figured stacking the odds (blind, outnumber, surprise) would be enough to get rid of them one at a time and allow me access to the objective but instead they held up Chiyo and Naoko all game. Dedicate more resources or avoid next time.
- That dragon. Damn that dragon.
- That silly healer with his silly healing things. Jade Mamba cut him in two with a single attack later in the game though, which was very satisfying. The Guard was actually MVP I think, she performed best.
- Ayako's cool with her psychic drain and channel but I'd like more dice for those Ki tests. As such, Satsuki is next.
- Kaihime shot a lot of arrows but besides wounding the dragon she didn't accomplish much. Need to work on positioning..

So does anyone regularly play at 42 rice? That's the usual game size here, and it seems.. odd.

[FatherKnowsBest]

Played my first game today, it was an interesting experience.

Things I've learnt:
- Prefecture Spearmen are so durable, it's just silly. I figured stacking the odds (blind, outnumber, surprise) would be enough to get rid of them one at a time and allow me access to the objective but instead they held up Chiyo and Naoko all game. Dedicate more resources or avoid next time.
- That dragon. Damn that dragon.
- That silly healer with his silly healing things. Jade Mamba cut him in two with a single attack later in the game though, which was very satisfying. The Guard was actually MVP I think, she performed best.
- Ayako's cool with her psychic drain and channel but I'd like more dice for those Ki tests. As such, Satsuki is next.
- Kaihime shot a lot of arrows but besides wounding the dragon she didn't accomplish much. Need to work on positioning..

So does anyone regularly play at 42 rice? That's the usual game size here, and it seems.. odd.

Yeah, the Dragon, like most high cost units can be a real devil to deal with.

42 is a mid-range game. I've been playing at the basic level this whole time and it's been very satisfying. I've gotten 12 or so games in now at that level.

Ranged attacks are very hard to get "right" in Bushido owing to the fact that they are a relatively new weapon form in the Jwar Isle. The most often given advice I've read on ranged attack is to really hold it back until the most perfect opportunity presents itself.

The Jade Mamba Guard look really great and I mean to play with at least one of them soon.

I would be wary of taking too many KI-reliant forces as if you face the Cult of Yurei you'll be at somewhat of a loss to deal with their Soulless models who often place Spirit Blocks on their enemies. So they auto pass opposed Ki tests and Fear tests, often cause Fear, and can prevent your models from generating Ki during the generation phase.

[Mistake Not]

Jade Mamba rocks hard, so hard, I'm thinking of getting a second eventually. That +1 to damage is much more noticable than I'd expected. Which reminds me that I need to start triggering Naoko's Mutation at the start of the turn, since those boosts last until the End Phase rather than the end of the current action like most Ki buffs..

As for the Cult, their Shugenja aren't soulless.
Even if the Shisai don't have anything to target with their psychic lasers I'm sure some other models can use their channeled Ki to good effect, boosting MS seems to be one of the more common uses for Ki anyhow.

So far the local players haven't pulled out any Cult though, I know there's one player but it's mostly Ito around here for some reason. I'm the third Ito player? Then there's the Prefecture and some Savage Wave..

[FatherKnowsBest]

I've got all the buildings painted up, and I think they look cool.

I have to start work on the river... I think the plan there is to texture the river by adding in layers of trails of PVA glue over and over again to create rippling. Maybe some small rocks here and there on the river bed visible simple because they are "large" per scale.

Then I plan to paint the rocky areas, paint the dirt as a base to build grass on using woodland scenics stuff, and then paint the river up. Finally I will use a pouring medium which simulates water (It's what is used to make water effects as far as I can tell and from what I have tested). Then seal the bejeezus out of it all.

I do need some opinions on river color...

Section9 has been to Japan I recall so he might know first hand.

But it seems that some rivers on terrain are either shallow trickles like this:



Or show depth with blues.

Right now I'm leaning to blue for helping grant more contrast to the board.

[Section9]

I do need some opinions on river color...

Section9 has been to Japan I recall so he might know first hand.

But it seems that some rivers on terrain are either shallow trickles like this:

[ img ]

Or show depth with blues.

Right now I'm leaning to blue for helping grant more contrast to the board.

Well, I never really got up into the farm country of Japan, and down by Tokyo Bay the water's pretty nasty brown. Heck, even the water in the garden at Nijoji Castle (the Shogun's palace in Kyoto) was pretty brown:

[Claudius Sol]

In general, water is either brown, green, grey, or a mix thereof. Blue water isn't common in a natural environment. Maybe a lake. But moats, streams, rivers, etc. usually have a very green or brown hue.

This is from my experience in Southeast Asia and the southern United States.

[FatherKnowsBest]

In general, water is either brown, green, grey, or a mix thereof. Blue water isn't common in a natural environment. Maybe a lake. But moats, streams, rivers, etc. usually have a very green or brown hue.

This is from my experience in Southeast Asia and the southern United States.

Plan is to be grey-green now.

[Hero of Man]

In general, water is either brown, green, grey, or a mix thereof. Blue water isn't common in a natural environment. Maybe a lake. But moats, streams, rivers, etc. usually have a very green or brown hue.

This is from my experience in Southeast Asia and the southern United States.

Well, you know... besides the Ocean.

[FatherKnowsBest]

Jade Mamba rocks hard, so hard, I'm thinking of getting a second eventually. That +1 to damage is much more noticable than I'd expected. Which reminds me that I need to start triggering Naoko's Mutation at the start of the turn, since those boosts last until the End Phase rather than the end of the current action like most Ki buffs..

As for the Cult, their Shugenja aren't soulless.
Even if the Shisai don't have anything to target with their psychic lasers I'm sure some other models can use their channeled Ki to good effect, boosting MS seems to be one of the more common uses for Ki anyhow.

So far the local players haven't pulled out any Cult though, I know there's one player but it's mostly Ito around here for some reason. I'm the third Ito player? Then there's the Prefecture and some Savage Wave..

Yeah, boosting melee can be key to winning battles, but then there are other who can boost movement and really capture objectives. Then there is the Wraith. That one exists to derail plans and to annihilate opponents.

Sometimes I've forgotten some of the abilities that must be chosen at the start of a turn as well so even after a dozen games, its easy to forget.

That many Ito??? Well, they are awesome minis, so that aesthetic plus that quality of sculpt usually equals win.

I play Ito, and am picking up Ryu. My pal is getting Savage Wave. Another is getting the Silvermoon Syndicate. A fourth is interested, maybe in Cult or Ito.

[Claudius Sol]

In general, water is either brown, green, grey, or a mix thereof. Blue water isn't common in a natural environment. Maybe a lake. But moats, streams, rivers, etc. usually have a very green or brown hue.

This is from my experience in Southeast Asia and the southern United States.

Well, you know... besides the Ocean.

The tricky part about the ocean is that it only looks blue at very very very deep sections or in very specific climes. Even the "blue" of the ocean is more of a black. Anywhere the depth is less than 20 meters or so, the water is going to take on very earthy tones. Especially if there is loose sediment or plant-life nearby.

The only places I've seen genuinely blue water:
-a copper rich sandstone grotto (rusted copper from the rocks combined with a very harsh soil preventing plant life being the culprit)
-Clearwater beach in Florida (due to light refraction of very highly filtered water viewed at a more horizontal angle during a specific time of the day)
-aquariums (because of dyes applied to the water and/or blue tinted backings/tiles/concrete)

[FatherKnowsBest]

Update

Started putting paint on my board.

[Claudius Sol]

Looking sharp there, FNB!

[Athanadros]

I am sooo loving this!! I have been trying very hard to not start playing this game and now YOUR MAKING IT HARDER!!!
Terrain itch is sneaking up on me!!
Can't wait to see more!

[FatherKnowsBest]

I am sooo loving this!! I have been trying very hard to not start playing this game and now YOUR MAKING IT HARDER!!!
Terrain itch is sneaking up on me!!
Can't wait to see more!

Thanks!

I was on the fence about Bushido for yonks, I really was. But then, when I read that Gutier (spelling?) had his hands on this, I didn't feel like I was cheating on my mistress with a new girlfriend. lol.

It is the only game I play next to Infinity so that should tell you something.

I am a commission painter, but this is the first terrain I have ever tackled, so this is really making me happy to see it all come together like I envisioned it.

Lots more to do on this. Flocking to play with, shrubs.... etc..

[FatherKnowsBest]

I think I got the river colour correct as well.... or so I hope.

[Section9]

I think I got the river colour correct as well.... or so I hope.

Doesn't quite look green enough to me, but I'd hold off until you get all the flock and other vegetation done.

Don't forget some of that Army Painter poison ivy to make the riverbanks unpleasant.

[FatherKnowsBest]

I think I got the river colour correct as well.... or so I hope.

Doesn't quite look green enough to me, but I'd hold off until you get all the flock and other vegetation done.

Don't forget some of that Army Painter poison ivy to make the riverbanks unpleasant.

Yeah, I really need to see the river next to the grey of the rocks and the greens on the flocking once it's down before I can really be set on the river's shade.

Poison Ivy is a good idea. I got some wild flowers to go with some of the grass patches they make to spread out.

[FatherKnowsBest]

Played several games versus Temple of Ro Kan today. Ouch. Some phenomenal martial artists in that faction.

I lucked out in focusing all my strategy on objectives in two games which helped me win as my opponent massacred my forces.

Third game I had to hunt down and kill my opponent's VIM unit in a quasi annihilation scenario.

It was really lopsided. My dice were ridiculously lucky and I got some quick kills early in the game as I hunted down my opponent's VIM.

So three good wins for the Ito today.

[Mistake Not]

Yay clan Ito, glory to the SNAAAAKES. Well done!

The board too is looking fine as well. I can see the river now.


I've got to study the scenarios for Saturday, I want to well-ish at my first tournament. Seigyo, the Messenger, and Ryodo? Haven't played enough to know the rules well but they seem easy enough to complete.
Because I haven't figured out shooting yet, and don't really want to during a tournament, I've dropped Kaihime from my list and added in the biggest snake we've got, Yatsumata. Her and Naoko are going to team up, see what they can do. Ayako, Chiyo and the Jade Mamba can probably get something done, or at least delay until the two heavier models can do what they need to do and sweep around. Or maybe I should keep everyone together..

[FatherKnowsBest]

Try and save Yatsumata to attack units already engaged by the Jade Mamba Guard. That way you'll exhaust the opponent, outnumber them, and generally ruin their day.

Best of luck!

[Mistake Not]

Could've used more luck.

Yatsumata performed very well, as did Naoko; a few mistakes here and there made it impossible to win most games though. I wish there was a way to make smaller warbands more effective, or a way to make scenarios less final. I get.. issues.. with motivation when all I'm playing for is the minor minor minor possibility of denying a point. Because that makes a difference.. ugh. 'Next edition please fix' is going to be my opinion on their scenario scoring for a while yet.

I'll get used to it anyway, hadn't expected to win. Need a way to deal with armour, it's just ridiculous how a decent defense roll will make most attacks not do anything, denying me the use of my plentiful poison. And of course the low cost troops.. yeah they don't do anything really but they're activations. Yay. At least the Silvermoon Syndicate with their lack of armour or 4 melee dice folded like wet paper, they didn't stand even the slightest chance. Which is weird, my other two foes were Savage Wave (Oni hit once, kill..) and Prefecture (so many melee dice, armour, and that ____ healer.. ) and I just couldn't get through them. Most everything just bounced off them, which means no poison, which means my Ito just crumble. Outnumbering, blinding, exhausting.. if your opponent rolls a 6 on attack and on defense it doesn't matter that you're stacking odds; you'll just get cut up because your attack did absolutely nothing..

I'd love to add Kaihime back in for some arrows to their unarmoured faces which'd be great, but what to drop? I can't lose activations since I have too few already. And the rice level isn't going up..


Overall conclusion: fun game, fun time, need practice. But most of all, I want to play a bunch of games of Infinity now.

[FatherKnowsBest]

Didn't you have a Pass Token to use?

During the Starting Phase "Players calculate the number of Pass Tokens for the Turn. Each player totals the number of models in their Warband. The player with the least gains the difference in Pass Tokens."

But yes, Daisuke is a pain and Armour really really can ruin plans and attacks. That's why you want someone like Itsunagi Ito for pure offensive power, Kenzo Ito for decent Armour and high mobility, or Masunagi Ito for his high Armour and ability to really bring down some tough foes.

If your enemies have Armour (but not Toughness) then hit them with ranged Ki attacks from Sakura or Ayako to dose them with Poison from afar, then engage those poisoned models with some hard hitters, and if the poor sod still lives, he's going to get hit by those poison tokens at the end phase which may finish them off.

I like to power up Sakura first turn by Focusing:

"Focus: The model gains a number of Ki Tokens equal to its Ki Statistic. It may neither move nor change Facing during this action."

Then in the second turn, she's got 6 Ki to really put the heeby jeebies into my opponent who will wonder if I am going to move and zap Ki poison, or be scared shitless that I will be channeling all that might to Itsunagi or Kenzo.

[FatherKnowsBest]

Who is teaching you the game, by the way? It looks like they are leaving out some key concepts or trying to make you learn the "hard way"...or something.

Rolling a six doesn't negate anything in and of itself, so you might always be able to survive attacks or slash someone to pieces.

Combat in Bushido, though, is very brutal. Miniatures that have descriptions that tell a story about them being a whirlwind of doom....they aren't lying. But that doesn't make them indestructible.

I've had powerhouse minis get hosed very quickly, but also had a lowly Temple Bushi hold a bridge until the cavalry could arrive and save the day.

[FatherKnowsBest]

Flocking....


Tis tedious

[Mistake Not]

Today I high-fived my opponent after Achilles took a Panzerfaust to the face and bit it. I know why I'm talking about Bushido on an Infinity forum.

As to learning the game, I'm teaching myself mostly; everyone else is also still figuring it all out. The sixes thing was just a (mis)fortunate event, I rolled three dice on attack and got 4, 3, 2. Opponent rolled one die on attack, two on defense.. got a 6 for attack, 6 and 1 for defense. Success level 0 for me against ARM3 ( ) success level 6 for him. Probably should've just poisoned him? Usually too busy using Ayako's activations to Hypnotic Gaze and especially Psychic Drain. Why Focus for Ki when I can steal my opponents Ki? As for Pass tokens they're nice for getting in range of my enemies, but they don't turn objectives.

I have some ideas about my next warband composition though, but I'll see.. first more Infinity on Thursday then some more Bushido on Saturday.

[grampyseer]

Does anyone know how it compares to kensai?

[FatherKnowsBest]

I have a mate in England who dabbles in both systems. I'll ask him to talk about it. Maybe just get him to join this forum.

[Section9]

Does anyone know how it compares to kensai?

I'd be interested in that, too.

Though I'm more likely to just wait for Daisho, and mix&match minis.