"Battle of Ichi no Tani (Gempei War) Play Test" Topic

My buddy and I had a play test game today based on the Battle of Ichi no Tani; a pivotal battle during the Gempei War in the late 12th Century between the Taira and Minamoto clans. Being a small skirmish game with home-brewed rules based loosely on WAB, this of course is a microcosm of the actual battle which involved several thousand per side. It was fought on a beachhead and the Taira narrowly escaped by sea. The play test went well and the actual game will be hosted at a one-day event next Saturday at historic Fort Steilacoom in WA State. Here's a link to photos with a quick write up of the game. Apologies up front for some unpainted (yet primed) figures – they only arrived the day before in the mail. Hope you like it. Regards, Dean

Excellent! Glad to see some early samurai action as it lends itself well to heroic skirmish. The boats and buildings look great – scratch-built? I remember seeing a Discovery or History channel doc concentrating on Minamoto Yoshitsune which had an artist's 3D computer model impression of the Ichi-No-Tani fort.

I think I recognise TAG and perhaps some Dixon figures? Love the Minamoto banner with the Hachiman doves emblem. You might be interested in using the Taira banner below for a bit of variety.

picture

It's based on a fragment of a hata-jirushi in the Hudaraku-ji temple in Kamakura and bears the invocation 'Kyuman-Hassengunshin' meaning '98,000 War Gods' – unfortunately they don't seem to have helped the Heike cause much! The banner reconstruction was used in the 2005 NHK taiga drama "Yoshitsune".

Hope to see some photos from the Fort Steilacoom event and please do post your rules.

Oh, I've just found your earlier blog posts and my questions answered. Very inspiring stuff!

Mike

Great stuff Dean. One of my back burner projects is to recreate the Battle of Dan-no-ura as portrayed in Kwaidan. Your game re-inspires me.
Paul

Great job Dean!

Ted

Thanks, Gents!

Mike:

You certainly know the period! I've not seen that Taira banner before – looks like one to use. Oh, and I hope I can find that Discovery Channel special (maybe on You Tube) Most of the figures are indeed TAG, with some 1st Corps & Curteys also. Thanks again! Dean

Looks great Dean!

I want to point out there are some fabulously painted Kingsford Miniatures in the bottom photo! Just for the historical record of course!

Ever biased,
David
kingsfordminiatures.org

David:

Thanks! I forgot about those excellent Kingsford Sohei! Apologies, Dean

Dean: Nothing that has Sohei in it can be bad. TIG

Hi Dean,

I've got that documentary on DVD somewhere so I'll try to find it and put an extract on Youtube if you don't locate it elsewhere. The reconstruction of Ichi-no-tani fort was, of course, largely speculative with probably over-elaborate buildings similar to that 17th century screen on your blog (related pair of folding screens in the British Museum, London depicting Ichi-no-tani and Yashima link ). But I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't yet another patronising, superficial Samurai TV offering of the Sengoku-jidia overlaid with Edo period myth and inaccuracy (my pet hate…)

That NHK "Yoshitsune" serial was quite good; have you seen the whole thing? Must admit that although the Gempei War is my favourite Japanese era I think the best NHK drama was the 2001 "Hojo Tokimune" covering the Mongol invasions which seemed to have a much bigger budget.

YouTube link

These are just some personal impressions and suggestions of Ichi-no-tani based on reading the Heike Monogatari. In your test setup it seems the Taira semi-circular defense perimeter is facing the sea but that's not where the attacks were expected from. The accounts left me with impression the Taira had their stockade barriers facing north east and south west against the beach approaches with the cliff and sea sides left open.

Perhaps you could enhance the Taira base with some red maku/ibaku camp curtains as seen in the NHK drama?

Regards,
Mike

Mike:

That would be quite wonderful if you did add it to You Tube (if not too difficult or troublesome).

I actually watched that Hojo clip recently (when searching for the Ichi no Tani stuff). I agree it is really done well, and the props are impressive. I also agree the Yoshitsune series (what I've watched on You Tube – again) is great, but really a made-for-TV drama. Neat stuff all around, though.

Oh, and I was going to do up some red camp curtains too. I still might, but for the game it would quickly get torn & trampled

Thanks again, Dean

That's pretty inspiring! How did you model the watercraft?

Skeptic:

Thanks; for the three smaller craft I started with wooden pirate ship kits from Jo-Anns picture ($1.99 each).

I used the "hull" portion and added cut popsicle sticks for the deck, and shaped balsa wood (also from Jo-Anns) for the prow. I carved out a "V" where the prop attaches to the bow of the hull; glued on it's quite solid. Finally, thin balsa wood was cut and the forward portion curved by heating in a microwave while wrapped in a wet paper towel (basically a steaming process). These pieces were added for the top portion of the hull. Here's what they looked like being built: link

The larger (based) vessel is a laser-cut wooden kit that I picked up while stationed in Korea several years ago. It's actually a Korean type of ship, and probably about 1:150 scale, but a decent stand-in for the game.

Dean