"28mm Samurai Skirmish Rules" Topic

I'm looking for advice on which rules to use for 28mm samurai skirmish games. If you could recommend a set of rules and why it would be appreciated. I remember playing Katana to Yuri some years ago but a don't want hex driven movement. Rpthanks in advance for your suggestions.

There's this set coming out in August, which is the talk of the town lately:
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There are also complete warbands (about 10 figures each) available at Northstar Figures, that are purpose-made for Ronin:

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Edit: I play samurai skirmish using Two Hour Wargames Chain Reaction Swordplay rules (which are free and highly solitaire-suitable.)

I also here there's a Song of Blades and Heroes title (can't remember the name right off) by Ganesha Games that are popular.

Check the SAGA forums…there are adaptations of SAGA for samurai warfare in the works.

I use GWs lord of the rings rules for all my skirmish games and have never been let down. there is a LOTR variant yahoo group with very nicely done samurai lists, or you can just pick an suitable stat line out of the book. I one used the Aragorn rules for Yojimbo versus a gang of chumps. they couldn't touch him. very cinematic!

I've got these free ones on my blog.

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'Bushi No Yume' by Rich Jones (Surf Shack Productions). Whilst I haven't actually played them, I do own the rules and they look very interesting and atmospheric for the setting.

Rich has been a fanatic of Asian warfare since he was a child, so you know he has the overall accuracy correct.

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Mine are free too at: link

I recommend Naginata by Dropwing or Road to Osaka. Both are simple and flexible in play. Although maybe not as detailed as some people might like, they are very playable. I have adapted them for use with Sung, Yuan, Ming, Koryo and Choson armies.

To follow up on StCrispin's post, I think LOTR SBG is a really solid rule set for pretty much any melee-driven skirmish gaming, and in addition to that there was an article several years back (in Wargames Illustrated, I think, don't recall which issue) titled "Legends of the Rising Sun", which included warband lists for samurai, bandits, monks, and ninja.

Sorry, wish I knew the issue #, I only have a digital copy (and can't even remember where I got that…)

That said, I have to admit being interested by the forthcoming Ronin game, especially the miniatures. Also, for the Ganesha Games title, was it Flashing Steel? I had kind of thought that one was more Hollywood musketeers and pirates, but that may make it suitable to samurai as well.