"Idoits wargaming guide to the Sengoku Jidai needed" Topic

I am currently in the early planning stages of my next but one project. I want to fight battles (not skirmishes) set during Sengoku Jidai and my aim is to collect and paint somewhere between a thousand and fifteen hundred 28mm figures to be able to do so – this is not a pipe dream, this is the usual scale of my projects.

I have read a few books over the years (mostly by S. Turnball) and each leaves me even more confused about samurai orders of battle and tactics than the last.

Please, I am looking for an idiots guide to war gaming big battle actions set during Sengoku Jidai, can anyone point me in the right direction.

I am also looking for the best overall narrative history of Sengoku Jidai. Please, any suggestions.

If you find it, please post it here.
All the narratives I've found will focus on the big names, but to the exclusion of the side wars going on in other parts of the islands at the same time.
Best bet would be to build say the armies of Takeda Shingen and Uesegi Kenshin for their campaigns in Shinano, or say the armnies for the Nagashino campaign.
But detailed ORBATs are rare and will only give snap shots.

For myself I'm taking more of an 'imagination' (Imagiclan?) approach. Making my own clans but keeping to reasonable balance with the army compositions. It's easier.

Buy Killer Katanas, and all the supplements.

It's worth every penny, just for the force compositions.

Listen to Lion in the Stars, and then include the "Saga of the Samurai" by Terje Solum, especially books 3, 4 and 5.

Could be worth focusing on a single battle? Such as Seikgahara link

That is a massive project mate. The time alone would be huge. Would love to see it if you do.

Another vote for Killer Katanas & supplements – the ultimate war gamers guide to this period.

I think they often fought in war of the roses style contingents, with their overlords, the overall commander at the back of all the different clan contingents.
of course things did become more complex, but keep it simple in the beginning as greater depth of knowledge for the period will come naturally as you progress with the period.
I like to portray things in mixed units with their lords, maybe keeping shot separate.
For battles I second carlos13 sekigahara is my favorite, many contingents some more loyal than others.

They basically fought in "battles". Spearmen backed up by loose order bowmen and harquebusiers. With the odd concentration of foot or mounted Samurai. Very wars of the roses. Long spears were offensive, they were not phalanx troops but fast moving charging infantry who could also repel cavalry.

One other thing to consider, at least early on is something like Kensei's rules because they're, well, free. Decent starting point anyway.

For picking a clan, you might also want to take a glance at something like Ronin or the like, painting a small number with different clan schemes and emblems before picking one you like and want to go with.

The osprey books on Samurai and other things are great bits for different things as well.

If you are painting up a thousand or more minis it would also ve wise to consider availability of transfer sheets for heraldry. I paint some of mine, but that's only for units with maybe a few dozens at most.

Another vote for Killer Katanas and the supplements.
auction

For civil wars, I think the best thing publishers can do to make easy on the reader is put one side's forces and commanders in italics; I've had problems making sense of Turnbull's (and other Japanese histories) books too, and the same thing with ACW, TYW, ECW etc.

Do the Killer Katanas book cite any sources?

Turnbull was the 'Samurai guy' for a while but I've found that most books are really just skimming the surface and they tend to repeat themselves. I've just started delving into other authors.

What other Authors if you don't mind sharing Mathias.

Yes Killer Katanas cites sources (including Turnbull), some are books made by Japanese (and in Japanese). An important work is the Gaken Rekishi Gunzo series (more than 70 volumes), but also only in Japanese.

I have a similar project in the works.. I have the figures, just slowly doing the painting to reach the critical mass for the really big battles..

I wrote an intro piece for Wargames Soldier Strategy magazine last year, this included the Battle of Domyoji in 1615. These battle is part of a campaign and I used the article to discuss the period futher and the wargaming options – brief reports on the game and pics here link and here link

I also have a set of rules 'War & Conquest' link written for the Ancient and Medieval period, but as Samurai and Hoplites are among the periods I am interested in, there was plenty of play testing using both. link

Army lists are FREE online on the forum (use the links above)

Its a fascinating period, Turnbulls books have improved as he has dug further into his research, Belgian Ray makes great other references, buy them, including KK.. Some Gakken include English text, but its hit and miss. I don't have all of them by any stretch (sadly)

Welcome aboard!

kind regards
Rob
scarabminiatures.com
warandconquest.co.uk

I have about 500 1:72 plastics from Red Box and Zvezda for my project, and I'm focusing on the various Kawanakajima campaigns.

Evalerio has posted some truly inspiring/informative material on previous posts, even breaking down how troops would line up. Not able to find any links at the moment, but have a look through some of the older posts and you'll see how awesome his comments are!!

This was the post I was thinking of:

TMP link

I remember that article Scarb. I pretty sure I bought the digital copy of that WSS mostly for that article.

I've taken a look at War and Conquest Samurai list (I bought the rules). And must say I was quite impressed. Hope the mension of "Divine Wind" is still a work in progress because, yes, you rally need some different things in the rules to get the "feel" of the period and clan warfare.

Belgian Ray – Yes that's all still in progress.. (although on temporary halt while I finish something else) and yes the clans all need a little something. DW had lots of that, now revisiting so it meets the needs of War & Conquest

We have had a number of Samurai battles using the basic list, and they get very bloody!!

I have also almost finished one of several Korean lists.

If you are in the US or at Historicon, Wargames Factory are planning a promotion of War & Conquest with their plastic Samurai figure sets, which are a great way to start building an army.
We also have similar deals in our webstore.

Thanks Carlos – its a fun scenario, the links above will take you to the battles we fought using it.

kind regards

Rob
scarabminiatures.com
warandconquest.co.uk