It was great to not only have our second game since the latest lock-down lifting, but also to finally get some of the Japanese miniatures and terrain finally on the table.

It turned out that only Steve N turned up but this allowed us to really get to have a good look at the TOH rules without the pressure of running a game for lots of people.

I had decided to use the original basic rules and the Battle Guide scenarios. The Battle Guide has a series of connected scenarios that form a mini campaign, and I thought this was ideal as it allowed us to have a look at the post game campaign system as well.

Battle 1: First Clash

Two young Samurai from rival clans have met by chance on the road. Each intended to stop for shelter and to pray at a small roadside shrine, but having arrived at the same time neither is willing to back down and make way for the other.

Heated words are exchanged, families insulted, and soon swords are unsheathed.

The only honourable course is to strike down the upstart who has disparaged your good name!

My Mori Clan forces preparing to face the dastardly Oda clan.

The identical Oda Clan of Steve.

Oda clan move forward.

Oda archer shoot first but misses.

The return fire from the glorious Mori archers takes him down.

Oda clan spearmen charge into close combat taking down a Mori warrior.

Revenge is sweet as they Mori spearmen reciprocate.

The Samurai leaders finally face each other……………………….

The Mori leader is taken down but is carried away by his followers to fight another day or should I say, again in five minutes when we set up the next game!

Battle 2: Seize the outpost.

My wounds had healed, but the humiliation of defeat still stings and I have been waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge! I have tracked my foe to a small outpost that he is guarding on behalf of his clan. This will be an ideal opportunity as he believes the task is beneath him and is not taking his orders seriously. seizing the outpost will teach him a lesson and cause him to lose face with his superiors!

I chose three spear armed groups and a Sergeant that would allow a spearmen group to use a free action each turn to charge. Finally I spent two more points giving my Samurai leader a bow as well as his trusty katana.

Steve also chose three groups of spearmen and two two archers.

Only 10 points including his Samurai could start on the table leaving a spearmen group and the two archers off table to arrive later.

The archers moved on table on my left flank and shot, taking down a spearmen.

I quickly loaded my bow and first took one of them down……………………….

followed by the second in two consecutive actions.

The Oda spearmen were trying to block me from entering the outpost and seizing the objectives.

Eventually they were forced back with each of us in control of one objective. We called this a draw but we forgot to look at the values on the back of the objectives which would have determined a winner!

After discussing the game we realised that we played a few rules wrong which we will rectify for next time.

A great fun game that gives an excellent period feel. Bring on the next one.