Bushido Best of the Web #2 and Other Game Updates

I got another Bushido Best of the Web for my recent Bushido board, checkout the link. You can see I did the usual elevated legs feature so there is room for cards, books, figs under the board and it generally makes it nicer to sit and look at, even with LOS checking. I had to spend a lot of time with the trim cut outs around the water features and I definitely learned a few ways to do this better next time, when it comes to trim and finishing.

I hang out on the Bushido the Game group on Facebook, if you are looking for an active, fun scene for all things Bushido. Join us!

I talked with Odin at GCT about the board, which was really, really cool (thanks Odin!) and I used the voucher I got from him to order some 4Ground hovels for the board, which should be sweet and in shortly. I have been wanting to build a board with "teddy bear fur" for some time, so I can start by playing with the fur roofs 4Ground supplies, meant to look like hay or thatch.

Let's see, what else have I been up to?

I made a pig sty for Bushido. Why? Why isn't everyone, really? It is a simple piece that adds difficult terrain, breaks LOS and adds theme. Don't know why but the second I got into Bushido I said I am building a sty. My buddy John said I need to make a drunk villager in there with the pigs. I think I will.

40K: Been played 8th and really loving it, but like a lot of things, not playing it enough. Trying to cast up some custom Chimera turrets and build out two non-heavy weapon squads for some lower point/high-agility objective takers. Oh! Both are armed with Plasma Rifles, having been sent to me as a gift by my buddy Major Downer over at the Imperial Guard Message Boards. If you play Guard in 40k, go check out that community. Thanks for the figs, Major!!!

40K Defense Line: I bought the Imperial Redoubt to go with this old set of Forge World defense line I have had forever. Not really into finishing this all at once but I am chipping away at it. So much Nuln Oil...

Valhallan artillery tractor: This is a Dust model lightly modded to be a light errand lorry. Again, this is a theme piece and looks good with the Valhallans, especially equipped with a handy snow plow for managing the airfields of Hammerfall V.

Scatter stowage/containers: My buddy Joe at Rocketship games offers 3D printed terrain and this set is particularly awesome for 40k, so I did up a set. Joe has a Kickstarter running called Kolony, you should check out. It features great printable terrain suitable for 40K and Infinity. I backed it, so should you!

Valhallan Barracks: I added in some DUST quansets as barracks to boot, easy adds and really dress the board well. Note that I used super glue to add acetate windows, simply letting the fumes of the glue "frost" the windows. I love efficiency. You could also spray the acetate with Dullcote but this was faster and more fun just to see the random frost patterns set up. 

I also snagged a Banebalde kit for US$75 which I should probably build soon. The club usually has an Apocalypse game in January. I guess I should order a second set of sponsons? Gotta get the new Codex to see what load outs there are.

Strange Aeons: Picked up some classic Ral Partha Vampires! I remember lusting after these at the Willow Grove Mall in Pennsylvania in the 90's. glad I finally got my hands on them for Strange Aeons games, not that anybody has a Threshold team strong enough to cope with the Nightstalkers.

Stuffed Fables: I am dying to get this game and paint up that stuff. So, hopefully soon. PDF of rules are free online already! Check it out at Plaid Hat Studios

Imperial Assault: With Legion looming in the distance it is easy to forget I have a lot of IA to paint and play with. At a family function I got into a conversation about Legion killing IA; I don't think it is going to happen, if anything, Legion may drawn in players that don't end up caring much for the scope and hobby demands of Legion games and maybe they go IA, and enjoying that much more. We'll see. I will likely want to start the IA queue for this after I see Last Jedi (got my tix already!)

Robotech: I haven't done much here but pulled out the last of the Regults I need to do to get the base missions going. Looking forward to playing this and painting up some Zentradi female power armor too. I have had this game too damn long to not have played it. Sigh.

As always, follow me on Instagram for more frequent posts on Yeti doings: sarcophagi_yetisyell

Hope ya'll are productive and having fun!

Best,

Yeti

Bushido: Batrep and Pics from the Seigyo Scenario

Here are pics from our latest Bushido game, the scenario called Seigyo, page 12 of the Bushido Tournament pack.

We ran 35 rice each, Pete bringing his awesome Silvermoon and I, Ito. Note that I ran 2 Temple Bushi and used my Chiyo model as one of them (though having Chiyo's Leap would have been great.)

This mission had 3 neutral idols mid field and required simple actions to worship them and take control of them. Enemy-aligned idols could be worshiped to be neutralized, then worshiped again to take control. Players with most friendly idols got 1VP at the ends of turns 2, 4 and 6. The game ends on turn 6. We were tied for VP's until turn 6.

Scenario set up

Ito Left and Silvermoon, Right

Both factions close rapidly to secure Idols before the end of turn two. It seemed like many of Pete's Silvermoon Roses were incredibly hard to target and engage as they had an ability to blend in as civilians and not be noticed. Silvermoon kept trying to seduce my Ito but by pure luck I resisted their charms most of the game.

Temple Bushi runs to the bamboo trees and eyes the lone Silvermoon Rose praying at the idol, which slowly turns towards their favor.

Itsunagi stands atop the koi pond as Senpu charges in. Itsunagi channels his Ki and uses Cobra Strike for Lightning Reflexes to kill Senpu first, tiring him from the combat but leaving him fairly unopposed.

View from the Ito line

Akimoto crosses the midfield to tempt an attack from the hiding Silvermoon as a Temple Bushi and Sakura control the middle idol. Itsunagi dispatches the petulant child Sukoshi Kani who threw down a makibishi in front of the idol, while the Temple Bushi moves to engage one of the Roses. Again the Rose Tsubaki tries Seduction but it did not work.

The Temple Bushi interrogates the Rose to no avail. Itsunagi isn't buying it but defends the idol as the sun sets in the sky...

Now the bodies are hitting the ground as the game leans into the last turn, still tied on VP's. A Temple Bushi is killed at the middle Idol and Sakura becomes Stupid. The solo Rose moves towards the middle Ito idol to make an end-game run at it. The lone Bushi tries to block the Rose near Itsunagi.

Silvermoon threaten the middle Idol Sakura and Akimoto defend. Saukra is killed by a Rose who is in turn beheaded on a combo attack by a wrathful Itsunagi, who shores up the middle Idol and controls his breathing as Tsubaki attempts Seduction to no avail.

The final Rose closes in to neutralize the tie breaking Ito idol as Akimoto furiously plays his mystical drum in an attempt to scare her away. A tired Itsunagi rolls his shoulders and scowls at her.

The Temple Bushi lends a hand to wipe out The Rose only after Itsunagi bloodied her. Ito is left standing as a sole survivor but the game is a draw on VP's thanks to the last Rose neutralizing the middle idol in the face of the exhausted Ito!

The take aways with this game are simple and complex. The fixed turns and cost of actions to control the idols means there is a fair amount of nuanced movement, positioning, blocking, foils and activation as much as there is controlled but very violent and conclusive fighting. 

In Bushido it is all about staying rested and making the enemy tire out before you do. Even as games become lopsided from casualties it is not over, as more desperate but more powerful abilities come off the leash as moderation becomes a detriment. Just when you think you have a clear line to charge and slash an opponent good, somebody knicks you from the side, you become tired or exhausted and the window closes. It lends itself to the "whoosh" of a martial arts brawl, not to mention the "betting" mechanic of rolling all attacks and defenses of both players simultaneously. 

Pete is a hell of a player and sportsman. He is teaching me a lot every game so the credit really goes to him for a clean, enjoyable and teachable experience. Bushido really is an exciting and different game. Try it out if you can. 

Bushido: Ito Idol/Shrine to Orochi

Since GCT has not made models for their excellent faction deck Terrain elements yet (to my knowledge), I made one myself. I used a BONES fountain and a WoW snake I picked up at the FLGS, Redcap's Corner for about US$5.00 total.

If you know the original models it is clear what I did. I had to carve out the basin so the LED light can show through the resin and I added two pillars on either side of the base to continue the vertical style and also catch some of the glow.

I finished it with the same painting as I used on my scratch-built objective tokens with the moss treatments.

The stream of water is silicone teased out on wax paper and then attached to the mouth using silicone again. The basin is filled with Envirotex resin, untinted. The bases are two parts of a LED tealight that I covered with Apoxy Sculpt and textured by rolling the fresh putty over stone pavement (same for the additional pillars mentioned above.)

You can still twist the LED halves to activate it or if you don't want a glowing fountain, simply remove the bottom and LED underclasp light for a smaller, "normal" fountain.

Bushido: "The Messenger" Batrep Pics

"Prepare for flight, little Bushi..."

Not sure why I never posted these before but here they are, pics from one of our last games of Bushido. This was on my buddy Pete's fine village board and it was a straight box set fight to the death, set to the tone of The Messenger scenario from the Tournament Pack, his Silvermoon Syndicate vs my Clan Ito.

My blurry Ito

Pete's better-lit and beautiful Silvermoon Syndicate

Game start

Forces spread out and advance in

Chiyo starts sprinting to the Torii gate to intercept an incoming Syndicate thug, while the rest of the Ito try to deny flank.

Syndicate set their attack as the Sumo stomps towards the market where the Ito stand ready.

Sakura curses the Sumo with venom enough during the game that it probably had more to do with his death than katanas did.

The Temple Bushi attacks the Sumo who seems to only wince at the swordstrike and then proceeds to body slam the Bushi across the square into a fishmongers hut, as Itsunagi saunters forward rolling his shoulders...

... and then totally dissects the Sumo, but not without getting hurt himself. Itsunagi has so many abilities that it takes time to process what works best and so, requires use to get familiarity.

 Flankers which had gone out from both forces as secret and real messengers bluffing their way up the board got intercepted and absorbed into the middle meat of the fight.A Silvermoon crossbowman comes in and displaces the Ito as they swarm around a rallying but wounded Bushi, who had been thrown by the Sumo.

Ito intercept a suspected messenger making for the board edge while Itsunagi warily watches the other Syndicate walking towards him.

Throwing his rice bowl into the air, he eviscerated Itsunagi before the shirtless wonder could say "Blood or Orichi". Catching the bowl when the Ito champion collapsed to the cobblestones, he chuckled and walked towards the faltering Ito line.

In the end Pete's true messenger made a run for the endzone. Sakura tries to poison lithe woman as she breaks through...

... but was caught and slain by Akimoto, who had enough energy left to catch and kill her then promptly go into a forest-burning drum solo of the gods! Ito wins! Great game!