Post-Mongol Samurai 1300AD-1542AD (Book IV/59a)

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Army Consist

Element Description of Troops
1x3Cv or 4Bd (Gen) Samurai General
1x3Cv Mounted Samurai
6x4Bd Samurai
3x3Ax Ashigaru
1x3Bw Samurai with Bow
Camp Followers Japanese Baggage Train

This list covers Japanese armies from the aftermath of the Mongol invasions until the battle of Tenno-ji, the last pitched battle between armies of Samurai.

Traditionally, the Samurai on the battlefield had one purpose, that being to make his combat prowess as well known to the Daimyo as possible. To accomplish this, the Samurai would often wear elaborately decorated and colorful armor, handed down through generations, in the hopes that his family would gain the favor of the ruling Shogunate.

Thus, the goal in painting this army became to make each of the figures as unique an individual as possible. The Two Dragons line of Samurai 15mm figures are very nicely proportioned, with a large amount of surface detail and very detailed armor for their size. They also had the merit of a wide variety of poses and figures, covering both the Samurai and their support troops.

There is generally no unified color scheme among the Samurai for this reason, although since Daimyo were known to have adopted consistent armor decoration in a few cases historically, I selected a more uniformed appearance for the Cavalry and the Bows.

Unlike more traditional (and historically accurate) Samurai armies, the back banners do not contain a simple symbolized representation of the Clan. They instead mimic a more spiritual Japanese tradition calligraphic wards protecting the warriors in battle. The clan name "Enrai" means "Distant Thunder", and the clan's motto, is a traditional Japanese proverb meaning "Earthquakes, thunder, fires, fathers", said to compare Japanese fathers with other things which are generally feared.

My only general complaint with the Two Dragons figures was that they were very poorly cast in a lot of circumstances. Many of the packs that I purchased had horrible flash and some very deformed faces, split along the mold line. Still, with some work they cleaned up reasonably well and made for a very dynamic army.

Samurai General [1x3Cv or 4Bd (Gen)]

The Samurai General can be fielded as either Cavalry or Blade. Note the back banner and large banner on the cavalry side with the Clan name in red (Enrai) and the motto in white. Also, the blade element with the banner bearing the motto in black on white.

Also note the poor guy on foot ... I couldn't resist the idea that some poor guy had been given the job of trying to run along with the cavalry charge, dragging the banner of the clan along with him, just because the Daimyo liked it that way.

Mounted Samurai [1x3Cv]

Some of the more gorgeous Two Dragons figures here. A personal favorite is the guy leaning forward and looking to his right. The expression on his face is priceless. Also, this is the only firearm you'll see in the army, since the army's just barely edging into the time period where they would have been used.

Samurai [6x4Bd]

The core of the army, the Samurai warriors. Represented here by a wide number of fighting styles, from monk-like devotion to Judo and Aikido, to the fighting styles with Yari and Naginata, to the classic Kendo.

Ashigaru [3x3Ax]

The secret strength of the army, the Ashigaru were any assorted mercenaries or locals which could bolster the Samurai's ranks. They could represent loyal and well-equipped peasantry, Ronin, or troops mustered at the last minute or from lower social status. Their abilities in bad terrain are often underestimated.

Samurai with Bow [1x3Bw]

While the number of bow troops was greatly reduced in DBA 2.0, the one that remains is a reasonably good bad going flank-guard. He's also extremely useful for dropping into the camp if you're worried about a Light Horse attack behind your lines. The extra was a leftover, as painting on this army was being completed just as DBA 2.0 was changing the list.

Japanese Baggage Train [Camp Followers]

This was a simple baggage camp, made with a few of the excellent baggage handler figures from Two Dragons. It's designed to have the handlers be removable in case the camp is overrun, but I'm still playing with ideas for it. Eventually I'll probably pull the figs rebuild the camp altogether.

Please send any comments/criticisms/corrections to webmeisterzeke@att.net

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This page was last updated on February 5th, 2008 at 03:07 PM