Second installment of award-winning ruleset CLASH of Spears - This time in Japan's Sengoku period and the war for the Shogunate!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Sarissa Mountain Shrine Set and scenario + Free Japanese Castle up for raffle!!
almost 3 years ago
– Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 06:49:48 AM
Fighting Hedgehog has partnered with our good friends of Sarissa Precision to introduce you to their very complete line of Japanese terrain by giving you a great starting terrain set- with an original scenario to bring it to life!
This peaceful shrine on the slopes of Mount Hiei will soon come under attack of ruthless samurai forces...will the monks ring the bell in time to gather their supporters or will the fury of the Samurai lay waste to the defiant monks?
Take advantage of this great valued set with FREE SHIPPING! The set will be shipped separately to you from Sarissa Precision, without any shipping charge and with VAT included for European buyers...great way to instantly transform your wargaming table to 16th century Japan! Scenario rules will be delivered to you digitally.
The set will be available as an add-on reward. So if you want it go into your pledge and add the Mountain Shrine Packas an add-on.
CLASH of Katanas Mountain Shrine Set (comes unassembled and unpainted)
Additionally we are glad to announce we are going to be raffling a full Japanese Castle amongst all pledgers of Samurai level or above!! This will happen after close of the kickstarter and will also be free of all shipping charges...may the cherry blossoms fall in your favor!
Stretch Goal UNLOCKED - Free Katanas Card Set
almost 3 years ago
– Mon, Mar 21, 2022 at 02:31:58 PM
Wait are we at 65k? We are not...YET. But we are confident we will get there and nonetheless...we want you to have the cards!
Each CLASH of Katanas rule book will come with one full set of trait and equipment cards.
This card set will include all the traits and equipment available in CLASH of Katanas so that you do not need to open the book midgame to check on your brilliant use of your troops.
Beautifully designed and very practical, we hope they will give you as much happiness as our CLASH of spears cards did in our last Kickstarter!
With this new unlocked Stretch Goal the value for money of all pledges keeps getting better! We are extremely appreciative of your support and are looking forward to deliver you these great products that we have poured so much love into...and there are more news coming soon :)
Monks, Monks, Monks!
almost 3 years ago
– Mon, Mar 21, 2022 at 01:31:14 PM
Pledgers have been screaming for more info on the beloved Sohei Monks! So here we are giving you a faction highlight of the Ikko Ikki faction and the devout Uesugi Samurai clan that usually allies with monks too...as well as two new gameplay videos...
See the monks in action for this short combined arms example (15 mins) of a Uesugi force attacking a Hojo defended position:
For centuries Samurai lords have ruled Japan with an iron fist. Ashigaru peasants have been expected to work the land and fight the battles of their lords without hope of advancement or respite from the island’s inclement weather. But not all accept this fate, and many have formed together in self governed and spiritually minded communities, under the protection of fighting “Sohei” Monks.
As Japan is thrown into chaos by the wars of the Sengoku Jidai, these communities have risen in a “single minded revolt”, the Ikko Ikki. Still, traditional Samurai Daimyos will not accept this lightly…especially those seeking to become the next Shogun, like the mighty Oda Nobunaga. So these uprisings will soon be put to the test of victory or extinction!
The Ikko Ikki army is formed by large numbers of highly motivated but poorly equipped peasants, supported by expertly trained and usually fanatical warrior monks. While generally less armored than Samurai warbands, an Ikko Ikki force will make up for that in zeal and skill. Enemies will second guess their own resolve even before the battle begins, as they hear the monks’ powerful Nembutsu chant, and will have to incur blasphemy if they press on with intent of violence in the face of their portable shrines.
But it is not just religion and zeal that makes the Ikko Ikki dangerous. Monks were some of the first in Japan to recognize the value of the novel foreign technology. Especially due to its effectiveness in the hands of relatively untrained peasants, as opposed to the traditional Japanese bow that required years of training. So they soon acquired and learned to produce these coveted “Teppo” arquebus themselves. An Ikko Ikki force will have both units of Teppo followers and elite cadres of Teppo Monks, ready to counter the Samurai heavy armor and break Japan free of the Samurai yoke!
Troop Highlights
-Peasants: Peasants are poorly trained and equipped, but can be dangerous in large numbers!
-Followers: Still poorly equipped but highly motivated followers are fierce when in all out attack.
-Followers with Teppo: Readily available civis unit, cheaper than teppo ashigaru, but still volley trained!
-Sohei Monks: Expert fighters with Naginata , unshakable in large numbers, ready for the enemy Samurai.
-Tetsubo monks: Unique specialized troop with double handed mace…unstoppable!
-Teppo Monks: Are both expert marksmen and disciplined volley shooters. Avid users of Pavises. Probably best missile troop in Katanas that is available in large numbers (milites)
-Yumi Monks: Scarce as monks moved to adopt firearms, Yumi monks are a great support weapon
-Mounted Monks: With Naginata or Yumi, scarce and lightly armored they are best used in support
-Nuns/Mounted Nuns: While slightly weaker in combat but unmatched in courage and perseverance!
-Nembutsu chant: Take fatepoints away from your opponent by reminding them of their blasphemy!
Faction highlight UESUGI Clan
The Uesugi clan is proud and independent. Having upheld its honor even against the unified clans of Japan under the Ashikaga shogunate. But now, the Uesugi clan soars even higher under the leadership of its most famous general Uesugi Kenshin!
“The Dragon of Echigo” has proven a to be a brilliant commander who has ritually clashed with the Takeda Shingen for many years. But with the chaos of the Sengoku Jidai and the rise of clan Oda and its allies, Uesugi clan will now ally itself to its age old rival and defend its independence!
A devout Buddhist and strong traditionalist Kenshin embodies the traits of its millenary clan. As a general in CLASH of Katanas the Uesugi clan is ideal for a general who wants to fully embrace Buddhism and make good use of mixing traditional samurai troop types with fanatical warrior monks
A Uesugi commander will take advantage of Samurai resilience and armor as an anvil while exploiting the monks speed and fury as a hammer!
Troop types
-Specialized Hatamoto (foot): Budhist fanatics with samurai equipment…frightening combination!
-Traditional Samurai Cavalry: With enclosed armor and armed with Yari, Naginata or Yumi
-Traditional Foot Samurai: Elite fighters with enclosed armor and equipped with Yari, Naginata or Yumi
-Average trained Ashigaru: Well equipped with full armor and trained in Yari and Yumi
-Teppo Ashigaru: Widely available and well equipped Uesugi teppo also have the option of bringing their pavises into the battlefield!
-Untrained and support Ashigaru: Armed with shorter yaris or just katanas, ideal to bolster numbers, scout and reserves!
-Sohei Monks: Expert fanatic fighters with Naginata, only faction that can have them as "milites" and without the “ally” trait - as they are a true part of the clan.
-Teppo Monks: While more scarce than for the Ikko Ikki, the Uesugi clan is the only other faction to be able to field these expert firing squads!
KATANAS gameplay videos AND faction highlight MING Chinese!
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Mar 18, 2022 at 12:48:55 PM
Hi CLASHERS. By popular request today we want to give you an introduction to actual CLASH of Katanas gameplay AND a faction highlight of the MING Chinese. Take a look and lets us know what you'd like to see next!
If you are new to CLASH we recommend you watch this quick tutorial first of CLASH mechanics (15 mins):
And now you are ready for some short exercises in Samurai warfare! Here are two examples of how units interact with each other in CLASH of Katanas!
Samurai Cavalry charge an Ashigaru Teppo that is supported by Yari Ashigaru (10 mins):
Now let's see how things go when Cavalry attacks a larger, but unprotected, Teppo line (12 mins):
MING Chinese faction highlight!
For centuries the Ming Dynasty has ruled China and its subject state of Korea. It has always seen the upstart nation of Japan with distrust and some might say contempt. But now Japan has forgotten its place and invaded its Joseon subject, Korea, scattering the Korean militias in its wake.
The great Ming will not tolerate this and now sends its vast army to teach a harsh lesson to those uncouth barbarians, lest they forget that ancient and eternal China is the cradle of the world…
MING Chinese strategy guide and troops highlight
A Ming commander will have to excel at effective use of combined arms. With a large variety and number of missile units at its core a Ming force may sometimes feel ideal at defense, especially with its widespread use of Pavises and the presence of great support units like Spearmen and specialized shielded swordsmen to step in when the enemy closes your missile line.
But the best troops of the great Ming are actually its cavalry , which combines mobile horse archers with elite versatile cavalry. So a smart Ming general will establish strong defensive positions from where the cavalry can sally forth, harass and draw the enemy troops into its own line of missiles...where even a cannon may be waiting!
Missile troops (probably best variety in all of CLASH of Katanas)
- Bowmen: Traditional and ubiquitous weapon in China, great cadence but struggles against armor
- Crossbowmen: Great defensive weapon, slower than bows but faster than gunpowder
- Handgunners: Early gunpowder with great power but slow and with limited range
-Arquebusiers: Modern firearms provide great range and firepower, albeit still slow to recharge
- Repeating Crossbowmen: Short ranged by its inability to aim, novel repeating crossbows allow the user to fire several volleys at the enemy without having to recharge or gaining the strain of bow firing!
Combat Support troops (specialized and effective)
- Spearmen: Great support troops to protect against cavalry, although shorter length than the Japanes Nagae Yari
-Shielded Swordsmen: Elite close combat fighters, ready to jump in and protect the Ming missile line
Cavalry (high quantity , well armored and with versatile weaponry)
-Mongol and Mercenary Cavalry: Light horse archers, ideal for harassment
-Ming Hand gunners: Mobile and devastating firepower
-Ming Shock cavarly: Armed with long weapons and
-Ming Guard cavalry: Elite, heavily armored cavalry usually equipped with both Bow and Polearms!
UniqueUnits:
-Mandarin Ducks: Verstile units of combined infantry using missile and close combat weapons
-Crouching Tiger Cannon: Mobile light cannon that can be effective even in small engagements
Free PDF version of CLASH of Katanas UNLOCKED
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Mar 18, 2022 at 12:34:44 PM
That went fast! With over 20.000$ pledged in just over two hours, CLASH of Katanas is charging home...
Free PDF version of the book unlocked for all Samurai+ pledges. That way you will have both the printed and digital version of the game. And just like last time the digital version will be made available before the actual printed version arrives.
Now let's keep going for some very cool free characters!
