SAMURAIBATTLES

SAMURAI BATTLES
TM
COMMANDS & COLORS SCENARIO BOOKLET BY RICHARD BORG
First Samurai Skirmish
The “First Samurai Skirmish” is a non-historical scenario expressly designed to introduce you and a friend to the basics of
Samurai warfare using the Commands & Colors rules.
This is the format that we will be using for the Commands & Colors scenarios. The scenario map shows where terrain, units,
and leaders are positioned. In this area, there normally will be a brief recap of the battle and other historical information.
Directly below are the scenario’s battle notes, which detail the starting player, the number of Command cards, the number
of Honor & Fortune tokens, and the number of Dragon cards each player receives at the start of the battle. The notes also list
the number of victory banners needed to gain victory and any special rules that apply to the battle.
Welcome to the age of Samurai Battles and enjoy!
Richard Borg
A2
x5
x3
x5
B2
SAMURAI ARMY
C2
Victory Banners
Ashigaru
Circle Standard
Shot Unit
5
Samurai
Square Standard
Infantry Unit
Hill Terrain
Tile
Move First
Ashigaru
Circle Standard
Bow Unit
Cavalry
Leader
Infantry
Leader
Forest
Terrain Tiles
Ashigaru
Triangle Standard
Spear Unit
D2
x5
Samurai
Square Standard
Cavalry Unit
x3
Samurai Army (Red)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 5
x5
E2
SAMURAI ARMY
Samurai Army (Yellow)
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 5
Victory - 5 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for
each unit or leader
eliminated.
Figures in Unit
F2
Victory Banners
Special Rules
• None
5
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
2
Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - phase 1 Uesugi Vanguard Attacks
The battles of Kawanakajima is the story of two powerful clans each at the limits of their geographical power, but neither
clan in the first three battles were willing to commit and therefore resulted in indecisive encounters. In 1561, Uesugi Kenshin
marched to Kawanakajima determined to bring the fight to Takeda Shingen for a final and decisive battle. A series of
signal-fires, however, alerted Shingen of Kenshin’s advance and he ordered his army to mobilize.
The two evenly matched armies were again in a very familiar position, until Yamamoto Kansuke, one of Shingen’s most
trusted generals, proposed a plan called “Operation Woopecker” which called for a flanking move and attack on the rear
of the Uesugi army. Shingen approved, but Kenshin suspected something and after detaching a force to guard his flank,
ordered his vanguard to attack the Takeda army that had crossed the Chikumagawa. As dawn broke, Takeda Nobushige,
Shingen’s younger brother, was shocked to find that the Uesugi army was not retiring as planned, but was charging forward
toward his vanguard.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x5
x3
x6
B2
UESUGI ARMY
C2
5
F2
5
Hirotsuna
Kageie
Nobushige
D2
x5
x2
Uesugi Samurai Army (Red)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 6
x4
E2
TAKEDA ARMY
Takeda Samurai Army (Yellow)
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 4
Victory - 5 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for
each unit or leader
eliminated.
Special Rules
• None
3
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - phase 2 Yamamoto Kansuke Charge
The Uesugi troops were deployed in a “Winding Wheel” formation as their forces advanced. This tactical formation allowed
their front line units to be replaced by fresh troops as the forces moved forward. While the Takeda units, deployed in a
“Crane Wing” formation and could not bring units forward as quickly.
Yamamoto Kansuke, seeing his army being pushed back, realized that “Operation Woodpecker” had failed. Accepting
responsibility, he charged forward into the Uesugi lines in true Samurai fashion. He fought bravely until overcome by
wounds and finally withdrew to commit seppuku.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x5
x3
x8
B2
UESUGI ARMY
5
C2
Kageie
Hirotsuna
Masatoyo
Bungo-no-kami
Kansuke
D2
x5
x2
Uesugi Samurai Army (Red)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 8
x5
E2
TAKEDA ARMY
Takeda Samurai Army (Yellow)
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 5
5
F2
Victory - 5 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for
each unit or leader
eliminated.
Special Rules
• None
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
4
Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - Phase 3 Attack against the Takeda Command Tent
The Uesugi troops had pushed forward and were in sight of Takeda Shingen’s command tent. Shingen, unaware the enemy
was so close, had been directing the battle when his headquarters and bodyguard were attacked. Not having time to draw
his sword Shingen defended himself with his war-fan. Samurai rushed to aid Shingen and the assault on the Takeda
command tent was repulsed.
Elsewhere, the Tekeda battle line managed to hold against the fierce rotating attacks of the Uesugi army. The cost, however,
was great as many brave Samurai leaders would fall in an effort to maintain the line.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x5
x3
x8
UESUGI ARMY
B2
C2
6
Tokashi
Kakizaki
Kenshin
Katsunaga
Nobukie
Saburohei
Shingen
Comander’s Unit
Command Tent
Chikumagawa River
D2
x5
Uesugi Samurai
Army (Red)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 8
x3
x9
E2
Takeda Samurai
Army (Yellow)
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 9
TAKEDA ARMY
F2
Victory - 6 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for each unit or leader
eliminated.
• If your enemy’s Command Tent hex is not
occupied at any time, the camp hex is removed
from the battlefield and placed on your
Samurai Victory Record card. The Command Tent
is worth three Victory Banners. If your
command tent is captured, you must discard one
of your Command cards, selected at random.
6
Special Rules
• The Chikumagawa
River is impassable
except at the three
river fords.
5
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - Phase 4 Ford of Amenomiya
Through the night, the flanking force of “Operation Woodpecker” under the command of Kosaka had ascended Mt. Saijo
only to find that the Uesugi troops had abandoned the position. Hearing the sound of battle, Kosaka quickly moved to the
ford of Amenomiya, which was guarded by Amakasu Omi-no-kami Kagemochi, one of Kenshin’s most reliable generals, and
a small detachment of men.
The fighting was fierce as the Uesugi rearguard was almost wiped out trying in vain to stop the crossing. When Kosaka
and his men did cross the Chikumagawa the stage was set for a dramatic turn of fortunes, for Nobutaka’s “Operation
Woodpecker” plan would surprise Kenshin and his army.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x6
x4
x7
B2
UESUGI ARMY
6
C2
Kagemochi
Chikumagawa River
Saburohei
Kosaka
D2
x5
Uesugi Samurai
Army (Red)
Command Cards 6
Dragon Cards 4
Honor & Fortune 7
x2
x7
E2
Takeda Samurai
Army (Yellow)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 7
TAKEDA ARMY
F2
Victory - 6 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for each unit or leader
eliminated.
• At the start of each Takeda player’s turn, each
Takeda unit, excluding leaders, that is on the
Uesugi side of the Chikumagawa River counts
as 1 Victory Banner. As long as the unit remains
on that side of the river, it continues to count.
If the unit is eliminated or retreats back to the
Takeda side of the river, it no longer counts as a
Victory Banner.
6
Special Rules
• The Chikumagawa
River is impassable
except at the three
river fords.
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
6
Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - Phase 5 Takeda Pincer Attack
By midday Kosaka’s flanking force was across the Chikumagawa and charged into the rear of the Uesugi army. Caught
between Kosaka from the rear and Shingen, who had reformed the Takeda battle line, to their front, the Uesugi army began
to fall back. Nobutaka’s “Operation Woodpecker” plan had turned what looked like a defeat into a Takeda victory.
Both sides had suffered an incredible number of casualties, and a lot of heads were to be viewed in Shingen’s triumphant
head-viewing ceremony.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x5
x2
x9
B2
UESUGI ARMY
6
C2
Chikumagawa
River
Kenshin
Comander’s Unit
Command Tent
Kosaka
Katsunaga
Nobukie Saburohei
D2
x6
Uesugi Samurai
Army (Red)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 9
x2
x10
E2
Takeda Samurai
Army (Yellow)
Command Cards 6
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 10
TAKEDA ARMY
F2
Victory - 6 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for each unit or leader
eliminated.
• If your enemy’s Command Tent hex is not
occupied at any time, the camp hex is removed
from the battlefield and placed on your
Samurai Victory Record card. The Command
Tent is worth three Victory Banners. If your
command tent is captured, you must discard
one of your Command cards, selected at
random.
6
Special Rules
• The Chikumagawa
River is impassable
except at the two
river fords.
7
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
Domyoji 1615 - Heights of Komatsuyama
Goto Mototsugu, leading the vanguard of a large Osaka army, had already crossed the Ishikawa River early in the morning
of June 3. When his scouts reported that the Tokugawa Army was moving towards the Heights of Komatsuyama, Goto
made a dash to take the heights, determined to make a stand at the top of Komatsuyama until the rest of the Osaka army
could arrive.
Goto and the vanguard managed to hold for some time against strong enemy attacks, but in the morning fog the Osaka
army was not making much headway and relief never came. During one of the attacks, Goto is shot, and he committed
seppuku. Outnumbered and their leader lost, the Osaka vanguard retired back across the Ishikawa.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x4
x2
x9
OSAKA ARMY
B2
Sanada Yukimura
Comander’s Unit
Command Tent
6
C2
Susukida
Ishikawa River
Goto
Kaimio
Summit of Komatsuyama
Masamune
Katsushige
Tadaaki
Tadamasa
D2
x6
Osaka Samurai
Army (Red)
Command Cards 4
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 9
x3
x8
E2
Tokugawa Samurai
Army (Yellow)
Move First
Command Cards 6
Dragon Cards 3
Honor & Fortune 8
Special Rules
• The Ishikawa River is impassable except
at the three river fords.
TOKUGAWA ARMY
F2
6
Victory - 6 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for each unit or leader eliminated.
• The player’s army that occupies more hill hexes than his opponent
gains 1 Victory Banner. At the start of the battle, the Osaka army
receives this Victory Banner. Check who occupies hill hexes at the
start of each player’s turn. If an army loses the majority, it loses the
Victory Banner.
• If your enemy’s Command Tent hex is not occupied at any time, the
camp hex is removed from the battlefield and placed on your
Samurai Victory Record card. The Command Tent is worth three
Victory Banners. If your command tent is captured, you must discard
one of your Command cards, selected at random.
Samurai Battles
Commands & Colors
8
Domyoji 1615 - Battle Among the Tombs
As the Tokugawa army was making their way across the river in pursuit of the remaining Osaka forces from the Heights of
Komatsuyama, the fog cleared to reveal the entire Osaka army still blundering forward.
On the Osaka left was Susukida Kanesuke. Susukida, who was in disgrace at the time of the battle, charged forward near the
tomb of Emperor Ingyo and fought valiantly and died in an attempt to redeem his honor. Fighting is also fierce on the right,
where Date Masamune, in the area of Emperor Ojin’s Tomb, attacked Sanada Yukimura, in command of the Osaka Army.
Having lost two powerful leaders, Sanada Yukimura decided to retreat towards Osaka Castle. Tokugawa Tadateru, the sixth
son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is given the order to pursue Sanada’s force, but refuses to obey and the Osaka army withdrew in
fairly good order.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
A2
x5
x2
x8
B2
OSAKA ARMY
5
C2
Sanada
Kaimio
Susukida
Tomb
of Emperor Ojin
Tomb
of Emperor Ingyo
Kitagawa
Tadamasa
Katsushige
Masamune
Ishikawa River
D2
x5
6413/A
x2
x8
E2
Osaka Samurai
Army (Red)
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 8
Tadaaki
TOKUGAWA ARMY
Tokugawa Samurai
Army (Yellow)
Move First
Command Cards 5
Dragon Cards 2
Honor & Fortune 8
Victory - 5 Banners
• 1 Victory Banner for each unit or leader eliminated.
F2
5
Special Rules
• The Ishikawa River is impassable
except at the three river fords.
• The building terrain hexes represent
tombs and are treated as impassable
terrain in this battle.