G35 SURIAGEHARA 1589 AD

The Ashina opening assault by general Tomita Shougen overwhelmed the Date front line destroying the Date Samurai and Ashigaru spearmen and killing general Inawashiro Morikuni. The damaged arquebusiers retreated. The mounted samurai of general Matsumoto Genbei poured into the gap trying to ride down anything he could reach. Already things looked to be going badly wrong (0-3)) for the Date clan, but could this be a cunning trap set by the Date?

As Tomita Shougen led his victorious samurai forward, he was caught in a deadly crossfire of arquebus fire and his unit gunned down, also killing Tomita. General Date Masamune led his cavalry forward to destroy the previously victorious Ashina cavalry making it 3-3. Much honour was lost as Matsumoto fled to the rear to join an Ashigaru spear unit.

Once again, the Date firepower from their arquebusiers blasted the Ashina samurai infantry unit of general Sasase Kawauchi allowing it to be finished off in combat along with its general. Meanwhile General Ashina Yoshihiro led his samurai cavalry forward to destroy Date Masamune's pursuing cavalry. Ashina Yoshihiro and his victorious cavalry crashed into the Date Ashigaru spearmen of general Katahira Chikatsuna and eliminated them (5-5). But could this be another cunning Date trap?

With a Leadership card general Date Shigezane led his cavalry off the hill and with general Katahira Chikatsuna's samurai in support plus a unit of Ashigaru spearmen they all hit the pursuing cavalry Ashina Yoshihiro. Sounds like overkill but the Date would need every dice to finish off Ashina Yoshihiro. The Date samurai units, each with a general rolled a bucket of dice but could not finish Yoshihiro, who managed to damage both of his assailants in return. With one block left and still led by their heroic leader, could they yet pull off a miracle? There was one combat to play out with the Ashigaru spearmen still to strike and strike they did. A Dragon card was played to give them an extra dice. Date Shigezane also bought them an extra dice giving them 5 combat dice in total. The dice were rolled and the required red symbol duly appeared. The Ashina cavalry were destroyed (6-5). With his unit hit, a single dice was rolled for the general and down he went, Ashina Yoshihiro fell giving the Date a 7-5 win.

Don't underestimate how useful arquebusiers can be!

Scenario 35 Suriagehara 1589 A.D.

In this scenario Judd was Red and came out swinging. He had two First Strikes in this hand and a Practice of Aikido card (max two dice from your opponent) which had me on the ropes fast. He was three up quickly. I had one Cav unit left of my two and finally knocked out one of his Cavs and a leader to bring it up to 3-3 when we broke for the night. He had several one block units here and there, but my last Cav. was down to one block. Not good. When we came back it didn't look great for me, but I was able to dodge a few sword hits and hang in till it was 6-4 in favor of Judd. At one point I had the chance to win the game if I could get 3 banners before Judd could strike the death blow needed to finish me off. My archer did not score and a two dice roll, so no victory path possible on this turn, but more troubling my two samurai units with leaders whiffed to take out Judd's samurai with a leader. Judd rolled three flags on my of my leaders who had to forfeit 4 honor, and the other leader had to commit seppuku. It was 6-4 and Judd used a gunner to take out a unit and then rolled double swords ( a one in 36 chance) to kill the leader for the game. It was a great battle with some nice twists. Judd wins 7-4

How does one add pictures? I play on Vassal and would like to add my screenshots to help explain the battles.
Thanks!!

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Ashina win 7-5, by a cat's whisker really, Daté was set to win next turn..

After two dozen plays or more on Vassal, my first face-to-face battle. I had the Date. I pulled my center front line back as they seemed a bit too exposed. Lots of sniping with bows and arquebuses to start the game and I'm on the (light) losing end of it. I defang a Cavalry Charge with Practice of Aikido and follow with a Cavalry Charge of my own. Despite losing all 3 of my cavalry units and having 2 leaders commit Seppuku, the charge and its aftermath bring me within 1 banner of victory. It has left 1 enemy Ashigaru unit with 1 block dangling near the front line. A helpful wind allows one of my foot Samurai spearmen to reach it and eliminate it. 7-3. A fun scenario, although based on the setup it seems to favor Date with 19 to 14 units, and even 1 more Samurai cavalry unit...

PS: not sure why there is a reference to a river in the instructions above...