Land of the Samurai Contents Army Lists
Creating an army with the Mortem et Gloriam Army Lists
Historical Introduction ō ō ō ō ō ō ō ō
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Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Dates 500 BCE. to 250 CE SubGenerals 01 Any Instinctive Terrain Coastal, Mountains Internal Allied Generals 13 Any Instinctive Camp Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Name Retainers Daggeraxe and swordsmen Replace daggeraxe and swordsmen with spearmen Archers Upgrade archers with large shields Skirmishing archers Replace skirmishing archers with slingers Notes Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Unprotected Unprotected Unprotected Unprotected 0 6 Melee Expert 18 18 6,8,9 Melee Expert 90 0 6,8 Short Spear Any Experienced 32 6,8,9 Bow 128 Experienced 0 6,8 Shield Cover Bow 18 Experienced 0 6,9 Combat Shy Bow 72 Experienced 0 6,9 Combat Shy Sling Any Historical Notes This list covers Japanese armies of the Yayoi era. There was no central control during this era and Chinese sources report over 100 "Wa" states. Troop Notes Type Training and Skirmisher Skirmisher Quality Yayoi Japanese Protection Shooting Skill Melee A command cannot include more than one TuG of retainers. SPECIAL RULE: Archers with large shields may shoot whilst claiming shield cover. This rule must be notified to your opponent before the start of the game. Weapons included daggeraxes, swords, spears, bows and slings. Shields were mostly light and of moderate size but large shields have been found. Spears were up to 10 foot in length. UG Size
Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Dates 251 CE to 790 CE SubGenerals 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Coastal, Mountains Internal Allied Generals 02 Any Instinctive Camp Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Name Type Training and Cavalry (only from 400 CE) Yugei Guard Spearmen Archers Levy archers Heishi militia from 646 CE Yamato Era Japanese Quality Protection Shooting Skill Min Mandatory Optional Max Unprotected 0 4,6 Short Spear 8 Experienced 0 6,8 Melee Expert Pavise Bow 8 12 6,8 Short Spear Shield Cover 36 Experienced 24 6,8 Pavise Bow 72 Experienced 0 6,8 Combat Shy Bow 24 Experienced 4 4,6 Heishi militia cavalry Short Spear Bow 12 Unskilled 9 6,8,9 Heishi militia infantry Unprotected Short Spear Pavise Bow 27 *see Heihi militia with bolt Experienced 0 Unprotected note shooter Light Art 4 Allies Emishi allies Notes Spearmen and archers may be combined into TuGs of 6 or 9 with 1/3 spearmen and 2/3 archers. Heishi minima apply if any heishi are used. SPECIAL RULE: A single oyumi bolt shooter may be added to a Heishi infantry TuG to create a TuG of 7 or 9. TuGs with oyumi may not double move. The artillery may shoot from a 3rd rank. This must be explained to your opponent at the start of the game. Melee Characteristics UG Size
Historical Notes Yamato Era Japanese This list covers the Japanese armies through to 794 CE when the tactics and form changes from a Chinese/Korean style of infantry army to the horse and bow style of the later samurai. It encompasses both the Kofun period (c. 250 538) and the Asuka period (538 710) named after the areas in which the imperial capital was located at the time. The armies were generally involved in campaigns trying to subjugate the northern Emishi or in Paechke Korea initally invading it in 366 and then fighting with it against threat from the Tang and Silla Korean in 663. The nation had a large navy and sent some 400 ships in support of the Koreans, but these were heavily defeated by the Tang at the Battle at Paekchogong in 663. The armies of this time revolved around individual clans and it was the Yamato clan which rose to a position of leadership. There was no permanent national army, nor was there even a permanent capital. Troop Notes The imperial armies of this time were infantry based and built around archers often with protection from large shields and spearmen. In interal squabbles there are examples of Emishi troops allied with Yamato troops fighting for either side.
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Type Training and 1 Any Instinctive Dates 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Camp Quality Protection Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Experienced 0 4,6 Nobles Melee Expert Bow 12 Experienced 24 4,6 Warriors Unprotected Formed Flexible Bow 72 Experienced 0 4,6 Skirmishers Unprotected Combat Shy Skirmisher Bow 24 Allies Yamoto Japanese allies Historical Notes This list covers the Emishi of northern Honshu from their first mention around 400 CE until their supression by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 802 during the 38 years war. They were part of the political fabric of northern Japan rather than "barbarians" and their skilled use of horse and bow led to the development of the samurai after the Japanese army developed similar troops to defeat them. The Emsihi tended to operate in the Sendai plains and retreat to the internal mountainous areas as needed. They were involved in several large battles with the Japanese. Their mobility proved difficult for much larger Japanese forces to contend with. In 789, the Japanese army under Ki no Kosami Seito shogun was heavily defeated by the Isawa Emishi under their general Aterui at the Battle of Koromo River (also known as the Battle of Sufuse). They also allied themselves at times to Japanese forces, and had Japanese forces allied with them. They also sent envoys to the Tang Chinese. Troop Notes The Emishi were a nomadic horse people who fought in a mobile and guerilla style. Emishi Shooting Skill Melee 400 CE to 802 CE Coastal, Plains, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or UG Size
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Samurai bushi Followers Heishi militia Nimbei conscripts or banria peasants Oyumi bolt shooter (only before 900 CE) Type Training and ARTILLERY Skirmisher Heian Japanese 1 Any Instinctive Dates 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Camp Quality Protection Shooting Skill 794 CE to 1185 CE Coastal, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Poor Unprotected Unprotected Unprotected Skilled 0 4,6 Melee Expert Powerbow 24 Experienced 18 6,8 Pavise, Barricades Bow 54 Experienced 0 6,8 Short Spear Barricades Bow 16 Experienced Barricades, 0 8,9,10 Short Spear Bow Combat Shy 16 Experienced Barricades, 0 2,3,4 Light Art Combat Shy 4 Allies Emishi allies before 900 CE Sohei Monk allies from 1150 CE Historical Notes This list covers the Heian period which began in 794 CE after the movement of the capital to Heiankyō (presentday Kyōto), by the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu. At the beginning of the era the Japanese sought to subdue the Emishi. This was effectively achieved by 802 and the Emishi rebellions thereafter were relatively minor. Families vied for power based on their military might with the Fujiwara clan the original main power. Fujiwara controlled the throne until 1073. The Taira of the rebelled as early as 939, when Taira no Masakado led an uprising in the eastern province of Hitachi. The Fujiwara were largely destroyed when sided with the retired emperor in a violent battle in 1156 against the Taira and Minamoto (Hōgen Rebellion). This led to a period of Taira dominance until the Genpei War of 1180 to 1185 resulted in the first Minamoto Shogunate. Small contingents of Monks fought alongside the Minamoto at times in the Genpei wars and are first recorded as small fighting forces around 970. Troop Notes At the beginning of the era the Japanese began to train Kondei as mounted archers absorbing some of the fighting methods of the Emishi. These mounted warriors evolved through the Heian period as the military caste, gaining more and more power and gradually became the Samurai (ones who serve). The Samurai in the form we know generally, long powerful bow and sword, seem to have emerged in the Nine Years Wars from 1055 to 1063, and at this time fought mounted wherever possible. Melee UG Size
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Mounted monks Warrior monk shrine protectors Disenfranchised ronin Armoured warrior monks Warrior monks Upgrade warrior monks with naginata (after 1150 CE) Followers Upgrade followers with naginata (after 1150 CE) Monks with teppo (from 1545 CE) Allies Heian Japanese Muromachi Japanese Ikko Ikki Type Training and Sohei Monks 1 Any Instinctive Dates 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Camp Quality Protection Shooting Skill Melee 980 CE to 1550 CE Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max UG Size Unprotected Experienced 0 4,6 Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 6 Experienced Melee Expert, 4 4,6 Bow Fanatic 6 Experienced 0 4,6 Melee Expert Bow 6 Experienced 6 6,8 Bow 12 12 6,8,9 48 0 6,8,9 Unprotected Melee Expert Any Poor Unprotected 12 6,8,9 48 Poor Unprotected 0 6,8,9 Melee Expert Any Unprotected Experienced 0 4,6 Firearm 8
Notes Sohei Monks The army commander should be represented by a shrine carried on a cart of some form and the army commander must stay with the shrine protectors at all times. Mounted monks dismount as,, Skilled, Powerbow, Melee Expert. Historical Notes This list covers he Sohei warrior monks of Japan, the best known of which came from Mount Hiei. The earliest material involvement of these in military matters is around 980 CE. In 1180 a warrior monk army lost decisively to a samurai army at the Battle of Uji Bridge, where they proved vulnerable to the missile fire of the Samurai. In 1219 and 1256 they marched on Kyoto and were relatively easily suppressed and they fought in their own right at various times through to 1550. Later they are found allied to the IkkoIkki. Troop Notes The monks adopted the naginata as a weapon over the sword from the mid 12th century primarily as it was a cheaper bladed weapon where the reach compensated somewhat for the skill of enemy swordsmen. The monks also acquired small numbers of firearms in the later period from 1545. Warrior monks would often carry their shrine into battle and fight furiously to defend them.
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Type Training and Kamakura Samurai 1 Any Instinctive Dates 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Camp Quality Protection Shooting Skill 1185 CE to 1335 CE Coastal, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Skilled 0 4,6 Separate samurai bushi Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 8 Mixed TuG of 1/3 1/2 bushi, 1/2 2/3 followers Skilled 6 6,8,9 Samurai Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 18 18 Followers with naginata Unprotected Melee Expert 54 Upgrade all followers in a 0 Melee Expert TuG with domaru armour Any Experienced 0 6,8 Archers Unprotected Barricades Bow 16 Upgrade all archers in a TuG Experienced 0 Barricades with domaru armour Bow Any 0 6,8,9 Followers with naginata Unprotected Melee Expert Barricades 16 Upgrade followers with 0 Melee Expert Barricades naginata Any 0 8,9,10 Armed farmers Poor Unprotected Barricades 16 BATTLE CHARIOTS Expendable, 0 2,3 Stampeding cattle Poor Tribal Close Combat Shy 3 Allies Sohei Monk allies Melee UG Size
Notes Troop Notes Kamakura Samurai Bushi dismount as,,, Skilled Powerbow, Melee Expert. Samurai may deploy in 6s or 9s with 1 rank of bushi and 2 ranks of followers or in 8s with 2 ranks of bushi and 2 ranks of followers. SPECIAL RULE: Whilst Samurai are mounted the TuG may move 4BW in good going. Otherwise it moves at the speed of the slowest troop type. This rule must be notified to your opponent at the start of the game. Historical Notes This list covers the Samurai armies from the emergence of the naginata as a main fighting weapon in 1185 CE, through the Mongol invasion, until the yari spear became a common weapon. It spans the Kamakura first shogunate and the following Nambokuco period. Through this era the style of fighting remained largely constant with tribal clans fighting together led by their individual daimyo (warlords). The naginata first emerges as a weapon used by monks in around 1050 CE. It is not a heavy weapon indeed it was a cheaper alternative to the sword that was easier to use without the expertise needed for the swords. We therefore treat it Melee Expert rather than 2H CutCrush. Bushi generally fought mounted where possible but now with foot followers supporting them directly, but they proved equally adept at fighting on foot should the need arise as seen in many of the battle in towns and on ships. Lightly equipped followers were adept at keeping up with the horsemen. Many battles of the era were in challenging terrain or around castles and fieldworks were fairly commonly used in the narrow valleys where battles often occurred. The Japanese bow has been proven to have the penetrative power and range of a medieval longbow, achieved through composite design. Stampeding cattle on a flank march notably turned the Battle of Kurikara or Tonamiyami (Kurikara) in 1183.
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Separate samurai bushi Ashigaru with naginata Upgrade followers Mixed TuG of 1/3 1/2 bushi, 1/2 2/3 followers Samurai with yari Ashigaru with yari Upgrade ashigaru with yari Archers protected by pavises Professional ashigaru Upgrade professional ashigaru Allies Sohei Monk allies Mixed TuG of 1/3 1/2 bushi, 1/2 2/3 followers Samurai Type Training and Formed Flexible Formed Flexible Formed Flexible Drilled Loose Drilled Loose Muromachi Samurai 1 Any Professional Dates 13 Any Terrain Camp Quality Protection Shooting Skill Melee 1335 CE to 1500 CE Coastal, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Skilled 0 4,6 Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 8 Skilled 0 6,8,9 Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 8 Unprotected 0 Melee Expert 16 0 Melee Expert Any 6 6,8 Long Spear 16 Unprotected 12 0 Long Spear 48 0 0 Long Spear Any Unprotected Experienced 0 6,8 Pavise Barricades Bow 12 Unprotected 0 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 24 0 0 Long Spear Barricades Any UG Size
Notes Muromachi Samurai Bushi dismount as,,, Skilled Powerbow, Melee Expert. Samurai may deploy in 6s or 9s with 1 rank of bushi and 2 ranks of followers or in 8s with 2 ranks of bushi and 2 ranks of followers. Samurai with yari may deploy in 6s or 9s with 1 rank of bushi and 2 ranks of followers or in 6s with 1 rank of bushi and 1 rank of followers. SPECIAL RULE: Whilst Samurai are mounted the TuG may move 4BW in good going. Otherwise it moves at the speed of the slowest troop type. This rule must be notified to your opponent at the start of the game. Historical Notes This list covers the Samurai armies from the emergence of the Yari as a simpler mass weapon through to 1500 CE. Troop Notes Through this period the traditional Samurai focus on bow and sword was in decline but the armies began to professionalise gaining better command and control. Many troops retained the Naginata as a main weapon but there was a greater emergence of professional retainers armed with Yari, or armed with Bows and often using mobile shields as protection. This is also the period where the Sashimonos appeared making the army especially colourful to deploy.
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Type Training and Muromachi Peasant Uprising 1 Any Instinctive Dates 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Camp Quality Protection Shooting Skill 1428 CE to 1441 CE Coastal, Mountains Unfortified; Poor Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Mounted jisamurai Skilled 0 4,6 Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 8 Unskilled Devastating 0 6,8,9 Rebels with jisamurai Chargers, Bow Melee Expert 24 Unskilled Devastating 12 6,8,9 Best equipped peasants Poor Chargers, Bow Melee Expert 24 Angry peasant mob Devastating 36 8,9,10 Poor Unprotected Chargers 90 Warrior monk contingent (only in 1441 CE) Warrior monk shrine Experienced Melee Expert, 4 4,6 protectors Bow Fanatic 6 Warrior monks 6 6,8,9 Unprotected Melee Expert 12 Warrior monk followers 8 6,8,9 Poor Unprotected Melee Expert 16 Allies Sohei Monk allies Notes The army can have a warrior monk contingent under a subgeneral or Sohei monk allies but not both. Any monk contingent must be under its own general. A monk subgeneral contingent can include peasants. A monk commander should be represented by a shrine carried on a cart of some form and must stay with the shrine protectors at all times. SPECIAL RULE: The monk commander can only be killed if all shrine protectors are killed, in which case he is automatically killed. Any skull result on a KAB test is treated as a wound. This rule must be notified to your opponent at the start of the game. Melee UG Size
Historical Notes Muromachi Peasant Uprising This list covers the peasant revolts during the Muromachi period. The first was the Shocho uprising in 1428 CE. The list also covers the Kakitsu peasant rebellion of 1441 as one of the larger peasant revolts. This one ultimately led to major debt cancellations for the peasantry and damaged the credibility of the shogun materially. It was led by jisamurai along with Bhuddist monk sympathisers. The rebellion came to a peaceful end and the forces disipated, but the list allows for the possibility of a major engagement being needed to subdue it. Troop Notes Some of the troops were bolseterd by JiSamurai and many rebels had access to some military equipment but the large part of the army was a protesting mob of angry peasants which the JiSamurai managed to keep reasonably under control after they seized control of forts and cities through force.
Army Commander SubGenerals Internal Allied Generals Name Veterans with naginata Religious fanatics with naginata Followers with naginata Type Training and Archers Peasants Teppo (after 1545 CE) Allies Sohei Monk allies Notes A command can only have one TuG of veterans. Ikko Ikki 1 Any Instinctive Dates 13 Any Instinctive Terrain Camp Quality Protection Shooting Skill Melee 1477 CE to 1580 CE Coastal, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Devastating 4 4,6 Chargers, Melee Expert, Fanatic 12 UG Size Devastating 6 4,6 Unprotected Chargers, Fanatic Melee Expert 24 Devastating 24 6,8,9 Poor Unprotected Chargers, Melee Expert 48 Poor Unprotected Unprotected Unprotected Experienced 0 6,8 Bow 12 Devastating 0 6,8,9 Combat Shy Chargers 27 Experienced 0 4,6 Firearm 16
Historical Notes Ikko Ikki This lists covers the peasant leagues that developed into the Ikko Ikki during the SengokuJidai wars starting in 1477 CE. This was an era of civil war with dozens of feudal barons at war with each other. In this political atmosphere the Ikko Ikki flourished and grew into a sizeable, if of questionable quality, military force. They did at times ally with the Sohei monk of Mount Hiei. In 1534 they marched on Kyoto and burned over 20 temples. Oba Nobunaga had an almost fanantical determination to destroy the Ikko Ikki, even while occupied by his battles with the Asagawa and Takeda clans. He defeated them at the Battle of Nagashina in 1584 and drove them back to their capital. The final stage of the Ikko Ikki saga was the siege of Ishiyama HonganJi started in 1575 and they finally surrendered to Oba Nobunaga in 1580.
Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Dates 1500 CE to 1585 CE SubGenerals 03 Any Instinctive Terrain Coastal, Mountains Internal Allied Generals 13 Any Instinctive Camp Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Name Mounted bushi Samurai on foot Bushi and ashigaru with yari Permanently retained ashigaru Ashigaru archers Teppo (after 1545 CE) Allies Nobunaga Japanese Takeda Japanese Notes Bushi dismount as,,, Skilled Powerbow, Melee Expert. Historical Notes Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Skilled 0 4,6 Short Spear Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 8 Skilled 0 4,6 Melee Expert Powerbow 6 6 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 12 12 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 60 Experienced 0 6,8 Barricades Bow 18 Experienced 0 6,8 Barricades Firearm 8 This list covers the general armies of the Sengoku period. It excludes the armies of Oba Nobunaga and Takeda. During this period there were as many as 20 clans vying for the Shogunate as well as major rebellions by the IkkoIkki. Troop Notes Type Training and Formed Flexible Drilled Flexible Quality Sengoku Japanese Protection Shooting Skill Melee The armies became more organised. Ahsigaru were often equipped with similar armour to the samurai. By now the bow was beginning to decline in use and firearms (teppo) were starting to be imported from Portugal. UG Size
Army Commander 1 Any Professional Dates 1540 CE to 1582 CE SubGenerals 02 Any Terrain Coastal, Mountains Internal Allied Generals 13 Any Instinctive Camp Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Name Mounted bushi Bushi and ashigaru with yari Formed Flexible Permanently retained ashigaru Drilled Flexible Ashigaru archers Drilled Loose Teppo (after 1545 CE) Drilled Loose Allies Imagawa or Kira Sengoku Japanese allies Takeda Japanese Notes Bushi dismount as,,, Skilled Powerbow, Melee Expert. An internal ally command cannot have more than one TuG of teppo. Historical Notes Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Skilled 0 4,6 Short Spear Melee Expert Dismountable Powerbow 8 12 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 18 12 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 60 Experienced 0 6,8 Barricades Bow 12 Experienced 8 6,8 Barricades Firearm 32 This lists covers the armies of Oba Nobunaga who drilled his armies ferociously and was the first general to take a liking to using the newly imported firearms enmasse. He has a hatred of the Ikko Ikki and their monk allies and was repsonsible for finally putting down their rebellions in 1580 CE. Troop Notes Type Training and Quality Nobunaga Japanese Protection Shooting Skill Melee Armies at this time were usually made up of shortlived alliances between clans such as the Kira, Takeda and Imagawa clans hence the need for at least one internal ally. The army made great us of barricades, most famously at the Battle of Nagahino in 1575 where the teppoarmed ashigaru stopped the charge of the Takeda lancers. UG Size
Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Dates 1560 CE to 1575 CE SubGenerals 03 Any Instinctive Terrain Coastal, Mountains Internal Allied Generals 13 Any Instinctive Camp Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Name Mounted bushi Bushi and ashigaru with yari Permanently retained ashigaru Ashigaru archers Teppo Allies Asura or Asai Sengoku Japanese Nobunaga Japanese Historical Notes Lance and spears were made of layers of bamboo and 5m in length. Characteristics Min Mandatory Optional Max Charging 0 4,6 Melee Expert Lancer 18 6 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 12 12 6,8 Long Spear Barricades 60 Experienced 0 6,8 Barricades Bow 18 Experienced 0 4,6 Barricades Firearm 6 This list covers the armies of the Takeda clan which came from the northern areas of Japan. Since early times of the Emishi this area had been the centre of Japanese horse culture and the Takeda took this furthest by being the only clan to really master the couched lance cavalry charge. They famously broke the army of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Mikatagahara in 1572 CE but were later crushed by Oba Nobunaga at the battle of Nashino in 1575. Troop Notes Type Training and Formed Flexible Drilled Flexible Quality Takeda Japanese Protection Shooting Skill Melee UG Size