More Like Beige Secrets

I'm really quite enjoying my Temple of Ro-kan at the moment, and I've ordered a few more models to help fill in the gaps in my lists.  I really want to try out double Fire Kami so I can just obliterate models like Taka from miles away (dice willing).  However, we'll have to see how that works out, there are still some other things I'm wanting to try out first - such as Riku, Suchiro, and Kenko all in one list.  I saw LEJ's Masters winning list and it's very well rounded, it certainly made me think a lot harder about scenarios and how to get the early scenario points in.

To that end I looked at my Ito Clan force where I sacrificed a model (dropping down to 6 models at 50 rice) to get some special cards.  However, the Special Cards aren't quite the pay out I hoped to get with the Ito Clan: let's use Dark Secrets as an example, it has the power to win games in the right circumstances but it can be simply nullified through a bad dice roll.  When it works, it effectively gives a 4 activation swing - my opponent loses 2, I gain 2.  However, if I had to ditch a model to get it, I've lost 8 activations total in a 6 turn game - my model activates twice a turn for 6 turns, and that's assuming the Dark Secrets card worked and wasn't resisted.  Unless the game is over by turn 2 then I was better off with the extra model.  So it's back to making 7 model lists and seeing if I have any points left over.

I very much enjoy my shisai/debuff list, it is by far the list I like the most.  I've tried out a large variation of Ito Clan lists now, and that is the one that just sticks with me.  I'm tempted to drop Chiyo down to a normal Temple Bushi and take Orochi's Shadow (1 rice version) so I can try to drop a massive poison bomb on a key enemy model early in the game in an effort to kill them without any additional effort on my part, or just drop her down to a Temple Bushi and upgrade Kazuhiko to Hitoshi so I have a good number of MS 3 models.  Hmmm, that may be the next list I try out, on turn 1 I can have just about everyone at move 5 with a tiny bit of channeling, and throw out some minor poisons while I'm at it.  I should really get Hitoshi painted up so that this variation of my shisai/debuff list will be fully painted too.

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Shisai/Debuff List v1.2b:

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Ito Ayako
Ito Kenzo
Naoko
Sakura
Hitoshi
Temple Bushi
Temple Bushi

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Trap-filled Temples

So I had my first game with my Temple, and got to try out the finalised special cards.  I'm quite impressed with Temple over all, I'm on the fence on whether I prefer them or my Ito.  I do feel it's much easier to build a list with the Temple than it is with the Ito, and I really like having models that I can just infiltrate the enemy battle line with (fire and air kami).  Overall the special cards available to the Temple are pretty good, I saw the Pungi Pit Trap and realised I pretty much want two in every list.  Most of the other cards revolve around gaining extra Ki, or moving existing Ki around.

While Suchiro probably isn't the beatstick I was hoping to use in the Temple, he is still my favourite figure and profile to use.  So he's pretty much in every list simply because I like him.  I'm still not sure on Riku with Arashi's Fan, or Kenko.  Kenko provides a very solid profile with little else.  Also, he doesn't really care about being outnumbered, so I can anchor my battle line with him and Suchiro.  Riku on the other hand brings a wall of water that can cause your opponent no end of trouble if you use it right.  It's certainly something to consider when considering how to play scenario: can I secure the victory with a quick Tsunami or should I just be killing things?

I'm going get back into the habit of painting my models soon, and I hope to have all my major Temple of Ro-kan models painted up pretty fast.  So far I've only done Suchiro and a single Rice Farmer.  I'll try to get the rest of the starter box done asap, and then churn out as many of the smaller models as I can.  My fire and water Kami should be easy enough to get done, all I really have to do is wash them continuously.  I'm really looking forward to doing Riku and Hotaru though, both of them are really nice sculpts.

Special K

Wow, it's been *ages* since I had time to do an update to the blog.

The Christmas holidays came and went, there was no Bushido I'm afraid as I was away in Houston, Texas, going crazy from having nothing to do besides babysit my sister's kids.  They're fun to be around, but I really could have used a good computer game or two (or three) to play in my own time.

Gaming has started back up in Glasgow however, so I can expect more regular Bushido games once again - I'm thinking of working on building up my Temple of Ro-kan miniatures so that I can start using it as a cohesive faction rather than my starter set and some odd miniatures.  I'm quite excited about the upcoming releases for Temple, Tsutsumi provides a good ranged attack (no damage, but useful effect), and the profile being tested after him fits very neatly into the sort of list I'd like to run.  In fact I just put in an order for Riku, Kitsune, Koji & friends, and one of the kami blisters.  Now I just need to find time to do some painting...

I was looking at the list Toby (Master T) posted he was bringing to SmogCon and I began to think that a lot of people will start to utilize about 10% of their points towards special cards once they're out.  Originally I thought they were only going to be point fillers, but with enough cunning and trickery, some really powerful combinations can be crafted: I looked at Suchiro with a gorinto, prayer beads, and Greater Destiny, all just to make him as immune to Ki-based attack as possible.  That's focusing a lot of cards into one figure however, so that's not a likely (or smart) combination of cards.  But let's say... Dark Secrets, something that bestows Weak Mind on a target, and a self-sacrifice trigger?  Why yes, I would be willing to try that out, thank you very much.