The list below covers the period of the rise of the Ashikaga shogunate � the Muromachi period � starting with the Battle of Minatogawa in 1336.
It includes: The Wars of the Northern & Southern Courts; the Ikko-Ikki risings; the infamous Onin War of 1467-77 and the rise of militant Buddhist Monasteries on Mt. Hiei etc. It closes with the rise of the Sengoku Daimyo in 1495 and the ultimate arrival of firearms along with the Portuguese in 1542.
Most warfare was conducted within the Japanese island archipelago and was dynastic or religious in nature, with rival clan battling for land or in many cases for control of an infant (or weak) emperor so as to further their family fortunes. A rebel army would have not been rebelling against the Emperor, but against the misrule by his Regent or Daimyo or against the predations of an opposing family on their land or privileges. The list has also been designed to allow for the representation of Ikko-Ikki and Monastic armies as well as the many disenfranchised �bandit� armies of disposed Samurai, Ronin & Ashigaru, which thrived at this time.
| Era: Age of Chivalry | Feudal Muromachi Japanese: 1336 AD to 1495AD | CR: H: 5 L: 3 | BP: 2 | Init: 5 | ||||
| Core | ||||||||
| Number | Type | Description | Key | FV | PROT | Weapon | Cost | |
| 1 | HC* | Mounted Samurai | k | 4[1]0 | +1 | Various/Bows | 12 | |
| 1 | WB* | Dismounted Samurai | k | 5[1]3 | +2 | Various/Bows | 12 | |
| 3 | WB | Foot Samurai | k | 5[1]3 | +2 | Various/Bows | 12 | |
| 1 | LHI | Ashigaru | k | 4[1]2 | +1 | Various | 6 | |
| Bonus: | ||||||||
| 2 | HC* | Mounted Samurai | k | 4[1]0 | +1 | Various/Bows | 12 | |
| 2 | WB* | Dismounted Samurai | k | 5[1]3 | +2 | Various/Bows | 12 | |
| 6 | WB | Foot Samurai | k | 5[1]3 | +2 | Various/Bows | 12 | |
| 4 | WB | Foot Samurai | k | 5[1]3 | +2 | Various | 10 | |
| 1 | WB | Ronin | k | 5[1]3 | +1 | Various/Bows | 8 | |
| 3 | WB | Ronin | k | 5[1]3 | +1 | Various | 6 | |
| 6 | WB | Monks | k | 5[1]3 | +2 | Various | 8 | |
| 10 | WB | Peasants | k | 4[1]2 | +1 | Various | 4 | |
| 2 | LHI | Ashigaru | k | 4[1]2 | +1 | Various/Bows | 8 | |
| 2 | LHI | Ashigaru | k | 4[1]2 | +1 | Various | 6 | |
| 4 | LHI/LI | Poorer Ashigaru ** | 3[1]2 | +1 | Various | 4 | ||
Terrain:
Core: 1-WD
Bonus: (Max: 3*** ) 2-GR; 2-SH; 1-WD; 1-RG
Notes:
Core: 93 Bonus: 320
*HC can be replaced by an equal number of dismounted alternative Dismounted Samurai WB*
** (Poorer Ashigaru) can be fielded as either LHI or LI but only 1 type can be fielded in the same army
*** No more than 2 bonus hills of any type may be fielded or a total of 1 bonus WD or 1 Bonus RG. RG can represent a village or marshy ground.
Notes on Warband Types:
(Dismounted and Foot Samurai) WB: BP:4, move 6�, are not subject to obligatory charge
(Ronin) WB: BP:3, move 9�, are subject to obligatory charge
(Monks) WB: BP:4, move 6�, can deploy deep, are subject to obligatory charge, cannot break-off
(Peasants) (Ikko-Ikki) WB: BP:3, move 9�, can deploy in flank zones, are subject to obligatory charge, cannot break-off
Regency, Daimyo & significant Clan armies would be made up of the better armed and armoured Samurai and Ashigaru and more mounted Samurai, they cannot include: more than 2 units of Monks, any Peasants or poorer Ashigaru, but might (occasionally) field a few Ronin.
Provincial, lesser Clan and �rebel� armies would generally have more Ronin and a mix of better quality & poorer Ashigaru.
It is also possible to field a �Bandit� army by fielding all the bonus Ashigaru units and 3 units of Ronin and some additional terrain, but whilst you get an additional Light Division to improve its flexibility, it is very brittle with a low army BP.
If any Peasants (Ikko-Ikki) are bought all must be, and then you are restricted to buying only bonus: Ronin, poorer Ashigaru and Monks. No bonus Samurai may be purchased
Warrior Monk armies must field a minimum of 4 bonus Monk WB units. HC in Monastery armies can either be mounted Monks or Samurai from allied Buddhist clans. Foot Samurai can again either be allied or mercenary Samurai or represent the better armoured Monks. Monastic armies would have fielded fewer & more poorly equipped Ashigaru and occasionally some Ronin.
If you feel you�d like to depict a portable shrine in your Warrior Monks army, my suggestion is to use this as your veteran marker & have it behind one of your units of foot Monks (based on a 40mmx40mm base). It will of course make them more stubborn & fanatical, fighting longer by taking another unit BP to kill.
NB: to use this army in the AFT section it is suggested that all WB are reduced to +1 protection at an appropriate reduction in points costs (but it's not nearly half as much fun that way).
List Author: Aetius