Nippon Warband

Subject: Nippon Warband Sun 6 Sep 2009 - 15:13

Right sorry about the long post but I do tend to waffle Sleep

I have recently discovered the rules for the Battle Monks of Cathay and to be honest I knew I wanted to do a warband even before I read the rules. I began searching for some models and I found a few but I couldn't find and decent models for my monks. I did consider doing some serious converting but due to lack of time/space etc, being a tad lazy (not enough time in the day) and that I not great at converting, especially humans, I didn't want to go down this route.

Then I remembered that I had some old Games Workshop ninjas from the 80's and I thought that you could easily use Japanese models to do a Nippon warband using the Battle Monks warband without really stretching the fluff much. The armies of Japan were active on the mainland (on the Korean peninsula is one example) and so you could argue that they could be in the region of Cathay. And I also feel the equipment list also fits a Nippon based warband.

(Note I’m no expert on Ninja/Shinobi/feudal Japan etc).

Emissary -

Instead of being an emissary from the Cathayan Emperor, would be an emissary from the Shogun (or a local lord/Daimyo). Simple straight swap.

Officer -

Again another simple straight swap. It would be a high ranking officer from the Shoguns’/local lords’ army. For this I was going to use a Samurai model as I have found a few really nice ones out there.

Battle Monks -

So I would use ninja models here. Being historically accurate ninjas would be more similar to Skaven Assassin Adepts/Night Runners as they were used more for unorthodox and espionage based types of warfare so that the noble Samurai could keep their hands "clean". But I don't think it is farfetched to assume that they would be expertly trained in unarmed combat (well certain ninja clans anyway) and they were also used in open warfare not just in clandestine missions. And I was also thinking of the ninja in Manga film Ninja Scroll Cathayan Monk 1

.

I would call my Dragon Monks - Ninja Adepts or Chunin (middle man) and the Battle Monks - just plain Ninja or Genin (meaning lower man).

Soldiers and Armed peasants - again just another straight swap from Chinese looking models to Japanese looking models.

Actually reading the above, the warband is more of a Nippon warband that includes Ninjas as oppose to a Battle Monk warband.

So that’s my plan. It will give me a chance to do some but not too much converting (basically most of the ninjas will need converting, I need to do some with no weapons, a few with quarter staffs and a few with chain sticks), and a chance to use some cool minis.

But why am I posting this thread?

Well I just wanted to get some feedback from you guys. Any will do, including criticism as long as is constructive.

Also if anyone who plays Mordheim would object to playing this warband for whatever reason then let me know and why. I am making the warband to play with it but I don't have a gaming group at the moment so if some people would object to it then it would be good to get a heads up.

Will start a WIP thread when I get my arse in gear.

Subject: Re: Nippon Warband Sun 6 Sep 2009 - 17:11

Shouldn't this be in the Painting & Modelling section since we are not discussing rules here but only the models? Shall I move it?

At first I too wanted to use the old Citadel Ninjas as models and I actually bought around 15 of them. Then GW released the Flagellants I went that way... However, choosing Ninjas seems like a cool idea. However, I don't like to call it Nippon, because Nippon is far far away from Cathay (at least from where we're playing) and even in the Border Town Burning setting, the Northern/Western borders of Cathay, Nippon still is far away and a Nippon warband really doesn't fit there. So I wouldn't use the term "Nippon" in the warband - but I can be a bitch when it comes to background, so this may not be relevant to you. A proper Battle Monks warband fits the BTB setting, but a Nippon warband, well, they don't even have a setting. But that really depends on your fellow gamers.

Speaking of them: If you are building a warband that you want to pit against players that you don't even know yet, then the safest thing to do is to make an official warband (from the rulebook, the Empire in Flames or the Annual). Building an unofficial warband always comes with the risk of experiencing resistance. However, if you really don't know when or even if you will get to play with the models, then it's all about the hobby aspect and then you should definately make the warband that you like best from the models/background/style/fluff. Of course, you will always be welcome with this warband at any Boring Mordheim Meeting(R)! Wink

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Subject: Re: Nippon Warband Sun 6 Sep 2009 - 20:42

Hehehe, yeah move it to the proper section if you want, wasn't too sure where to post it.

Geographically, where would you placre BTB on the world map?

And also, so BTB is not official? Ah, looks like my mistake. So who made the rules?

Sorry I've been out of the loop for over 3 years, maybe longer.

Essentially I just wanted to use different models for the Battle Monks warband, i.e. not change any rules but using models that I prefer and that don't require a massive amount if immagination with the different models...but I get your point.

Hmmm, what to do...I'll think I will carry on with them as I was looking forward to the modelling aspect and getting my fingers dirty.

Thanks for the feedback.

Subject: Re: Nippon Warband Sun 6 Sep 2009 - 20:45

Note - I've just noticed the "Northern/Western borders of Cathay" part of your post.

Please ignore my ignorant question about the geographical location of BTB.

Subject: Re: Nippon Warband Sun 6 Sep 2009 - 20:54

Nurgle's Bratwurst Bugle wrote:: Hehehe, yeah move it to the proper section if you want, wasn't too sure where to post it.

No problem. Moved. Smile

Nurgle's Bratwurst Bugle wrote:: And also, so BTB is not official? Ah, looks like my mistake. So who made the rules?

The only official stuff is in the rulebook, EiF and Annual. Everything else is unofficial. Not that it really matters nowadays...

It was written by fans mainly. See the credits page. Wink

Nurgle's Bratwurst Bugle wrote:: Sorry I've been out of the loop for over 3 years, maybe longer.

Nothing has really happened since then - from an official/GW point of view that is. Well, there was the Nemesis Crown supplement for Mordheim, which was sanctioned by Andy Hall (head of Specialist Games), but other than that nothing has happened.

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Subject: Re: Nippon Warband Sun 6 Sep 2009 - 20:57

Hmmm, might rustle up a Reiklander warband by bashing some plastic kits...quick and easy...and official Razz

Nice website btw cheers

» My Nippon Warband
» Nippon Warband v.6 (Final)
» After some modelling advice for my nippon Warband
» Nippon Miniatures?
» widgren's Nippon Ogres