Army overview:
Widely known as the Jewel of the East Sea, with its coastlines decorated with elaborate floating shrines to their god, Loochaan, the noble Samurai have a vast kingdom to the east of Infernum. Though part of the human race, so different in style are the towns, villages, and cities of the Samurai, this people is unlike any other culture, human or otherwise. Typically, elevated a little above the ground, constructed using a range of superior wood types, and noted for their hip-and-gable roofs, Samurai buildings are both practical and elegant in design. Allowing for flexibility of purpose, the interiors of many buildings feature sliding doors and moveable wall sections, a far cry from the single-roomed, dirt-floored, stone dwellings of the Konstrato Empire. Meanwhile, being a deeply spiritual people, to ward off evil spirits, and blessed by the most venerated sohei warrior monks, perched high upon the roofs of Samurai buildings are many varied onigawara; protective, ornamental gargoyles.
With solid Foot Troops and Mounted Troops units, along with access to flying units and ranged war machines, as well as powerful wizards, a Samurai player can construct one of the most balanced armies of all the Orb’s forces.
The Samurai army’s General unit comes in the form of a daimyo, and can be alone on foot, on foot with bodyguards, or mounted on a horse. Armed with a katana and pistol, and with both his Hand-to-Hand Combat (H-t-H) and Shooting (S) values being 3+, a daimyo is a formidable opponent. Reflecting his ability to inspire troops to greats feats and levels of endurance, a daimyo has the Rousing Spirit special rule.
Able to field up to two Champions units, a Samurai player has access to ‘standard champions’ as well as musicians and apothecaries. On foot or upon horseback, wearing heavy armour, carrying a shield, and armed with a katana and long-range firearm, a Samurai Champion can be granted the Battle Standard special rule for an additional +5 VP (Victory Points). Though a slightly less proficient fighter that a Samurai Champion, a Samurai Musicians boasts the Encouraging special rule. Meanwhile, again not as powerful a fighter as a Samurai Champion, a Samurai Apothecary holds the Medic special rule.
Forming the army’s Magic Users option, either on foot or mounted on a horse, a master of esoteric forces, carrying the Time Travel and Telepathy special rules, a Samurai player can take a maximum of one Samurai Wizard.
There are many different Foot Troops units to consider with a Samurai army. Ideally suited to defensive situations, wearing light armour, and carrying shields, units of Ashigaru Spearmen are available in blocks of 5, 10 and 15. More offensively focussed, available in units of 5 and 10, Ashigaru Gunners and Onna-bugeisha Archers provide a Samurai army with long-range firepower. Again available in blocks of 5 and 10, second only to units of Ninjas, Onna-bugeisha with Nagata and Sohei with Nagata are the most proficient close combat fighters of a Samurai army; the latter come complete with the Immune to Fear special rule. Limited to a maximum of two 5-man units, Ninjas boast fighters with 2 Attacks (A) each in both Hand-to-Hand Combat and Shooting. Armed with katana and shuriken, Ninjas have the Tracker special rule.
Equipped for both close combat and missile fighting, Samurai Mounted Troops units include Samurai Horsemen (available in blocks of 5 and 10) and Komainu Riders (available in units of 5). Like units of Ninjas, a Samurai army can include a maximum of two Komainu Riders units; with 3 Hand-to-Hand Combat Attacks (A) and 1 Shooting Attack (A), Komainu Riders also have the Immune to Fear special rule.
Monsters units of a Samurai army, of which up to two can be fielded, include Oni (available in units of 3) and Tengu (available in units of 5); Oni have the Immune to Fear and Large Target special rules, while Tengu have the Armour Ripping and Fly special rules. When it comes to Machines of War units, of which a Samurai army can include up to three, there is a focus on powerful, long-range missile weapons; cannons and trebuchets.
Example Army List:
Samurai Magic Cards:
Below are Shadows of Centralis Samurai Magic Cards (Magic Spells originally printed in the Shadows of Centralis book) which can be printed out, fixed to card, and used in games.
Models:
Shadows of Centralis can be played with models from any manufacturer, below are a few ideas for armies of the Samurai. From Oni to Tengu, with much in between, one company which holds an extensive range of models well-suited to a Shadows of Centralis Samurai army is Warlord Games.
Further information on the Loochaan-worshipping Samurai, as well as the complete Samurai Army List can be found in the Shadows of Centralis book.
Shadows of Centralis 