Note: Tanegashima (種子島), most often called in Japanese and sometimes in English hinawajū (火縄銃), which means matchlock gun, was a type of matchlock configured arquebus firearm introduced to Japan through the Portuguese in 1543. Tanegashima were used by the samurai class and their foot soldiers (ashigaru) and within a few years the introduction of the Tanegashima in battle changed the way war was fought in Japan forever.
The tanegashima seems to have been based on snap matchlocks that were produced in Portuguese Malacca, at the armory of Malacca (a colony of Portugal since 1511).The name tanegashima came from the Japanese island (Tanegashima) where a Chinese junk with Portuguese adventurers on board was driven to anchor by a storm in 1543. The lord of the Japanese island, Tanegashima Tokitaka (1528–1579), purchased two matchlock muskets from the Portuguese and put a swordsmith to work copying the matchlock barrel and firing mechanism. The smith (Yaita) did not have much of a problem with most of the gun but "drilling the barrel helically so that the screw (bisen bolt) could be tightly inserted" was a major problem as this "technique did apparently not exist in Japan until this time." The Portuguese fixed their ship and left the island and only in the next year when a Portuguese blacksmith was brought back to Japan was the problem solved. Within ten years of its introduction, over 300,000 tanegashima firearms were reported to have been manufactured.
The Tanegashima clan cooperated with the Hosokawa clan, one of two powers who controlled Chinese trade. The clan also maintained a firm connection with the Honno-ji Temple of Kyoto. These account for the rapid spread of firearms from Tanegashima to central Japan.
The Story:
Oda Nobunage has ordered 500 Tanegashima and has gone to collect the first batch of Tanegashima from a temple in a neighbouring territory. He is on his way back to Nagoya Castle, his family's holding in Owari Province. A rival warlord has found out about these 'devil weapons' and intends to destroy them. Not wanting an open conflict with the Oda Clan he has hired a disgraced ronin, Tadashi the Dishonoured, and his band of cutthroats to waylay the consignment and destroy them.
1. Assemble your forces:
Defenders 11pts
Samurai hero +1 random skill card (Oda Nobunaga)
Loyal Spearmen card
2 x single bowmen cards
1 x peasant
2 x mules
Attackers 11pts
Tadashi the Dishonoured + skill card
2 Ronin Thug Group cards
1 Ronin Thug Card
2. The battle field:
3. Setting up House Rule:
Draw out of the bag for each side, start with attackers, first side to draw a samurai token places first unit. Continue as normal until all units are placed. peasant and mules are always placed last.
4. Solo House Rules for Attackers:
a. Tadashi, role dice = to his attack (5) if more swords rolled he will always move towards nearest enemy unit or charge if in reach. If not then he will move cautiously behind the closest Ronin Group.
b. All Ronin Groups will move towards nearest enemy group and charge when in range.
5. Ending the game:
The battle ends when either Oda Nobunage or Tadashi are cut down.
(Scenario 1 Solo game to follow)
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