Yes - I plumped for the Baccus standard army package with a couple of additions - based on the Age of War (i.e. 16th Century Japan). The reason for this is that this period represents the ideal campaign base (arquebuses make their first appearance and there was a tremendous amount of push and shove for power so an ideal basis for a campaign). Another foothill on the lead mountain!
The idea will then be to add additional units to play different periods - so mounted samurai archers and warrior monks for the medieval and later periods and the ashigaru with bows, spears and arquebus' for the 'renaissance' period.
This is where historical accuracy will clash with economic reality as the earlier troops were almost all samurai without the 'back banner' wheras later troops tended to be more ashigaru (the lowest class of samurai) and even samurai had the back banner in the 16th C.
As for the campaign, I think we'll add an additional level of interest. Prestige points will be gained in a number of ways - by whupping armies (the tougher the army faced, the more prestige won) as well as having a legitimate candidate for emperor. Players will vie to put their candidate on the throne by gaining prestige (including invading Korea / China, capturing territory, winning battles) - the highest prestige within a set number of game years means that that player puts their candidate on the throne and they become Shogun.
Players will need gold and rice in order to put soldiers on the field. Rather than large standing armies, players will call on their vassal states to supply troops or they'll need to hire mercenaries. Vassal states will pay taxes - the more secure they are, the higher the population and the richer they become. So there is a need as much to defend the vassals as attack other territories.
Players will start with different territories with different bonuses - such as holding Kyushu which means access to Christian traders which reduces their prestige but gives them access to arquebuses. Other territories will be rich in rice or gold or the quality of troops. Holding key cities automatically increases prestige (Kyoto for example) - players don't need to hold Kyoto to win, but it will carry a major prestige bonus so it is likely that it will become the key target. Prestige can also be gained by building temples (giving access to monks), killing Christian daimyos, knocking back invasions etc.
The other issue which needs consideration is that constant warring will reduce the productive capacity of all vassal states and give rise to bandits (a constant thorn in the side) - so the players will need to balance politics with warfare. The period was a constant flux of treaties to counter threats and combine to defeat a clan leader and I want to reflect this.
I plan to keep the event cards - they add a great dimension to a campaign and can mean that danger (and bonanza) can appear from any side. These will also allow for development of prestige (such as the clan leader writing a particularly memorable haiku, building an impressive castle (which will also increase a state's defense) or a nice tea room etc.
All players will have access to ninjas - so can order assassination missions on opponents candidates, clan leaders or generals - reducing prestige and ability to fight battles (so losing a general on the eve of battle may mean reducing pips on command dice, losing a clan leader may increase the chance of vassal states revolting etc.). Ninjas can also open castle gates (reducing defensive capabilities), food warehouses and gunpowder storage (BOOOM! Where's your guns NOW, big boy!?).
Trade will be a key element, as will the odd invasion by Koreans and Chinese. These will tend to hit Kyushu so there is a downside to having access to the Christians!
Anyway - lots of thought and planning to occur but the initial scope is there. Watch this space.
The idea will then be to add additional units to play different periods - so mounted samurai archers and warrior monks for the medieval and later periods and the ashigaru with bows, spears and arquebus' for the 'renaissance' period.
As for the campaign, I think we'll add an additional level of interest. Prestige points will be gained in a number of ways - by whupping armies (the tougher the army faced, the more prestige won) as well as having a legitimate candidate for emperor. Players will vie to put their candidate on the throne by gaining prestige (including invading Korea / China, capturing territory, winning battles) - the highest prestige within a set number of game years means that that player puts their candidate on the throne and they become Shogun.
Players will need gold and rice in order to put soldiers on the field. Rather than large standing armies, players will call on their vassal states to supply troops or they'll need to hire mercenaries. Vassal states will pay taxes - the more secure they are, the higher the population and the richer they become. So there is a need as much to defend the vassals as attack other territories.
Players will start with different territories with different bonuses - such as holding Kyushu which means access to Christian traders which reduces their prestige but gives them access to arquebuses. Other territories will be rich in rice or gold or the quality of troops. Holding key cities automatically increases prestige (Kyoto for example) - players don't need to hold Kyoto to win, but it will carry a major prestige bonus so it is likely that it will become the key target. Prestige can also be gained by building temples (giving access to monks), killing Christian daimyos, knocking back invasions etc.
The other issue which needs consideration is that constant warring will reduce the productive capacity of all vassal states and give rise to bandits (a constant thorn in the side) - so the players will need to balance politics with warfare. The period was a constant flux of treaties to counter threats and combine to defeat a clan leader and I want to reflect this.
I plan to keep the event cards - they add a great dimension to a campaign and can mean that danger (and bonanza) can appear from any side. These will also allow for development of prestige (such as the clan leader writing a particularly memorable haiku, building an impressive castle (which will also increase a state's defense) or a nice tea room etc.
All players will have access to ninjas - so can order assassination missions on opponents candidates, clan leaders or generals - reducing prestige and ability to fight battles (so losing a general on the eve of battle may mean reducing pips on command dice, losing a clan leader may increase the chance of vassal states revolting etc.). Ninjas can also open castle gates (reducing defensive capabilities), food warehouses and gunpowder storage (BOOOM! Where's your guns NOW, big boy!?).
Trade will be a key element, as will the odd invasion by Koreans and Chinese. These will tend to hit Kyushu so there is a downside to having access to the Christians!
Anyway - lots of thought and planning to occur but the initial scope is there. Watch this space.