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Nippon Renegades

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:40 pm
by laffin-loon
Hi all,

My take on the Nippon team. I'm sure that there must be a semi-official list around somewhere but I haven't looked for it specifically so that it doesn't influence me. This is my first attempt at designing a team and I'm trying to make something balanced and relatively fresh. Feel free to criticise in which ever way you choose.....

Back from the days (88ish) of the "Ravening Hordes" there was a Nippon army list. Since then they seem to have gone back East and nothing more has been heard since.

However sometimes a band of renegades from a destroyed "House" come to the west to seek sanctuary from their homicidal brethren amongst the barbarians of the west. Trained to be fearless warriors since birth, these fallen Samurai now live as Ronin, the clanless grey warriors. Better to live amongst Barbarians than live without honour as a Bandit. They come with those other honourless renegades, the Ninja, and their serfs from the land the Arigashu.

What's the best way to survive in the "decadent" west? Why, play Bloodbowl of course!!!!

The Team.

0-6 Ronin 6 3 3 8 Block, Dauntless 90k GS
0-2 Ninja 7 3 4 7 Wrestle, Dodge, Leap, Shadow 120k GA
0-16 Arigashu 6 3 3 7 40k G
Rerolls - 70k

I'm not sure if it breaks team making rules. I only scanned them briefly...

They should be good for a fight but without real ball skills and be vulnerable to powerful enemies. They should however not be too afraid of strength. I would say it could be the bogie team to the Lizardmen.

The Ninja I based on the wardancer of course. Shadowing in exchange of the +1M I think gives him very interesting possibilities. He really has the ability to be awesome catcher defence with one or two other skills or could be made into a TD machine but without the ruthless speed of the WD. He can always wrestle down his opponent using his judo skills but he'll leave himself very vulnerable on the deck if he does so. I feel that he's balanced but please tell me if you disagree.

If the team looks over powerful then I'd drop the Ronin to 0-4. I don't think they are too good though for their price and the RR cost though.

I did want to make the Arigashu 5 3 3 6 30k "Malnourished", where the negatrate is a +1 to injury like gobbos but without throwing/dodging effects, but 30k linemen is probably too cheap with the expensive specials. Also I suspect that it is probably racist... :oops:

I'm not interested in links to other Nippon versions, I could find them myself; but if you know of any places that sell Nippon FF figures then please let me know. I'd like to try this one out. I saw one for "Phig's" I think with Sumo too, but the Sumos don't fit the theme or the balance I feel. There didn't seem to be any peasant figures too. Any links are good links though!

Cheers for your comments,
Laffin

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:47 pm
by voyagers_uk
I would be quite tempted to give them a go (let me say that this means it is probably too strong)

in a wierd way they remind me of Khemri

Ronin = Tomb Guards - swap guard for dauntless
ninja - similar to mummy in that a whole lot of the spp's of the team will flow through
arigashu - skeletons meh!

but I feel that they would add a lot in terms of flexibility and I would play them against Khemri quite willingly.

they feel right..... in a funny way... if you know what I mean. :wink:

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:50 pm
by laffin-loon
Cheers man! :D

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:56 pm
by Darkson
When you're ready to look: MBBL2 Nipponese. ;)

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:00 pm
by MickeX
I'd guess they're about balanced, and the combination of players is interesting as well. Good work!

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:16 pm
by wesleytj
i certainly think it's at least close enough to being balanced to warrant play-testing. 6 ronin with dauntless seems like a lot, but then as you point out they have no ball handling skills of which to speak, so it might be OK.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:44 pm
by Rune
Certainly an interesting team. I suspect it is a bit overpowered, but it is definately worth testing.

By the way: isn't it called ashigaru and not arigashu?

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:04 pm
by laffin-loon
Errrm,

It may well be. I´m only going by my old knowledge of "Shogun", the book and the board game. Time may well have made me mix my syllables.

I had a quick look at the other team. Ninja and Sumos should never mix. One is "renegade", the other is "honourable". Really, ninja would never be allowed to play with Samurai either. Still, that´s just my take on Oriental history. Nothing really makes the other team unique. The dauntless on Ronin/Samurai should be essential - but on Sumos????

Any other links for figures? Any Nippon style figures that would be good for converting would help too. ....

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:16 pm
by Darkson
Probably not quite what you're looking for: http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/r ... ange_id=21

I thought Wargames Foundry did a Oriental range, but I can't find them.

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:26 pm
by narkotic
Image

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:06 pm
by Rune
laffin-loon wrote:Errrm,

It may well be. I´m only going by my old knowledge of "Shogun", the book and the board game. Time may well have made me mix my syllables.
I'm pretty sure they're called Ashigaru in the board game.
I had a quick look at the other team. Ninja and Sumos should never mix. One is "renegade", the other is "honourable". Really, ninja would never be allowed to play with Samurai either.
I totally agree with this.