Test of Honour Unboxing (Masked Men)

Masked Men

Hey Game Fans, we’re back with an unboxing article on one of the expansion sets for Test of Honour.  We’re going to take a look at the sprues, the cards, and any other odds and ends that come in the box.  Now most of these expansion sets (aside from the Samurai Warband) have additional metal components (typically metal heads) and a metal hero character.  Let’s dig into the components and see what you can put together out of the box.

The Sprues

Now this particular box contains 2 copies of this sprue

Now with these sprues you can build 10 models of a specific type, with extra metal parts for adding additional details.  They can be armed and equipped with the following options, depending on how you want to put them together:

• Ashigaru Spearman
• Ashigaru Sergeant
• Ashigaru Musician
• Ashigaru Banner Bearer

The Metal Components

The metal components allow you to modify 10 models, which means that you might be able to use the spare components to convert other models in your group.  These are metal masked heads representing Ashigaru who have taken the Mempo off of defeated samurai.    

In addition, you have the metal hero character Masahiro, Warrior Monk..  This model will come as a single piece with a number of additional details.  Also included is a single black base (you will have to drill a hole in the base to attach the peg from the miniature to the base).  

The Cards

There are two primary types of cards that come in each of these expansions.  First, you’ll be getting recruitment cards to match the new units available in the box.  Each Recruitment card included will have a breakdown like the one we did for the Starter Set.  You can find our original article on the Recruitment cards for the starter set (and the Samurai Warband box) here.  The card breakdowns for the current set are listed below.

Recruitment Cards

Masahiro, Warrior Monk

The Masahiro is a 6 recruitment cost model.  He has the same basic attributes as a Samurai hero, with 5s across the board and 3 activations.  He starts the game with the Prayer and Devotion Skill Card.  We’ll talk about Prayer a little further down, but it does give him a lot of options for limiting risks to your force.  Masahiro is one of the few characters in the game armed with a different weapon, and comes standard with a staff.  

Masked Man (2)

The Masked Man is a 1 recruitment cost model.  He has the same basic attributes as an Ashigaru Spearman, with 3s across the board and 1 activation.  With low cost and regular attributes, the Masked Man is the rank and file soldier of this boxed set.  This one only comes with two copies of the lone Masked Man card, which doesn’t feel like quite enough, but lone Masked Men can screen others, and can bait out activations from your opponent.   

Masked Man Group (3)

The Masked Man Group is a 2 recruitment cost multibase group of models.  Like the other multibase groups, the Masked Man Group is a unit of 3 Masked Men.  At full capacity (3 Masked Men) the Group has +1 honour, and as long as there are 2 Masked Men on the base, +1 Strike.  They have a single activation, which is fairly typical of Commoner units.  They have a low cost, and can add some additional weight to your force.  .  

Additional Cards

In addition, the box will come with 8 additional skill and 4 quest cards.  We will be listing those below and having a brief explanation of what the card does.  

Prayer and Devotion

Once per battle, Reroll all the dice of a Test.  The new result applies, even if worse than the previous one.  

Single Minded

The Samurai can choose not to avoid enemy attacks.

Ignore Pain

Once per turn, when testing to keep his nerve, the Samurai ignores blood drops.

Jump Kick

Once per turn, before making a melee Strike test, make a Test of Agility.  If passed, the target warrior takes a blood drop  If the test is failed, the Samurai loses 1 die from his Strike roll.  

Pure Weapon

+1 die on Strike roll.  Discard this card if the Samurai cuts down a commoner (including members of a group)

Ancient Curse

Once per battle, choose one enemy warrior to take a Test of Wits.  If they fail, they lose 1 action this turn.

Offering

Once per turn, before making a test, choose one of your skill cards that would add +1 dice for that test.  Discard the card and gain +3 dice for the test.  

Coordinated Attack

If the Samurai is within 6” when a friendly spearman group is making a Strike roll, their weapon bonus is triggered with 4 or more blade results (instead of the normal 5+).

Great Leader (Quest)

Win a battle during which all the enemy samurai are cut down, and all by commoners.

Honourable (Quest)

Your samurai hero must retain 3 skills with the Honour keyword.

Wise (Quest)

Your samurai hero must retain 3 skills with the Knowledge keyword.

Nemesis

Your samurai hero must cut down the same enemy samurai hero three times.

Conclusions

This box set allows you to put together a 14 point force for Test of Honour.  There are almost enough models in the box to put together the entire force, but you’re going to be short 1 Masked Man (including the metal mask).  Mashahiro is a solid leader for the group, and some of  the quests (notably Great Commander) synergizes very well with Coordinated Attack.  It’s a neat set, though i would probably grab a second box or use either the Samurai Warband or another box to supplement the forces presented.  

You can find this box at Warlord Games webstore here.  It retails for $29.00 where you can find it at your friendly local gaming store.  Be sure to check it out, and if you want to keep seeing more of these, keep checking out our blog.  Game On, Game Fans.