Test of Honour Unboxing (Mounted Samurai)

Mounted Samurai

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 1 copy of each of these sprues

Now with these sprues you can build 6 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:

• Mounted Archer
• Mounted Hero
• Mounted Samurai

The Metal Components

The metal components allow you to modify 5 models, which means that you might be able to use the spare components to convert other models in your group.  There are 5 neatly trimmed bare heads that can be used to modify your Mounted Samurai models

In addition, you have the metal hero character Widow Takeda Naoko.  This model will come as a single piece with a number of additional details.  She is a mounted figure, and while she does come with a base, she’s ready to mount on the back of one the plastic horses included in the box.    

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

Widow Takeda Naoko

The Special character for this box is an 8 recruitment cost model. She cuts an impressive figure, with 5s in all of her attributes except for 4 strength. She also begins the game with the Side of Right Skill card.  As a Samurai hero, she comes with 3 activations per turn.  The mounted model rules are also printed on her card, reminding you that mounted models can move up to 9 inches on a move action, and they suffer minor penalties against enemy models equipped with Naginatas or Yaris.   

Mounted Hero

The Mounted Hero is an 8 recruitment cost model.  He is an impressive figure, with 5s in all of his attributes.  The primary differences between this model and the special character are threefold. First, the Mounted Hero has 1 additional point of Strength.  Second, they can be equipped with a variety of weapons, though the sword, the naginata and the bow are likely.  Third, this model doesn’t come with the starting skill card that Naoko begins the game with.

He has the same benefits and penalties that all mounted units have and has the stats to move about the battlefield.  With that mobility, you can equip this character to handle specific threats as they come up.  

Mounted Samurai (2)

The  Mounted Samurai is a 6 recruitment cost model.  He is an impressive figure, however.  With 4s across the board, and 2 actions, the  Mounted Samurai Hero has a similar role to the more expensive Mounted Hero while being slightly less expensive.  The additional movement granted by the horse doubles his cost compared to the non-mounted version, so you have to figure out whether that cost is outweighed by the benefits of the 9 inch movement.  Customization options that are available to the regular Samurai are equally available to the Mounted version.

Mounted Archer (5)

The Mounted Archer is a 3 recruitment cost model.  The only peasants in this box are bow equipped peasants with horses.  They are more expensive than the other Ashigaru archers and lack the ability to taken in group bases (I’d kind of like to see that as an option, if only for the multibase giganticness).  They are highly mobile choices, and like all of the mounted units are very good at mobile game play.  They have the same attributes as regular Ashigaru Archers, with 3s across the board with 1 activation.

(Note, there are 9 recruitment cards in this box and you only have the parts to build 6 of these cards.  If you’re going to build 1 of each, you’ll need to pick up additional sprues and bases from Warlord Games webstore).  

Additional Cards

In addition, the box will come with  6 additional skill and 3 quest cards. Let’s take a look at those and see what they do

Family Heirloom

This skill card gives the Samurai +1 Honor

Brilliant Plan

Take a Test of Wits, If passed, you may draw the next 2 action tokens (they must be assigned to different warriors, and can’t be used by the Samurai who took the Test of Wits).  This skill can be used once per battle.  

Class Distinction

The Samurai does not test to keep his nerve if a commoner is cut down

The Side of Right

If your opponent has at least 3 more Dishonour cards than you, one commoner within 12 inches can make a free action.  This skill can be used once per battle.

Powerful Charge

If the Samurai’s charge starts at least half a full move away from the target (usually 3 inches) the Samurai adds 1 die to the Damage roll if the Strike action succeeds

Fabled Weapon

If the Samurai is within 6 inches, commoners add +1 die when testing to keep their nerve.  They must be able to see the Samurai to gain this benefit.

Honour Above All (Quest)

Win 3 games without gaining any Dishonour Cards.

Uncover the Secret (Quest)

After cutting down a Samurai, your Samurai Heroes can spend their next action questioning their fallen foe with a Test of Wits.  Pass 3 such tests against different foes.  

Balance (Quest)

Your Samurai must retain 1 Skill with each of the following keywords: Agility, Strength, Knowledge.

Conclusions

This is an interesting box set.  It includes 43 points of possible recruitment cards with 4 Samurai units and 5 Ashigaru units.  The mounted units offer a highly mobile style of warfare since they move 3 more inches than other units can with a move action.  Naoko encourages you to play an honourable game, and if your opponent accumulates a lot of Dishonour cards, you can use her starting skill to give one of your mounted archers a free action.  

This box retails for $24.00 (you can find it at the Warlord Games Webstore here

Stay tuned for more unboxing articles like this and hopefully in the near future some painting galleries as we get more models assembled and painted. Game On, Game Fans.