This is the third in the Samurai Hero series from Martin Jones, Terje Solum and now Ms Rika Komo. For those not familiar with this series, the booklets are A5 in size, this one is 44 pages long and they all contain very impressive colour and black and white illustrations.

The previous two booklets dealt with the clans of the Takeda and the Uesugi and caused me considerable repainting of flags etc when they were published! I do not have that problem with the Ii (pronounced "E") clan because I got the flags and back banners correct first time. In my opinion each of these booklets improves over the previous one published, which keeps one looking forward to the next.

The Ii Clan are famous for being attired in red armour and were known as the Red Devils, just beating the British Paratroopers to the title by a mere 300 years! Apart from the unique information that a wargamer needs to raise a samurai unit(s) there is a wealth of clan history that really brings the warriors of long ago back to life. The Ii Clan were the elite vanguard of Tokugawa Iyasu, who fought just about every other warlord on his way to becoming Shogun, which makes it a very good clan to have in any samurai army of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

The story ofthe Ii Clan is fascinating with a 3 year old boy at one stage being the sole remaining heir to the clan being brought up by a priestess who changed her name to a masculine one and actually controlled the clan for 11 years. Then Ii Naomasa in order to get his illegitimate son recognised in the clan, had to bring his wife, Hana, the head of his lover and mother of the boy in question. No sooner had Naomasa died than Hana broke her bargain and her son took over the leadership of the clan, but that is all in the book plus the eventual outcome.

In one battle with most of their leaders dead the Red Devils refused to retreat until a unit of Ninja who were fighting on their side, fired on the Ii from behind and ran away, hotly pursued out of danger by the red armoured samurai. Anyone got a rule for that? I am impressed with this latest edition from Dai Sho Publications and can recommend it for any member who games in this period.

Next in the series is The Sanada Clan, of which I have little knowledge so am really intrigued, having seen some of the draft artwork that will be in the booklet. Available from Two Dragon Productions.

Other Reviews

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At the Sharp End: WWII Skirmish Rules
General de Brigade: Napoleonic Rules

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