This is intended as a broad overview of everything you need to start playing Bushido plus extras you might want to consider.
Models
The enjoyment of modelling, painting and playing with toy soldiers is basically why we're here, so hopefully the expectation of needing models will not be a big ask from a new player. However, the number of individual Bushido figures is now well into triple digits so knowing where to start is a bit daunting. There are three potential approaches for starting out...
- Get the two player starter. This comprises 6 models with 3 representing the Prefecture of Ryu and 3 from the Ito Clan. If either of these (both solid) factions is of interest, this is not a bad place to start given that you get the rulebook and tokens as well. It's also not a bad way to dip your toe into the game to see if it grabs you before investing too heavily. Note that the models and the special cards within this set are replicated in the starter set for the relevant faction (see below).
- Get one of the faction starters. By this, I mean the boxed sets labelled as starters (see below). This is for players who find themselves particularly drawn to a particular faction but also want to gain an understanding of the game. There is a starter for every faction except Kage Kaze Zoku (Ninjas) and at the time of writing, Shiho. I would not necessarily recommend diving in with any other box set as these tend to be focus around a more specialised approach to the game. The actual faction starters are well put together and will give you a good grounding in how the faction plays even if you end up not using the models included in the sets that often. The faction starters also contain cards which are unique to those sets. None of these cards would be classed as essential or "must haves", but completionists may want them anyway.
- Choose a faction and buy models you like the look of. This may not be an approach that yields game winning results but when starting out with games, having models that you enjoy working with is a good way to keep your interest. Or you may be an experienced miniature gamer who can quickly digest the rules and comprehend how your chosen faction will play. You should aim for about 6-8 models with varying costs, totaling about 100 rice. The main thing to avoid is having multiple models with the Insignificant or Aloof traits as this will impact on your ability to do scenario actions which can be key to winning games (there are three broad scenario types and two of the three require models to carry out scenario actions).
Note - Unless, you are an experienced miniature gamer, it's best not to dive into the game with Kage Kaze Zoku. KKZ players do win top Bushido events but there is nonetheless an art to achieving results with Ninjas.
Rulebook and Reference Sheets
Always keep the rulebook handy for checking key points. An A5 version comes in the Two Player Starter Set or you can order the larger copy from the web store. You can also download the rules and print them for free.
While a rulebook is essential for reference (unless you have an encyclopedic knowledge of the game), endlessly thumbing through the book to look up the damage chart, check the rules on states etc will significantly slow down your play and hinder your enjoyment of the game. I therefore strongly suggest that you have a good reference sheet handy. Loads of people have uploaded various versions to the files section of the facebook group, so by all means check them out to find one that works for you. Alternatively you can make your own.
What you probably won't find on any one reference sheet is a comprehensive list of traits. This is because there are too many to fit on a standard reference sheet. Learning the common traits for your faction (Jump Up for Jung Pirates, Fear for Cult of Yurei) is a good approach. It is worth highlighting that the character cards in the Faction Starter Sets have all the traits printed on the rear of the cards. Alternatively, if you create your list on Battlescribe, you can print off all the traits that apply to the models in your list. Credit to Ben Calvert-Lee for producing the Battlescribe Bushido Mod.
Playing Surface
Bushido is played on a 2' by 2' playing surface. This may not sound very large compared to other table top miniature games, but the game and the models are well designed for the designated board size. You will also find it easier to get space for a game in a store or on club nights. The slightly unusual size used to mean that suitable gaming mats were previously hard to find but there are now a growing number of options. This includes official mats produced by Deepcut Studios and available via the GCT webstore.
As with most miniature games, there is a need to measure range distances, model movement etc in the game. My personal preferences is measuring sticks over tape measures for a greater degree of accuracy. Bushido occupies a small playing surface and inaccurate measurements can have a big impact that wasn't accounted for in the development of the game / characters.
By way of example, a common scenario will see models trying to reach objectives in the centre of the board. The minimum distance between a model on a 30mm base deployed against the table edge and an centre objective marker (also on a 30mm base) is 10.23 inches. Some models (Ito, Tengu, Roses etc) have a walk of 5". In these cases, 2 walk actions total 10 inches and this would not be sufficient to reach the centre objectives. However, when you're waving a tape measure above the board, it is all too easy to make an inaccurate measurement and feel that you have sufficient movement to get there. If you are going to use a tape measure, I strongly advise that you make the measurements on the playing surface to minimise the occurrence of unintended errors.
Tape Measures are of course readily available from any DIY store, while measuring sticks can be obtained from Blotz or Art of War
Dice
For veteran miniature gamers, this shouldn't present too much difficulty, but you will need two sets of dice which are a different colour for melee actions. One set (typically the brighter colour) will be the attack dice and the other set (either black, grey or white) will be the defence dice. GCT have stated that they intend to reintroduce faction dice at some stage in 2021, but you really do not need them (and please don't go hunting down old sets on ebay). A set of 5 coloured dice and a set of 5 white/grey dice is more than sufficient. Some people also use dice as turn counters and for recording a running tally of scenario points.
Scenery
There two types of scenery you will need. The first is standard war gaming scenery (forests, walls, hedges, small houses etc). Over time, you may want your scenery to have a Far East vibe to it to replicate the setting of the Jwar Isles, but this is certainly not essential for early play. The second type is a means to represent scenario objectives and zones. Objectives can be represented by anything on a 30/50mm base (size is dependent on the scenario) - there all sorts of buddhas, stone lanterns, grave stones etc, that you can pick up from a range of suppliers to suit this purpose. Zones (4"/8") can be made fairly easily by using that relic from your old school pencil case, the compass and marking out circles on card, PVC foamboard, old DVD cases etc. Remember that you need to be able to place a model on any point on the table that isn't impassible terrain, so try to keep your zones as thin as possible. A thickness of 3mm or less is about right.
Here are a few sites worth taking a look at for scenery and/or objective pieces (click on the images to go to the sites).
Tokens
Not essential for when you are starting out (as with any game, if needs must, states and effects can be written on scraps on paper and placed accordingly), but the game experience will improve if you have ready access to a set of tokens for marking activations, states, effects etc. GCT's Bushido token set is perfectly fine for this purpose but there are alternative sets available from Master Crafted Miniatures which are more comprehensive. A couple of sets of coloured counters are also useful to account for a range of things such as prayer markers.
If you are a new player, the current character cards will come with the models themselves. Please do cast your eyes over the latest Errata for any tweaks, errors etc.
There are also Special Cards available to each faction representing events, enhancements and additional items of equipment. These are available as follows;
- a set of 20 special cards for each faction
- a set of 20 Ronin special cards which can be used by any factions
- 5 special cards contained within the starter sets for each faction
- a set for each Cycle (only one so far - Risen Sun) with 2 special cards for each faction (Shiho are not present in the Risen Sun Cycle Deck) and an additional 10 Ronin special cards, each designed to illustrate the backstory of the current cycle. For example, some of the Risen Sun cards make reference to a great tsunami which has swept across the Jwar Isles causing subtle in game effects that reflect the impact of this event.
It is common for new players to ask whether they need Special Cards to play the game. The answer is NO, YOU DO NOT, so don't feel the need to "Add to Cart" when you are first starting out. They do provide a series of additional tricks that you will find a use for as you become an experienced player and are also a handy way to use up odd points of rice when choosing your warband. In any event, all the Special Cards have been made available via the Bushido Wiki (with GCT's approval), so you can just cut and paste them into a document and print them that way.
Lastly there are cards for Special Attacks/Defences. These are again not compulsory, but are a handy gaming aid for melee exchanges. Rather than declaring which Special Attack/Defence you are using, you can just put down the relevant card (or choose the Bluff card) face down on the table before revealing dice.
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