Here's a little look at the reinforcements for the Minimoto Clan. First let’s look at some new additions for The Finest Steel theme. This samurai theme has been a bit underwhelming since release with basically only one list. It's supposed to be “The Samurai Theme” the best the Minimoto have to offer. Yuji is a great start and an exemplar of everything Minimoto but wouldn’t it be nice if he had some friends?
Niko is a maelstrom of destruction. He has taken the Minimoto fighting style to its limit and simply swings his tetsubo tirelessly until everyone else is defeated. Niko is a 4 melee samurai with a wide array of melee options. He can use up to 4 different special attacks and has split attack. His Yoko-Men feat cancels out enemy model's Dodge traits, meaning he can really get to use his Tetsubo on the most nimble opponents. With Armour 4 and Resistance (2) he’s pretty safe too, but that's just how Bears are. Reo is a little different. A long time campaigner, Reo is not at his best. In fact Reo has been given up as dead multiple times, he has broken most of his bones, been stabbed more times than he remembers and… well after all that he fights on! Reo isn’t as quick as he used to be, his melee is only 3. He also wears lighter armour (The Minimoto consider it lighter but it's the very best any other clan has!). He’s still a Bear samurai though and his Immovable trait is great for holding zones, frustrating Ryu spearmen and laughing off monks many throw and slam attacks. It's his unique effect that really makes him a great choice however as when he is reduced to 4 wounds he gains Durable. I think that's all you need know about him!
Also permitted in Finest Steel is Rinko. A more senior Yuki no Maio than Kimiko she can create much larger effects, even making a Blizzard (Like the Event card) every turn if you want. She has the same Icy Veins utility feat and a quite amazing feat for the bears that is able to increase damage immensely if you use it correctly. Some of you will have seen these characters already in artwork on the Facebook Group or possibly elsewhere. These are the Minimoto’s ranged Ashigaru. When we were designing the Bear clan I wrote a whole page to try to decide what ranged weapons they would use. While they would respect the strength required to use a bow, it doesn’t follow their metal theme. We considered the use of black powder weapons since they would have to be made of Minimoto forged metal to contain the force from the powder but that didn’t suit the reliance on strength they have. I considered metal javelins (Too primitive), Heavy axes (Not a “Noble” weapon), Shurikens (Ninjas!), and even had an idea that they would use balls of excess metal or slag like a shot-put which is very thematic requiring great strength to hurl huge metal balls at enemies but in the end we decided on Shakram. Sharpened metal disks that are thrown like a frisbee, using both the force and the spinning blade to cut into the enemy. We decided these are ashigaru weapons only, not something a samurai would use but it does (Along with Kimiko) give the clan a ranged option beyond Ronin.
And finally (Well, for now) we have the blacksmiths. This is Kajiya. Blacksmiths are held in high regard, they are almost like priests in Jyoto, their work is revered almost as much as the ancestors. There are many ranks to ascend through among the blacksmiths from the lowest, who dispose of unusable metal and slag, up through the domestic smiths who make horseshoes, cooking gear and other household equipment to those making metal items for war. Armour smiths are particularly revered as they choose which ashigaru will receive their “Blessing” but the very best of the blacksmiths will be weapon smiths. Most of these will make the clan’s signature Tetsubo but the few who have the skill will become the best
bladesmiths in the Jwar Isles. Minimoto samurai rarely use their swords. It's a reverence for the steel used to make it and the smiths artistry in creating a katana that makes the bears use it only for important foes. They do not skimp on training with the sword, indeed many of their tetsubo techniques are carried over resulting in unstoppable powerful sword strikes that can, and do, cut an opponent in half. Kajiya will take a Samurai’s blade and dedicate it to a specific fight. This ceremony signifies that a certain opponent has been deemed strong enough to warrant the use of the katana and all of Kajiy's skill and control over the metal and fire elements will go into the dedication. I hope you like our Minimoto Wave. We’re also working on a bear (Yes another one!) and a lot of Garrison of the Damned for Minimoto so keep checking back here for more info.
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