Battle Example 1

- Battle of Uedahara -

This example uses approximate historical army strengths from the Battle of Uedahara while demonstrating Sengoku’s combat system using multiple assaults, tactical modifiers, Action Cards, recovery, and battlefield withdrawal.

Historically, the battle involved:

approximately 7,000 troops under Takeda Shingen
and approximately 8,000 troops under Murakami Yoshikiyo.

Within Sengoku’s warfare system:

the Takeda army fields 7 troop counters,
and the Murakami army fields 8 troop counters.

Strategic Situation

Takeda Clan

Lead General: Takeda Shingen
Army Strength: 7,000 Men (7 Troops)

The Takeda army advances aggressively into Murakami territory, seeking a rapid victory before the enemy can consolidate its defenses.

Murakami Clan

Lead General: Murakami Yoshikiyo
Army Strength: 8,000 men (8 Troops)

Murakami forces establish a Defensive Encampment near Uedahara and prepare to absorb the Takeda advance through disciplined resistance and prepared fieldworks.

Because Murakami is defending from a Defensive Encampment:

the defending army gains an additional +1 defensive modifier during the battle.

Takeda uses a move order token to attack Murakami positions near while Murakami uses the defensive encampment order token in preperation.

Neither side withdraws.

The players agree that the Takeda army is the attacker.

The battlefield terrain is mountenous:

all combat rolls suffer -1

Assault one

Takeda Clan

Tactic Card: Surprise Assault
Action Card: Foment

Murakami Clan

Tactic Card: Fortify in Field Defenses
Action Card: Stirring Speech

Fortify vs Surprise Assault: Takeda gains +1

Defensive Encampment: Murakami gains +1 defender modifier

Terrain penalty: both sides suffer -1

Takeda Combat Roll

Final Modifier: +1

7 dice rolled

Results: 4 hits inflicted

Takeda Losses

Surprise Assault recovery rate: 30%

4 casualties:

1 recovering troop
3 permanently destroyed

Remaining:

3 active troops
1 recovering troop

The Takeda assault breaches portions of the Murakami defensive line, but the attacking formations suffer devastating casualties during the advance.

Murakami Combat Roll

Final Modifier: +1

8 dice rolled

Results: 4 hits inflicted

Murakami Losses

Fortify recovery rate: 75%

4 casualties:

3 recovering troops
1 permanently destroyed

Remaining:

4 active troops
3 recovering troops

Murakami defenders successfully preserve much of their force despite intense pressure from the Takeda attack.

Assault two

Both armies remain engaged despite mounting exhaustion.

Takeda commanders attempt to force a final breakthrough before their army loses momentum entirely.

Murakami forces counterattack from behind prepared defenses and attempt to isolate exposed Takeda units.

Takeda Clan

Tactic Card: Conventional Battle
Action Card: No card played.

Murakami Clan

Tactic Card: Outflank
Action Card: Shinobi

Outflank vs Conventional Battle: Murakami gains +2

Defensive Encampment: Murakami gains +1 defender modifier

Terrain penalty: both sides suffer -1

Takeda Combat Roll

Final Modifier: -1

3 dice rolled

Results: 1 hits inflicted

Takeda Losses

Conventional Battle recovery rate: 50%

3 casualties:

2 recovering troops
1 permanently destroyed

Remaining:

0 active troops
3 recovering troops

The Takeda assault collapses completely as Murakami counterattacks shatter the remaining attacking formations.

Because the Takeda army no longer possesses active troops capable of continuing combat, the army is forced to retreat from the battlefield.

Murakami Combat Roll

Murakami: +2

4 dice rolled

Results: 3 hits inflicted

Murakami Losses

Outflank recovery rate: 50%

1 casualty:

1 recovering troop

Remaining:

3 active troops
4 recovering troops

The Murakami army retains battlefield control, though the defenders are heavily exhausted and unable to aggressively pursue the retreating Takeda force.

Resolution

After two assaults:

the Takeda army withdraws,
the Murakami army controls the battlefield,
and both sides suffer severe exhaustion.

The battle is considered a Murakami tactical victory and a successful defense of the region.

Takeda Final Stats

Starting Strength:

7 troops

End of Battle:

0 active troops
3 recovering troops
4 permanently destroyed

The Takeda army survives as a military force, but the failed offensive leaves the clan temporarily unable to continue aggressive campaigning.

Murakami Final Stats

Starting Strength:

8 troops

End of Battle:

3 active troops
4 recovering troops
1 permanently destroyed

Murakami successfully preserves control of the region while retaining enough organized forces to discourage immediate renewed attacks.

What This Example Demonstrates

This example demonstrates several important principles of Sengoku warfare:

Defensive Encampments can significantly improve battlefield survivability,
recovery rates strongly influence long-term military capability,
tactical choices matter as much as raw army size,
Action Cards can decisively alter assaults,
and even victorious armies may emerge exhausted and weakened.

The example also reflects an important reality of Sengoku warfare:
many campaigns were decided not through total destruction, but through exhaustion, failed offensives, and the gradual erosion of an opponent’s ability to continue fighting effectively.

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