Wrath of Heaven (Tenchu)

Cards are drawn in turn; when a card for a unit type comes up, all models of that type activate and take one (or two) actions as printed on the card. Samurai cards and one Ronin card give 2 actions, while Ninja, Ashigaru, Civilian and the other Ronin cards give 1. A Banzai bonus card gives extra activation to Ninja and heroes. An action is move up to 6" (Ninja sprint 9"), move into melee, shoot, or another action such as opening a chest.

all the units or models of that type are activated and may take one (or two) actions, depending on the card. There are the following cards: 4 Ninja cards with 1 Action ... 2 Samurai cards with 2 Actions

Ninja are spotted in the open on 2+, in cover on 4+; -1 if on different height, -1 more if over 12" away; hiding/crawling gives a further -1; a disguise raises it to 5+ until the Ninja runs, fights or is spotted; smoke means only spotted on 6+. NPCs have a 90-degree arc and roll if the Ninja is within 24" in that arc. A spotted Ninja must break line of sight to shake pursuit.

Ninjas are spotted in the open on a 2+, in cover on a 4+.

The advanced game sees Ninja performing missions against forces controlled by a referee or other players, initially rolled for randomly and modified by the Ninja's actions.

The advanced game sees a team of Ninja performing different missions against forces controlled by a referee (or other players).

Each model has a Save value (naked 6+, clothed villager 5+, samurai armour 3+). Failing a save removes the model. Poison and bombs reduce saves by 1, silent kill by 2.

A hit requires the model to make a save or be removed from play.

The first failed save only wounds the Ninja and can be cured with a healing potion; the second removes it.

Resilience. It takes two failed ‘Saves’ to remove a Ninja from play.

Silent Kill: approaching directly from behind gives an unopposed Kendo roll with the target saving at -2 (heroes turn and defend instead). Riposte: if an attacker fails his Kendo roll the Ninja may strike back. Items include grapnel, poison, smoke bomb (2" cloud, spotted only on 6+), caltrops, poison rice, bomb, disguise, blowpipe, shuriken, bow (two items), ninja armour and healing potion.

Silent Kill. If the Ninja approaches a target directly from behind (not to the side), they may make an unopposed Kendo roll (only the Ninja rolls). The target saves at -2.

Models are rated Kendo, Kyudo and Save. Sample Ninja (Jasparu, Mito Gai, Christyami, Marku Yama) have personal profiles and talents such as two weapons; mission targets include heroes with Resilience.

Each model type is rated by its ability in mêlée (‘Kendo’), its ability in ranged combat (‘Kyudo’), and its level of armour (‘Save’).

If attacker succeeds and defender fails, the defender must save or be removed; if only the defender succeeds he parries. If both succeed the lower score wins. Two-weapon fighters roll two dice and choose one.

If both succeed in their rolls, then the lower score of the two dice wins.

Katana beats wakisashi in the open; wakisashi beats katana indoors or in woodland; swords beat pole-arms (pole-arm broken unless it saves 4+); tetsubo beats swords (sword broken unless saves 4+); any weapon beats tanto or unarmed.

Katana beats Wakisashi in open spaces - Wakisashi beats Katana in enclosed spaces (indoors or woodland)

A Ninja climbs one level on 4+ (2+ with a grapnel). On a 1 the Ninja falls, is prone and generates an extra Noise token; falling more than one level requires a Save per additional level.

A Ninja may climb one level on a 4+ (2+ with a grapnel).

A move action is up to 6". Ninja may run 9" but incur a Noise token for that turn. Hiding/crawling is up to 3". Ninja armour reduces speed by 1".

Ninja may run 9” but incur one Noise token for the turn they ran.

Event cards come into play only if they are in order: if '1' is drawn first an event occurs and is rolled for. No event table is printed in the article.

Event cards only come into play if they are in order. If ‘1’ is drawn first, an event occurs and is rolled for.

Missions include silencing the consort, punishing the evil merchant, retrieving the ancestral sword or stolen horse, rescuing a hostage and stopping a messenger, each with target location and opposing NPC profiles.

Here are six Ninja missions for the Shinobi to complete. They should be given randomly to players.

A Ninja gains Noise tokens for running/climbing (1), fighting (1), falling (1), explosions (2, drawing NPCs to the blast) and a 'Ninja!' shout (2, then 1); tokens add to NPC reaction rolls and normally clear on the Ninja's next activation or turn end. Tension starts at 1, +1 for dead in the open, +1 smoke visible, +1 fighting or 'Ninja!' this turn; any modified reaction roll below the tension level is raised to it. Hiding corpses reduces tension.

The tension level becomes the minimum reaction that NPCs will perform when they are activated (after modifications for noise).

Only NPCs within 12" of a Ninja, in the same compound, or able to see him within 24" are rolled for. Guards: 1 no move, 2 turn 90 degrees, 3 move 6" away, 4 turn and move 6", 5 move 6" forward, 6 move 6" towards the Ninja. Civilians have their own table. -1 if the Ninja has cover, is over 12" away or higher; noise tokens are added.

Civilians and guards act randomly on a roll of a D6 when activated, unless they have previously spotted a Ninja and still have him in sight.

The deck holds 4 Ninja cards (1 action), a Banzai bonus card (any Ninja and heroes take one action), 2 Samurai (2 actions), Ronin cards (2 and 1), 3 Ashigaru, 3 Civilian and 3 numbered Event cards. Faction-vs-faction games use two sets. Actions: move 6" (Ninja sprint 9"), move into melee, shoot, or another action such as opening a chest.

When a card for a particular unit type comes up, all the units or models of that type are activated and may take one (or two) actions, depending on the card.

Each NPC rolls once per action to spot. On spotting it may close and attack or call 'Ninja!', ending its activation; the call generates noise and immediately activates every NPC within 12" or in line of sight (24"). Only one call per turn.

Calling “Ninja!” gains the spotted Ninja Noise tokens (see below) and every NPC within 12” of the call or in line-of-sight (24”) is immediately activated.

All tests (spotting, reaction, shooting, melee, saves, climbing) are single d6 rolls against target numbers.

All dice used are D6.

Models with missile weapons shoot instead of moving and not while in melee. -1 over half range, -1 target obscured. A hit requires a save or the model is removed.

They hit on a roll higher than or equal to their (modified) ‘Kyudo’ score