December 18, 2020

Clan Yamazaru - Ninja All-Stars

December 18, 2020/ Josh Powers

Ninja All-Stars – I’ve been able to make a dent in my personal backlog this year, not necessarily the models I had planned on painting for the Year of the Rat. (This was going to be all Necromunda all the time, but the nature of that game requires social interaction with a group of people, 2020 being what it’s been my gangs have been on hiatus.) The amount of time I’ve been spending with the kids has reinvigorated my interest in some game that I had shelved, Ninja All-Stars is one that didn’t quite click with my gamer friends but my kids love it, and to be honest it’s grown on me.

Clan Yamazaru is the fourth named clan I’ve painted up, leaving me with just Clan Kitsune, Tanchyo and some Ronin to complete. I don’t think Ninja Division is supporting the game any more so once I finish the stuff that’s out I’ll have the entire game fully painted. Which is really exciting because the game is beautiful and the models look so good with paint on them.

November 27, 2020

Red Tiger Clan - Clan Tora

November 27, 2020/ Josh Powers

Board Games – Ninja-All Stars got a bad rap. The weird combat mechanic really killed what was otherwise a beautiful game. Luckily Ninja Division/Sodapop Miniatures is repurposing the Clan boxes with rules for Super Dungeon. I’m patiently waiting for them to release the rules on their site or as a card pack so I can save my ink.

November 23, 2020

Ninja All-Stars - Arashikage Clan

November 23, 2020/ Josh Powers

Board Games - Storm Shadow was my favorite ninja as a kid. The white color scheme with that sweet red tattoo just fed my imagination. I know I already painted up the mini boss based on Storm Shadow but I really wanted a full clan of white ninjas.

In Super Dungeon Explore the Elemental Shrine Ninjas are just OK. They can get cool abilities and with forward thinking the Console can make some pretty nasty groups for the Heroes to battle. However their limited attacks make it hard to put a significant hurt on the Heroes once they’re powered up with a few loot cards. I need to try a few more combinations to see what works best, but so far they’re pretty easy for a solid party to take out.

These models look great on the swamp side of the Von Drake Manor boards. the white really pops on the dark backgrounds. I was also able to get some paint on the shrines with this batch. The glow effect I did isn’t the greatest but on the dark boards they look pretty cool.

The three Ronin I squeezed in are the ghost from the Ring, Lone Wolf and Cub and a Birdman Sabotuer (I call him the Seahawk for obvious reason, haha).

November 20, 2020

Ninja All-Stars - Reptile Clan

November 20, 2020/ Josh Powers

Board Games – Mortal Kombat has a pretty amazing history, one of the things I’ve enjoyed with some of the more recent games are the Krypts that let you unlock history of the game, alternate costumes and concept art. It’s cool when a game has backstory and hidden easter eggs. When it was in the arcade I remember watching people try to unlock Reptile and battle against the green color swapped ninja.

October 30, 2020

Devil Island: Clan Ika - Feeling a Bit Salty

October 30, 2020/ Josh Powers

Super Dungeon Explore – Chibi Ninjas are just amazing. Several years ago Sodapop/Ninja Division released Ninja All-Stars the game was beautifully designed with amazing miniatures and had a ton of potential. There was even a pretty decent campaign system that would allow you to run a league of ninjas competing for the top prize.