Temple of Ro-Kan and Kami warband for Bushido The Game painted to Level 3: glazed skin tones, fabric and fur texturing and scenic bases with water effects.
Private commission · Level 3 · Delivered in August 2022. Narrative warband for Bushido: Risen Sun featuring monks and peasants from the Temple of Ro-Kan alongside folklore-inspired Kami and Yokai spirits. Level 3 showcase paint job highlighting subtle skin tone variations, traditional fabric textures, and custom oriental scenic basing with water effects.
The project
This commission for the skirmish game Bushido: The Game (GCT Studios) takes us to the feudal and mythical Japan of the Jwar Isles, gathering an eclectic Temple of Ro-Kan warband complemented by folklore creatures and natural allies. The visual centre of the group is dominated by an imposing water buffalo ridden by a young villager, surrounded by martial monks, peasants armed with farming tools and Yokai/Kami spirits such as the fox woman (Kitsune) in a blue kimono and her animal form.
The commission was executed under our Level 3 parameters, where the technical focus falls on the organic, atmospheric treatment of every miniature. Special attention went to flesh tones, achieving smooth transitions that reflect the sun-weathered skin of the peasantry against the paler, more ethereal palette of the spirit entities. The traditional cotton and linen kimonos feature brush-applied textures, highlighted folds and discreet fabric patterns in ochre, earth brown and saturated indigo blue.
The fur and animal textures of the buffalo and the foxes show layer-by-layer hair micro-texturing, accompanied by controlled washes that define musculature and natural shading. Accent elements such as the red sacred ropes (shimenawa), the woven straw hats (kasa) and the paper lanterns provide saturation points that guide the eye across the group.
To emphasise the individuality of each skirmish miniature on its round lipped base, custom oriental scenes were built: damp earth floors, stream rocks, weathered wooden walkways, autumn foliage and clear water effects in transparent resin that integrate the warband into the serene yet dangerous environment of the Ro-Kan mountains.
Techniques used
- Organic skin tone layering (Level 3): advanced flesh work with glazes to separate the warm rural tones of the villagers from the cold tones of the spirits.
- Fabric & fur texturing: visual weave simulation on peasant kimonos and hair-by-hair painting on the buffalo, the fox and the Kitsune's ears and tail.
- Oriental accent framing: focal crimson red on traditional ropes and yellows on lanterns to contrast with the earthy background palettes.
- Scenic oriental basing & water effects: individual themed bases with sculpted wood, stream stone, Japanese vegetation and clear resin pours simulating puddles and running water.
Miniatures included
- 1x Water buffalo with young villager rider (mounted centrepiece).
- 1x Kitsune / fox woman in blue kimono with tail and swords.
- 1x Support fox on a scenic rock.
- 1x Temple monk with trained giant crow on a wooden walkway.
- 1x Pilgrim monk with Kasa hat, staff and prayer beads.
- 1x Peasant with Kasa hat, oriental lantern and poultry.
- 1x Agile beast warrior / Kami with blades.
- 2x Rural peasants / ashigaru with farming tools and loads.
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