(or commander? I guess it depends if they have enough members to form units)

mattnificent I suppose I will have to pick your brain about all that

Yes indeed

I can extrapolate from history to a degree, but I don't want to contradict anything you've got planned!

I think the big things that comes to mind is their formation, and their place in the larger governmental structure (if any)

given that the Shinsengumi were somewhere between a militia and a police force

Mibugumi are more directly militia, but they'd still be used for constabulary work when manpower was needed

Okay! But government-sanctioned, at least locally?

and yeah the role of the Shinsengumi shifted a lot - particularly given this a time period where 'policing' frequently meant 'stabbing people'

They're explicitly formed to serve as shock troops in foreign wars in the event the Bando Shogun selects them over the other provincial forces

Yes

And their secondary function is to defend against or enact reprisals or preemptive strikes against the other provincial forces

Okay! Man I suspect I'm going to end up with a lot of NPCs

given a grand total of four infiltrators went for Mibugumi positions XD

Given the often rebellious political climate of the peninsula, they're sometimes used either to break up clan feuds or to do counterinsurgency work as well

Yeah

Would they have a reputation among civilians? Good or bad.

There are probably about 1-200 Mibugumi

Bad. As a Ronin force, they have no loyalty to local clans, they stamp out rebellion, and they allow anyone to join them.

so roughly the same as history XD

Might have some "new meat" here? Thinking of dropping Kanji down south initially, at least...

yeah, I figure we'll get a few infiltrators

About 60 Suzuki rifles and 60 Akuryu in koroshima, and about 100-120 sun Guard in the north. The Mibugumi are the largest provincial force.

that might be a good mingle opener, actually - recruitment tests

That was the plan, actually!

aha XD

(will he set Souji on anyone? Only time will tell)

The most obvious/important difference is that they don't use long swords

yeah, I did catch that!

Toshi's getting a short sword because... then he can have is other stupid sword child back

but I'll do some poking around other weapon styles

(which amuses me because Hijikata basically invented a new sword style to compensate forthe fact that long-swords are not good weapons for fighting in groups, indoors.

Nice.

Oh, please set Souji on people.

Yeah, shortswords are fine, especially when used with bucklers

(This will be an interesting blend, since NB!Souji is more a cose combat knife-fighter anyway.)

Look, setting Souji on new recruits is just cruel