How do you defend your bridges?

[ShaiHulud]

My plan calls for 9 archers (would use guns but games rarely last that long,I don't go Christian)and a handful of foot types.

The archers are in line, 4 deep, 'Hold formation', with 3 archers on the front within range of the bridge, staggered with a foot unit between and on each end.

The reserve archers are set behind the front 3, 'Hold Formation', 'Hold Fire' ...very important. I cycle them into the front line as those are depleted, either withdrawing the depleted units or putting them behind the foot for morale support.

Early on the AI gets 2-3 units across, despite heavy losses, and tries attacking my line but counter-charges and flanking settles those quickly, then it's back to the slaughter again.

Usually, I have HtH to end it, as the archers do run out, but the enemy has been sorely ravaged. He often has to commit his useless archers as foot troops. TOO often, the AI's Daimyo, if present, offers himself up to die.

------------------
Wind fells blossoms, rain
fells steel,yet bamboo bends and drinks

[This message has been edited by ShaiHulud (edited 05-04-2001).]

[Akira Asagi]

Use Yari's Sams, and the buggers will never get across.
Works for me

Shai,

get a mixture of guns and archers...

Morale penalty of bridge + morale penalty of guns usually means a general rout of the enemy.

The archer fire reduces the enemy power as well giving a further boost.

But if I had to choose to choose one of the two missiles but not the 2 of them I would choose guns...

------------------
Honour to Clan No Fear.

Visit my resource centre at: http://terazawa.totalwar.org

[Irving]

but remeber terazawa...

he said his games don't last long enough for the dutch to trade.... me too so archers have to tide me over

------------------
Chaos is born from order.
Cowardice is born from bravery.
Weakness is born from strength.
-Sun Tzu

[The Bear]

I use nags (they block off the bridge completely)and archers with some yari sam to help out the nags. I always keep some shockm troops just in case. When the arrows of my archers are depleted, i replace with other archers that we're waiting, and send themm off the battlefield, having quick cav archers waiting as reinforcements.

[Hosakawa Tito]

I like to set up away from the bridge with 2 units of archers on each flank,2 units of archers in reserve.I have only 2 of these units on fire at will and conserve my arrows with the others till needed.As the enemy units cross the bridge and attack me their units are strung out.I then attack with my meelee units till they rout keeping my units out of range of enemy archers.I don't pursue right away,just hang back and let the next wave of enemy come across and repeat till my arrows are gone or almost gone.It usually doesn't take more than 2-3 failed enemy assaults till the enemy taisho attacks,I kill him then chase the routing enemy across the bridge.Any enemy units that haven't routed yet will when that wave of their defeated comrades run through them.I find that if I chase the routing units too soon,the enemy units on the other side won't rout very easily if at all.You don't want that because you get hung up on that bridge and the enemy archers just pound you with arrows.This seems to work for me even against a much larger army,most of the enemy reenforcements are Ashiguru or Yari Cav and can be routed fairly easily by my Yari samurai,No-Dachi,and Ashi's.
Tito

[Vanya]

Just use a wedge of nodachi to plug the bridgehead while your archers do their thing. If the enemy reaches the nodachis, they will be swiftly thrown into the river in pieces. It works very well. Results in a true massacre.

http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

If you are worried about enemy arrows whittling your nodachis, then take 2 of em.

[ShaiHulud]

Vanya... hehe, I'd never ask ND to do that!

My bridge battles typically run out the clock, everyone is exhausted and the battle is STILL unfolding at the bridge exit. (horde, ya know? hehe) Often enough, I have to throw in a few archers to hold until the clock runs out. Tough enemy Taisho are usually the cause of a long one, NOT Daimyo.
Stupid Daimyo get dead when they cross.

------------------
Wind fells blossoms, rain
fells steel,yet bamboo bends and drinks

[Moriboy]

I have a few methods similar to those described. I really like the "hammer & scissors" tactic. The two active holding archers (not the ones in reserve) are the two blades and a strong melee group snug in the middle is the hammer. After an enemy group crosses, he almost invariably sets off after one of the archers exposing his flank.The Yari have a ball poking his hiney! The routing troops plug the bridge and upset the next wave, giving my decent honor (2 or so) Yari time to reform & receive. They're usually good for at least several attempted crossings before I switch them out with a fresh "hammer". Another tactic is to let half the enemy cross then flank & pincer himon both sides with melee troops, while shooting the bejesus out of him with your archers in the middle. If all goes well it's an enormous cluster f--- of routing troops trampling the hapless oncomers. Happy hunting!

[Kraellin]

the real question shldnt be how do you defend one, but rather, how do you attack one.

K.

[CaptMac]

I have used a variety of tactics depending on stage of game. Usually it involves getting archers up on thee banks to target crossing troops and the units approaching the far banks/bridgehead. Alot depends on the mix of units I have available. I use the melee troops (YS, WM, and YA if there) to work on the enemy that do make it accross. If the opportunity arises, I'll follow a retreating unit and begin counter attack.
The single-bridge battle I enjoyed the most was one late in game and I had 4 musks, 3 archer, 2YC, 3WM and 4YS. I pulled back a little from the bridge and made a sallie-fort ( \_/ )with musk and archer units, backed by melee units with flankers. Held fire until enemy had crossed bridge, then Bam!...a couple of rounds, they turn around to other side and new unit comes accross, and Bam!, they to wither away and withdraw. Finally (round 4) the AI sends a unit of Nags quickly followed by a unit of Ashi. The Nags are pretty durable and took alot of punishment. Both units marched straight ahead, My YS advanced and the Cav with WM support came around the flanks...A very few Ashi and Nags were able to make their way back accross the bridge, Quickly followed by my melee units. The sight of the first 3 units returning slaughtered, and now the few Nags dragging themselves accross with my impetuous monks, Sams and Cav on their heels was too much for the remaining enemy who made straight for the hills http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
Now, 2 bridges is another story.....I enjoy defending 2 bridges even more http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
The only thing you have to regret are the chances not taken.
Expect the unexpected and take in air.

[ShaiHulud]

Cap... you've a stronger stomach than I... I hate the two bridge defense!

As for putting archers on the banks... don't they get shot up from the opposing archers? Which is why mine stay back from the banks?

The mass battle at the bridge exit is ok when I have troops to lose... I usually never have enough, tho. My 9 archer defense is usually later in the game so everyone has lots of troops to throw at me. Almost always it is used defending the Uesugi bridge against Hojo and Imagawa forces. Once in a while in defending Musashi. I rarely see other bridge battles.

Kraellin... There have been various threads here on attacking bridges, friend... I was just curious how others approach the problem of defending. Always looking for new solutions. Using ND to defend is novel, but their lack of armor makes their use as suggested risky, imo. I might (and have) stacked up the bridge exit with Yari and, when they tired, THEN throw in ND to break the jam. Sometimes it even works, too...hehe
My suggested method results in few HtH contests... until I run out of arrows.

------------------
Wind fells blossoms, rain
fells steel,yet bamboo bends and drinks

[This message has been edited by ShaiHulud (edited 05-10-2001).]

[maroberts]

Shock troops such as ND or even better WM, are quite good for throwing into a bridge battle but you have to get the timing right. The ideal time is when the enemy has exhausted or at least seriously depleted his supply of arrows.

A good countermove to this MIGHT be to send a unit of cavalry after the ND/WM if you happen to have one spare. I can see lots of problems with this though, one being that if the OpFor has any YS on the bridge your cavalry is going to have a bad day at the office.

A VERY risky move for bridge crossings is to use your Daimyo to try and cross. DO NOT do this unless the enemy force has few archers or is out of ammo. Some heirs are nice too, just in case!! On the good side there is little chance of the Daimyo being trapped and surrounded whilst on the bridge.

[Didz]

Just been playing around will my all musket armies again.

Carefully arranged them so that they are all arranged within range of the nearside of the river bridges but out of range of the the far bank and then sat back to watch the show.

Total slaughter ensued. Managed to beat an AI army of twice my points value. so much smoke I could hardly see the bridge at some points.

[Vanya]

Oh... now that we are talking about ATTACKING a bridge... let me share with you some wisdom I have accumulated over time on this fine art...

Take a bunch of heavy cav units as your main force. Take some archers/gunnies for some backup if you are a tad queezy during bloodbaths. Put the HC into narrow formations and charge them over the bridge one by one. When they reach the other side, move them away down the river banks. Accumulate as many as you can on the other side, then bull-rush the bastard from both the bridgehead and the side. The enemy usually throws their hands up at this time 'cause they are mad as hell they let you over and they just cant take it any more!

If koku is tight, swap out some of the HC for YC.

Optionally, you can send a monk over the bridge as an arrow pincushion before your attempted crossing... ya-know... to deliver Buddha's compassion to the soon-to-be-dead enemy...

Now, if you could get that honor-15 holy man unit... that would probably suffice, I must say...

[Kraellin]

yup. the new units are gonna change a LOT of tactics, i'm thinkin.

K.

[Vanya]

HEHEHEHE

I agree with you there. Now, the enemy will have to attack against high-honor sanda bomas guarding the bridge...

Or defend against the tough korean skirmishers and their shields... trading flimsy arrows for mighty javelins...