I\'m having a hard time winning in MI.

[jomni]

I've played STW before and I liked it a lot. But now I am quite FRUSTRATED with MI since I lost most of my battles in Normal Difficulty. I guess it has something to do with the new MORALE effects. Everybody fights to the death!!! Even YA's can deal a lot of damage now.

Before, battles are won with numbers. Flanking the enemy's elite troops from all sides will surely make them break. Now, that tactic is not so effective anymore.

I get the point of the developers using the new morale system since "historical" battles like Nobunaga's repulse of massive cavalry charges with Yari Ashigarus become possible.

In some battles, I invested in experience but I also lost the battles because the enemy was just better (and more numerous).

I used terrain to my advantage, positioning my men on top a steep hill, and still I lost.

And the dreaded Mongol Heavy Cavalry is just too strong.

I wanna beat the game in its own terms (without modifying the new morale system) and I need some TIPS.

[QuietWolf]

If ur defending against the moguls the idea is to keep em confined to as small a portion or that little island to the left as is possible. Keep hitting em when ready to reduce their numbers and dont let them take territory (stops large amounts or reinf's).

Also upgrade and get lots of guys ... keep hitting em untill u drive them into the sea.

Its actually quite possible to win against the monguls in only a "few" years on normal.

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In Reality ...

[hecose]

I thought the morale problem is only in Multiplayer and not in SP? But if you are referring to how hard playing the MI campaign is as the Hojo (i.e. defending against the Mongols), then definitely it is quite tough. The Mongol units are very powerful. Do expect to lose quite a number of the initial battles when the Mongols have just landed.

I have won a MI campaign as Hojo on Hard. I do see the normal routing (i.e. morale is done properly) in the Mongol army, especially in the Korean soldiers.

[KumaRatta Yamamoto]

Hang on!!! Like they said, continue harassing and try to stop them at a choke point.

The more time you survive as hojo, the more time you get to tech up. And once you start upgrading your army, the tide turns to your advantage because the mongol units can't tech-up

[solypsist]

whatever the case with the "new" morale deal, I found winning with the Mongols quite easy. Defending as the Japanese, however, was a bit more difficult, the whole army-rout thing kept me in "Dammit!!" mode.

[jomni]

Thanks for the tips guys but I was referring to CUSTOM BATTLES... And not only jap vs. mongol but also jap vs. jap. I need tactical tips and not strategic ones. (Which units to buy, how much upgrades, how to use terrain, and what units to use against other units.) The tactical battles seem to have a different feel with the new morale.

[clink]

Just finished MI on normal as Mongols.
Went through Hojo,like prunes through an old woman.

It was gross.

Mongols too stong.

? Were Mongol horses that much faster. Look like thoughrow breds at the Kentucky Derby compared to the Japanese.

[Algesan]

Quote Originally posted by jomni:
Thanks for the tips guys but I was referring to CUSTOM BATTLES... And not only jap vs. mongol but also jap vs. jap. I need tactical tips and not strategic ones. (Which units to buy, how much upgrades, how to use terrain, and what units to use against other units.) The tactical battles seem to have a different feel with the new morale.[/QUOTE]


Ahhhh, ok the problem is that Custom battles feature the same morale as online (MP) battles. The game is balanced for SP morale, but badly out of whack in Custom and online.

[DoCToR]

Quote Originally posted by Algesan:

Ahhhh, ok the problem is that Custom battles feature the same morale as online (MP) battles. The game is balanced for SP morale, but badly out of whack in Custom and online.[/QUOTE]

That is exactly the issue Algesan!! You hit the nail on the head...

[KumaRatta Yamamoto]

Your right Clink MONGOLS are very strong in the beginning of the game. If you conquer quicly no problem. But if you take too much time , then Hojo can tech-up and the tide changes.

Try playing as hojo against Mongol at expert for fun, you will see taht the game can be difficult....

And Yes Algesan and Doctor the morale "changes" do not affect the SP campaigns in my view.

[This message has been edited by KumaRatta Yamamoto (edited 08-29-2001).]

[jomni]

Yup tried playing SP campaign and i liked the way my troops performed... just like the old game.

But no one has given me any tips on mastering the Custom and MP battles!!! I'm still interested in mastering the game at the new morlae settings. Don't tell me no one likes playing Custom and MP battles because of the new morale settings.

[This message has been edited by jomni (edited 08-30-2001).]

[Warmaker]

In dealing against the Mongols while playing as the Japanese, One of your best all around units are the YS. For the cost of only 400 koku (60man units) you can field 2 YS units to crush the vaunted MHC which IMHO are TOO POWERFUL (mounted, armored, overpowered WMs anyone?). Your cheap Ashigeru Crossbowmen (AX) are a good purchase. Rain down arrows and other ranged fire on top of massed Korean infantry to whittle them down before your samurai close in to kill them. Korean infantry are quite unreliable and act as fodder/screen for the real power of the Golden Horde: The cavalry.

In dealing against the Golden Horde, there's one thing you MUST worry about is their mobility. Both types of their cavalry are so outrageously fast that it boggles the mind and can cut through Japanese cavalry like a laser through butter. Discipline in commanding your men will be much more important since they may get lured away to chase down the Mongols only to get cut down by another unit.

Despite the apparent weakness of Japanese Cavalry against Mongol cavalry, do not completely disregard the J.Cavalry. They still have their uses like flanking and cutting down fleeing troops (YC are supreme for the Japanese in this).

The lonesome but deathdealing Kensai are not invincible but can inflict lots of pain on the enemy. One of their best uses is to support a unit that has less offensive power like YS and Naginata units. A key thing to remember is to pull the Kensai away once they become too tired or they'll die! They're too expensive to lose in such a way.

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There's no such thing as overkill, just ensured victory!

[clink]

Your quit right Warmaker.

I took on Kuma's challenge, and am currently in the middle of playing as Hojo against Mongols on expert.

I've completed 7 battles thus far, and have been victorios in all. But it hasn't been a cake walk believe me. Steep hills,woods,lots a archers,YS,and let them come to you has been the best strategy so far.

Jap cavalry are completely useless.

The mongols will some times look as if there routing, dont go after them, stay on the hill, cause they reorg real fast, and if your on flat ground they'l cut ya ta pieces.

Stall your archers until the mongols get real close,then let em have it. The crossbow men are deadly at close range. But you have to have some nerve, and take afew casualties from there archers to do this.

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'Eat your weakest man'

[Roman Totale XVII]

clink, the Mongol 'horses' are far too fast in the game and speed needs editing down, especially MHC in all their heavy armour. I say 'horse' in quotation marks because they actually rode ponies - the famous Mongol Pony. Sturdy animals, undoubtedly, but fast? No.

[clink]

Quote Originally posted by Roman Totale XVII:
clink, the Mongol 'horses' are far too fast in the game and speed needs editing down, especially MHC in all their heavy armour. I say 'horse' in quotation marks because they actually rode ponies - the famous Mongol Pony. Sturdy animals, undoubtedly, but fast? No.[/QUOTE]

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Thankyou Roman ! I mean really thankyou http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

I was waiting for someone to come out and state that obvious fact.
I'v watched docs on tv about the mongols,and they showed the mongolians riding horses that resemble something closer to a Shetland ponie. But there suppost to be very tough animals though. And the Mongol peaple weren't that tall of a race to begin with. And some look tall in the saddle.

[jomni]

Quote Originally posted by clink:
[/QUOTE]


Looking at the pictures of the mongols in the SP campaign, their light cavalry looks mongol alright but the heavy cavalry looks CHINESE to me (with all the armor and spears).