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frogbeastegg
08-04-2003, 20:56
I'm writing a guide to each and every unit in the Total War series and I need a little help. After more than a years absence from Shogun due to tech problems and work I can't remember what some of the MI units do very well. Can anyone give me some tips for the following units:
*battlefield ninja
*Korean spearmen
*Korean guardsmen

I've got all the others covered, the orignial units have got years of memories so I remember them just fine (plus they're the ones I've been practising with recently). The other MI units I can remember as well, who could forget Mongol heavy cavalry? I never really used these three units anyway....

Anyone who gives advice that gets into the guide will recieve credit (of course).

As an example of what kind of imformation I need here is an excert from the guide:

1.8 Warrior Monks.
Charge 4 Attack 5 Defence 2 Armour 1 Speed 5, 10, 12

To many players this unit is the cream of the crop; it is certainly the best infantry in Shogun. Warrior monks are deadly, in hand to hand combat they can beat any other unit, although naginata cavalry and heavy cavalry can pose a slight problem the monks should win as long as you use them intelligently. Because the monks carry a portable shrine into battle (you can’t see it but the morale effects are there) other Buddhist units are afraid of them, Christian and Pagan units don’t have this fear. No unit is perfect however and the monks are no exception. They are highly vulnerable to missiles, the cheap peasant gunners are the most effective monk killers but Samurai archers and cavalry archers acquit themselves well. The basic rule is when all things are equal the monks win if they get close to the unit, if they don’t reach it they loose, therefore try to do plenty of damage before the monks reach you or keep them well protected as they advance. Monks have the same high morale as No-Dachi so it takes a lot to make them flee, in normal combat they generally need to be down to 10% of the original unit and surrounded before they will break. Remember that these monks think dying in battle takes them to paradise; don’t underestimate their staying power So how should you use you monks? It’s quite simple; keep them screened to protect them from missile fire and then when you are close to the enemy charge Monks can attack the front of a line with admirable success and fervour while other units (No-Dachi, cavalry, more monks) flank the enemy to hit them where it hurts. To kill monks you should shoot them as much as possible, if it comes down to melee combat hold them in place with some yari samurai or ashigaru and flank with No-Dachi or cavalry.

Best deployed: Always use engage at will, it sets your monks free to hack through the enemy individually. The wedge isn’t bad for when your monks are charging but they work very well in the close line, two or three ranks are especially effective.

Warrior monks main uses are: Doing most of the killing, supplying reliable power, killing other powerful units, hitting the enemy with a psychological blow (remember the enemy Buddhists hate fighting monks ).

Sasaki Kojiro
08-04-2003, 23:10
I never played the mongols much but if I remember correctly the Korean spearman are simalar to Yari Samurai, but have one less defense and one less honor. The Korean guardsman are a kind of mix between Yari Samurai and
Naginata, most of their stats fall in between the two, but the have a better charge and melee.

I remember seeing a thread on BFN, I'll see if I can find it.

Sasaki Kojiro
08-04-2003, 23:17
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif It was a thread at the .com forums which is now deleted. I do remember something I learned there that I didn't know: When you put BFN on a hill their range is greatly increased, for example if you put them on top of the hill in Shinano http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif they can shoot almost all the way down to the bottom of it.

frogbeastegg
08-05-2003, 08:49
Thanks Shinano, I can remember that ninja thread and I mourn it's passing. I was hoping that my search was ineffective and that the thread was still there. I can remember parts of it, there was something about how to train them to honour?, at which point they could do ??? effectively getting them slowly to honour?, after that they were lethal. There was something about assassinating generals and hiding to ambush people, alas I don't really remember that bit.

Your info on the Koreans confirms my memories, so I'll give them a couple of test battles and see how it works.

Sasaki Kojiro
08-05-2003, 13:49
There was something about them being deadly when they get to 4 or 5 honor and it was suggested that they be used in a battles with an hon 0 gen until they were 2 or 3 honor and then put in your best generals army. Also I do remember it saying and have observed myself that if they are in the way of routing troops they will take losses. They beat kensai in 1v1 but will lose to most h2h. Ranged units can damage them greatly. Usually if I see that my opponent has battlefield ninja I send a unit of Naginata cavalry after them, because there running speed is faster than any other infantry unit except kensai.

frogbeastegg
08-05-2003, 14:02
Than you, I've added that to what I'd already got and given you credit.

(Egads A short post by frogbeastegg The end of the world is nigh )

Sasaki Kojiro
08-05-2003, 22:59
Your welcome http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Oaty
08-06-2003, 06:14
Well I tested it out a while ago but remember well that even yari ashigurus with the same honour will smash battlefield ninjas in melee and the only units battlefield ninja will fair well against in hand to hand are kensai mainly due to the fact its 12 against 1 and arquebruisers/musketeers. Don't know how well they fare against daimyos as you cant have a daimyo for custom battles.

TenkiSoratoti
08-06-2003, 17:46
Ninja's are purely for morale purposes, well thats my opinion anyway. I never use them head on and never deliberately engage them into Mellee.

TS

Sjakihata
08-10-2003, 22:47
Frogbeatsegg,

If you would like you can mail that guide to me and I can give you feed back on it, I know them units fairly well too, well it is up to you.

mail: sjakihata@stofanet.dk

Good luck writing it

frogbeastegg
08-13-2003, 22:22
I hadn't checked this topic in a while, thanks for all the information http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif I shall be adding you all to the credits section.

Sjakihata Akechi you should have mail, hope you like it. You can leave any feedback here or send it as a reply to my email whichever is easier.

Sjakihata
08-13-2003, 23:15
Hi Frog, and thank you for the mail.

I am in the process of correcting the guide, I should be finished tomorrow.

I will send you the edited guide with explanations how you find my corrections etc.

Btw, great so far from I have read http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

AggonyShim2
08-15-2003, 01:12
actually the only way you can use ninjas effectively is to defend. put them way out of the way of your enemy's expected place of attack and when they come past the ninjas keep them still. don't use the ninjas unless you want to send them into the back of the main line of attack OR if you want to kill the general.