Korean Skirmishers for bridge assaults?

[VoodooChild]

After reading their discription...

____________________________________________
"These Korean Skirmishers conscripts equipped with shields, light armour and throwing spears. Their shields and armour make them less vulnerable to enemy missiles, so they are often used as a screen ahead of the main formation to draw fire and take the sting out of enemy charges. They are weak in hand to hand fighting, and need to withdraw quickly after throwing their limited supply of spears."
____________________________________________

Seems like the ideal soldier for the task to be the lead element over a bridge. Stop them half way over when the AI sends in its melee. Your river bank archers fire at them while the Koreans soak arrows and throw spears. When the enemy melee get near, pull back the Koreans. Wait untill the enemy withdraws, and bring in a fresh unit of Koreans.

Thoughts?

[Obake]

I wonder just how much protection those shields will provide against Guns in MP? Looks like they'll do well against arrows, but I don't believe that they'd be worth a damn against a gun, especially up close and personal-like.

Voodoo, that'll certainly be one of the uses that I see. In addition I see them as being a good screen against the Computer AI and those players that don't like to micromanage online.

------------------
FearObake http://members.tripod.com/smilecwm/cgi-bin/s/net8/laghost.gif
I am the ghost of your fears.
Got a compliment or concern about a Fearful Ways member? Let us know about it HERE (http://pub24.ezboard.com/bfearfulways)

[johnmcd]

I would have thought that even a good wooden shield would be quite good protection against a musket ball at range, up close not so useful I'll grant you...

The other thing against using them against guns might be that if they are mercenaries their morale may be more precarious than we are used. Enter stage right history nut with story of how Korean mercs fought to the last man after all the samurai routed in 1635...

[Hosakawa Tito]

Looks like the Korean Auxillary will be pretty similar to the Ashiguru unit,except they throw their spears.Cannon fodder and seeing that they throw their spears probably not as effective against cavalry and a shorter range than an archer.
Tito

[BakaGaijin]

This unit sounds wicked cool. I'm just waiting for the info on Mongol Cav, though. If they're a good enough complement, I may never play as the Japanese again. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

Seriously, these guys seem like the perfect units to make frontal assaults on Yari-heavy armies. They have shields so the Archers don't drop them like flies, and Javelins to toss so that the Yari will take a good beating before the lines meet and the Koreans are (presumably) routed. And by that time, the legendary Mongol cavalry will be on the scene... http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/eek.gif

Magy must be very happy. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

[Brown Wolf]

from the way you describe it the korean unit is a waste of time. why did they not at least get a sword to fight with? Or did the Koreans even fight in this time period?

------------------

[Vanya]

After they throw all their javelins, they can club you with their sheilds!

lol

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

[Jpf]

I suppose if abilities were to get that advanced with the Koreans ie.throw spear,draw sword WITH shield, they would be a pretty powerful (Roman foot-soldier) type unit.

I'd like the Yari Samurai to have the same option of throwing their spear and closing with the katana. (a kind of last ditch kamikaze option)
http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

One can dream I suppose........

[Shiro]

These guys are basically just a deversion. It says you can throw them in and draw your enemy in. Then you can finish the enemy with your super Mongol cav. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

[Doragon_Ajidrik]

We are just gonna have to wait for the expansion pack to figure out there use. But using them to cross a bridge first is definetly one of them.

[BakaGaijin]

Hell, I'd certainly send a bunch of mercenaries with shields across a narrow bridge before my precious, precious Mongol Cavalry... http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

[ShaiHulud]

Korea's biggest problems were division in their ranks and a poor economy. A noble class
(with frequent internal squabbles) led small armies of soldiers. Their version of ashigaru
had no experience of soldiering and little hope of advancement, either. True serfs.
There were frequent clashes with China after which Korea, even tho she won a few, most often paid tribute to end.
Basically, Korea was between to large rocks, Japan and China, and had no one to appeal to for assistance. That they survived may be attributed to their moderate opposition, lack of expansionist desires, insular nature, and extreme poverty. The real value of Korea to China and Japan was as a stepping stone to reach each other.

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

[Anssi Hakkinen]

Originally posted by Jpf-sama:
Quote I suppose if abilities were to get that advanced with the Koreans ie.throw spear,draw sword WITH shield, they would be a pretty powerful (Roman foot-soldier) type unit.[/QUOTE]Historically, Korean swordsmanship (or swords, for that matter) was no match to the Japanese. Better let the Mongols do all the real dangerous stuff, that's what they're there for. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

By the way, someone speculated a while ago that the devs were using the expansion as a testbed for improvements that are to appear later in Total War 2. Now, don't the Aux Inf sound *exactly* like a prototype Roman legionnaire unit? Suddenly, that Caesar: Total War rumor doesn't seem that much like a rumor anymore...

Quote I'd like the Yari Samurai to have the same option of throwing their spear and closing with the katana. (a kind of last ditch kamikaze option)[/QUOTE]The yari was five yards long... Were' talking about samurai here, they're not Scotsmen http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
"Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, / With the very bluest stockings, / On the ground the haft set firmly, / On the heath the hilt pressed tightly, / Turned the point against his bosom, / And upon the point he threw him, / Thus he found the death he sought for, / Cast himself into destruction."
-The Kalevala, Poem XXXVI, verses 335-342

[This message has been edited by Anssi Hakkinen (edited 01-17-2001).]

[Brown Wolf]

Hmm....too bad what the aoe2 expansion said was not true with the Korean rockets and all.

------------------

[Jpf]

Yes, Ansii
I see your point about throwing the Yari........
At 5 yards long it would take some long arms and big shoulders
LOL
http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[wigwam86]

the way i read into the korean skirmishers is that they will be used to rush the enemy range causing max. damage in small amount of time and will also soke enemy ammo. besides that i don't think there will be much to do with them. for multiplayer they would be great to use as a 1st rush to end those never ending dueling volleys, you just rush them up, use them as a screen and charge your high honour followed by your main force.

[Naughty_Plumber]

But you also have to remeber that their morale is probably very low. So like Ashigaru too close the enemy they will freak out and run. this kind of unit have to have the speed of the Ashigaru if you want them to do what you just said.

------------------
HnT

[Tenchimuyo]

Otherwise they would be just a waste of koku.