-
I think we should see a message like this from time to time:
"My lord, some of your samurai from Nagano have not been engaged since they joined your army. They are complaining bitterly about not have an opportunity to display their prowess serving you in battle and wonder when you plan to attack our enemies. If they do not see action soon they may begin to question your leadership."
Thereafter, failure to take action could result in defections.
This would do a couple of things. Standing armies would have to do SOMETHING before too long, however long that might be(?). It would also cause players to get samurai units involved in action and not hold them back when battles occur even if they may not be needed tactically. IMO samurai are not impetuous enough as depicted now either on the battlefield or on the strategy map. Taking them on campaign and not seeing action for a long time would not go over well with these guys, especially if other daimyos ARE accomplishing something.
Have I under estimated samurai discipline here or should we daimyos have to be more attentive to our warriors desire to back a winner?
Perhaps samurai from our own starting lands could be immune to this requirement. Ashigaru must always obey as a matter of course.
[This message has been edited by Nelson (edited 03-07-2001).]
-
Nice idea.
Historically speaking, I read that certain battles were nearly lost due to the carefully laid plans being completely forgotten by the Samurai at the last minute as soon as they clapped eyes on the enemy.
The quest for battlefield honour by Samurai might be able to put a slightly different spin on gameplay.
------------------
Above all things, to thine own-self be true.
-
We've seen hints that you can start bribing enemy generals. Maybe this could affect that? An army that never gets used would be much more cheap to bribe, whereas the battle-hardened vets are less likely to throw the fight....
-- B)
-
Since an army garrisoned in a province increases citizen loyalty, this indicates that they are not just sitting around when not in battle.
There is recently a lot of discussion about hoardes intimidating campaign players to not attack or even quit the campaign. Hence, these standing armies have done an effective job without battle. This reeks of Sun Tzu philosphy, and must remain in the game.
------------------
Being killed is bad.
-
Nelson:
Like your idea.
It's basically the premise that: Your samurai and your "big generals" are resources of two-edged quality - they are not static, passive entities. At some level, to varying degrees, and by culture these entities should be players - have motivations, you've got to BE a daimyo to deal with them. Sure would make the game richer - your troops talking back to you on some level, and you've really got to lead your nation. Would be nice to get this into the game with simple, familiar mechanisms with what we have, just do more with them, the subtlety in the ramifications. Think this should especially be so if we're to be playing in feudal environment that hasn't really gone through 19th Century-type nation establishment process and sorted out who/what's really in charge. AI might start acting human with a little help in these directions - greed, treachery, vanity, ect.
Like the idea of unit types behaving by their stature: your monks, and cav kick ass, but you'd better keep them happy, YA act like serfs.
Basis of my posts on "loyalty maintenance", in the "Bureaucracy" post below referencing province governor idea. Thinking ahead to follow-ons, other periods, to improve system, just have to address at some point.
If it takes 2-3 iterations in module releases to get it right, impliment it, I for one will patiently wait for it.
Stazbumpa:
Kind of implies its one thing to build the troops, another to keep a standing army, and get it to do your bidding.
BanzaiZAP: Just hope they get this right, and it's not air-headedly put together.
Kagnok: Once I've raised at least one good army in each province adjacent the hordes, the hordes won't intimidate me much more, unless fighting them really feels like I'm fighting a horde, and they outnumber me on the tactical battle field, and fight more effectively than current. Agree with the logic of your premise though, and using troops to keep the provinces in line.
regards,
candidgamera
------------------
"If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented.
The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it, nor the wise make
plans against it." Sun Tzu
