I wanted to try out a campaign without any ranged units because I feel they are unbalanced and ruin the gameplay somewhat. Sure enough, my impression so far is that the game is more difficult and more fun without them.
Start date: 1530. Clan: Shimazu. Difficulty:Expert. Unit size:60.
https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/835/startcw7.jpg
The start of the campaign. I immediatly destroy the archery dojo and disband my two Samurai Archers (about a third of my armed forces and my only other decent general...oh well). This leaves me with only enough men to attack Higo. I start building a large castle in satsuma and small castles in my other two provinces. Even with Higo I only get 273 Koku as income...I need more provinces so I attack Chikugo.
https://img64.imageshack.us/img64/64...0wintermp9.jpg
Loyalty is none to good and I get a couple rebellions. One of these, a defense of Higo, I'll explore in more detail.
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/...1autumnuf1.jpg
Here's the replay:
http://s17.quicksharing.com/v/370302..._Higo.zip.html
In a little bit I'll post screenshots and talk about it.
Defense of Higo
The battle starts and I set up my troops on the back ridge. 2 ashis and my Daimyo. The last rebellion was 2 ashigaru units.
https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1199/00000000vu3.jpg
As they get closer I realize that this time one of the rebel units is a Samurai Archer, thus making them far more dangerous. If I sit here they'll shoot my light armored ashi to pieces. I send my daimyo out to the right.
https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9467/00000001sh2.jpg
When I judge the moment to be right I send my daimyo charging in behind them to attract the archers fire and move my ashigaru down from the hill.
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/...0000002zg7.jpg
I run my daimy in a circle to the other side. The archers have to keep turning and don't get off many shots.
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/...0000003ya8.jpg
Almost a complete circle now. My ashi are almost here.
https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4637/00000004mc2.jpg
I double my daimyo back around so that the enemy units turn their rears towards my men :)
https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3324/00000005je1.jpg
Moments before contact. I plan to double up on the archer taisho unit; one hit to the rear or flank should be enough for the enemy ashi.
https://img358.imageshack.us/img358/...0000006la9.jpg
Sure enough the ashi rout on impact (though you can see them rallying in the background). My daimyo and ashi and making short work of the archers.
https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/...0000007nt9.jpg
My ashi flanking the rallied unit.
https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/5854/00000008si2.jpg
The enemy in full retreat. I lose 9 men.
https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/...0000009fx9.jpg
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Now this was a fun battle and all, but the point I really wanted to make was that if I had had one of the archer units I started with it would have been boring and easy. I would have routed the ashigaru with my arrows, and charged in my daimyo headfirst to beat the archer unit. This way is much more fun
