Ashigaru Tactics - Routing

[Wilbo]

Hi All,

I recently started a Shimazu campaign with the aim of defeating my opponents through smart use of the those quick little Ashigaru, inspired by Sasaki Kojiro's excellent tales and demonstrations.

I'm playing on Normal and have been trying to defeat the Imagawa clan to the north of Kyushu, around Hizen. The armies have generally been of an equal size, comprising of about four units each. My armies have tended to be YS, SA, YA, YA.

The Ashigaru are really quick, so I'm able to hit enemy units from more than one side - usually with one unit peeling off to the left and then hitting the unit from the flank as another charges in from the front. I'm also able to catch Samurai Archers, by using one Ashigaru unit to quickly sprint past them and sandwich them, which is something I could never do with Yari Samurai.

My main issue is that the Ashigaru seem to flee all the time, often when we're winning the battle - does anyone have a technique or tips to keeping the peasants in line?

Gawd I love this game.

[Wasp]

Well, make sure their morale stays high - palaces, honour, discipline (Drill Dojo) helps before the battle, and Samurai help during the battle. Make sure they're supported by real soldiers

[Wilbo]

.... and Samurai help during the battle. Make sure they're supported by real soldiers

Ah, perhaps that's my problem - do they get upset if the enemy has more Samurai units than you do?

What else affects morale?

[KrooK]

Their morale is generally weak (-4 or similar) and gets weaker if they are

1) loosing
2) facing stronger enemy (I'm not sure but I think so)
3) being under fire, outflanked, attacked by more than 1 units, loosing with cav and many similar

To prevent it you should increase their morale
1) deploy them beetwen samurai units - don't let ashigaru be outflanked
2) support them with archer units and deploy your general close to them
3) as mentioned earlier build better dojo's, muster field, palace ans similar ( but its rather tip for later not for nearby battles)
4) use good generals to lead ashigagu - if I were you, I would use at least 4 stars

[Wilbo]

That's great advice - thanks guys.

I'd started building a Palace and Drill Dojo to try and get the Ashigaru up to scratch, but unfortunately this takes a good few seasons, whereas I wanted to jump on Imagawa before they could bolster their forces.

1) deploy them beetwen samurai units - don't let ashigaru be outflanked
2) support them with archer units and deploy your general close to them
3) as mentioned earlier build better dojo's, muster field, palace ans similar ( but its rather tip for later not for nearby battles)
4) use good generals to lead ashigagu - if I were you, I would use at least 4 stars

I'll pay particular attention to pints 1 & 4 - thinking about it, I believe Sasaki's armies tended to be led by his Daimyo, whereas mine are nealry always led by a zero / one star SA.

I'll give it a go and let you know!

[Wilbo]

I backed up my Ashigaru with my combat-hungry Daimyo and a few Samurai last night to great effect.

They never faltered in the army led by my Daimyo, hungrily munching on Samurai as he wheeled around the back and charged in.

In another battle, my army was led by Samurai Archers (4 x SA, 3 x YA), who had to defend a mountainous province against the Mori. We were outnumbered by many units of YS, but my archers slew many of them, so when they reached the top of my defensive point my Ashi were able to storm down the side and hit them hard - the Ashi wavered but did not rout, defending my archers and allowing them to cause massive casualties. In this battle I believe the Ashigaru did well because they were fresh, attacking downhill against an enemy that was tired, had taken heavy casualties and was still being fired upon.

Is there a list of factors which affect a unit's morale? I seem to remember taking 50% casualties, being fired upon and being on lower ground cause morale penalties.

Thanks for the tips guys - it made a big difference!

[Wasp]

Sounds like you're getting the hang of those peasants now! Good job

For that list, I think you can find those factors with the search engine pretty easily

[KrooK]

There is another trick - maybe not to improve ashi morale but it should help you attacking through river.

If you got ashigaru and samurai archers, do not attack all units. First send one unit of ashigaru or yari samurai to attack through bridge. Enemy will use his best meele units to stop it. Then you...
use all archers and shot there. You will loose one unit but enemy will lose much more and more expensives.

For example
One ashigaru costs 100, no-dachi 300.
No dachi will die and ashigaru die. Got spend 200 less than enemy.
But if you attack normally - ashi die and no-dachi still got 40 men to stop you.