Help.

[jedi121212]

Hey I am new to this game. I am having trouble in the battles. I cant seem to get the enemy to rush my center. I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips for battles. I have played RTW and M2TW and I am more used to them. But this game is awesome.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Well, in the campaign, most of the time yari samurai will be the backbone of your army, with archers being very important as well (essential on defense).

If the AI is defending they will usually sit tight and not rush you.

[jedi121212]

Yeah. Right now I have a Shimazu campaign. It is me, Uesugi, and Mori. Uesugi has half the map mori has like 2 or 3 provinces. I have all of kyusho and one province on the north and south. I have three full stacks full of muskets, archers, nodachi, yari samurai, and yari ashigura. all my cities are almost fully upgraded and I am getting money in pretty good. The year is 1567 and I am playing on normal. I am not using any cavalry for this campaign.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Hmm, a pity you don't have a bridge province, but you could try baiting them with a weak looking 12 unit army. 4 muskets, 2 yari sam, 6 no dachi should be able to wipe out an attacking mori army pretty easily. Just use the high ground to your advantage and shoot them down as they approach, they'll flee soon enough.

[jedi121212]

I have been doing that really well. I have trouble using musket units. and the enemy keeps on wanting to attack my flank with his entire army which is annoying.

[ReluctantSamurai]

I have played RTW and M2TW and I am more used to them. But this game is awesome.

and the enemy keeps on wanting to attack my flank with his entire army which is annoying.

Welcome to the world of Shogun and samurai warfare If you're used to playing against the RTW-style AI, you will get a rude awakening here

I have trouble using musket units.

Look around for some of the topics here that discuss using teppo in detail. Also, take a look at some of the campaign AAR's. Many are full of tactics using guns............

[DEB8]

I have been doing that really well. I have trouble using musket units. and the enemy keeps on wanting to attack my flank with his entire army which is annoying.

The AI does have a tendency to attack the flanks. It is best to compensate a little accordingly to allow for it. How you do it depends on your preferred formation & the units you tend to purchase.

I tend to place Yari Cavalry on the flank once I can get them ( and in due course Heavy Cavalry ). Meanwhile I choose a formation that places missile units to the front and all across the frontage, with some support in the centre ( usually towards the rear). I place No-Dachi ( Warrior Monks in due course ), to the flanks and centrally in a third row. The second row is usually made up of Yari units as is any spare space in the third row. The outermost units in the third row are usually Yari units or the cavalry. This generally deals with most attacks by the AI.

Do you use the "Japanese " formations ( via the Taisho icon towards bottom left ) OR the "European " formations ( top right icon )? The AI tends to use the "European" ones ( as it is set to do so ).
I use the "Japanese" ones and "tinker" with them a little ( and "rarely" lots ). I find they give better options than the "European" ones , but each to his own taste.

When attacked in the flank by most of the enemy, you need to manoeuvre your unengaged units to attack the AI's Flank / Rear. The AI will often only use missile units to cover it's flank during these moves. Cavalry are good for dealing with these, but avoid enemy Yari units.

Teppo ( Arquebusiers / Muskets ), should be placed to the very front and centrally if you have one, center left and centre right if you have two. I tend to only get one or two per army as it rains too much in Japan when I have them ! If not already in a 2/3 deep line, adjust them to that.

Generally I click on each missile unit and deselect the "Fire at Will" order. Of course this means you have to choose each units targets through-out the game until you reset it/them again; this however is better than wasting arrows at long range and makes the Teppo fire more devastating when it starts. However, do not take too many casualties before giving your missile units targets and ALWAYS set your Archers to "open order" to minimise casualties. If you use the P ( Pause ) button regularly you can review all aspects of the battle including ordering movement, firing & charges, without missing the action!

Hope this helps.