tips

[jedi121212]

Hey I am new here. I have played both RTW and MTW 2 and liked them. I am now playing MTW and Shogun and was wondering if you guys could give me any battle tips. I find the controls a little difficult. BTW Shogun and MTW are awesome.

[gollum]

Hello jedi121212, and welcome to the org;
the controls are indeed harder to get use to, but actually more efficient once you get use to them imho.

Generally speaking STW/MTW have a slower pace and less overpowered units - the cavalry for example is not the all conquering juggernaut as in RTW/M2. You need to use them for their tactical strength that is speed, charge and the ability to cover large distances faster without getting too tired.
Remember that in STW units cannot be ordered out of a melee once engaged while in MTW they can.

Similarly, missiles are less effective (read overpowered) than in RTW but more effective than M2. Mounted missiles are notably different in that they dont shoot on the hoof; this sounds like a gamebreaker and unrealistic, however you may eventually find out that it is actually not; rather its very good for the gameplay as it takes some practice and skill to play with them unlike RTW/M2 that mounted missiles are king without requiring any skill whatsoever.

As for tips, start by taking a look in the complete TW unit guide (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=31444); its a good piece of work for begginer to intermediate level. It explains the basic unit types and their basic functions as well as a unit per unit analysis. Bear in mind that the guide is not exhaustive or infallible by any means; rather its a very good introduction for the uninitiated.

Dont hesitate to post any further questions that you have here and the main hall and have fun! These are really good games.

[jedi121212]

thanks dude. I kinda new a little of that but not a lot. Right now I have a English and a Shimazu campaign going and am doing ok I guess. With the English I have the British isles, France, and north of the danes. Shimazu I have Kyoshu.

[gollum]

It seems the English campaign is going well. Dont neglect to use the wonderful Billmen (level3 Spearmaker iirc) and Longbows (level3 bowyer iirc), both units are pure gold for their class and money. Billmen in particular can take on knights, heavy cavalry and heavy infantry by virtue of their halberds, good stats and good morale, while they are speedy (unlike the vanilla halberdier that is slow and has low morale or the Chivalric Foot Knights that are too slow). The only thing they are not entirely suited for is receiving cavalry charges - set them up in hold formation, hold position to receive a charge. After the first few seconds draw them in a 3rank line and return them to engage at will while taking them out of hold position; order single click attack and watch the slaughter.

As the Shimazu i advise either a quick Blitz until you reach Kyoto (yamashiro) or Going Christian if you turtle in Kyushu (to make up for the poor territory with the cathedral income).

Above all have fun.

[jedi121212]

Yeah I am trying to get the Billman and longbowman. I have around 3 or 4 full stacks defending and i am bringing in the money around 3000 each turn. As for the Shimazu Yeah I turned christian. I find the mori keep on sending me alliances constantly. I have around 3 full stacks.

[gollum]

Nice.
Remember also when you get Chivalric Knights that you can try to dismount them before open battle. They are quite a good unit in that format too.

This can be done with right clicking the unit and choose "dismount" from the list of options during the deployment phase.

As for the Mori, you can keep the alliances as they give you 250 koku each every harvest if you are playing with the Mongol Invasion/Warlord edition.