Hello Gents,

I've a few questions I've always wondered about:

1. With regard to alliances...I guess my first question is, why bother? There doesn't seem to be anything binding with AI clans and they'll attack you with or without an agreement between you.

Does anyone think there's anything worthwhile in trying to make an alliance?

2. Ashigaru...I'm wondering, how advisable would it be to use them in the front lines as cheap fodder, primarily something to absorb arrows and wear down the opposing side so my good troops don't have to take the damage. Would that work or would it backfire? I'm thinking that when the Ashigaru panic, as they are wont to do, they'll influence the samurai behind them. Your thoughts?

3. In the battle dialogue where they ask if you want the computer to automatically resolve the battle (as opposed to you personally leading it), how good is the AI going to be? I know that's a vague question and here's what I've done in the past; I've found that when an army gets above say, 700 men, I have difficulty coordinating the units and it beomes rather inefficient. So I'm inclined to have the sim resolve those battles with the mindset that the computer will inevitably do a better job than I can. What are you thoughts about using the sim AI to fight for you?