Mod vs. Mod: A TWS2 Deathmatch

[Zim]

Also from session #1.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1545:
The Daimyo and family.


The territory of the mighty and feared Shimazu.


The Shimazu are an ancient and revered clan. However, it dawns on Daimyo Takahisa that perhaps they might receive some more reverence if they increased their territory, not to mention a better inheritance for his three sons. With that in mind he brings together all the forces of the clan and moves against Ito, first signing an alliance with neighboring Sagara to keep his capital safe.

Takahisa is slightly surprised to find Osumi defended by only a small group of local Samurai and archers.



His retainers tell him that he won a heroic victory that day, although he does not remember much of it, almost as if the battle were resolved automatically with no combat taking place...



Setting aside his foggy memories of the battle, he marches on towards the Ito capital only to be met by one of their armies. Perhaps these were meant reinforce Osumi?



The Shimazu army marches towards its enemy.



Perhaps fearing being whittled away by the superior Shimazu (which was exactly the Daimyo's plan) the Ito move forward to engage, and lacking other cavalry their own general charges the Shimazu bowmen. The archers back away behind a line of spears, only for the Ito general to change directions and mvoe on another group of bowmen.



At this point Takahisa's horse tripped and threw him off. He would be unconscious the rest of the battle, but his co-general tells him that his spearmen bravely charged the Ito commander, and the rest of the army also advanced. Before long the Ito dogs routed and were cut down.

[Zim]

Session 1, continued.

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Encouraged by his victories thus far, Takahisa continues onwards towards the Ito capital. While in his encampment outside their last city, he is pleased to hear that research is going well back home. This is taken as an omen that it is time to assault the city.





Ashigaru archers are sent ahead to rain arrows from the defenders.



However, the Ito, cowardly as they are, prove remarkably adept at hiding behind walls. With the archer's ammunition expended and very few enemy troops killed, Takahisa decides that an assault on the castle would not be feasible and reluctantly withdraws to meet with reinforcements sent from home.

OOC: And with that rather pathetic display the first session ended for Shimazu. Battles are rather quick in this game. I'm going to have to work harder to take more pics, or maybe use the slow button more often.

Both clans have made their beginning moves to consolidate and do so quickly. Perhaps their progress might be stymied after taking out this beginning foes?

[Marshall Louis-Nicolas Davout]

Make a youtube vid of this.

[phonicsmonkey]

Make a youtube vid of this.

That's a good idea - I'll look into it.

Ok, so here is update #2 from the Chosokabe, part 1.

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With the Kono vanquished, all that remains is to take Iyo.





Chosokabe Kunichika is developing his skills.



I like to move further.



And this sword looks cool so I'll have that...



Aha, those Sogo are now back on their own turf. Better fix up Iyo while I think of it.



And how about we build some stables here too.



Having mastered Zen (for the markets) I now turn to Bushido.



Then out of the blue comes the news that the dastardly Miyoshi have attacked my new-found allies the Sogo! I chose to go to war.



I'm an attacking kind of Daimyo.



Chosokabe Kunichika is on the move.



My first Metsuke, at Tosa.



And now to hire some trade ships and try to get some of the nodes.



Couple of turns later, off I go.



Here comes Kunichika. He's excited about marching on the evil Miyoshi.

[phonicsmonkey]

Chosokabe update #2, part 2

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Aargh, my trade ship, attacked! Curse you Miyoshi!



The resulting battle is somewhat cyclical...






And Zim (playing the Miyoshi) narrowly beat me. Curses!

Maybe I need a fleet escort.



Eeuww, Christians...



Chosokabe aren't I? May as well study the bow then...



Who are these helpful Shimazu that want to inject capital into my economy?




This time my trade ship has company...



The Daimyo plunges headlong into enemy territory.



But the Miyoshi conquer my ally the poor ill-fated Sogo, disrupting my trade in the process.




On the theory that my Shimazu rivals will already have grabbed the nodes to the west, I head north instead in search of imports.



Sorry, but there's just something really really cool about Ninja



I send him north after the Miyoshi.



Angered by my incursion into their territory, the dirty Miyoshi spring from their bolt hole and attack the honourable Chosokabe Daimyo.



This is my big chance to take out the Miyoshi! All I need to do is beat Zim in this battle and the road to their capital lies open to me.





Things get really really hectic here. Inexperienced in MP and keen to push the issue I bring my archers out of the cover of the trees, negating my advantage. Then, as their light cavalry run down and slaughter my archers and their yari approach, I utterly panic and throw my general(s) into the fray, losing most of their units, getting them killed and causing my army to rout en masse.

I really miss the pause button.



A disastrous result for the Chosomonkey. Instead of their capital being at my mercy, the roles are reverse and Tosa lies defenseless. My Daimyo is dead and his wife takes over. The session ends.

[Zim]

A very nice battle if I may say so.

[Zim]

And now for further adventures of the mighty Zimazu.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When we left off Daimyo Takahisa had very wisely decided not to pursue the assault on Ito's last province. After meeting with some reinforcements heturned toward the city again only to find the cowardly dogs had dared to recruit more defenders from outlying village the brief time he was away. This could not go unpunished. The city was laid siege again, this time with the intent to let the Ito sweat it out a few months before attacking.

Surprisingly, the Ito decide to attack him next season.



Undaunted, the Shimazu forces array for battle.




During the upcoming battle Hyuga looms in the distance, reminding both sides of what was at stake.



Ito troops on the march, including the elite Samurai retainers of their daimyo.







The Shimazu prepare to face the Ito horde.






Unsurprisingly, the Ito break quickly after a few volleys of arrows and charges by the junior general's cavalry. The remainder of the Ito flee back to Hyuga.





















Naturally the Daimyo decides to strike at Hyuga while the defenders are weak from the battle.



Brave man that he is, Takahisa decides to dismount and join the assault.





Ugh, legendary Daimyo he may be, but he's not as young as he used to be.



Of course, while Takahisa may be brave he isn't stupid. arhcers had whittled down the few defenders before he made his glorious escalade.



With the defeat of the last of the enemy bodyguard Hyuga was now a Shimazu possession.

[Zim]

Update 2, Mark 2.

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Takahisa was quite perturbed to discover his ally Sagara had ringed him in by conquering all the provinces his lands now neighbored. Left with nothing to do he turned to that most unwarlike and therefore dull task, catching up on his nations economic, cultural, and diplomatic progress.

Hmmm, ally Sagara has accepted some strange foreign religion. Why couldn't they stick with the much more Japanese Buddhism? My advisors say that religion came from China, but still it was an old imported tradition. Completely different from this new one. Having been in Japan so long made it respectable.



A son comes of age. Surely he will be a great warrior like his father.



A trade deal with the "Chosokabe"? What clan is this? They sound barbaric. Well, no doubt they will bow in time to the Shimazu, might as well take their money by their consent for now until we can take it by force.



Way of the Sword? Maybe research is more valuable than I first thought.