Soliciting Cavalry Tips!

[Servius]

Takeda are my new favorite. My standard army is 1-2 generals, 2-3 katana cav, 4 yari cav, and 12 Yari Ashigaru.

Battle tactics are simple:

1) If attacking in the field, form the Ashigaru into a single line, with each unit about 4 ranks deep, with a pair of Yari Cav on each flank of that line, and the generals and Katana Cav behind the center. March forward until close to the enemy line. Single-click (so, walk until in charge range, then auto-charge) the Ashigaru into the enemy line, which pins them, send the yari cav around the flanks and charge them into opportune targets (preferably in this order: enemy generals, cav, bows, and then everything else). Use the katana cav to reinforce the line if necessary. Use general(s) to boost Ashigaru morale with Rally if necessary.

2) If defending in the field, same as above, except you place your Ashigaru line in the most advantageous position possible: far from the enemy's initial starting location (so that they tire themselves out marching to you), perferably on a hill (to decrease enemy bow range and tire them out some more), and in the woods (to give your Ashigaru an additional anti-cav bonus and some arrow cover). In particular, try to hide the yari cav in woods further from your Ashigaru line so that they can more easily spring from cover once the enemy engages your line.

3) If assaulting a castle, just lay siege and wait for them to sally, then see #2 above.

4) If defending a castle, fill the inner ward with the Ashigaru and spread the cav outside the walls. The enemy usually breaks their besieging forces up into 4-5 small groups, and they are often unbalanced groups (so some will have all spears, others will have all bows). Use the cav outside the walls to hunt down the small groups that are mostly bows. One of these mostly-bow groups usually also has the enemy generals, so use your yari cav to slaughter them. That will give you a big morale advantage. If the enemy spear/sword guys go for your walls, let them tire themselves out with all that climbing, then swarm them with your Ashigaru when they finally get to the inner ward. If they ignore the castle and go for your cav, kite them to a castle gate and have your Ashigaru sally out and slam into their flank. When the enemy spears/swords turn to fight your Ashigaru, turn your cav and charge them in the back.