Matchlocks

[Ishmael]

From a multiplayer perspective, the best use for matchlocks is destroying morale. If you put them in the front of your army, let them get a volley off, and move your melee line forward, the enemy will break much faster (if they haven't already, as ashigaru often do). Alternatively, let them fire into a melee fight already in progress. Sure, it will kill some of your own troops, but the morale penalty only affects the enemy, and so usually makes them rout pretty quickly. Lastly, they're great for taking out generals, hero units, and other small, high value targets. One volley is often enough to cut their numbers by more than 50%.

[edyzmedieval]

Good post, thanks for the info. Matchlock Samurai IMHO are only marginally more effective than the Ashigaru but nevertheless they inflict a bit more damage.

I still prefer Bow Warrior Monks + 4xp + whistling arrows.

[econ21]

I have only very limited experience, but matchlocks seem fantastic on castle defence. Samurai often break before getting up the ramparts.

More generally, someone at TWC did some testing of ranged weapons. It was rather like what I did with bow samurai vs bow ashigaru in the Confucian Academy but also including monks and matchlocks. Matchlocks came out top in terms of lethality (vs advancing melee infantry) iirc.

[Abokasee]

Play Oda.
As soon as you get the ability to produce Matchlock Ashigaru get barrack's or hunting lodges.
Suddenly your playing NTW.

I remember taking on the... I can't remember the name... its the "original shogun" faction, with all there fancy High-XP samurai archers and melee units. And me with about 12+ units of Matchlock Ashigaru with 2 XP and improved accuracy, two cannon units two fire mangonels, and about 1/4th mile of open field.
Poor lads, they never stood a chance. A iron tube with a lead ball and some powder and that brought an end to a lifetimes training in a massacre that lasted 9 minutes.