No Gun Shogun: A Self-Proclaimed Suicidal Campaign in Futility

[Yesugey]

Here is an extremely important knowledge that I found out while searching forums:

"Every province has a citadel and a military port with 1 gun boat in it. This is important because it prevents the AI from doing naval invasions. A port with cannons prevents the AI from doing land invasions, but without that 1 ship in port the AI will simply attack the port and disable it. With the ship inside they would have to go into battle, and the AI is reluctant to do so. Even if they do your port cannons can do a lot of damage and win the match. Just keep that lone gunboat alive and the AI will often stop in its tracks and you can just wait for time to run out."

That makes perfect sense! If anyone blocks the port, you can go to battle screen with your gunboat and let the land cannons do the job. Wish I knew that before!

[Yesugey]

Excellent news! Turns out I wasn't Vanguard yet. It was offered next turn. Now I am officially the Vanguard, everyone who supports Shogunate is rallied around me. I took all the trade agreements, destroyed Edo by taking what's left of his cities.



Only exception is: I didn't forgive the Shogunate clan took my beloved Fukushima yet. They offered me peace for almost every turn, but I turned them down, and cut down their 1700 men-strong army in a small castle. Here is the start conditions and replay of the battle.



RevengeForFukushima.zip

He has many +4 experienced Levy Infantry, but I have Armored Katana Kachi and everything. I lost 5 units in this battle, because I preferred to climb the walls instead of burning the castle. Huge mistake on my side.




There is only one army left between me and Aizu, in few turns I will get my capital back and accept their peace request.

To focus crushing the Imperials.

But the problem grows in the west: Satsuma has been chosen as Vanguard, and while he doesn't bothering me, he pushed through the mainland, and crushed 2 of my allies on the way by capturing 7 provinces. When I become Vanguard, Imperials were not much of a threat and the odds were highly on my side. But now I think the my chance of victory is 50-50. Maybe less.

Let's hope my blind ambition for Aizu won't cost me the game.

Since my armies are all far away from them, I am planning to train many ships and block all the docks of the Satsuma and the other Imperial rebels. This way they will leave my economy alone, and won't courageously send invasion fleets. Let's hope my allies hold before I get there.

[Yesugey]

P.S. : For a short moment, I thought of choosing independence and play "No Gun: Republican"
I wonder how would that be? It may be possible with Jozai or Satsuma?

[Yesugey]

I finally managed to beat Satsuma. No Gun Shogun on Legendary, with Aizu, is possible.

It was a lot of fun playing with swordsmen, thanks to AI can't handle with gunpowder warfare, I was able to get close and give the enemy a bloodbath. I like to share few memories:




I was trying to eliminate Edo, while Satsuma press his charge on mainland and crushing two of my allies with Yodo, the other Imperial Clan.


The revenge battle, to recapture my beloved Aizu. They literally begged me to become ally for 10 turns. I always rejected them. Even that might cost me the game.


Recapture of Aizu.


Situation after making peace with all other Shogunate clans, in order to focus on the invasion of Satsuma.


Well I don't think the Shogunate thinks the Slavery is barbaric, but since it's the choice against modernization, I chose it. Only negative thing I get for being against westerners is a -%25 trade penalty for 12 turns. Not a big deal.


To stop Satsuma advance, I cut the connection between Kyushu and the Mainland. That helped a lot. Also I blocked all his ports, sent all my Shinobi and Shimotsuke to create chaos in his hinterlands. At the end, Satsuma was a place in ruins.


My first foothold in Kyushu. Satsuma was still well guarded.


General situation between me and the others. I had 3 vassals, and they were suprisingly helpful, especially by invading small islands.


It was a great battle! Satsuma besieged my foothold with many Armored Line infantry and Parrott guns. My army was half Spear levies, and the enemy have large number advantage. (More than %50) I sallied and cut both armies with a devastating charge, which you can watch it from the replay.
ShimazuLanding.rar


For an army and general this inexperienced, it is a great result.


The destruction of Yodo! They gave me a lot of worry, thank to the naval blockade they couldn't set foot to my small island. And they destroyed few stacks of Wakayama before being overrun. Now they are gone, and Satsuma is almost alone with his two island allies.


Another push from Satsuma, after that they lost this battle, they lost the upper hand and get defensive.
CounterAttack.rar


The ninjas and my fully upgraded Shingensumi wreaking havoc behind enemy lines.

Here is a replay from a battle I played in order to help the advance of my allies. I was still worried about then getting annihilated by the experienced soldiers of Satsuma, (They took like 8 provinces in 10 turns) so I created a stack and sent to battle without a general. They did good job though.


Noticed the small island at the southwest? Sado got it. Sado is the small island at the northeast! When I landed to capture it, I saw that Sado was also came all the way to get the island for himself, but just couldn't find the guts to do battle, hanging around. After my landing, the Tanegashima attacked my army and defeated. And before I get control, Sado just marched into the capital and captured it! I didn't even get mad!
Unfortunately Tsu lost the province captured, because the most experienced Satsuma stacks were positioned there. Putting your Shingensumi to new captured city gives you the chance to advance forward, catch the enemy unguarded. Here is the replay:
IslandInvasion.rar


My nice half-stack consists of armored Katana, Shogitai and a Samurai Hero. Unfortunately the game was over before I use the Hero.


Seems like the fate of the war is almost certain. Even Jozai took a bite from Satsuma.


The last stand of Satsuma. They have around 1400 highly experienced Line infantry there, but me with my allies were marching with more than 5000 men in total. Here is the replay:
SatsumaLastStand.rar


Some of those poor guys fighting for Satsuma have +8 experience.. But couldn't stop overwhelming numbers. They were the stacks I was afraid most. I don't know what would be the result if I wasn't landed to their back, and not assassinate their 5 star generals.


That's the total result screen. (By the way I didn't do any naval bombardment nor battlefield bombardment during the game. I only bombarded a military port, which was blocking me from landing my troops.

[Gregoshi]

Congratulations Yesugey!

[Yesugey]

Congratulations Yesugey!