Guide of Bait Tactics

[Maltz]

Thirty Seven - Formation: Bow First I (Flying Geese)

"Suzuki, take a look at this."
"Hm... I have never seen Cavalry at the very flank before. Usually only a human does that. "
"Yeah the enemies usually hide Cavalry in the back. This formation is rare. Well, this is Flying Geese formation."
"My lord, why don't you tell me more about the surface?"
" Actually in this formation you should first pay attention to the surface - the first line. What do you see?"
"All bows."
"What does Bow-First mean?"
"That it is impossible to draw out melee infantry when approach from the front."
"Exactly. So what would you do?"
"Draw out infantry from the sides!"
"Good! And those cavalry on the flank look very irritable as well. Don't forget to give it a try... if you ever see this formation. "

[Maltz]

Thirty Eight - Formation: Bow First II (Reclining Dragon, Turtle's Shell)

"Suzuki, how about this?"
"Oh I have seen this quite a lot. This is the famous Turtle's Shell formation. It is the bane of Bait Tactics!"
"Indeed. The formal name of this formation is Reclining Dragon. It is very hard to draw out enemy units if they are all well protected by first-line bow units. It takes a lot of skills and courage to draw out the units from the BACK of the enemy formation."
"My lord, I know you did this to the Chosokabe in the second battle of Iyo."
" Yes that's why I said that."
"Ok... Wouldn't the Cavalry respond, though? They are in the back."
"Yes. We have to be careful that this will draw out the Cavalry. Get the yari infantry ready!"

[Maltz]

Thirty Nine - Formation: Bow First III (Pine's Bark)

"Suzuki, let me show you another variation of Bow First. You should recognize this."
"Yari on the second line, katana third line. This is quite common... Pine Bark formation, right?"
"Indeed. Many clans like to use a lot of Yari units, like Oda. So you see this formation quite a lot, with a very enlogated second line."
"So I will draw out their exposed unit of the second line."
"Exactly. And since the Cavalries are also very exposed, you should be ready to draw out Cavalry as well."
"No problem!"
"OK, that's all of Bow-First formation. Now let's move onto the freebies. "

[Maltz]

Forty - Formation: Bow Last (Way of Tiger, Marginalized Bow)

"Suzuki, do you remember this?"
"Yes! So many years ago I fought Shimazu. They used this! This is Marginalized Bow!"
"Good memory! The official name of this formation is Way of Tiger. This is the most friendly formation to Bait Tactics. If you see the enemy use this formation, you should laugh off the horse."
"Indeed. All I needed to do was to use Bow Ashigaru to approach from the front."
"OK. I have the last formation to show you... You must remember this as well."

[Maltz]

Forty One - Formation: Bow Middle (Flying Bird, Hot Dog, Porcupine)

"Suzuki, how about this?"
"Yes! I have seen Chosokabe use it in Iyo! Their Big Hot Dog! "
"I thought they were all wearing pants, not skirts. This one has a formal name called Flying Bird. Or you can call it Bow Middle to be consistent with Bow First and Bow last. In this formation the enemy tries to protect their birds... I mean bows."
"So I just use Bow Infantry to approach from the front to draw out the yari, right?"
"Yep. The Yari is truly protective of the bows in this formation. I think the Porcupine formation, where yari units are attached to the ends of the line of bows, also belong to this formation - when the enemy has extra yari units to spare."
"Got it. Thank you, my lord. I have learned so much from the review."
"Really. So tell me what you have learned. If you do not have Bow Warrior Monks but only Bow Ashigaru, what do you look for?"
"I look for Bow Middle or Bow Last. Or some kind of exposed second row!"
"Very good. If you have Bow Warrior Monks, what do you look for?"
"Besides Bow Middle or Bow Last, I look for three kinds of Misplaced Katana! Draw them out from the middle!"
"What if you get one of the three kinds of Bow First formation?"
"I move cavalry to the side of their army to see if they are willing to adapt another formation!"
"What if they refuse to change?"
"Then I hope there is an exposed flank!"
"What do you do after their exposed flank is destroyed?"
"I draw out their cavalry with fast cavalry! Then I circle to their back and shoot!"
"That's a refreshing thought - maybe we will try that one day. OK~ enough for the review! Let's fight Oda! "

[Maltz]

Forty Two. May It Be the Fire Arrows

"OK Suzuki. Where would you deploy the army?"
"There is a forest hill on our side. Just in case Oda rushes to take our hill, I will deploy right in front of the hill."
"Good!"

[Maltz]

"My lord, it seems that Oda is happy with their own hill. There are a few trees. Probably good enough for them."
"Also good enough for us! What is this formation?"
"Oda has no Katana, but this is either Bow Last or Bow Middle! Easy! "
"Indeed! I will leave this to you, then. The First Army will join you in the next battle. Don't disappoint me!"
"Yes, my lord! Let's give Oda some sweet Bait Tactics! "

[Maltz]

Intermission. Double-Double, Lazy Couples

In the meantime...

Two Oda armies marched to Tamba,
where they were sabotaged by Ikko's Ninja.
Yet the two waiting Ikko armies were a lazy couple.
They doubled up to face Oda's double - in two quick battles.

[Maltz]

There is no need for Bait Tactics,
When battles can be resolved like picnics.
There is no critics about ethics,
When the result table hides all graphics.

[Maltz]

One army is down, one army remains.
This one will fall, sharing the same fate.

[Maltz]

It is time for the last struggle,
As the best four armies in Japan to clash in battle.
When the armies are large and commands slow,
We return to numbers and stregnth - the principles of the simple.