How to defeat Hojo Clan in hard Difficulty

[Teamshimazu]

Hello Everyone,

I was stumble upon this game about two weeks ago,(STW) and love it, I finished the game at easy difficulty (using shimazu) two days ago, and now at hard difficulty setting, I got my butt kick very bad by the Hojo clan, seem like they have an unlimited supply of warriors, and I am running out of koku and soldiers, I need help and need it fast before they make their next move, any suggestion or advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Sjakihata]

More detailed info would help!

Try to choose a easily defendable province, and wait to see if they attack. Then beat their army, and remember to send teh right units at the enemys units e.g. yari vs. cav, monks ND vs. light infantry.

[Teamshimazu]

Quote Originally posted by Sjakihata Akechi:
More detailed info would help!
First of all thanks for replying,
I am holding on to Aki province at this instance, but would'nt last for any longer,
if I retreated to a denfendable province, then I will loose more income, which I need to support my soldiers.

Try to choose a easily defendable province, and wait to see if they attack. Then beat their army, and remember to send teh right units at the enemys units e.g. yari vs. cav, monks ND vs. light infantry.[/QUOTE]

[pdoan8]

If I play as Shimazu, I will have an advantage that I only have to fight on front with minimal number of other clans around to compete with early in the campaign. In hard level, I always advance fast at the beginning and quickly control the whole Western Island (Shouthern part of Japan in really life). Depend on the time I start the campaign, I only have to fight Ronin and Imagawa (?). I usually try to out number my opponent with cheaper units. My army typically make up by large number of YA plus a few YS and SA. After taking the whole Island, I will hold Buzen (against Mori, or better yet, take and hold Nagato) then advance to take the smaller Island. This small island is important since it has a mine, a rich farmland province, Tosa produces better YA and the last province has a river. At this point, I will pause the military action for awhile the build up the economy and better army since my cheaper army can't take on the Mori (they likely to have Warrior Monks). At easy and normal level, I would likely to continue to advance through Mori's provinces. With a little luck, I can advance up to Harima, Tajima (or at least take half of Mori's territory) before I stop to regroup and refit my army.

For econemic, I invest in farmland upgrade only in the provinces that have richer farmland such as Hizen, Sanuki. In other, I will invest in Port. Military, I will in vest in Spear Dojo, Archery Dojo, Sword Dojo (should build in the start province first since it produces better No-Daichi) and one or two tea house and ninja house. I only build enough building to produce troop fast enough (4 combat units per season early on and double or tripple that later) but I won't send all the koku on buildings. Ports will allow me to quickly move troops around to reinforce the frontier provinces. Don't worry about the "port hopping" invasion by AI, it is rare. However, still need to use some counterspy to prevent ninja assination. Improve the army with better units like YS, ND, WM, cavalry.

At later stage, I almost always got into a a stalemate at central of Japan. Here, "port hopping" invasion and strong defensive armies at frontier provinces will be my main tactic. Sometimes, I combine with shinobi action. Try to wear down the enemy army and economy (by raiding their provinces and sell off their buildings and retreat through the port). Defense, if I sure to win the defensive battle, I won't kill the enemy Taiso especially when he begins to earn negative rank. Once, I was fighting against Oda Daimyo with rank -3 and Hojo Daimyo rank -2. Their armies aren't willing to put up a good fight. Use ninja (and geisha if I have) to kill their higher rank Taiso.



[This message has been edited by pdoan8 (edited 06-14-2002).]