Help with starting off - SHOGUN

[cannon_fodder]

After a bit of experimentation, I found the best thing to do (as far as your military is concerned) is to swamp your enemies with hordes of Yari Samurai. Seriously, you don't actually need anything else. Of course, you won't get the maximum possible enjoyment from the game this way.

I would say the Uesugi are the best starting clan.

[blazer-glory]

One thing that crossed my mind was how can you tell if your defeat was down to lack of numbers and not bad tatics?

[Ludens]

One thing that crossed my mind was how can you tell if your defeat was down to lack of numbers and not bad tatics?

You cannot. The difference between victory and defeat can depend on so many things, like terrain, weather, troop types, numbers, tactics and the number of command stars the general has, that it is often hard to say whether a battle is winnable. It takes experience to determine which odds you can take-on under given conditions, and as your experience grows you will be able to win against worser odds.

So the answer to your question is: experience, but that is not a helpfull one. When I started Shogun, I needed a big hill to gain a decisive advantage. When I had played it for half a year, I could trash armies almost twice my size (and I don't consider myself a good player).

[blazer-glory]

Yikes! Looks like I got alot to learn! :s

[Ludens]

Yikes! Looks like I got alot to learn! :s

Unfortunatly, I haven't played Shogun in a long time (actually, I barely play any game lately), so I am probably back at square one too .

Welcome to the Org, blazer-glory.

[econ21]

One thing that crossed my mind was how can you tell if your defeat was down to lack of numbers and not bad tatics?

I think you'll know. Sometimes, a battle just seems to work like clockwork. I feel like Hannibal in the "A-team" - I just love it when a plan comes together. Other times, it's like a nightmare as warrior monks come crashing out a wood into your flank and are amongst you before you can reform your lines (ah, good times...).

On the numbers - you should win on a 1:1 battle. You are a human, not a stupid machine. Soon you'll be fighting with near full stacks and since the AI can only bring one full stack onto the field at any one time, you should only lose due to attrition (you may end up praying for the battle timer to run out, as the reinforcements keep pouring in and you were out of arrows long ago.)

On the tactics - ask yourself, did the battle go according to your plan? Or were you reacting to the AIs? You'll soon be able to tell whether you were in control.