Quote Originally Posted by Puzz3D
One thing I've observed is players using YA as line units. The YA is really designed as a support unit to intercept cavalry, and is not really useful in melee against infantry. Since they are ashigaru units, they don't inflict a morale penalty on samurai units when they rout. However, you do loose any morale support they were providing such as flank cover and the outnumbered effect.
People are still getting used to YA. For quite some time they're hardly ever used and they become fashionable now. I think that after the skirmish phase people don't know what to do with them and tend to fire and forget about them. An idea might be to hold a specific enemy unit for a few seconds before some better unit can take over the fight or maybe circle to the back. I know that I've done that.
Of course you're right that you loose their support once they rout. One has to be careful or they take your remaining teppos with them in their rout.
I'm frequently surprised how useful they can be and often buy two units.
I've played with this army several times in the past weeks:
  • 1 Hatamoto Gen
  • 4 Port. Teppo
  • 2 YS
  • 2 YA
  • 3 YC
  • 3 WM
  • 1 HC

But I use other setups as well. I've switched to WM eventually after using ND because of the high number of WM units on the field. I'm a bit disappointed about ND atm because they're seldom useful. If your enemy has NI or WM there's hardly a point in attacking with ND.