Shogun help please.

[TheStinger]

I've just bought a budget copy of Shogun and therfore haven't got a manual. I can do the stratrgy on the big map bit ok. Howvere when i fight my battles i have no idea what to do with my boys. the interface is quite hard and i keep getting whupped by far smaller forces.

ANy ideas

[DrSpike]

It's rock paper scissors with archers as the scissors, cavalry as the rock, and spearmen as the paper.

[DaShi]

Is this a Shogun forum?

[DrSpike]

It's for 'other games'. The clue is in the title of the forum.

[DaShi]

100-0!

[DrSpike]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Urban Ranger]

A couple of other things. Terrain is important. Remember to seize the high grounds if you can. The peasant recruits (I forgot their name) don't worth much unless you are Oda. On the other hand, the buddhist monks kick arse. One thing to remember is always try to attack the group where the general is. If you kill him, the rest of the enemy flees. Remember, don't tire your men out.

Okay, so that's more than a couple.

[TheStinger]

Thanks

I have tried the high ground approach, but if i am attacking and go and sit on a hill the enemy just ignore me.

[DrSpike]

Yeah, attacking is harder. You need to attack as an army, and not let their ranged units rule the roost.

Harass with some cav, bring some spears up front, warrior monks behind, and flank with the monks if you can whilst the spears hold the line. When you are attacking I think ranged units are good if you micro well, but they aren't as critical as on the defence.

[Grumbold]

Yeah the tactics are fairly simple once you know who beats who. Early cavalry aren't good for much except hitting a flank. Use them to ride round an enemy, make him nervous because he doesn't know which way to point. Spearmen are your basic defensive line. Try to hit the enemy with as many advantages as possible (uphill, charging, flank, bigger numbers etc) or use your archers to draw the enemy onto them.

Killing the enemy general is a good move, but he's a powerful fighter so he can chew through a lot of peasant or basic samurai spearmen before he goes down. I like to try and get armor and weapon enhancements as quickly as possible. Churn out a lot of upgraded samurai spearmen and you can capture a lot of territory early on. The monks are cool but I normally own half the map before I have significant numbers of them.

[DrSpike]

If you like the game you should check out Medieval Total War which is similar, but better.

[Urban Ranger]

Yes, attacking is harder. Use cav to circle around the back of the enemy formation to charge at the archers. Inch your spearmen forward but don't move within archery range. Then attack all at once the the cavs are ready. If you start getting the No-dachi units use them. Those are nasty shock troops.

One thing you might want to try is to crash build tea houses. That way you can get the dreaded Geisha - but that takes the fun out of all the military action.

Ninjas should also be used effectively. If you manage to kill a general when you invade a province that turn, your chances of winning are greatly enhanced.