Page 5
Shogun: Total War
by James Cobb
An ambassador is received in the throne room.
Advanced troops types are improved versions of the basic item. Buddhist fighting monks are the only truly new troops advancement produce. What’s fascinating is the development and use of the special agents. Shinobi spies yield information while Ninjas can “discomfort” troublesome generals and daimyos and provide internal security. Geishas are, like other females, the deadliest of the species, almost always getting their man. Jesuit priests tend to be effective emissaries to converted provinces.
Clever daimyos should spend the first years (divided into quarterly turns) building their income, castles and armies. Emissaries offer treaties in the throne room and ninjas attack emissaries in cut scenes. Spies should scout border areas so that the first battles produce honor-producing victories. With a stable power base, two choices arise: which stronger neighbor to attack and what to do with the Portuguese?
Converting to Catholicism opens up trade in firearms but conversion means destroying Buddhist temples and causing peasant unrest. Firearms can be obtained later from the less-zealous Dutch traders. Any major war requires the lack of bad weather, a healthy treasury, balanced and large armies preceded by waves of spies and assassins. The point of attack should coincide with the army composition, e,g, attacking with an army heavy with archers during the rainy season is suicide.
Victory will not be achieved in a blitz. Honor and power will see-saw. Provinces will change hands and untimely natural disasters will slow progress. Victory will go to the daimyo with the best information, sense of timing and patience.
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