Bit of a dillema

[Bow-wow-wow]

Hey,

I'm currently near thye begining(sp?) of my second campaign as Hattori. (First campaign as Shimazu went horribly wrong but that's a different story.)

Anyway, basically I allied with the faction to the left of me(don't remember name; not important.) The Kitabatake (the ones to my south) declared war on them, immediatly seiged their city and took it in 1 turn. I got pretty mad and I was also looking to expand because I had only my starting settlement so I wanted to take it back from them. They had one ally, the Asai to my north, and I didn't want to go to war with them so I allied them. I had hoped that when the Kitabatake and I went to war, they would join my side. I declared war and they didn't so now I'm at war with both of them.

They started sending tons of armies my way.(Don't know how 2 one province, minor factions had that much.) I had a nasty army just sitting in one of my strongholds that kept pushing them back but the problem is that one of them somehow snuck around and is one turn out of my capital. My capital has the following:

My Daimyo
4 yari ashigaru (basic spearmen)
3 bow ashigaru (basic archers)
1 battlefeild Hattori ninjas

the enemy army has:
General
12 yari ashigaru
7 bow ashigaru

Now if you're still reading onto my dillema. During this war, my economy is in shatters. I have 720 left and losing more every turn. My army in the first stronghold can easily beat the enemy army but are 2 turns away. I have a ninja in the area and could sabotage the enemy army so they can't move with a 70% success chance. The problem is it costs 720.

So should I try to bribe the army or see if my capital can hold out?

BTW if you read all that, you have my thanks.

[Diamat]

Such a battle is nearly impossible to win. You could save and try though. You could also try with your ninja, but this would only delay the inevitable. You are going to have to give up something and try to regroup in another province. Maybe you could actually take all your troops out of your capital and unite them with your other forces and then retake it (which then might cost you the other province, however). Choose what would be less costly and would give you a better chance for regrouping (slowly but surely) and start a "Reconquista".

[dutch81]

You have no chance in a field battle ... not even an ambush would help these odds. The only thing is defending your walls here you might be able to win but it would be a long shot. Try to get other factions to join your cause and relieve the pressure it might even draw the army away altogether. If you have a metsuke and plenty of money yeah bribing might work ... if you have a ninja you can sabotage the army delaying even more ... if you have a monk you can demoralize them or increase your own morale. That is about the best options I see ... I say it looks very grim indeed.

[Spartan262]

Try to hold on to your Capital with the small Garrison there. Use your Bow Ashigaru on the walls and hope the Enemy General Gets too close and gets killed by arrows. It looks like you might have to start a new Campaign.

[Bow-wow-wow]

I'll get throught this somehow. I already had one of my armies take out an enemy army 4 times its size. The shogun also loves me so maybe I can get himon my side. My problem is more short-term in that I don't want to lose my capital or kill my economy.

[themichaelx]

I'd try sabotaging the threatening army (to buy time) after ordering your main army back to your capital.

Hopefully the enemy will choose to continue the siege on your capital for a turn, that might be enough time for your vets to repel the invaders.

If they do attack immediately, just try to kill as many as possible.

I would also consider pulling your daimyo out of your capital. He might be able to get to safety.

Good Luck!

Let us know how it goes, please ;p

[dutch81]

I would also consider pulling your daimyo out of your capital. He might be able to get to safety.

Good Luck!

Why if he lost his capitol it is pretty much game over ... I didn't get the impression he had anywhere to fall back on. Also unless he has another general available there is simply no way he could hope to hold his fort without a general unit.

[themichaelx]

Why if he lost his capitol it is pretty much game over ... I didn't get the impression he had anywhere to fall back on. Also unless he has another general available there is simply no way he could hope to hold his fort without a general unit.

Hes got an ally nearby, plus the daimyo should be stay one turn ahead if he gets out now. The AI will probably go for the capital anyway.

Its a tough situation, so it may or may not be the best thing to do. Thats why I suggested considering the possibility. Theres opportunity, but is it worth the risk?

Do you lose the game if your capital gets taken? If not and he loses the capital, he can get it back the next turn. Loot his own buildings for cash and the people will still love him for freeing them and restoring order.

If he has an heir, the daimyo can be slightly more expendable (cold, I know).

I would definitely adopt a general if you dont have any heirs though. Always good to have a plan B (or plan 2, if you're numerically inclined)

[Bow-wow-wow]

I'm pretty sure that not only can your capital get taken, but your royal family can be completely killed and you still don't lose. I think the only way to lose is if all your cities get taken. Anyway, I'm going to try it now. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do but I'll give a full report later.

[dutch81]

I'm pretty sure that not only can your capital get taken, but your royal family can be completely killed and you still don't lose. I think the only way to lose is if all your cities get taken. Anyway, I'm going to try it now. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do but I'll give a full report later.

I thought it is the exact opposite that as long as your diamyo is still alive you can lose all your cities at least I have heard of reports that the AI at times still had clan armies marching that had lost all cities.
Also as long as you have an heir (even if underage) yes your damiyo can die and a regent will rule until your son comes of age. <-- this is confirmed

[Bow-wow-wow]

Well I played it out and I got through it. I decided to take a middle road and use my ninja without sabotaging the army. I tried to assasinate the general of the enemy army and was sucessful. Without a general, they didn't attack (even though they outnumbered me 3 to 1). I managed to get reinforcements and fought a battle of 3000 men v 3000 men. I managed to win that and eventually took the enmy capital. I still need to deal with the Kitabatake, but they haven't been as big of a problem without their Asai allies.

Thanks to evryone for the advice. I was stuck in a bad situation but got through it in the end.