Matchlock Kachi - What's the point?

[IGdood]

I really don't see the value of these units. Levy Infantry are available from the beginning and have more numbers, longer range, and the same firing rate, I believe.

I only keep 1 of these guys with my main army as a joke unit.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Better at melee, but of little use otherwise. I usually disband the starting unit once I've recruited a few more spear levies.

[Bull3pr00f de Bodemloze]

I think they are there so that traditional-minded players who only want to recruit traditional units can still have access to gunpowder troops. I myself use them in the first few turns and then disband them, usually.

[alexanderswift]

They have loose formation and are relatively cheap. The upkeep is the same as levy infantry if I recall correctly and as said above they're better at melee.
I've found them to be effective at manning the walls because of the melee ability. In the field... not really much use, even less so after sharpshooters become available.

[Dileos]

I also use them for manning the walls.

I've found however that in the absence of dedicated skirmish infantry, these guys can serve as a pretty effective ambush unit ahead your main army. They can let the enemy march into range while remaining hidden, and if he does commit troops to deal with them, he's tying up a few units of his army to deal with a rather insignificant problem. And as others have said, they hold up better than line infantry in melee.

[Profound]

If you decide to embark on a campaign without using any modern units, you need a lot of them. Other than that, easily replaceable.

[leeo268]

A matchlock unit for Traditionists. Nothing more, Nothing less.

[Babaganoush]

Until you upgrade to the Shinsengumi.

[aeoleron9]

They fulfill the double role of firearms + melee, but as a mediocre jack-of-all-trades. I like the versatility but I hope thyre not so hideous in shootouts. The loose formation helps but isn't enough. So I usually only use them to jump the enemy line infantries and force them to melee. Good thing theyre very cheap.

[grumph]

i disband him once i dont need him(once i get at around 8 line infantry in my main army. would have liked a katana or line infantry more.

[Alpedar]

Imo their only advantage is at begining when they recieve bonus for being traditional (oposed to levy infantry). And only in situations that tends to be combined ranged and melee engagement (eg. oponent have lot of melee units, or they flank, fire and charge). Line infantry is imo better, and with kneel fire its no contest at all (more concentrated firepower). But early when money is tight, the difference in upkeep is important too.

[grumph]

Imo their only advantage is at begining when they recieve bonus for being traditional (oposed to levy infantry). And only in situations that tends to be combined ranged and melee engagement (eg. oponent have lot of melee units, or they flank, fire and charge). Line infantry is imo better, and with kneel fire its no contest at all (more concentrated firepower). But early when money is tight, the difference in upkeep is important too.

i personally have no problems at all sweeping the area with 8 lines, a general, 3 spear levy and 3 yari kachi. once you get armstrong guns up, kachi get entirely obsolete.

[Iceciro]

One thing I have noticed is it seems like Kachi units (of all kinds) seem to do better at scaling the walls. In that early game period before the really powerful artillery shows up, the Matchlock Kachi make great wall-scalers to take sections of the castle, and then fire on units defending the front gate.

Their slightly-better melee ability helps some there, too.

[IGdood]

Bumping to see if anyone's found more uses.

[Adreno]

They look cooler than levys

[Condottiere 40K]

They're cheap in upkeep. Having said that, range trumps.

[zhiphius]

Good early unit until you get line infantry. (5 less accuracy/reload time and shorter range than line inf. but superior melee and morale).
Cheap.
Recruited from a building with -1 modernisation (and thus helps with happiness if i understand right).

And from what i heard from other posters, they make good "man-the-wall" units.
If you get a smithy and is in dire need of balancing your armies with cheap/advanced units they make a very good option until the more elite units pop up.

I noticed that the reload time/accuracy difference between line inf. and kachi match. isnt all that much, in straight shootout kachi would most likely loose. But when you add melee units and cavalry to the mess they get a good deal better. I'd say the two is nearly even balanced, but has each their advantages.
wrapping it up that kachi matchlock get outdated once the "next step after line inf." is ready unless for sieges but i never had to do def. siege so i wouldnt really know that part

My early army consist of entirely kachi units. 5 kachi ki? (spear kachi!) 3-4 yari ki, 2-3 generals (depends on amount of generals, 5 cav total.) rest kachi matchlock units. Works damn well. matchlock kachi doesnt break easily, survives well in melee even vs cav/spear kachi. beats the crappy units. Backed up by spear kachi with yari ki harassing ranged/cavalry units as they march before outflanking them with 1 unit distracting some of their units to create gaps and the enemy nearly always chain route ^^

[Ceorl84]

Fraid to say I find no use for them either since levy rifles are superior. Which is strange since muskets require a dojo and should, by the logic of the game, have some utility. If the musket unit hasd120 men, instead of 90, I'd think they'd be quite useful for their jack of all trades nature but 90 is too small.

[Condottiere 40K]

In real life, it probably would have to do with not enough modern rifles being available.

[Okuto]

I use them to man the walls and thats it really......