FoS noob help

[MetalDays]

Hello,
I bought FoS 2 days ago and I can get past the initial phase of the game because its seems no matter who I play for, turn 5 I have about 5 factions attacking me. I start losing regions, no economy, therefore cant get a proper army. I started about 10 games so far but I always just get messed up. I looked but I did not fight any comprehensive FoS guides... any out there for a real noob ? Cheers!

[eXistenZ]

which difficulty and which faction are you playing? An advice for any beginner would be to play satsuma, on normal or easy

[Daily]

Well here is something very standard tips.
1. Quickly get an ally that has the same allegiance.
2. Don't piss people off.
3. Make farms.
4. Go for the easy money in the technology section. Go for Trade harbor so you can start trading with the foreign nations (easy money)
5. Trade with everyone you can. Explore with agents or whatever. (more money more troops).

[MetalDays]

How about timing ? I know in the original shogun 2 the short campaign was nearly impossible to finish in time . Shall I be in a hurry ?

[oppaiO_O]

i always upgrade my fort,then my port, then my city and build stuff that makes me get money after all that i upgrade my army though it takes some time and like the dude above me said dont piss people off and get allies of the same aligience to you and try to fight in one front if you can... try to play as satsuma or tosa as they have the least to worry bout at the beginning

[Levenstein]

Timing isn't so much an issue this time around as you can easily control the vast majority of the map, even on the domination game type, well before the final time limit. However this also depends on what difficulty you are playing the game on so expect things to take longer as the difficulty goes up.

[daniu]

I always was in a hurry, making a point of constantly staying in war. First I'd take out all my single-province neighbors, regardless our relation, just to grow fast; then, if I only had friends surrounding me, go and attack one of them.
This will create a very hard wave of aggression for a period of time (since most other factions will be joining them), but FotS siege defenses are really a defender's dream (if the attackers don't have guns, which they won't at that time).
The tough thing during this time is keeping the economy up because the AI loves to raid and naval bombard your eco towns just for the heck of it.
But, it won't be too long for you to become the Vanguard faction if you manage to hold out because of the constant battles you'll win; from that point on, game gets really easy.
The hardest thing is capturing enough provinces of your own, because all clans with your allegiance will start taking them before you get the chance
It's been a time since I played though, and difficulty Normal.

Also, it's very, very important to not neglect your navy in FotS. It doesn't need to be huge from the start, but I can't imagine winning FotS without gaining naval superiority at some point - naval bombardments are really strong, and you need to be safe from naval invasions.
I suggest you keep a core navy throughout the game, and when enemy ships start arriving, make sure you don't fall back. Beyond a critical mass, naval battles will win you ships instead of losing them because of captures (I only autoresolved them though tbh, YMMV).

you can easily control the vast majority of the map, even on the domination game type, well before the final time limit.

Well it's much harder in Short than in Domination Campaign actually.

[Daily]

Also, it's very, very important to not neglect your navy in FotS. It doesn't need to be huge from the start, but I can't imagine winning FotS without gaining naval superiority at some point - naval bombardments are really strong, and you need to be safe from naval invasions.
I suggest you keep a core navy throughout the game, and when enemy ships start arriving, make sure you don't fall back. Beyond a critical mass, naval battles will win you ships instead of losing them because of captures (I only autoresolved them though tbh, YMMV).

Do not think so much on land units until you've solidified your position. I would hurry after you've secured a port and researched the copper plating since your ships will then have a much better chance against the Ai's navies. Also I am always careful in not to have areas on both sides of Japan almost forcing you to have two navies. Last campaign I played was as Tsu and after I had 10 settlements I had several ports down south that was destroyed and down most of the time.

Also as Daniu so nicely stated is that holding provinces is like a defenders wet dream. With some micro management you can harass the enemy for so long and constantly keep fire on them that they either need tons of artillery to take you out or 5 times your number or even more. Also get Yari Ki, these cavalry units are my most valuable when it comes to turning battles, be it sieges or open land. Keep them away from firing range and spear men and harass and kill off their cavalry. Favourite unit in FOTS.

And yes you should rush but after your initial rush to get your surrounding settlements you should make peace or fight a defensive war and just build up your infrastructure. Make trade agreements research more buildings that gain you more money and upgrade all your natural resources be it gold, silver, silk etc. When you can field several armies filled to the brim of quality soldiers the game becomes a slaughter. And who doesn't like slaughters?

Good luck!

[zhiphius]

Hello,
I bought FoS 2 days ago and I can get past the initial phase of the game because its seems no matter who I play for, turn 5 I have about 5 factions attacking me. I start losing regions, no economy, therefore cant get a proper army. I started about 10 games so far but I always just get messed up. I looked but I did not fight any comprehensive FoS guides... any out there for a real noob ? Cheers!

1: cotton industry, trade ports, farms.

Those 3 makes up your economy early on with economic growth adding later but isnt as important in FOTS as it was in RotS and sengoku campaigns.
Basically upgrade those 3 aspects of your provinces (gotta build the cotton from scratch) wherever you can. And build them as early as you can.

2: Traditionalist

Traditional armies is easy to get your hands on, doesnt require much military arts. And is cheap to boot compared to mid-to-late modern era units.
Rely on traditional units early on, use line of sight to overcome modern unit armies. Yari Ki is insanely good toward mid game. Trad. units have longer recruitment time though.
Basically traditional armies are very strong early on with decent upkeep, allowing you to easier expand.

3: Screw faction loyalty.

Really, dont feel a sense of duty or honor when picking targets. Take what you want, build a solid domain and worry about faction loyalty later. The CPU most certainly wont give a cent as to who they obliterate, why should you?
This gives you alot more flexibility on expanding.

4: Where is your opportunity to expand?

Check where valuable resources are, you'll want a holy shrine and blacksmiths.
Silver and gold mines are really good too. Dont forget silk and tea either for certain upgrades.
But most important of all: where is it easiest to expand? Where's your enemies? And which areas gives you the best protection?

As Saga you'll want to take the 2 nearby islands first for example.
As shimazu you want to unit kyushu.
As Aizu you'll optimally want to expand north and control hokkaido, sado and the northern honshu provinces.

5: Things to do first few turns

-Sell military access. Gives decent money to develope your provinces. (dont sell it to clans you plan to attack within 15 turns)
-Upgrade the city first always. Get up economic buildings. Get up a traditional dojo if you dont got it.
-Recruit cheap units to bolster your army, get Yari Ki (they are that strong).
-Move army close to the faction you're at war with before spring. then attack them during first spring turn, besieging is usually a good idea as it cost less men (and less turn replenishing) but sometimes taking them out first turn is better.
-Make trade agreements


6: things to do after first few turns

-Sell military access still
-develope economy
-expand army.
-Plan next province you want, make sure you map out what the nearby provinces has and then plan how to expand.
-Secure alliances needed to keep your rear safe while expanding.
-Get your hands on ishin ishi/shinsengummi as fast as you can. You want to convert the provinces you capture fast so you can thus quickly move on and capture more.
-Expand with unity in mind, dont go all over the place. Make sure your domain is easy to defend.

7: Sendai

-Exeption with these guys is to attack the western neutral clan before taking out initial at war clan due to location of yours and theirs provinces.

8: Arts

-Civil arts first (or policy arts if you prefer).
-Happiness -> Economic (get the barracks early) at the start. later economic -> happiness.
-Military arts: Shih early, then wait til your economy is on track before you go further.
-Economy is on tracks get ship arts (copper/shell arts) then grab any modern arts you need/want.
-If playing traditional units throughout the game you'll only need shih, kisho ninja and ship arts + the charge art. For modern you need to balance it more.

9: Military

-Traditional is strong at the start, weak at range later but undisputed melee masters no matter how advanced the modern units they fight are. Takes longer to recruit but accessable earlier. Requires just 3 arts to maximise their "power" (shish, kisho ninja and the cavalry charge ones. 2 arts if you do not use kishi ninjaes or do not use cavalry)

-Modern is weak at the start but undisputed masters at ranged combat later. Weak units accessible early on and it takes a long time to research all the art you'll want/need to recruit end game modern unit and beef them up. Shorter recruitment times than traditional units however (exept artillery).


This got abit long, hope it helps though ill stop here and if you want more help just ask in your topic ^^

[daniu]

Traditional armies is easy to get your hands on, doesnt require much military arts. And is cheap to boot compared to mid-to-late modern era units.

You think? I find traditional units expensive in upkeep for what they have to offer. IMO, spear levy and levy infantry are the way to go from the start. Matter of taste I guess.

As Aizu you'll optimally want to expand north and control hokkaido, sado and the northern honshu provinces.

Take this with a grain of salt for Short Campaigns.
You'll have trouble getting hold of both Edo and Kyoto in the timeframe you have, so expanding north may make it easier to stabilize your position, but if you're trying to finish in the given time, I find it's necessary to push forward as soon as possible.