Surviving hard mode

[RakeinWaiting]

Hello all,

So ive recently gotten into Shogun 2, and like the challenge that comes in hard mode.

I do, however, need some tips. The AI seems to swarm units and, due to economic constraints, I simply cannot muster an army big enough to take on the AI. I know I want a challenge, but not matter what strategy I seem to take, the AI simply smothers me with units.

Does anyone have any tips for countering mass spearmen/bowmen?

Rake.

[Man o' War]

At higher levels of difficulty you need to rely more and more on diplomacy.

If you have an army in your province it can sometimes be much easier to defend than to go straight out and attack. Problems arise here though if they refuse to attack your stronghold but keep targetting your infrastructure, you have to play it by ear in those situations.

Try never to be in more than one war at once. Sell periodic military access. Get the art Todofuken to increase income and the bushido art that increases ammunition I forget its name, maybe Heaven and earth.

Get a general to be minister of finance, the more stars the better, likewise supply I think.

[Man o' War]

P.S. Some factions are more difficult to play than others, try an easier faction on hard difficulty if you've gone for someone like Eusugi straight off the bat.

[eXistenZ]

it can be that on one playthrough lots of clans keep eachother in check, but on another playthrough one clan might grow superbig and eat you for breakfast. So sometimes you are just unlucky when you lose.

But indeed, diplomacy is very important on higher levels. It can be very usefulll to have some allies that will stick with you for a very long time

[RakeinWaiting]

I am aware of how important diplomacy is, and do my best to please the AI.

Strangely, I keep running into the same problem; The AI says "we can reach some agreement..." or something along those lines. it gives me hope that trade or peace can be established, but whenever I see this opponent feeling, It might as well be refusal: They simply never agree. I offer cash, marriages and hostages, all rejected.

Probably flaws with the design AI. Sure wish Creative Assembly would program AI with simple rational objectives instead of refusing all reasonable offers for sake of a challenge.

Rake.

[Stellarnight]

Money is of utmost importance on hard mode.
Sieze any opportunity to make money.
For example, i was playing as the Takeda and the Oda has grown very powerful and were right on my doorstep. I asked Imagawa how much would they pay me if I joined the fray. I got 3000 koku out of the deal. Oda would have declared war eventually and i wanted to make sure i made some profit out of it.

Play defensive and embrace limited war. When a clan declares war on you, it doesnt have to be a zero-sum game. Let him come hit you while you sit in your castle. Decimate his main force and request for peace. If you beat him badly enough, they might throw in a few koku to sweeten the deal. For example again, playing as the Takeda requires one not to overextend itself and they are faced with danger on all fronts. Many neighbouring clans like the Uesugi and that clan next to Ikko Ikki in the North would declare war the moment you leave one of your fronts undefended. But to eradicate them would mean too much of an overextention of my already thin forces so i just send my main stack to destroy their stack and sue for peace immediately. My troops and general becomes stronger while i get some cash out of it. Usually they are more open to a peace treaty cum trade treaty when you beat the living sense out of them.

Troop compositions can be mainly Yari Ash and Yumi Ash but mix in a few Samurais once you can. Usually early game, i would have 2-3 Yari Sam and mid -game i would start getting Katana Sam which are amazing killers. Mass spears are easily countered by Katana Sam and their low morale are easy to take advantage of in a siege defence. Dismounted Generals can do well against a single YA force. If you have a choke point, put your YA in Spearwall and let them come while you flank your Yari Sam into their back.