Chosokabe Army Composition

[AGaming]

I just started a long campaign as the Chosokabe campaign, and now in the year 1551. I laid waste to the Miyoshi clan, with both of their provinces now under my regime, and the Sogo clan will soon follow. Soon, the entire Shikoku island will be under my control.

However, to do this, I need a little help with my Army Composition. The Miyoshi campaign was costly, and alot of my units perished, so it is time for a new army. I plan on having; 1 General, 4 Light Cavalry, 8 Yari Ashigaru and 7 Bow Ashigaru. Is this a decent Army? Or will I be slaughtered at the hands of any clan I pass?

[Jokern]

I recommend that you trade some ashigaru units for at least a couple of samurai units. To have an elite in your army is always good for the final blow in a battle. If you don't have the time to recruit samurai I'd say it's a good composition.

[ChewieMuse]

I recommend that you trade some ashigaru units for at least a couple of samurai units. To have an elite in your army is always good for the final blow in a battle. If you don't have the time to recruit samurai I'd say it's a good composition.

This is true! I usually have one elite army and the rest as sort of auxiliary. And I also keep my Faction Leader with the Elite army, helps with honor and such

[Hooboo777]

If you have any monks at your disposal, send them to buff your army's morale. If not, use other agents to hinder the power of the Sogo. Make sure you have at least some navy as well, because if you are playing anything above Normal difficulty, the enemy will more than likely try and flank your main position using an invasion force via sea.

Once you have a good hold on Shikoku you might want to start training samurai, it's a must as the sheer number of Ashigaru cannot compensate for the morale and combat ability (Especially armour) of the enemy Samurai. (Except maybe in a defensive siege).

For the time being, im sure the light cavalry will help combat enemy archers for a while, at this time im not sure if the Sogo are investing in any Katana samurai yet. If you can, try and play as defensively as you can with your Ashigaru army, maintain sieges and so forth and force the enemy to come to you.

As far as im concerned, Ashigaru can make a good fighting force, but they play much better as a reserved and garrisoned army.

[CptAustus]

I'm not exactly a fan of light cavalry, but as you expand you can get trade 4 of the yari ashigaru for 4 melee samurai.

[Merchant of Venice]

This would be an okay army composition for the remaining conquest of Shikoku but once you start on Honshu or Kyushu I would definitely recommend some samurai instead of the yari ashigaru and possibly some bow samurai. Also you don't need so much light cav as they not much use as to run down fleeing units especially if your enemy has samurai. Replace it with possibly some yari or katana cav if you can spare the coin.

[Hooboo777]

I think an issue here is time management. By the time he builds the dojo for any samurai unit, the enemy could have already mustered a larger force which is an issue if the enemy is on the defensive. Here's a formula =

4 turns to build Dojo
2 turns to create 1 or 2 units of samurai
possibley another 2 or 3 turns to arrive at the enemy's territory or castle.

Within the 9 turns it takes to merge these new units into an active army the enemy could have increased their army size by 9 to 18 units, thats 2 off from a full army which would his odds up majorly.

If anything, he should focus on the units he has until he has captured the whole island. He could even build dojos during his major assault, that way he can deploy Samurai once Shikkoku is taken.

[AGaming]

So after my capture of the Shikoku Island, what would a decent army composition be? My next campaign will probably take place in Kyushu, just to give an idea of what I'm planning?

[CptAustus]

So after my capture of the Shikoku Island, what would a decent army composition be? My next campaign will probably take place in Kyushu, just to give an idea of what I'm planning?

My standard army is a general, 0-2 light/yari cavalry, 4-6 bow samuri, 4-6 yari ashigaru, 4-5 melee samurai, using some yari ashigaru to shield the initial charge and the rest to hold the flanks. Depending on the troops i have available ill change things, like takeda katana/yari cav instead of most yari infantry.

[Jokern]

Either one strong samurai army or many armies with the majority of troops being ashigaru and with a couple of samurai units acting as elite.

[Clodius]

For conquring Shikoku ashigaru and light cavalry will suffice.

When you leave the island I'd head west and take Buzen first as this is the ideal place to recruit a couple of bow samurai - and eventually you'll get Satsuma where the Shimazu will already have built you a nice sword school and Higo for stables - a couple of bow samurai, katana samurai and yari cavalry can then replace your light cav and a couple of bow ashigaru.

Later on swap out some yari ashigaru for yari samurai as they make good fast moving units to protect flanks against cav.

And recruit matchlock ashigaru as soon as you can - not for battles but for defending key castles

[Hooboo777]

Yeah, once you have those 2 main islands, focus on creating 3 full armies and just sweep laterally across Japan from the Shimazu island.

[AngryTitusPullo]

Rather than have 4 light cavalry I rather swap those for 2 yari samurai and 2 bow samurai. Maybe add 1 Yari Cavalry if you want but I basically only use cavalry to finish off routers.