New to the Total War games is the ability to call in off map artillery from ships that are stationed near your battle. I took a few screenshots showing off the devastating results. The barrage takes 11 seconds to reach it’s target, so you’ve got to estimate the distance for maximum impact.
After the defeat in the un-winnable battle and the death of my general at the hands of the Iwakuni clan it was time to rebuild, regroup and plan to kill every one of them as swiftly as possible.
I assembled a decent force, enough to enact my plans of vengeance. Hidden from sight for the moment I waited for my time to strike. What was I waiting for, I had the superior numbers.
Crap. I waited too long and they reinforced themselves. 1540 Vs 1984, now I was outnumbered. I would have to pull out some sneaky tactics if I was to win this. I positioned my force on a hill overlooking the battlefield and as an added bonus there was significant tree cover to hide most of my troops. It was just a matter of waiting for the Iwakuni to walk into my sights.
The sight of your entire front line of rifle troops opening fire simultaneously is one of unmatched magnificence. The Iwakuni didn’t stand a chance against me in this elevated position. I slaughtered a few hundred of them in the first few minutes. Before they even got close enough to engage in melee combat most of them were already worried about taking so many casualties. The eventual and inevitable rout came soon after for the Iwakuni clan.
A satisfying victory was finally in my grasp and it feels spectacular. Now it’s time to hit them where it hurts, it’s time for a siege.
After the defeat at the siege of the fortress of Suo, I was attacked by the remaining enemy forces before I could retreat to a safe distance. Severely outnumbered I reasoned that there was only one way to make this bad situation into something remotely good. I decided to take as many of them with me as possible.
To do this I stayed on a hill side and let the enemy come to you, because you have the advantage. I engaged them from range with my riflemen and waited for them to get closer before I charged with my spear levy. I tried to flank with my cavalry and was somewhat successful in disrupting them. For a while at least, I managed to hold on but eventually the inevitable happened and my forces were decimated.
A close defeat was the best I could hope for. Next time, I get revenge.
It’s the beginning of my playthrough of the new expandalone for Total War Shogun 2, the great Fall of The Samurai.
I start as the descendants of the Mori clan now named Choshu, in a single small province named Nagato, with a small Pro-Emperor (which means I get to use western trained troops with guns) family and one soon to be ill fated general. I start small but I aim big. With my relatively adequate force I head for the neighbouring province. I want their castle of Suo. I want it bad.
The siege starts relatively successful. I manage to get the bulk of my forces to the fortress without taking many casualties, and begin to scale the walls. I tell my men to set the main gates on fire too, another way in can’t be bad. The men I sent up the wall are outnumbered, outmatched and being slaughtered by the combined efforts of sword and rifle. The burning entrance isn’t helping me either, I fear this siege is about to come to a bloody end.
Casualties across the whole of my units begins to take the toll on morale and my men flee for their lives. My force wasn’t enough to capture the fortress but I shall return in greater numbers, just like sand people. A costly enemy victory is what I was aiming for.
