- 追加された行はこの色です。
- 削除された行はこの色です。
unit_description_texts_description_text_Art_European_Cannons These breech-loading cannons rest upon bags of rice and are used to pummel enemy walls during sieges. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Art_Fire_Projecting_Mangonels A mangonel is a small catapult used in siege warfare to launch projectiles over castle walls, spreading chaos behind the enemy’s defences. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Art_Fire_Rockets These men are armed with large arquebuses loaded with wooden rockets that are ignited and fired into enemy ranks to cause fires and panic. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cannon_Ship_Cannon_Bune These are medium, moderately fast ships, armed with cannon and used to bombard enemy vessels before moving out of range. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cav_Missile_Bow_Cavalry Trained to aim and fire a bow while riding, these samurai make excellent skirmishers. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cav_Spear_Great_Guard Only the very best samurai are chosen for this spear-armed cavalry unit. The presence of such revered warriors encourages nearby comrades. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cav_Spear_Light_Cavalry These mounted samurai are armed with short spears and are best used to disrupt enemy missile units and to chase routing foes. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cav_Spear_Naginata_Warrior_Monks Fear and faith are powerful weapons. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cav_Spear_Yari_Cavalry Each yari cavalry samurai is armed with a long spear that makes him particularly deadly when swiftly charging into combat. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Cav_Sword_Katana_Cavalry These heavy cavalry are shock troops intended to charge home and cut down enemies with their katana swords. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Galleon_Black_Ship The Black Ship is a heavily armed trader, usually carrying valuable cargo. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Galleon_Nanban_Trade_Ship This European merchant ship is armed with powerful cannons as defence against pirate raids. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Gen_Taisho The duty of this loyal samurai bodyguard is to protect their general from harm, whatever the risk to their own lives. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Heavy_Ship_Heavy_Bune Heavy bunes are the mainstay of a fleet. Each carries large detachments of soldiers and bow-armed troops to attack enemy vessels. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Heavy_Ship_Nihon_Maru This mighty vessel is the shogun’s personal flagship, and his presence at sea encourages nearby ships to fight hard and with great courage. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Heavy_Ship_O_Ataka_Bune This colossal ship is a large and improved version of the heavy bune, its hull reinforced by iron plating. It carries a large detachment of soldiers. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Naginata_Samurai These samurai are armed with long-bladed naginata. Polearms have a very effective reach in melee fighting. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Naginata_Warrior_Monk_Hero Though few in number, these heroic monks are great of heart and skill. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Naginata_Warrior_Monks These warrior monks wield fearsome naginata: long polearms effective against cavalry and infantry alike. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Onna_Bushi These elite ladies are as deadly as they are elegant, and carry the fearsome naginata. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Ashigaru Bow ashigaru are light foot archers used to screen the front line, harassing enemies with long range volleys of arrows. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Hero Exceptionally skilful archers capable of raining fire arrows down upon the enemy. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Samurai These samurai archers are superb shots with an excellent range and the ability to fire an accurate volley of flaming arrows. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Wako Bow wako harass the enemy at a distance with impressive arrow volleys. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Warrior_Monks These skilled warrior monks can fire arrows at distant enemies with every expectation of doing terrible damage. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Matchlock_Ashigaru These ashigaru troops are armed with matchlock arquebuses and pepper the enemy with long range, mass volleys. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Matchlock_Samurai These samurai are armed with matchlock guns and harass the enemy with long range, massed volleys of fire. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Missile_Matchlock_Warrior_Monks Warrior monks armed with matchlocks that fire devastating massed volleys into enemy ranks. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Spear_Yari_Ashigaru These ashigaru are armed with long spears for use in close combat or to make an almost-impenetrable defence against cavalry. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Spear_Yari_Hero These masters of the spear are excellent defensive troops, deadly to enemy cavalry. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Spear_Yari_Samurai These spear-wielding warriors can be used to lead the charge or to form a defensive wall of spears. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Special_Fire_Bomb_Throwers It takes a brave man to swing an explosive around on a rope! These men honour their lord by hurling dangerous loads of fire at the enemy! True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Special_Kisho_Ninjas These ninja are virtually undetectable in battle, capable of carrying out deadly surprise attacks. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Ashigaru Katana ashigaru are heavy, sword-armed infantry who form part of the main line and fight in melee against enemy infantry. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Hero These masters of the sword are incredibly skilful in hand-to-hand combat. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Samurai These are elite heavy infantry armed with katana; expertly crafted two-handed swords that are a perfect combination of sharpness and resilience. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Wako Wako pirates are armed with incredibly sharp katana swords. They are fierce fighters and excellent against spearmen. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Sword_Nodachi_Samurai These foot warriors carry large and heavy no-dachi swords and have a fearsome charge when in battle. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Inf_Sword_Samurai_Retainers These heavy foot samurai carry katanas, and are trusted by the daimyo to be a castle’s last line of defence. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Light_Ship_Bow_Ship A bow ship is small, fast and manned by archers who bombard enemy crews. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Light_Ship_Fire_Bomb_Ship These ships are small, fast, and carry fire bomb throwers who hurl explosive grenades at enemy ships. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Light_Ship_Matchlock_Ship This light ship only carries a small number of warriors each armed with a deadly matchlock arquebus. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Light_Ship_Siege_Tower_Ship This ship has a high tower filled with missile troops who can fire down upon enemy sailors and soldiers on deck. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Medium_Ship_Medium_Bune These ships are good all-rounders: dependable sailors, strong enough for battle without sacrificing too much speed. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Medium_Ship_Sengoku_Bune These medium-sized ships have a single mast and sail which can give them extra speed to chase down and attack slower vessels. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Medium_Ship_Wako_Medium_Bune These medium-sized ships are good all-purpose sailers: big enough for battle without being slow and cumbersome. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Placeholder Placeholder True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Trade_Ship_Red_Seal_Ship A red seal ship is a large trading vessel. Despite its size, it is still largely defenceless. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Trade_Ship_Trade_Ship These ships are unarmed. Built for trade rather than battle, they should avoid any fighting. True
unit_description_texts_description_text_Trade_Ship_Wako_Trade_Ship This vessel carries a crew of wako pirates who prey on smaller, weaker vessels while pretending to be innocent traders. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Art_European_Cannons \n\nThese guns are carefully deployed at the start of a battle. They must be well defended, as the gun crew is few and vulnerable. European cannons are slow to fire and relatively inaccurate, but this matters not a jot when the target is as large as a castle wall! Once in place, they have a long range and do great damage to defensive structures.\n\nThe Sengoku Jidai marked a massive shift in the pattern of Japanese warfare. Previously, warfare had been a matter of single combat between samurai, but increases in the size of armies and battles along with the introduction of gunpowder meant that daimyo needed to embrace modern warfare tactics to survive. In 1543, the Japanese had their first contact with the Portuguese, who soon established the ‘nanban’ trade, providing the Japanese with arquebuses and cannons. Tokugawa Ieyasu used such cannons when he won the siege of Osaka, indisputably establishing himself as shogun. Ironically, it was Ieyasu’s grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu, who put an end to the trade when his ‘sakoku’ policy stopped all foreigners from entering Japan and closed the country until 1853. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Art_Fire_Projecting_Mangonels \n\nBecause of its small size and limited throwing ability, the mangonel does not have the “punch” of a cannon, so rather than destroying the walls of a castle, it simply ignores them by hitting what’s on the other side. The mangonel’s projectiles are small earthenware bombs, filled with gunpowder and placed in the bucket at the end. The fuse is then lit and the bomb is thrown in an arc over any obstacle. Hopefully, when the bombs hit the ground they explode, spreading flames everywhere, panicking anyone nearby and setting fire to any surrounding buildings. Once deployed, a mangonel must be defended, as its crew are few and vulnerable to attack.\n\nHistorically, the Japanese built isolated fortresses rather than walled towns, rendering the siege warfare perfected by the Chinese and Mongols impractical. Instead of trying to batter the walls down, Japanese attackers would storm a fortress and the defenders would sally out to meet them. This was much more in keeping with their idea of honourable warfare where enemies would meet face-to-face on the battlefield! When siege weapons were used, such as traction trebuchets or mangonels, they would more often be used for anti-personnel purposes rather than to directly aid the siege. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Art_Fire_Rockets \n\nBecause they are launched from hand-held arquebuses, fire rockets are much more mobile than siege weapons. However, they are less powerful and accurate than cannons, and are not used to batter down the walls of a castle. Instead they fire over the top of walls: the rockets’ high arc and long range lets them rain down on the enemy below, setting buildings alight, sowing panic and destroying morale in the process.\n\nDuring the Sengoku Jidai, the Japanese used incendiary weapons such as fire bombs and fire rockets in naval warfare. Kobayakawa Takakage of the Mori clan used rocket-loaded arquebuses to bombard enemy ships, and many vessels would carry a unit of fire bombers or a small catapult to launch flammable projectiles. Japanese vessels resembled large, floating wooden castles, and another tactic was to simply moor your ship next to your enemy, board it and fight to the death as if the ships were fortifications on land! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cannon_Ship_Cannon_Bune \n\nCannon bunes carry few crewmen and are no match for heavy ships in terms of manpower or size. Instead they are designed to act as “skirmishers” where their size is an advantage: their guns can do immense damage to an enemy vessel’s hull or crew. The bune’s oarsmen can put on a burst of speed for a short time, if needed. The sides and roof of the cannon bune are covered in thick bamboo, with small holes for the cannon to poke through, making it impossible for enemy soldiers to board it. \n\nMedieval Japanese naval warships could be classified into three weights: heavy, medium and light. Light ships were primarily used for scouting and communication missions, and were considered too small for battle.\n\nThe Tokugawa clan did create a hybrid ship for their siege of the Osaka coastal fortress in 1615. It was small and light but also functioned as an assault ship. Based on the kobaya ships, this new type, the mekura bune, or ‘blind ship’, had fewer oarsmen to make room for additional cannons and archers. The bamboo protection covering it resembled a shell, drawing comparisons with the Korean’s famous ‘turtle ship’. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cav_Missile_Bow_Cavalry \n\nWith both hands occupied by aiming and firing a bow, these men must use their knees to control and steer their mounts. Japan has a long tradition of mounted archery and these troops remain invaluable despite the introduction of gunpowder. Matchlocks may be powerful, but they are also unreliable and inaccurate, and the ashigaru who use them simply lack the skills and mobility of mounted samurai. These cavalry archers can quickly move to the flanks of an enemy, or harass the enemy at a distance. If caught in melee, they have enough training to defend themselves, but they should avoid fighting spearmen or heavy cavalry.\n\nThe introduction of arquebuses in the Sengoku Jidai threatened the Japan’s ancient tradition of mounted archery. Guns meant that a daimyo could bolster his army with large numbers of arquebus-armed ashigaru rather than relying on the skilful, but less numerous, samurai.\n\nFortunately for the samurai, horse archery was too important a tradition to die out, and the art survived. For training, they would shoot at corralled dogs, or at wooden targets while speeding along a set course. The latter training method, called ‘yabusame’ is still practiced today at special demonstrations for visiting dignitaries, and participation is considered a great honour. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cav_Spear_Great_Guard \n\nThese elite warriors ride heavy horses, and their power in full charge is focused to deliver a devastating spear attack, crashing through many enemies with ease. Great guard samurai have high morale and great prestige, making them inspiring to nearby friendly units. The guard are vulnerable to missile attacks. Spearmen, the other great danger to cavalry, can be flanked by a careful guard commander and then smashed by the guards’ heavy charge.\n\nHistorically, the Tokugawa created several guard units during and immediately after their rise to the shogunate. The “oban” or great guard were the personal bodyguards of Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1590. By 1600, these guards had multiplied with many “kumi” or companies in existence. Additional guard units were also raised: the “Ryoban” or "Two Guards of the Body Guard" and the "Inner Guard". There was another force called the "Honourable Body Guard" who only guarded the shogun at night in Edo. A generation after the Sengoku Jidai, the “Goshinban” or "Honourable New Guard" were added to the roster, although this may have been to keep troublesome younger members of samurai families out of trouble and under the shogun’s eye! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cav_Spear_Light_Cavalry \n\nLight cavalry are swift, and can deliver a devastating charge thanks to their spears. However, they should then break off, reform and attack again rather than remaining in melee. Like all samurai, they are well motivated by their sense of honour and have high morale in battle. Their speed over a battleground comes in useful when chasing down fleeing troops, or when they are needed to deliver a final blow to wavering enemies. They are, however, the weakest cavalry when fighting infantry, and are vulnerable if mishandled when facing spear infantry or if left within range of missile troops.\n\nHistorically, mounted combat was the traditional identifier of the samurai as a warrior and social class, just like the knights of medieval Europe. Being a mounted warrior required wealth and position to sustain the expense of horses, armour and servants. Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why many samurai came to fight on foot, as it was cheaper to take part in battle! Some traditions, however, such as seeking out an equally skilled and honourable foe refused to die, even though they ran counter to the idea of army and unit discipline. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cav_Spear_Naginata_Warrior_Monks \n\nEach of these warrior monks is armed with a naginata, a polearm that is very effective against cavalry. Thanks to being mounted themselves, these monks are a formidable force in close combat, especially against other cavalry. They can be used to counter enemy cavalrymen, relieving other, slower units in the process. Naginata warrior monk cavalry are not quite as effective against infantry units, but are still a terrifying sight. Their faith sustains them in battle, giving them high morale and a fearsome reputation. \n\nThe naginata was a polearm that looked like a sword-bladed short spear. It was used much like a sword, but with a far longer reach. It could be used to slash or block, both on foot and mounted. In the hands of a master, and most monks were masters in this traditional weapon, it was deadly indeed, and a blow was quite capable of cutting a man in two. The Ikko-Ikki also adopted this weapon for its fearsome appearance, and it was also considered a suitable weapon for a lady. Many samurai women used it for home defence when their menfolk were away at war. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cav_Spear_Yari_Cavalry \n\nYari cavalry focus all the power of their fearsome charge into the points of the long spears they carry as they smash into enemy cavalry and infantry alike. Their high morale spurs them into battle and keeps them from routing, even when engaged in melee, where their spears are at a disadvantage. Yari cavalry are best used to attack the rear or flanks of infantry to avoid spear counter-attacks and getting caught in messy, close-quarters fighting. Their amazing speed over the ground makes this entirely possible, as they can rarely be caught even by other cavalry units.\n\nDuring the Sengoku Jidai, the spear and sword superseded the bow as the weapons of choice for samurai cavalry. Despite a long tradition of mounted archery, a bow could not be used in melee, leaving cavalry archers vulnerable to counter-attacks by foot soldiers. Spears, on the other hand, could be used to break enemy defences in a full charge, or used in quick, slashing strokes whilst in close combat. Swords could be used to cut an enemy down, but obviously lacked the range of a bow, or spear. However, if a samurai was wealthy enough, he would have an attendant to carry and hand him his bow, spear or sword, depending on the situation and personal preference. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Cav_Sword_Katana_Cavalry \n\nCavalry warfare is traditionally the preserve of the samurai. Only they have the skill to wield a sword while steering a horse into battle. Katana cavalry are extremely well trained and the weight of their steeds adds to the power of their charge. After a charge, they remain mounted and can engage the enemy with their katana keeping a height advantage over foot soldiers. However, they are vulnerable when facing spears, whether as a wall of spears or a lone, brave enemy thrusting at the belly of a horse.\n\nThe Sengoku Jidai saw Japanese warfare shift from the ritualistic, single combat fought by honour-hungry samurai to the kind of indiscriminate, larger battles that were taking place in medieval Europe. Less skilled troops such as the ashigaru were introduced and then armed with matchlocks, but mounted warfare was still for samurai alone. Bows, spears and katana were all used from horseback and, if a samurai was wealthy enough, he would have an assistant to carry and hand him his weapons as needed. The katana, although traditionally used with two-hands, could still be effective when used in a one-handed grip by a horseman. Swung downwards onto an enemy foot soldier, the sharp, curved blade could easily cut through a man. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Galleon_Black_Ship \n\nThis Portuguese trade ship carries goods to China once a year before returning to Europe. As a consequence, it passes the Japanese coast twice, and is a tempting target for the notorious wako pirates. Fortunately, it is heavily armed, strongly built and a good sailor. The Black Ship carries European cannons, powerful enough to destroy any Japanese ship that might threaten it! Obviously, it would be a magnificent prize!\n\nThe first trade between Japan and Portugal occurred in 1543, when Tanagashima Tokitaka purchased “firelocks” from Portuguese merchants. These were the first “modern” firearms seen in Japan, and the weapons became much sought after. With one sale, the Portuguese created a market for regular trade between the two countries. The introduction of guns changed Japanese warfare, as the emphasis switched from samurai fighting single combat duels on the battlefield to mass volleys by ashigaru units. The second major outside import appeared swiftly, as with later batches of guns came Christian missionaries. Daimyo and lesser men converted, although without necessarily abandoning the samurai ethos of warfare. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Galleon_Nanban_Trade_Ship \n\nEuropean or ‘nanban’ traders are the main source for cannons and matchlock firearms, along with other valuable goods, such as silk from China. Their cargo also makes them a prime target for the notorious wako pirates who haunt the Japanese coastline. For protection, trade ships are fitted with powerful European cannons, giving them some of the capabilities of a warship. If a daimyo can afford it, and is willing to trust barbarous, uncouth Europeans, he can hire these ships for his fleet, but at a very high cost. A typical “nanban” ship was the caravel, a European design with two masts and lateen-rigged sails.\n\nNanban means “southern barbarian”, the term used for the European merchants who traded with Japan from the 1540s onwards. Japan had little contact with outsiders, and Europeans were considered coarse and crude when measured against traditional Japanese etiquette. The nanban trade brought European weapons and goods from China, but suspicion of European motives and the influx of Christian missionaries eventually resulted in the policy of “sakoku”. In 1633 Japan became a ”locked country” and foreigners were banned from entry. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Gen_Taisho \n\nA general oversees a battle and provides an inspiring example to men whose courage is beginning to falter. His loyal bodyguards consider death in the line of duty to be the greatest thing a warrior can hope to achieve. They are hand-picked samurai of great courage and exceptional skill in combat. This unit can carry out vital manoeuvres such as flanking attacks or chasing routers, but that may leave the general vulnerable, so any aggressive action should be undertaken with great caution.\n\nHistorically, daimyo surrounded themselves with a large retinue of bodyguards, weapon carriers and various other attendants. The second great unifier of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) had seven men who acted as bodyguards, named ‘yello-horo-shu’ after the gold horo they wore, a mark of their great importance. A daimyo may also have had a ‘zori tori’, who acted as a close personal assistant. Even the task of carrying a warlord’s sandals was seen as a great honour, as the attendant was hand-picked by the daimyo himself, proving that he could be trusted and was therefore worthy of respect. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Heavy_Ship_Heavy_Bune \n\nA heavy bune is a bulky, boxy warship with thick wooden-panelled sides to protect the ship and crew alike. Inside it carries a large number of boarding troops, some armed with bows to fire from the loopholes in the panels. The size and weight of the vessel can make it slow and unresponsive, but it is not built for speed. Instead, it serves as a floating platform in battle. Sailing in close to an enemy ship, the crew uses grappling hooks to lash the vessels together, and then the boarding party engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.\n\nDuring the Sengoku Jidai, large ships were common. The ‘ataka bune’ resembled a floating castle and carried armed samurai and ashigaru as well as sailors to man it. The Japanese did not rely on cannon to sink enemy ships, but would board and fight face-to-face as if they were on land. The ataka bune was specifically built for this tactic and had a folding bridge section that opened so that troops could cross from one vessel to another. This way of fighting was in keeping with the samurai ideal of combat, where a warrior would seek out a worthy opponent and fight in single combat. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Heavy_Ship_Nihon_Maru \n\nThe Nihon Maru is an extremely heavy ship. It is, in fact, the largest ship used for naval warfare. Looking very much like a vast floating fortress, it has a massive superstructure with an impressive three-storey keep as a centrepiece. It is a physical manifestation of the shogun’s power, and its presence is enough to raise the morale of nearby friendly ships and keep them fighting. It carries a large number of soldiers for boarding actions, but its sheer size and extravagant design makes it a slow and cumbersome vessel. \n\nHistorically, the Nihon Maru was a huge, three-decker flagship, built for the daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1591. It was a lavish masterpiece that symbolised Hideyoshi’s wealth, power and ambition and it was decorated with Shinto designs and a brocade curtain. Although built to impress visitors, it did see action during the Korean War of 1592 when the Koreans attacked the harbour of Angolp’o. The Nihon Maru had just returned from battle and was an irresistible target for the Koreans’ fire arrows. Fortunately, the ship’s three-fold curtain functioned as an arrow catcher, and a team of carpenters kept the ship seaworthy by quickly repairing damage caused by Korean cannons, ensuring the Nihon Maru survived the onslaught. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Heavy_Ship_O_Ataka_Bune \n\nThis massive vessel is based on the heavy bune with some improvements. It carries a large number of troops for boarding actions, and its thick, wooden panels are covered in iron plating. This makes the hull particularly strong. Despite being a big ship, it can still achieve a speed comparable to an heavy bune. This matters little as the ship is built for size and power: it sails alongside an enemy ship, attaches itself with grappling hooks and then troops swarm onto the enemy deck. However, the o ataka bune is still vulnerable to cannon and no matter how thick the wood it will still burn if hit by fire arrows.\n\nIn 1576, Oda Nobunaga besieged the stronghold of the rebellious Ikko-Ikki warrior monks, hoping to end their opposition to his rule. The monks had powerful allies in the Mori clan, and Oda realised he would have to prevent Mori supplies reaching the Ikko-Ikki if he was to be victorious. Mori naval superiority triumphed in the first battle but Oda made a second attempt, this time with six specially constructed o ataka bune vessels. These ships were giants covered in iron plating, and gave him victory, despite their unfortunate tendency to capsize in action! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Naginata_Samurai \n\nThe naginata is a long staff with a curved blade fixed to the end. Its length and flexibility of use make it a great melee weapon. Like all samurai, these warriors have trained hard to achieve full mastery of their chosen weapon and excel when fighting enemy cavalry and infantry. Should a defensive formation be needed, they can group together into a protective square, where they resemble a kind of hedgehog, with the long spikes of naginata protruding from every side. Despite their versatility, they are still vulnerable to the very best cavalry and infantry and they have little protection against missile attacks.\n\nHistorically, the naginata proved to be a very adaptable weapon, used by a variety of different groups in many ways. Samurai women were trained to use it in self-defence when their men were away at war, where the polearm’s length compensated for the height disparity between men and women. The sohei warrior monks used it en masse, which suited their mob-like formations, while samurai used it both when mounted and on foot. To extend its already formidable reach, a samurai would hold the end of his naginata and whirl it above his head, or stand up in the stirrups of their horses and use slashing motions at the enemy. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Naginata_Warrior_Monk_Hero n\nThe warrior monk hero and his attendants are a fearsome force when assaulting an enemy line or acting as the anchor of a defensive position. Their spirit and faith makes them almost-unbreakable in combat: they simply do not know how to retreat! They are excellent in melee against both infantry and cavalry, and can do horrendous damage to any missile units they attack. However, because of the unit’s numbers, the monks are vulnerable to being swamped by larger forces. \n\nOn the battlefield, they are quite distinctive in their cowls and headscarves. Naginata warrior monks are heavily armoured, and carry the fearsome naginata, a razor-sharp blade set on a long pole-arm. In the hands of a skilled expert, a naginata can disembowel a horse, or cleave a rider in two. \n\nDespite retiring from the world to monasteries, many monks had martial arts training, and saw this as a way of attaining enlightenment. Their training often made them very deadly enemies, particularly as they also had a sense of social justice. They would fight hard for what they thought was right, not just for a lord. This made them formidable and dangerous enemies, and excellent allies when they could be persuaded to support a daimyo. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Naginata_Warrior_Monks n\nA warrior with an unshakable faith can be very dangerous, for the truly devout have little to fear from death. For these monks, faith is not just a matter of conscience, but another weapon and one that gives them very good morale in battle. The weapon they carry is a naginata, a long staff with a blade fixed to the end. The polearm’s long reach makes it effective against cavalry and infantry, but this versatility is no protection against specialist troops.\n\nA naginata was, and still is, a polearm weapon similar to the medieval European glaive: a long, wooden shaft with a curved killing blade. The blade varied in length and was made to the same quality standard as a sword blade. These distinctive looking weapons were closely associated with warrior monks, and most famously used by Gochin no Tajima (Tajima the “arrow cutter”) at the battle of Uji in 1180. Gochin was part of a group of samurai and warrior monks pursued by the Taira clan. He made a defensive stand at a bridge, whirling his naginata with such expertise that the enemy’s arrows harmlessly bounced away. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Heavy_Onna_Bushi This unit is made up of women warriors armed with the naginata, a long pole arm that is tipped with a deadly curved sword-blade. These fearless samurai women have outstanding morale and excel in melee combat. They are most powerful against sword-armed infantry but if properly handled, they can execute devastating flank attacks against enemy spearmen as well. Because their numbers are few, the onna bushi can be swamped by larger, less skilled enemy units. \n\nHistorically, Japanese women were trained to defend their homes in times of war but few took part in open battle. Those who did quickly became legends. In the “Heike Monogatari”, an account of the Genpei War, Tomoe Gozen, a female samurai of the Minamoto clan, is described as “especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features”. She was also recorded as being “a remarkably strong archer, and as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot.” She was one of the last warriors standing at the Battle of Awazu, even outliving her master who was struck down by an arrow during the fight. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Ashigaru \n\nThese soldiers do not possess the prowess or prestige of samurai, but they are still a formidable force. In the same time it takes to fire and reload a firearm once, these archers can loose a dozen arrows upon the enemy. Once hand-to-hand fighting starts they should retreat to safety behind the battle line, as bow ashigaru are not trained or properly equipped for melee. They must also be wary of cavalry, having little defence against a charge.\n\nHistorically, bow ashigaru were used as skirmishers and sharpshooters, and were also expected to take part in close combat once they had fired all their arrows. Perhaps surprisingly, they were not made obsolete by the arrival of guns. While gunners reloaded, archers could continue to fire arrows, providing cover and maintaining the pressure on an enemy.\n\nIt was the job of the yumi ko gashira, an ashigaru commander, to judge when the enemy was in range and when to fire so that no arrows were wasted. Assistants would be ready with well-stocked boxes of arrows for resupply, and, if they ran out, an archer could always pick up enemy arrows and return them to the original owners! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Hero These archers have few equals. They loose arrows at breathtaking speed and can fire whistling arrows which make enemies quail. Their deadliest weapons are fire arrows, flaming projectiles that have a devastating effect on wooden structures and people alike. These archers have nigh-unbreakable morale, but their lack of numbers leaves them vulnerable if attacked in melee by large enemy forces, as they are not trained well in the arts of hand-to-hand combat.\n\nJapanese legends tell of Tawara Toda, an archer who came to the aid of the Dragon King, Kami Ryujin. Whilst crossing a bridge on Lake Biwa, Tawara Toda stepped over a huge serpent that turned into a dragon: Kami Ryujin. The Dragon King begged Tawara Toda to help him banish a giant centipede that was laying waste to his kingdom. The two went to fight the centipede. Tawara Toga fired two arrows into its body, but to no effect. He considered their predicament, wetted the end of an arrow with his saliva and shot again. The centipede was slain and Kami Ryujin rewarded Tawara Toda with an inexhaustible sack of rice, hence Tawara Toda or “Lord Rice Bale”. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Samurai \n\nArchery has a long history in Japanese warfare and every samurai is expected to have mastered the art. Less skilled warriors can be trained to fire en masse, but it takes dedication and skill to shoot with accuracy, particularly in the heat of battle. Bow samurai can also shoot fearsome flaming missiles. These troops have high morale and are well-trained so can fight in melee if needed. They are vulnerable if attacked by cavalry.\n\nIn early samurai culture, proficiency with the bow was just as important as with the katana. In the 12th century, battles often started with an archery duel between the two factions, signalled by the firing of special whistling arrows. The Sengoku Jidai saw the bow marginalised as warfare changed. Individual battles of skill were replaced by sheer numbers and mass volleys. Also, the arquebus could be used by ordinary foot soldiers, and the spear could be used in close combat. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Wako \n\nThese men are pirates with no honour and no code to follow. They fight to protect the regions they control and live off plundered goods and by extorting money from others. True, they are not samurai, but they still know how to fight!\n\nIn the time it takes to fire and reload a matchlock firearm, these men can loose a dozen arrows at the enemy with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Once the enemy starts getting close, these pirates retreat behind friendly melee troops for protection. They are not armed or trained for close combat and are very vulnerable to cavalry attacks.\n\nThe Japanese ability to deal with their pirate problem was hindered by the civil war and the lack of a strong central government. The Chinese and Koreans, who were on the receiving end of many wako depredations, continually demanded that the Japanese deal with the pirates, but each solution only seemed to halt them for a short while. Attacks on known wako ports, mass beheadings and even bans on foreign trade did not seem to make much difference to the wako. In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi declared that any fighting in Japanese waters was illegal at the same time as he banned peasants and other non-samurai from owning swords. This effectively made piracy almost impossible, also hindering anyone thinking of raising a revolt. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Bow_Warrior_Monks \n\nWarrior monks are armed with powerful bows that can send arrows into enemies at a surprising, and fatal, distance. They can also bombard foes with fire arrows, weapons that are both incendiary and terrifying in equal measure, especially in a country such as Japan where buildings are largely made of wood. These warrior monks need careful handling in the presence of the enemy. They are not specially trained to fight in melee, and are likely to suffer if they are attacked by cavalry. Because of their small numbers, they will not last long if they are left in close combat, regardless of any friendly support.\n\nBow warrior monks practice archery with the same dedication they give to their religious duties. Indeed, the skill and still poise required for archery practice is as much an act of meditation as any amount of quiet, monkish contemplation. Long years of practice, however, pay off in battle because the technique of using a bow is so ingrained as to be done without thought or hesitation. Given reasonable weather, monks could, and did, kill anything and anyone foolish enough to stray into range. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Matchlock_Ashigaru \n\nThe role of matchlock ashigaru is to unleash massed gun volleys upon the enemy, keeping them confused and, in the process, weakening them enough for a frontline charge. Once fired, the matchlock guns take a long time to reload, but their range, noise, and effect on enemy morale more than compensates for this lack of speed. The smoke and fire they produce can be very disorientating to enemies, particularly when targets are dropping all around. When the main fighting starts matchlock gunners should retreat behind melee troops. They do not have the training to fight in close combat and have no defence against a cavalry charge.\n\nHistorically, it was considered a great honour for any samurai to fire the first shot of a battle. The honour traditionally fell to the samurai archers, who opened most battles with an archery duel. However, the Sengoku Jidai introduced the European arquebus, guns which required much less skill to use than the bow. The archery duel became an exchange of gunfire and, as the guns were largely carried by ashigaru, the first shots were now fired by simple foot soldiers. The ashigaru gunners were led by a teppo ko gashira, a man chosen for his skill and courage, who ordered when to load, when to fire and signalled his superiors when the enemy had been weakened enough for a charge to be attempted. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Matchlock_Samurai \n\nMatchlock samurai fire volleys into enemy ranks to disorientate and weaken them enough so a charge cannot be effectively resisted, as it can be devastating to see comrades falling in a hail of bullets. The matchlock samurai fight in a similar way to the ashigaru, but are much more accurate in their fire.\n\nOnce fired, reloading guns is a slow business, and it can leave the unit vulnerable to cavalry attacks. The matchlock samurai should retreat behind friendly melee troops once the real fighting begins.\n\nHistorically, the majority of arquebuses were used by ashigaru troops. The guns were reasonably simple to use and arming the ashigaru with them was quicker and cheaper than training archers. It also freed up the samurai to participate in combat using weapons that required more skill, such as the katana or bow. The samurai who did use arquebuses were expected to use their better skills to take out single, important enemies rather than completely rely on volleys like the ashigaru. This distinction between fighting styles for the same weapon could also be seen with the bow and the spear, where the emphasis for the samurai was to pick targets and engage them in matched single combat. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Missile_Matchlock_Warrior_Monks \n\nA warrior of unshakable faith can be very dangerous: he has no fear of death because his cause is righteous and he serves a higher purpose. Warrior monks are men of such faith, with strong morale, and they are especially dangerous when armed with matchlock guns.\n\nThe guns are fired in volley and, when combined with the monk’s accuracy in aiming, have a devastating effect on any enemy. The matchlock warrior monks must be wary of cavalry attacks, as slow reloading times can leave them vulnerable in melee.\n\nDuring the Sengoku Jidai, warrior monks were a threat to the ruling samurai. Individuals did not have to be ordained to become warrior monks: they simply had to have the right level of fanatical devotion to fight for their beliefs. Oda Nobunaga, in his mission to unify Japan, fought long and hard against the warrior monk sects and, in 1570 at the battle of Ishiyami Honganji, his army was left reeling by their powerful arquebus volleys.\n\nWarrior monks became well known for their expertise in firearms, the Negoroji sect in particular. This was due to their early adoption of European weapons and regular competitive training in using them. In fact, some devoted more time to practicing with their guns than to their religious studies! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Spear_Yari_Ashigaru \n\nThe spear is a remarkably flexible weapon in tactical terms. It can be used in single or mass combat and is equally effective for attack and defence. Yari ashigaru are armed with very long spears that are almost pikes, and can be used to lead a battle charge into battle or act as pincers. They are well-drilled, but lack the skill and dedication of samurai. Yari ashigaru are most effective when they work together as a block, forming a wall of spears. Any cavalry that charges into a well-managed formation of yari ashigaru will be wiped out as the horses and riders are skewered.\n\nBy the Sengoku Jidai, the yari was the most common weapon issued to ashigaru and samurai, although they used different fighting techniques and tactics. The ashigaru would use spears in formation, particularly against cavalry charges. Each would take a kneeling position and form a line, laying their spears on the ground in front of them. As the charge grew nearer they would be ordered to raise their spears and, at the last moment, thrust the spears upwards into the belly of the horse. Once a spear was in a target it was to be held firmly in place until otherwise ordered. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Spear_Yari_Hero Heavily armoured, these skilled spearmen know no fear; as defensive troops they are second to none, ideal for defending key positions in a castle. Their weapon gives them the upper hand against enemy cavalry and their ability to form a spear wall makes them a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. However, it does leave them vulnerable to flanking manoeuvres and larger enemy units, particularly skilled swordsmen, could overwhelm this small group of warriors.\n\nJapan itself owes its creation to the tip of a spear: Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto dipped Amanonuboko, the “Heavenly Jewelled Spear”, into the sea and, when they removed it, the first drip to leave its point formed the island Onogoro. It was here that the gods made their home and produced their first child following an unsuccessful wedding ceremony in which Izanami spoke out of turn. The deformed child was set adrift, and the couple re-consecrated their vows. Izanami then gave birth to eight children, who became the islands of Japan. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Spear_Yari_Samurai \n\nYari samurai are extremely adaptable in battle. Spears can be used at the charge, while in defence they form an almost impenetrable wall against cavalry. The length of spears makes them especially effective against mounted troops, where they can pierce the breast of the horse or skewer a rider. In melee, yari samurai are skilled warriors that perform well against all but the best infantry troops. However, they have no defence against missile attacks, lacking the mobility to move quickly out of range.\n\nThe yari became increasingly popular among generals as the Sengoku Jidai progressed: ashigaru as well as samurai warriors were armed with it, though each used it very differently. Ashigaru yari were much longer, as they were used to create a wall of spears, and even then the length varied from clan to clan. For the samurai, the yari became used as they realised that the bow made them vulnerable when in close combat. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Special_Fire_Bomb_Throwers \n\nFire bombs are made from earthenware horoku pots that are filled with gunpowder and then lit by a fuse. As the fuse burns down, the thrower swings the bomb by an attached rope and then releases it at the right moment, hopefully hurling it at the enemy to explode. The resulting blast can be terrible as the pot shatters, and has a damaging effect on enemy morale too. These grenades can be used against enemy walls in sieges, but are just as effective when used as fire support in a field battle. These men are not experts in close combat, and need protecting from the enemy. They do not have the numbers to survive for long in melee.\n\nJapan’s first introduction to gunpowder happened during the Mongol invasion of 1274. At this time, the samurai were still fighting according to strict tradition: they would find a worthy opponent, declare their notable heritage and achievements, and then begin a set of single combats. The Mongols, however, fought very differently, and when the samurai met them at Hakata Bay, they were greeted with a barrage of dishonourable but effective explosive bombs. Despite this initial experience of gunpowder’s usefulness and effects, the samurai would not properly adopt it for another 300 years. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Special_Kisho_Ninjas \n\nKisho ninja have mastered the art of invisibility, making them highly effective assassins who possess terrifying supernatural powers! In fact, their skills are actually the product of a lifetime of intensive training, cunning and the clever use of misdirection. The ability to move about largely unseen on the battlefield means they appear from nowhere, launch an assault on an enemy general and then vanish before they are caught or killed.\n\nThey are armed with throwing knives for short-range attacks and their blinding grenades can disorientate an enemy for a short time, reducing their fighting ability. To remain as stealthy as possible kisho ninja operate in small numbers, so must avoid prolonged close combat because they cannot afford to take many casualties.\n\nHistorically, ninja were rarely used on the battlefield itself, although their fighting prowess was certainly equal to the challenge. Instead, a daimyo would hire them to undertake espionage missions or assassinate rivals. The ninja’s role was to carry out tasks that others could not honourably accomplish, as they were not constrained by bushido, the code that governed samurai behaviour. During sieges, ninja would infiltrate an enemy’s castle in disguise, gather intelligence and cause confusion by, for example, setting fires - leading the enemy to assume he had turncoats within his walls. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Ashigaru \n\nThese foot soldiers carry katana: swords renowned for their razor sharpness and cutting power. The ashigaru form part of the main battle line and, once enemy infantry has been sufficiently weakened by missile troops, the ashigaru charge in and engage in melee.\n\nThough ashigaru lack the swordsmanship of samurai, the sharp katana does most of the work. Once it cuts into an enemy, momentum carries it through, carving bone and flesh like silk. Because ashigaru don’t have the same social standing as samurai, their morale isn’t as good, and they are weak against cavalry charges or missile attacks.\n\nIn 1588, the Japanese regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi banned all peasants from owning arms to remove the threat of peasant revolts and to hopefully limit other daimyo’s attempts to seize power. This measure also meant the existing ashigaru rose in stature. Once they had been little more than trained peasantry who split their time between farming and soldiering, but now they were professional soldiers. While of a lower class than the samurai, they could fight in battle without worrying how their crops were faring. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Hero This small group of skilled swordsmen know this and each has devoted himself to the perfection of his art. Their unbreakable morale and skill is legendary and inspirational. The controlled frenzy of katana sensei also adds to their ferocity, increasing their speed and power when fighting. However, their small numbers do mean they are more vulnerable to being outnumbered by an enemy unit.\n\nEmbracing the way of the warrior is the path to enlightenment. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645) was one of Japan’s most famous swordsmen. His exploits quickly became legendary and it is difficult to divide fact from fiction, especially as he recorded many of his own exploits in “The Book of Five Rings”. This text was devoted to the strategy and the realities of battle but also chronicled many of Miyamoto’s duels from his own perspective.\n\nPerhaps his most famous adversaries were the men of the Yoshioka School. After defeating the school’s master, Yoshioka Seijuro, with a single blow, Musashi was challenged by Seijuro’s brother, Denshichiro. Musashi killed Denshichiro with his own sword. After these killings, the Yoshioka planned to ambush the upstart with over 100 men. Unfortunately for them, Musashi did not follow the plan, and he killed the last remaining member of the Yoshioka family and forced their men to retreat. Following this utter humiliation the famous sword school closed its doors forever. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Samurai \n\nKatana samurai are an elite heavy infantry unit. They form part of the main line in battle, charging forward to engage the enemy in close combat. The katana is a very effective melee weapon. Its incredibly sharp blade easily cuts through enemies, while the flat deflects enemy blows.\n\nA samurai goes into battle accepting death and fearing little, which gives him excellent morale. Accepting death and foolishly risking your life for no purpose are not the same thing, and katana samurai must be wary of threats from cavalry and missile troops, against which they have little defence.\n\nThe katana sword is the weapon most readily associated with the samurai. Its elegant, curved single blade is created from many folded layers of high carbon steel (that can take a sharp edge but is brittle), and low carbon steel (that is tough but relatively soft and prone to blunting). By combining both metals, the katana manages to be tough and retain a razor sharp edge.\n\nHistorically, the katana was made to be used as a two-handed sword, the sharp edge of the blade would cut into an enemy and the momentum of the samurai’s blow would carry it through their body, often killing in one deft movement. It was a sword used for cutting rather than thrusting. A shield was not necessary, as the sword could be used to parry and deflect an enemy’s strikes using the flat of the blade, without fear of it breaking. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Sword_Katana_Wako \n\nWako are men who have forsaken the code of bushido for a life of plunder and piracy. They have no qualms, though, about using samurai weapons, and these men carry the katana, the razor-sharp sword of the samurai. They can be part of a battle line and are fearsome warriors in melee, especially against spearmen. However, they are weaker against cavalry and missile units, and should stay out of range of enemy archers.\n\nHistorically, ‘wako’ was the name given to the Japanese pirates who raided the Chinese and Korean coasts. Parallels can be drawn between the sengoku daimyos and the pirate ‘sea lords’. Both sets of leaders took their chances in a power vacuum and seized large areas as their fiefdoms, ruling them through their own clan structures. The Murakami were one of the most powerful wako clans and would extort tolls from passing ships for ‘protection’. Later, the Murakami would ally with the Mori, in the process making the Mori a formidable naval power in their own right. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Sword_Nodachi_Samurai These samurai are armed with the no-dachi. These are extremely heavy, long swords that can only be wielded by the strongest and most skilled of men. These swords can do a lot of damage and the no-dachi samurai use them for devastating charges into infantry, where they can often break through defensive lines. Only very brave men charge into the enemy on foot, but no-dachi samurai are known for their high morale. They are shock troops and not particularly effective when defending, especially against cavalry and missile troops.\n\nHistorically, the no-dachi was a much longer and heavier sword than the more famous katana. It required considerable strength to lift and swing, and the sheer size of it stopped any use in confined spaces. Instead, it was used in open field battles or against mounted warriors. In peaceful times it could be worn to display status but, rather than being hung from the waist like a tachi or katana, this mighty sword was slung across the shoulder. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Inf_Sword_Samurai_Retainers \n\nSamurai retainers are elite expert swordsmen who remain behind to protect their master’s castle from enemy attacks while the daimyo is on campaign. The retainers go into battle accepting death and fearing little, which gives them excellent morale. Accepting death is not the same thing as foolishly throwing away your life, so samurai retainers must be wary of threats from cavalry and missile troops against which they have little defence.\n\nThe katana is the weapon most readily associated with all samurai. Its elegant, curved single blade is created from high carbon steel, which is sharp but brittle, and low carbon steel, which is tough and flexible but not able to hold an edge. By cunningly combining both metals, the katana manages to be tough whilst retaining its sharp edge. The katana was made to be used as a two-handed sword; the sharp edge of the blade would cut into an enemy and the momentum of a blow would carry it through the body, often killing in one deft movement. It was a sword used for cutting rather than thrusting, and doubled as a shield because the samurai could parry and deflect enemy attacks with the flat of the blade. \n True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Light_Ship_Bow_Ship \n\nThe ship’s purpose is to stay on the edges of a fleet, quickly moving to key points to provide fire wherever necessary. Its speed means it can avoid being boarded by soldiers from heavier, more powerful ships while harassing them with arrows. The crew of this vessel is not expected to launch boarding attacks, only soften up a target for other friendly ships. They also have the ability to fire flaming arrows for a short period of time, which are much more devastating than standard arrows. Ironically, the archers are also vulnerable to missile fire as the upper deck of the ship has no protection.\n\nDuring the Sengoku Jidai, ships were mostly made from wood, occasionally augmented by thick bamboo or iron plates. This made them inflammable, and it was quite common to set fire to a vessel prior to boarding it. Archers would use fire arrows, or bombs would be thrown, all in the interests of making life as difficult as possible for the defenders. However, boarding actions were the most important tactic of war at sea, and everything else was subordinated to them. This was just as well, as incendiary weapons lacked the power of cannons, which were hardly common. Japanese naval warfare never went the same way as European naval tactics, with ships becoming gun platforms and fighting at a distance for the most part. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Light_Ship_Fire_Bomb_Ship \n\nFire bombs are ceramic pots filled with gunpowder that are swung above the head before being released. When they explode, hopefully on impact, they burn enemies and spread flames in every direction. As even the heaviest of ships are largely of wooden construction, they are very vulnerable to fire. The fire bombs have a short range, so fire bomb ships need to get in close, attack, and then use their speed to escape before they are counter-attacked and boarded. Missile fire from other vessels can also be a threat, as there is no protection for the crew on the upper deck. These ships also have the ability to deploy naval mines outside of the deployment zone prior to the start of a battle. However, these mines are indiscriminate, and if blundered into, can be just as deadly to your own ships as well as the enemy! \n\nDuring the Sengoku Jidai, incendiary weapons such as fire arrows and bombs were used in naval battles. The bombs would be flung by hand using a rope or net sling or launched by catapults mounted on the deck. The Murakami clan managed to set fire to one of Oda Nobunaga’s ships in such a way at the first battle of Kizugawaguchi in 1576. One of the clan, Murakami Takeyoshi, was a pirate who had elevated himself into a lord through his naval expertise. His experience was so great that both the Oda and their enemies, the Mori, sought his aid in battle. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Light_Ship_Matchlock_Ship \n\nA matchlock ship carries a small detachment of musket-armed soldiers, certainly not enough to fend off a boarding action. Further, because the upper deck has no cover, they are exposed to missile attacks. However, this lack of fighting manpower and protection also makes the ship very light and fast. The matchlock troops can fire at an enemy crew or at the side of an enemy ship in an attempt to hole it. If a heavy enemy vessel gets too close and a boarding attack looks likely, a matchlock ship can use speed to move out of trouble and continue its harassing attacks.\n\nHistorically, Japanese naval tactics used missile attacks to thin out enemy numbers before a boarding action. Once the enemy were reduced, an attack would be launched and a battle fought hand-to-hand just as if everyone was ashore. The arrival of firearms in the Sengoku Jidai did not change these tactics. Instead, the arquebus simply replaced the bow. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Light_Ship_Siege_Tower_Ship \n\nThis ship is has a high tower filled with missile troops who can fire down upon enemies sailors and soldiers on deck.\n\nThese vessels are modified medium ships with a raised fighting platform in the middle of the deck, effectively making them floating siege towers. In theory, the siege tower bune moves close to an enemy ship where the crew is already fighting against boarders, and then rains death down upon them. The vessel is vulnerable to fire and cannon attacks, but it can use its speed to take evasive action when boarding attacks are made against it.\n\nIn 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi used tower bunes during his siege at Shimoda, a coastal fortress controlled by his rivals, the Hojo. Although it was unusual to lay siege to a castle from the sea, the attack used the same tactics as a land assault. The castle’s supplies were cut off, and Hideyoshi waited for starvation to force the Hojo to submit. Though Hideyoshi had 14,000 men, the 600 Hojo warriors held out for four months! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Medium_Ship_Medium_Bune \n\nMedium or “seki” bunes are likely to be the main element of any clan navy, thanks to their size and general “handiness”. They have reasonably strong hulls and carry enough crew to give them the ability to support bigger ships. They also retain enough speed and manoeuvrability to combat the lighter, faster ships. This puts them somewhere between the ataka bune and kobaya in terms of their uses and deployment. Because they are not specialised, medium bunes will not be able to match speeds with lighter ships or the strength of heavy vessels, but they have versatility on their side.\n\nHistorically, seki bunes hulls resembled smaller versions of the ataka bunes, with the addition of a pointed bow. They also lacked the ataka’s deck house. Ataka bunes were extremely powerful but their size made them sluggish and unresponsive. The seki bunes were a response to this, and managed to combine speed with strength, making them flexible fleet units for any sea-going general. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Medium_Ship_Sengoku_Bune \n\nThe sengoku bune is distinguished from other Japanese ships by its sail. This sail is carried in addition to the oarsmen on board, and sailing with the wind allows it to chase down enemy ships. The sengoku bune has few crew compared to similar sized ships, so it is best used to attack smaller, weaker ships rather than those in its own weight category.\n\nHistorically, sengoku bunes were large junk-style ships used to carry rice and sake. In 1609, converted sengoku-bunes were used in the Shimazu raid on the independent kingdom of Ryukyu. These were joined in the attack by ataka bunes, warships that resembled large floating castles. The combination together was an interesting attempt to advance the art of sea warfare. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Medium_Ship_Wako_Medium_Bune \n\nWako pirates are a constant threat to all. Their main targets are trade ships, but these medium bunes and their wako crews are capable of battle against warships as well. They have a reasonably strong hull and enough fighting men on board to overpower bigger ships, all the while retaining the manoeuvrability needed against lighter, faster vessels. Medium bunes are good all-rounders and are not the equal of specialised vessels, but they have versatility to spare!\n\nThe medium, or seki, bune was smaller than an ataka bune and larger than the kobaya. The design combined strength with speed. In appearance the hull resembled a smaller version of the ataka bune, but with the addition of a pointed bow. The seki bune lacked a deck house. The design was certainly good enough to be adopted by the wako, men who had an eye to the practical business of turning a profit on every voyage. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Placeholder PLACEHOLDER True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Trade_Ship_Red_Seal_Ship \n\nA red seal ships is built for “blue water” sailing, making it hardier than most trade vessels, which are restricted to coastal routes. It can carry large cargoes, travel long distances and therefore has more opportunities for profitable trading. Unfortunately, this also makes it a tempting target for others, such as the wako pirates. A red seal ship’s structural strength improves its chances of survival in such an attack, but it is still vulnerable.\n\nA ship in possession of a red-sealed patent was sanctioned by the shogun himself, and allowed it to trade freely. The red seal permit system originated toward the end of the 16th century under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It was an effort to combat Japanese piracy and also control foreign trade by sanctioning merchants and where they traded. Those chosen by Toyotomi Hideyoshi could travel overseas and were regarded as official ships under his personal protection. This not only warned off pirates, but also made it clear to foreigners that it was diplomatic to look after merchants! True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Trade_Ship_Trade_Ship \n\nAll samurai consider trade and the associated money-grubbing to be vulgar. It is, quite rightly, beneath them, even though merchants often end up rather wealthy! Trade ships are seen as a necessary evil, importing valuable weapons from overseas such as cannon and firelocks. Trade ships are unarmed vessels and should run away at the first sign of trouble: this wise tactic is their only defence! They are constantly threatened by enemy clans blockading supply lines, and by the wako pirates who infest the seas around Japan!\n\nHistorically, trade between Korea and Japan was usually hampered by piracy. The Japanese wako pirates would routinely raid Korean and Chinese coasts, while the Japanese authorities seemed powerless to stop them. China responded by declaring war on the pirates, ambushing them and burning their ships. The Chinese also attacked known pirate bases and beheaded those they captured. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi came into power he banned the owning of arms by all the peasantry, which greatly reduced the power of the wako. However, the same pirates who had just been suppressed were then recruited for their naval expertise: Hideyoshi needed them for his ill-fated invasion of Korea in 1592. True
unit_description_texts_long_description_text_Trade_Ship_Wako_Trade_Ship \n\nThis is a trade ship in name only. In truth, it is used to close with unsuspecting merchants, allowing the crew to achieve a measure of surprise. Most merchants will be on guard against potential attacks, so the wako resort to such stratagems. Against large ships, however, they lack the firepower for battle, and the manoeuvrability to escape!\n\nHistorically, the wako plagued the Koreans and Chinese between the 13th and 16th century. There would be periods of inactivity, usually after a devastating attack on the pirates’ base had been a salutary lesson, but the wako would always be back. There was simply too much wealth to be stolen! In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi decreed that peasants were not allowed to carry weapons, and in turn the wako found it harder to obtain arms. However, many were subsequently recruited by clans who needed their naval expertise. True
ページ一覧