Unification of Nippon (Shogun Total War AAR)

[Demon_G_Sides]

((Was going to do Medieval 2, but its making my computer chug, so its time to go back to my favorite of the series; Shogun Total War!

Archaic compared to Rome and Medieval 2, its the founder of the series, and by far my favorite. So, lets get some Samurai and Ninja action going!))

[i]Japan, 1530. The land is in strife, the Shogunate failing. Rebels spring up around the realm, overthrowing their overlords, rogue samurai and Daimyo claiming their stake within the provinces of Japan.

This is the land I am in contention with.[/i]

Oda Nobuhide is my name. I lord of Owari, a relatively small fiefdom. However, I have dreams, as all men do, to aspire to greater things. I want to be Shogun. This is my journal, for my successors to remember and to read, to write their own accomplishments until our line has been extinguished.

Unfortunately, the land is not ready for such a thing. First, the other clans must be taken out, and the rebellions quelled. The Shogunate has fallen apart. There is no one left to lead us, unfortunately, so that shall be my goal.

I am not alone, as said before. There are other major clans with stronger armies, better generals, and more bodies to fill the gap. However, none of them rival my abilities, nor my resolve, nor my passion.

I shall come out on top.

I have solidified my army. Many able generals, but I shall show my prowess by taking the field myself. My first strike is towards Mino.

A rebel army by some unknown man holds this territory. I shall route him with my own force!

With a thunderous clash, the heavy cavalry of Oda Nobuhide crashed forth. Arrows volley forth into the enemy spearmen, Ashigaru, not even samurai. Their Yari are no match for the arrows, which decimate and obliterate the enemies. Few break through and begin assaulting the lines, but the Daimyo’s cavalry crushed them from behind, utterly routing them, killing them to the last man.

I am back from my ventures. The enemy killed but only a few men, and one of my own. This hatamato will be missed, but he took the enemy’s ‘general’, if you can even call him that. His family has a hero to look up to, and shall be compensated greatly.

I have taken Mino, but the thoughts of rebellion run rampant. I can not decide on whether or not to build a castle here… I believe it to be important to have many fortifications to stem enemy rebellions, but they are a costly object. I shall build border forts at first, and I have ordered another battalion of Archers to be trained in Owari.

Our mobilization has gone quick. Lightning strikes shall be our greatest ally. However, we can not advance further, I wish not to stretch our armies to thin. We rest. I will write more when something happens.

My son took many heads today. Nobuhiro is an adept man, and knows how to use the bow he has decided to weild. He is my only son, which worries me, but he is smart and skilled, and will not waver in front of our enemies.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Autumn 1531

Rebellous Scum! Unfortunately, I might have to retreat from Mino back to Owari…

But before I broke camp and left, Kitabatake Naokiyo came over the border, and together, we crushed them…

But my son is dead.

His archer regiment got too ahead of themselves, and were surrounded and destroyed. I am alone in this world, no heirs, and now my life is more important than ever. Over 100 men killed. These rabble shall be done away with! Our garrison is huge now. No more peasantry rebelling against us. I’ve ordered the construction of Border Fortresses, which will… ‘reassure’, the peasantry, as well as keep out any ill-bearing informants from our enemies.

I’ve also ordered my Emissary to seek out Imagawa… I will see if he wants to bridge an alliance, and help defeat our mutual enemies… Mikawa’s general is renowned, and his men are fanatics. However he will fall to my blade soon enough, and I will control the Warriors of Mikawa.

Winter 1531

I am alone today. Yesterday, Lord Hojo and Lord Takeda’s emissaries arrive, and asked for an alliance with both lords. I agreed, tentatively, knowing that eventually the two would come to blows, squabbling over the Kwanto, the fertile land of Takeda and Imagawa.

I find no solace in the winters I used to love. THe loss of my son has hurt me deeper than anyone around me knows. I must return home soon, to see my wife. Hopefully, she will have good news for me. I leve Kitabatake Naokiyo in control of Mino, placing him as provincial lord… Our stocks are low, so I can not give him a castle yet.

Spring 1532

I arrive home to find that my wife has increased the size of our castle. At a large cost.

She will be the death of me, I swear it.

Winter 1532

I have not written here in a while. I feel as though depression has taken over my life. Our lands are stagnating. Something has to change.

I need a new son.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Spring 1533

I AM OUTRAGED! Kitabatake Naokiyo was run out of Mino! He sent a detachment to take Hida from the rebels there, to curb Imagawa, and while the detatchment was out, the rebels from Mikawa invaded. Instead, Imagawa has moved into Mikawa! I have no idea how large his lands stretch without the Border Forts in Mino… I must take it back.

I go to war.

We marshal our forcces in our province, in retribution for this rebel’s atrocity. My men are heartened by my quick response, but even I wonder if this man’s fanatics are too much.

we start off in a valley, and I quickly move our archers to the embankment with two groups of Ashigaru Yari, peasants, my people, my most loyal and intense fighters. They are quick to scare, but they are cheap, as they love me, and devote themselves to my cause.

The first enemy over the ridge… was Buddhist Fanatics. Like I said, these men are zealots. Worse yet, my men are hesitant to fight holy men, and waver slightly, enough for casualties to be inflicted. They are hastened to respond as arrows whiz over their heads, impacting into the enemy archer lines, slaughtering them.

The Ashigaru do well enough, a battalion of Samurai reinforcing their position. The monks are held, allowing our archers to exhaust their arrow supply, slaughtering the enemies archers, which benefitted us in the valley…

A battalion of Yari samurai and a battalion of Yari Ashigaru crash into the single half battalion of Samurai, which were quickly destroyed. My own men urged us forth, and we crushed, routing this group, slaughtering them to a man. It was then that I saw Ando… the bastard responsible for this problem.

My men cheered “Oda!” as I rushed forth, all my men at my back, and the first group of enemy archers was flattened, their ability with the sword waning compared to their ability with the bow. Ando began his retreat, but I would have none of it, me and my ten Hatamato breaking through their lines, scattering the Yumi before us, and engaging them. Within time, my men are at my backside, their organization failing. It was within seconds, and I owned Ando’s head, and it shall be piked and placed on my wall of fallen enemies.

We lost too many men, but our retribution is fulfilled.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Winter 1535

Nothing great has happened. I have built a castle in Mino, where I and my wife are currently staying. We celebrated Oda Nobunaga’s birth… something about this boy tells me he will go on to do great things.

Otherwise, nothing important has happened within our realm. We own three provinces, Owari, Mino, and Hida, and all had exceptional harvests, allowing us to expand our home province of Owari. Improved farmland definitely helped in this, and we now have a Cavalry Dojo being put up, and soon, our cavalry will run our enemies to the ground.

However, I have set my eyes on Echizen, and I now prepare for war.

Spring 1536

And I own the province of Echizen. They gave up without a fight, no enemy even appearing to stop my hordes of loyal men. I have heard reports that my people are the happiest in Japan, as even Echizen’s loyalty soars at my occupation. Life under these rebels must truly be painful.

Autumn 1536

I have taken Omi. Naito Iwami has set up camp and destroyed the rebels there, fleeing without a single fight. Echizen’s castle has finished, Hida going without due to its location. I have set up a defensive line, from both coasts of the country, and my defense is staggering. It is time to expand. I will take the rest of the area around me, including Ise, and soon, I shall move on Yamashiro.

And the Emperor.

Imagawa to my north and east is reigning supreme, and I feel like soon… I will have to curb him.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Winter 1544

It is now 1544. Times have been tough. Imagawa has been mostly wiped clean from the map. Takeda Nobushige has utterly routed his forces, and Mikawa and Toyotomi are his own strongholds. My own territory has expanded, now encompassing Wakasa and a few northern territories.

But… My men are struggling. I have barely enough money to support them. I am not in debt, do not think I am saying this but… I’ve poured the last of my coffers into increasing farm output from Owari, my most bountiful state. If I can only make a few more Koku a year… I can take Mikawa, and then proceed to won the Kwanto.

I have routed all peasantry in the north, Noto and Sado their last bastion. I am prepared to take them down. I am growing old, however, at 44… Oda Nobunaga is not of age, and I fear that I will die before he can take my place… he is getting rambunctious, as any kid of his age.

It will be tough times ahead… Takeda’s Son, Shingen, is getting to be quite a strategist. I have my own new adept, Akechi Mitsuhide, who has shown himself to be quite capable in both body in mind. Unfortunately he only commands an Ashigaru battalion, but his army is stacked with excellent fighters. I can not wait to see how well he does in a true battle.

[Wisbechlad]

I agree, the simplicity of Shogun IMHO made it the best of the TW series. Though I think the monks were a bit ahistorical in their uberness. Love the slow spread of gunpowder

[Demon_G_Sides]

Spring 1551

I have been declared by the Emperor as Shogun. I need only make my way towards the capital to accept my title as such. However, first I must take care of the surrounding territory.

Imagawa has resurged, and is now a prominent power, he and Takeda having a tenuous relationship alongside Hojo. Lord Uesugi has been defeated, striken down, his warriors going Ronin or joining others.

Akechi Mitsuhide has defended Echigo against Rebellious incursions. He has proven himself as an able man. He will help defend my son, Nobunaga, who is now almost of age. I am trying to decide where his abilites will best be put towards… I’m thinking of giving him one of the new Teppou regiments, as he’s shown interest in the guns.

Christianity has begun spreading with these new foreigners. I’m hesitant towards adopting this new religion, but I’m thinking of putting up one of these new churches in the north…

I’ve expanded the farmland in all of my territories, almost all of them adopting revolutionary ideas towards farming. However, Echizen has shown an almost famous farmland, and their adoption of these new practices have shown with an almost 100% increase in output, doubling what they used to; a good investment as any.

I am no longer poor, but there are those stronger. However, a new general, Katsuie Shibata, has shown to be one of the strongest men in the region, singlehandedly taking Omi and Yamashiro within a season of each other. He is indeed an Oni, a beast of a man, and one to be feared.

I must go now… Time to receive my title as Shogun.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Spring 1562

Everything… is burning.

I was head of it all. I was everyone’s ally, I was everyone’s friend…

And then it all fell apart.

My son continues to survive, Nobunaga. He took up the fight as a warrior monk, and I am honored by his dedication. However… It may not be enough.

At the height of our power, we stretched down to Mikawa, up to Noto, and out to Yamato. We were the strongest, and no one could contest us… but then that betrayer, Hojo, assaulted my satellite states in Dewa and Mutsu. Thankfully the trade routes to Sado was still open, and my men retreated to the island key.

Suddenly, Takeda also betrayed me, and now I’m stuck… I’ve consolidated at Owari, Mino, and Hida… i’ve got to consolidate and bolster my forces… Shimazu has also moved on me. I fear he has taken all of the South, and should that happen… I fear my life.

[schurem]

Stay firm in your resolve, and always face the enemy! Osu!

[Sebmojo]

My favourite part of Shogun is when the Europeans arrive, and they’re big nosed gangling doofuses. It’s such a perfect caricature of what (in my head at least) they must have looked like to a closed culture like the Japanese were at the time.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Yeah. I might need to reinstall so that all the movies play, because I got the Portuguese, but no movie played, and neither have any of the emissaries.

Also, no Throne Room, which sucks.

And just an update; See the above picture where it shows me having Yamashiro (Where the Emperor lives)? Now look to where the second picture is, and I only own Mino and Owari? Yeah. Its been a bad few years. Two terrible harvests in a row, and worse yet, all of my allies started ganging up on me. I sneaked a peak at how far Shimazu owned, and he has all of Kyushu, all of Shikoku, and is almost completely entrenched in the southern part of Honshu.

Worse yet, Hojo and Takeda are allied. And Takeda pulled a dick move by allying me one turn, and then utterly betraying me and routing Akechi Mitsuhide the next turn.

[salwon]

I haven’t played this one in years, but last time I did the movies crashed the game every time they came up. So, watch out for that.

[Demon_G_Sides]

Oh, I’ve been playing the game for years, its not like this is a new acquisition. The movies have always worked fine for me, I just forgot to check them as okay when I installed it.

I’ll finish this up sometime today/tomorrow.

[Mind_Elemental]

Are you at all tempted to metagame and send Akechi Mitsuhide on a suicide mission? :D