I just destroyed the Mogami Clan AND the Nanbu Clan in less than a week, while starting out as a vassal of the Nanbu, and claimed all their lands as my own!
Before I started though, in a previous war with the Mogami, I took Kubota for myself and used it as my base of operations.
First, as a vassal of the Nanbu Clan. I single-handedly destroyed the Mogami and captured every single one of their castles and towns myself, claiming Yamagata Castle for my own. When I captured each single fief, I put in 30 Date Elite Spearmen - enough so that the enemy lords wouldn't automatically take them back, but not too many.
Second, I built up my garrison in Kubota until I had 600 men in the town - and I put 200 men at Yamagata Castle, while retaining a 110 strong kashindan. I also built up power and influence in other ways during this time.
And third, when I captured Yamagata Castle, the Mogami's last fief, I requested that it be awarded to me.
Then naturally, when Great Lord Nanbu refused my request, I decided to say "screw you!" and rule my fiefs in my own name.
After that;
I swept through all of the former Mogami territory - each castle had only 30 men, that I put there - and claimed four castles in one day.
I made Yoshio, Gonnosuke, Youmu and Tojiko into samurai lords and gave them each a castle. Together, they made a core of loyal lords and ladies that wouldn't betray me and would listen to my call to war.
After intercepting enemy lords one by one, and defeating Great Lord Nanbu in an intense 117 vs 330 battle, it was time to march.
Around this time, Lord Oba also decided he wanted to become my vassal - so I gave him one of my villages.
So, as ruler and marshal, I rallied our armies, gathering our forces at Kubota, then marched on Hirosaki. In a brutal 440 vs 400 battle, I took the 400 strong garrison in one push.
We then swept east, to Hachinohe Castle. The garrison here was nearly just as strong - plus two lords were defending it. But despite the fact I only had 30% health left, and all my companions were injured, we took the castle. We had about 150 injured and 70 men lost after that.
Topping up my army with fresh rescued prisoners, my lords disbanded and went to their own business because they lost too many men, but I continued onwards. I swept south and laid siege to Morioka Castle - the Nanbu's last fief. A garrison of only 20 was left, but there were 7 lords left, each averaging 20 men. So it was a 110 vs 160, and they had the home ground advantage.
But when a solid third of your army are Hatamotos, that hardly matters. So I kicked all their asses and put them to the sword. Another castle claimed.
Around the same time, a Nanbu force pushed west and took an undefended castle - Yamagata Castle. So they weren't out yet.
I topped up my forces with more prisoners, then followed the Nanbu west. I beat Great Lord Nanbu in ANOTHER 100 vs 300 engagement - the toughest battle of them all - and then laid siege to Yamagata Castle, which had a garrison of 40 men, which I pushed out easily.
Yamagata Castle was the Nanbu's last fief, and I took it.
The Nanbu, and the Mogami, were destroyed. And I did most of the work by myself.
I now own 2 towns, 5 castles, and 9 or so villages. That's not bad. After that, I accepted another Lord from another clan.
So now 6 lords too.
Isn't that "starting out" phase supposed to be the hardest part of the game? I mean, yes, I probably got 60-80 Hatamotos killed in the sheer lunacy that was the campaign I went on, but now I'm the sole ruler of all the Nanbu AND the Mogami lands, I have maximum right-to-rule, a LOT of lords all over Japan like me, and I'm absolutely loaded with cash because I have dyeworks everywhere and Kubota brings in give-or-take 10,000 mon a week.
Is it only a matter of time before I conquer Japan? I'm looking at the Date next. I really want Sendai. It looks pretty. And rich. I could do with another town. From now on, I'm only claiming towns. They seriously give you so much money that you can put a 500 man garrison and still print cold, hard cash.
Still, I'll need a lot of cash. It took me several tens of thousands of mon to train all those Hatamotos. I'll need quite a bit more. Hmm. What to do? I'll figure that out tomorrow, I guess.
Good times. Japan will be mine.
, give the player a war kama (or a even more ninja like kama?) and keep shurikens/kunai since they are supposed to be concealable.
