Realm Divide tips?

[CarolusMagnus]

I know there are a ton of tips online, but I'd like it tailord to my needs, if you'll allow me.

I'm playing Shimazu. Read somewhere that I should develop economy first, all that stuff, so I placed markets and gambling dens everywhere. Of course, I focused on farming and limited markets so that I don't have shortages. Currently at 180k-190k in the bank and 10k-15k every turn, sometimes even 20k. When realm divide started and everyone declared war, my income per turn turned 6k-8k koku. Is that good, or at least good enough?

Currently I have a moderate-strength ally that did not defect. I have a large army garrisoned next door, but I figured that their good navy helped me a lot, and still does, in keeping other fleets away where my own fleet isn't there. I decided to keep them along for now. Is that correct, or should I invade them now?

Also, I'm developing that legendary school for spear heroes. Is that a good choice? I was thinking that spear heroes are much more useful than other heroes.

And should I bother bribing clans to make peace? I remember bribing one clan to break alliance with another, but on the next turn, they're allies again. I don't wanna waste koku on that.

Other tips and suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[rory.b.p]

having 120k in bank at RD you could easily... easily continue with a per turn defecit because you will be rapidly conquering lands anyway.

I don't know why you are researching spear heroes as the Shimazu.... you know that clan that gets a bonus to all its SWORD units also Hero units are relatively pointless they are nice for mixing things up but realistically the units are so tiny that besides the cav ones that spread second wind that can be useful in a cav heavy army that relies on a lot of running around most heroes are pointless in campaign.
If you want to go for some high tier research then researching down the gunpowder tree till you get fire rockets would be ok as they are a very good counter cav unit so you can cover the weaknesses of your sword infantry, you will also unlock shimazu heavy gunners along the way which is a moderately interesting unit.

Bribing clans to make peace is pointless after RD.
If you have an ally and you think you can keep em then keep em but check how much they currently like you.. because RD has a continuing negative effect on you relationships with other clans.


It would really help if we knew what difficulty this was on but generally if this is easy difficulty you don't need tips, shimazu are the easy mode clan on easy mode with 120k in the bank at RD the only way you can lose is if you turtle extremely hard ... like next level turtling.

On Normal as the shimazu yes your main difficulty is just going to be turtling and missing the deadline for campaign completion and if that ally backstabs you with no navy you will be open to landings.

If its Hard mode or Legendary and you have 120k in the bank 8K per turn income and a large army to spare sitting by an ally then you don't need any tips.

[CarolusMagnus]

Originally posted by rory.b.p:

I don't ever play easy mode, no boast intended, and I don't play hard right away, so I think I'm playing normal.

I know Shimazu's specialty. I just thought that spear infantry that can hold off or even scare off other infantry at crucial times would be really helpful. I'm not too good with using gunpowder units. Plus, I get three kinds of spear heroes right away when I'm done the research and building. Still a bad idea? Cuz I just started researching it, and I can also research heavy gunners or hero cav right away.

I was caught off guard, I didn't know what triggers RD. I'm relatively okay with how my troops are positioned atm, except a few points. I have a pretty good navy, but not very spread out.

I think it's okay with the ally, since they only have one province left, though their fleet is still kicking. Their army is really ♥♥♥♥ tho, like 5-6 units, hiding in my province where my large army is probably because of their enemy next door.

Would it still be pointless to bribe them even for just 2-3 turns? Because where they're at, I'm completely undefended. If they manage to land an army, I'm ♥♥♥♥♥♥. Meanwhile, they're asking for prices around 5k-10k and a hostage for peace.

And I'm also considering making a vassal or two. Is that a good choice?

Thanks!

[rory.b.p]

Originally posted by GryphusOne:

Originally posted by rory.b.p:

I don't ever play easy mode, no boast intended, and I don't play hard right away, so I think I'm playing normal.

I know Shimazu's specialty. I just thought that spear infantry that can hold off or even scare off other infantry at crucial times would be really helpful. I'm not too good with using gunpowder units. Plus, I get three kinds of spear heroes right away when I'm done the research and building. Still a bad idea? Cuz I just started researching it, and I can also research heavy gunners or hero cav right away.

I was caught off guard, I didn't know what triggers RD. I'm relatively okay with how my troops are positioned atm, except a few points. I have a pretty good navy, but not very spread out.

I think it's okay with the ally, since they only have one province left, though their fleet is still kicking. Their army is really ♥♥♥♥ tho, like 5-6 units, hiding in my province where my large army is probably because of their enemy next door.

Would it still be pointless to bribe them even for just 2-3 turns? Because where they're at, I'm completely undefended. If they manage to land an army, I'm ♥♥♥♥♥♥. Meanwhile, they're asking for prices around 5k-10k and a hostage for peace.

And I'm also considering making a vassal or two. Is that a good choice?

Thanks!

Vassals can be good choice except they will eventually screw you even quicker when in RD, personally I find rebellions more useful then vassals after RD because they are a standing force that will delay the enemy and they will never attack you.
Even if you bribe people for peace in RD they will still turn on you again although in normal mode you might get 3-5 turns before they attack again.

Fire rockets are more akin to a siege unit then a gunpowder unit, they outrange bows, they deal massive damage to units but particularly cav units, 1 volley of rockets on a cav unit absolutely wrecks them and if they are low vet they may well route from 1 volley.
I have never seen an AI cav unit not route after two fire rocket volleys.
I would recommend building them from a fletchers province for obvious reasons.
As for the Heavy gunners, they can be quite good in combination with the fire rockets because of their knockback effect allowing you to get 1 maybe 2 extra fire rocket volleys in on a unit.
They work pretty much like a standard matchlock unit except they have a knockdown effect.
They are really just for spicing things up to win all you really need are a couple of Yari cav some Yari ashigaru a few range units and a metrice ♥♥♥♥ ton of shimazu katan samurai.
You will steamroll almost any force, the only thing that is threatening to your katan samurai in normal difficulty is cavalry.. thence the Yari Kav.
The Fire Rockets would just give you a mobile effective option to wipe enemy cav and to force the enemy to you even when you are attacking.

[easytarget]

I'm pretty sure there's no RD dipomatic penalty associated with vassals after it has kicked in.

[Mile pro Libertate]

Originally posted by easytarget:

I'm pretty sure there's no RD dipomatic penalty associated with vassals after it has kicked in.

If the vassal was made after RD, but before Kyoto us taken, then the RD penalty will kick in for them after you take Kyoto.

I guess if he's playing Shimazu it shouldn't make much difference though. By the time he reaches and takes Kyoto he'll probably have enough provinces to win the game.

[easytarget]

Yep, of course meant vassal formed after RD. ;)

And you're right, playing Shimazu I've timed it so I'm right at RD kicking in just short of reaching Kyoto (because I ally with Chosokabe, so all I end up taking is the island Shimazu start on then work up the main island towards Kyoto. It's a nice build up, and it makes it easy to turtle for a bit to get ready, then when you tip RD it's a blitz of central Japan till you hit 40

[Eat3n]

Originally posted by GryphusOne:

Currently I have a moderate-strength ally that did not defect. I have a large army garrisoned next door, but I figured that their good navy helped me a lot, and still does, in keeping other fleets away where my own fleet isn't there. I decided to keep them along for now. Is that correct, or should I invade them now?

1) Well established allies will stay with you during RD...for a time. The quicker you get to Kyoto and have the number of regions you need the better. On a long enough timeline even allies will turn against you in RD.

2) I wouldn't count on their navy. Have a few full fleets ready to move but the trick to using them is cheap boats. Find "choke points" on the map where AI boats have to sail lest the go too far out and and take casulaties. If you put 3, or 4, or 5 cheap boats they can block the path and give you a heads up to move you're big ol' fleet flags if needed.

[CarolusMagnus]

Thanks to everyone for their tips! One last question:

I have all provinces except Kyoto, and it's 1-3 provinces away, altho I also have other pressing issues to focus on, too. Can I win in 10 years?

[Mile pro Libertate]

Originally posted by GryphusOne:

Thanks to everyone for their tips! One last question:

I have all provinces except Kyoto, and it's 1-3 provinces away, altho I also have other pressing issues to focus on, too. Can I win in 10 years?

Definitiely. You got 40 turns (35 more realiatically, because the last turn "doesn't count," and you need to hold Kyoto for 4 turns) to take Kyoto and maybe 2 provinces along the way.

You got it...so long as one of your fronts isn't left unguarded and an enemy stack rampages in your rear or something.

Watch out for naval invasions! 😀

[Aethrys]

With the cash you've acquired you should be able to sweep east and roflstomp everything in your path with a horde of units in several stacks. I'd say go heavy on katanas since you're shimazu, but you could probably just hurl bodies at the shogunate forces and win regardless.

I remember from my shimazu play that I found taking Kyoto was hilariously easy after my ninjas murdered 3 shoguns and several of their generals.

[CarolusMagnus]

Originally posted by Mile pro Libertate:

Watch out for naval invasions! 😀

Haha kinda prepared for that now. Already researched at least heavy ships beforehand, navy is at least good at defense.

But I'll still keep an eye out. Never know when those sneaky bastards are coming.

Originally posted by Aethrys:

With the cash you've acquired you should be able to sweep east and roflstomp everything in your path with a horde of units in several stacks. I'd say go heavy on katanas since you're shimazu, but you could probably just hurl bodies at the shogunate forces and win regardless.

I remember from my shimazu play that I found taking Kyoto was hilariously easy after my ninjas murdered 3 shoguns and several of their generals.

Working on making my army heavy on katanas, complete with nice armor. A shipment of them will arrive at the frontlines in around 6 turns. Also with ninja, I have a couple 3-5 stars now. I noticed that my play a couple years ago was heavy on military buildings, I'm wondering now how I even won that game.


Thanks everyone!

[Tarkov WIPE!]

Wow a happy ending :>