Long term noob question! Baiting tactics vs AI

[Leigh]

I have always loved the idea of the franchise since its inception, having Shogun and Rome on disc way back when. Thing is I have never really played the games beyond some Custom Battles, and only recently I'm actually learning how to use units effectively, and create a "core" of a army and its support.

While I'm only playing skirmish mode on normal, I am actually starting to win now. Thing is, I'm taking heavy casualties which in campaign mode would be less then preferred. So, especially with mounted units, how do you bait the AI?

I'm practising being the attacker, which forces me to actually move forward in my deployment, even if I think more defensively. While I typically go footman heavy I do like using cavalry as harasser units. Thing is, they are pretty much sacrificial lambs, alongside any initial push I may do.

These losses would add up in the campaign, so any way to bait the AI limiting friendly losses?

[BastardSword]

Maybe play a campaign? Mostly copy what the AI does.

If you are the attacking force, then the AI will just sit around and wait for you to attack them. Often they will go to the top of the nearest hill and hide in a forest, which is really annoying. There isn't really much you can do to bait them into attacking you first when they are the defending army.

When the AI is attacking you, then they will approach you and it is much easier to bait them. Usually they will move their bows up and attack you, then charge their melee troops in. Put your bows up front, and have them attack the enemy bows. When the enemy infantry charges in, have your bows fire a couple salvos at them then have them run behind your line of melee troops.

Early on in the campaign you can use yari ashigaru to great effect. Put them in spear wall with guard mode on, and just let the charging enemy units run into them.

Later on when you are richer you can fill your armies with highly armored naginata samurai who can just charge into the enemy and win battles for you no matter what. Bow samurai will also help with defending castles and wearing down enemy units.

Cavalry is up to you. I don't like bothering with them because they need lots of micromanagement. I find that yari ashigaru spear war and naginata samurai win every battle for me easily enough.

[Mile pro Libertate]

Originally posted by lei07:

I have always loved the idea of the franchise since its inception, having Shogun and Rome on disc way back when. Thing is I have never really played the games beyond some Custom Battles, and only recently I'm actually learning how to use units effectively, and create a "core" of a army and its support.

While I'm only playing skirmish mode on normal, I am actually starting to win now. Thing is, I'm taking heavy casualties which in campaign mode would be less then preferred. So, especially with mounted units, how do you bait the AI?

I'm practising being the attacker, which forces me to actually move forward in my deployment, even if I think more defensively. While I typically go footman heavy I do like using cavalry as harasser units. Thing is, they are pretty much sacrificial lambs, alongside any initial push I may do.

These losses would add up in the campaign, so any way to bait the AI limiting friendly losses?

Having missile superiority is the fastest and surest way to bait the AI, even if it's on the defensive, to attack you. When the AI sees it can't win a missile shootout, it will advance on you and try to get into melee.

Also, if you have any artillery units at all, the AI will advance on you, even if the AI otherwise has more missile troops than you.