How to prepare for Realm Divide??

[Tyrants_Reach]

I'm the Otomo clan, I own the entire island as well as the Chosokabe Island. I have 50,000 in my reserve, and i've imported a metric amount of Portuguese Tercos (I even have the Black Ship in my home docks). However I'm beyond terrified at the fact every nation will unite against me. I have plenty of money to fund a powerful defense force, but trying to take more land AND defend my countires? There are a few other powerful countries, I dont know how I'll stand up to all of them uniting against me. How can I be properly ready for Realm Divide? How much money do I need? How can I max out my economy so I can try to fund my armies? Difficulty is Hard btw.

Thank you Shogunners so much! I appreciate all your help!

[Turtler]

Let's start with one key thing. How close are you to Realm Divide? That'll have a big effect. But If it's very close ,you should definitely have more progress than you do. You should be making strong inroads into Honshu (the main island) rather than just have it.

Firstoff: money is good, more money is better. With your position you should be able to completely monopolize the great Western trade nodes, which will bring you huge income bonuses. Use that to fuel your military and develop/pacify your realm.

Secondly: keep some troops on hand in the coast to defend, but you shouldn't have to defend inland. If you have to station troops inland where there's no seaborne threat just to prevent rebels or what have you, you have bigger problems. So keep the heartlands pacified and move the troops form there to the front.

Thirdly: prepare your way well ahead of time. Prepare converting to Christianity so that it will unsettle their hold and cement yours. Get armies in position and plan exactly where you're going to attack when, and where you will defend. Develop accordingly. Try to kill as many clans as you can before the divide hits, so it has less of an issue for you. And NEVER create vassals. Ever.

As Otomo, religious agents, maritime trade, and gunpowder are your friends. Use them and that alliane with Portugal to the fullest.

If there's any more I can do, just say the word.

[Delta 1038]

Originally posted by Turtler:

snip

I don't have the Otomo pack but I tend to run my Shimazu as Christians so anyway,

- Getting into wars and hostile relationships don't fill up the fame bar. This means that you can send your missionaries to weaken hostile territory for you. Them being there also converts the population and gives them XP.
- Have at least two defence navies (Full medium bune or whatever that is economically viable) blocking key points. Raids aren't so much of a problem, naval invasions are.
- Plan ahead for fallback zones. In case you are overwhelmed, have a province where you can regroup.

[Warsmith Honsou]

I imagine its different for Otomo because of the conversion part of it, but on Takeda just before realm divide i had a few major armies ready to take key regions and got them two beseige me after i took them, broke their armies then systematically took their regions one by one. I had 2000 income per turn but after taking these regions and activating realm divide they gave me enough income to fuel another army.

[noodle]

It's sort of obvious but check your Finance stats and work out how much money you're making from inter-clan (not trade node) trade. That's how much money you're going to probably lose when realm divide hits, strong farm/market provinces help offset this.

Haven't played Otomo yet but campaign map-wise it's always smart (and easy in Japan) to use your vanguard forces as a defense from hostile clans. By advancing up the few "lanes" into the other parts of Japan you're effectively stopping hostile armies coming back from that direction as they'll need to fight your army to come back into your territory, freeing you up to shuffle troops into invading armies or to coastal fronts to defend against troop landings.

Shogun 2 can't be won by defending, you'll be needing to marshal that powerful defense force into a marching army and start taking territories! My first game on Hard as Chokosabe ended up with me effectively losing before the time limit, I'd tried turtling too much and never had enough time to reach the 'Provinces Captured' limit required (was my first full TW game!)

[SaltyPeanuts]

Originally posted by Tyrants_Reach:

I'm the Otomo clan

The Otomo have the perfect opportunity to build trade ships and dominate the foreign trade nodes. This is because the Otomo can build trade ships immediately (at the foreign dock) and are right next to the nodes.

Originally posted by Tyrants_Reach:

How can I max out my economy so I can try to fund my armies?

Since Otomo have cannon ship, they should be able to easily dominate the foreign trade nodes.

Originally posted by Tyrants_Reach:

I'm the Otomo clan, I own the entire island.

Hence, you don't need a standing army on that island, and with lots of money from foreign trade, you can afford enough cannon ships to prevent any naval invasion.

A foreign trade domination means you have to play a little more defensively in the beginning to afford the trade ships, but the income should allow to fund as many land troops as you need. Plus, you will be denying that trade node to any other clan in the future.

[HeavenlyHost]

u should be able to chunk out 20k-30k income without having to rly on trade with other faction. Should atleast having 200k in your Bank stored. *optional the Black ship and nanban controlling the SEA!! rest should be easy * Exp. from playing H/H

[Mile pro Libertate]

Originally posted by HeavenlyHost:

u should be able to chunk out 20k-30k income without having to rly on trade with other faction. Should atleast having 200k in your Bank stored. *optional the Black ship and nanban controlling the SEA!! rest should be easy * Exp. from playing H/H

200k in the bank? lol ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

That's an interesting strategy. I think the most I've ever had saved up was around 40k.

[Kilrathii]

Key to shogun i didnt get the first time i played. Have troop production cities, market cities and a high food surplus. The fact youre Otomo and have the trade nodes and Nanban ports is an added bonus. Oh and Metsuke in high income settlements.

[HeavenlyHost]

Originally posted by Mile pro Libertate:

Originally posted by HeavenlyHost:

u should be able to chunk out 20k-30k income without having to rly on trade with other faction. Should atleast having 200k in your Bank stored. *optional the Black ship and nanban controlling the SEA!! rest should be easy * Exp. from playing H/H

200k in the bank? lol ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

That's an interesting strategy. I think the most I've ever had saved up was around 40k.

nah just keep upgrading your farm and Market. your capital or the one with the most profit with all metsuke stacked should atleast make 4-5k. Depends on which clan u play u either control the trade node or not. If possible get the provinz with the goldmine. Later on u cant even spend ur money fast enough so u ends up having over 100k xD. After RD its getting more busy make some vassals to have some trade partner but keep an eye on them. Invasion from see? np metsuke can bribe them :3.


here an example of my Date campaign
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/32993531160941571/5C699ADDBBA2ADE1BF8C5EFA2DA104D6EF11615A/

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/32993531160945979/BFB787D43399F079A4A97EF2D592D202A7CF8677/

show the shogun who is boss!

AS for Ottomo...u rly dont need a navy when u can get this guy
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/32993531160953327/4AE0267B8604BD3F9DBCB1699E837611B3486C04/

[Mile pro Libertate]

Originally posted by HeavenlyHost:

Originally posted by Mile pro Libertate:

200k in the bank? lol ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

That's an interesting strategy. I think the most I've ever had saved up was around 40k.

nah just keep upgrading your farm and Market. your capital or the one with the most profit with all metsuke stacked should atleast make 4-5k. Depends on which clan u play u either control the trade node or not. If possible get the provinz with the goldmine. Later on u cant even spend ur money fast enough so u ends up having over 100k xD. After RD its getting more busy make some vassals to have some trade partner but keep an eye on them. Invasion from see? np metsuke can bribe them :3.


here an example of my Date campaign
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/32993531160941571/5C699ADDBBA2ADE1BF8C5EFA2DA104D6EF11615A/

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/32993531160945979/BFB787D43399F079A4A97EF2D592D202A7CF8677/

show the shogun who is boss!

AS for Ottomo...u rly dont need a navy when u can get this guy
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/32993531160953327/4AE0267B8604BD3F9DBCB1699E837611B3486C04/

What difficulty was the Date campaign at?

[HeavenlyHost]

H/H

[mergele]

Is it better to get to realm divide as soon as possible and then steamroll as many small factions as possible, or is it benefitial to pause at some point and let the AI clean up the the map a bit so you will fight against lesser but stronger enemys?

[HeavenlyHost]

in the end u want to stop and building up your eco before realm devide. So At this time only a few clan will survive anyways.