Lord of Darkness is an in-depth strategy simulation based on the warring states
period of feudal Japan. This period of civil war began with the fall of Shogun
Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1467, and continued until 1000, when the country was
finally united under one warlord's control, Tokugawa leyasu.
Your challenge begins in 1555 with Japan divided into feudal states controlled
by a lord called a "Daimyo." Each Dalmyo rules his land in independence as
there is no central government to enforce regulation. Wars are common as each
Daimyo attempts to expand his domain and gain power.
You will role-play as a historical warlord with a long list of development,
military, trade, information, personnel and diplomacy commands at your
disposal. During this feudal period, your samurai need to be skilled both in
the military and the arts. Train them in the tactics of war and educate them in
the art of the tea ceremony.
All Daimyos share the same ambition, to unify Japan under their control.
Hostilities will be fierce. You must formulate the winning strategy.
Your goal is to conquer all rival Daimyos and unify all feudal states under
your control.
Two scenarios present different balances of power between the warlords:
The Warring States...................1555
Every state in Japan is locked into a struggle for power. Daimyos Date and
Mogami occupy the northern Tohoku area. Daimyos Uesugi. Takeda, and Iiojo
rule the Kanto area. Daimyos Asai and Asakura have exerted their power in
the area surrounding the capital. Oda Nobunaga has not yet emerged as a
great warlord and only rules the weak state of Owari. Nobunaga has his
sights on recruiting powerful generals such as Shibata Katsuie and
expanding his domain. Nobunaga must build up Owari and expand to other
states.
Nobunaga Surrounded by His Enemies...1571
Nobunaga has extended his influence to Owari. Mino, Ise, Iga, and Yamata.
He demonstrates his support for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and returns from
The capital with new authority. But Yoshiaki fears that he is being used
and spreads rumors to other Daimyos that Nobunaga is a dangerous threat.
Nobunaga instantly finds himself the enemy of the Daimyo forces of Asai.
Asakura, Takeda, Honganji, and Mori. This is a life or death pinch for
Nobunaga. Nobunaga must find a way to escape from this powerful opposition
and pursue his ambition to conquer all of Japan.
There are 3 game modes:
* Multi-Play
You set the difficulty level of your game and then the number of people who
will play. Players take alternate turns.
* Historical
This is a one player game. Historical events are well-integrated into the
game. The game settings are set at a fairly difficult level, and there is no
way to change the level of difficulty.
* Demonstration
This is a demo mode in which the player merely watches a game played out by
the computer. You set the difficulty level and whether or not you will view
battles between other states.
Controller: (SNES shown below, NES is different)
START Button
* Skip through the introduction to game set-up SELECT Button
* Access the Options Menu from the Main Display Button A
* Select highlighted commands and items
* Answer YES to (Y/N) questions
Button B
* Cancel selections
* Answer NO to (Y/N) questions
* End the command turn
LEFT/RIGHT Buttons
* Switch the data category by which generals are listed
* Access map with Daimyos' spheres of power
* View battle data while at war
Control Pad
* Move the cursor through command menus
* Scroll through lists or flip through pages of information
* Move cursor across map
Starting A New Game
-Select "New Game"
-Decide whether or not to watch other states battles. By selecting cither
'Watch' or 'Choose', the player may view other state battles. For a more
detailed explanation, please see Options Menu.
-To play a saved game, choose "Saved Game" during setup.
Options Menu
Ending and saving ihe game can be done from the Options Menu. The option
commands can be displayed by pressing the SELECT button at the main display.
1: Save
2: Advice
3: Display Time
4: Sound
5: Battles
6: End
Save
Up to two games can be saved. If you save in a slot where a game was previously
saved, ihe previous game will be erased and replaced with the new game.
Advice
Decide whether or not to view advice from your military advisor. Advice will be
given at the beginning of turns if a military advisor exists in a state.
Display Time
Set the length of time that messages will lie displayed. Higher numbers
indicate a longer message display time. The default setting is 5.
Sound
Select whether to listen to music and sound effects in Stereo, Mono, or turn
all sound OFF.
Battles
Decide when to view battles between slates over which you do not have direct
control. These states will either be computer controlled or states to which you
have delegated control. You may select to watch all battle dis-plays, have this
option displayed before battles begin, or ignore all battles.
End
Quit your game. Although you end a game, you may also start a new game from
this option. If you don't want to play another game, you can watch the computer
take over your Daimyo and continue the game in demonstration mode.
Victory Conditions
Victory
If you defeat all Daimyos and take control of all states in Japan, you win!
Defeat
If you fall in battle or die of old age without a successor, you lose! You need
to have generals in your slates to name a successor in case your Daimyo meets
bad luck.
MAIN SCREEN
Rice and Troop Market
This bar graph shows the fluctuation of monthly prices in gold for both one
bale of rice and one division of soldiers. Market prices can change
dramatically at times, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on these rates.
STATE DATA
Gold
Shows the amount of gold in a state. The gold supply increases in January from
the receipt of tax revenues and decreases that same month when military
salaries are paid. The gold supply will also change depending on the funds
spent on executing commands.
Rice
Rice is the symbol for military provisions in a state. The rice supply
increases In July when tributes are collected and decreases that same month
when military salaries are paid.
Tea Items
The type of the highest class tea item that a Daimyo or Governor holds.
Soldiers
The number of soldier divisions in a state. You may recruit additional soldiers
with MLTV-Recruit. Soldiers will decrease from battle casualties, sickness, and
old age.
Soldier Loyalty
Level of devotion to the Daimyo. Loyalty increases with MLTY-Pay Men. It
decreases when soldiers are recruited and when military salaries cannot be
paid.
Training
Skill level of the army. Training increases with MLTY-Train and decreases when
new troops are recruited.
Generals
Number of generals in a state. They command soldiers in battle. Recruiting
ronin will increase the number of generals.
Castle Defense
Defensive capability of the castle. The DVLP-Castle command can increase this
value, but earthquakes, sect riots, fire, and battles within the castle lower
this value.
Rifles
Number of rides a state holds, in hundreds. Rifles can be obtained through the
TRDE-Rifle and METR-Rifle commands, or from a black marketer. When soldiers of
a rifle division fall in battle, the number of rifles also decreases. There is
one rifle per soldier in a rifle division.
Agriculture
The level of rice production. Agriculture can be increased with the DVLP-Fields
command. Agriculture decreases when a state is hit by a typhoon or when there
is a revolt. The higher the level of production, the more rice a Governor will
receive at the tribute rate. The optimal value differs for every state.
Water Safety
Protection from typhoons and the availability of water for agricultural needs.
This protection can be improved with DVLP-Dams, but is decreased with typhoons
and with the use of DVLP-Fields. High Water Safety levels will ensure that rice
tributes will increase in July and that typhoons will inflict less damage.
Commerce
Economic development of a state. Commerce is increased through the DVLI-Economy
command, but decreases when riots or earthquakes occur. Higher Commerce results
in greater tax revenues collected in January. [Tie maximum Commerce value
depends upon the Culture level of a state.
Citizen Loyalty
Citizen loyalty to the Daimyo. Loyalty increases when DVLP commands are
executed and when the lax and tribute rates are set low. Plagues, natural
disasters, and high tribute and tax rates will cause loyalty lo drop. Loyal
citizens are less likely to riot.
Culture
Culture level in a state. The state with the highest Culture in your domain
will lead the way for increasing the other states' Culture levels. Using
expensive tea items, hosting tea ceremonies, and inviting to paint murals will
raise the Culture level in a state. A high Culture level will allow for an
increase in tax revenues. The Culture level can be increased with the
PSNL-Educate command.
Skill
Technology level of state. Skill Increases with the DVLP-Skill command. Skill
also increases when a blacksmith visits and offers to teach you a new skill.
However, ninja sometimes impersonate blacksmiths and steal your technology
secrets. The state will be able to produce greater weapons as skill increases,
see below.
Skill Level Production Ability
100 Search and mine for gold
250 Forge rifles
500 Construct warships
Event Display
When an event occurs, the extent of the effects will be displayed by
highlighting states on the map. The darker the color, the greater the hardship,
or fortune.
Relations with Neighboring Countries
Neighboring states are those which are either connected by a road or have
adjacent borders. States separated by mountains are not considered neighboring
states. The MLTY commands Move, Send, Battle, and Joint may not be used in
connection with non-neighboring states.
Seasons
There are four seasons. Spring (Jan-Mar), Summer (Apr-Jun), Fall (Jul-Sep),
and Winter (Oct-Dec). The map will change colors for each season. A fan will
also display the season. Certain events are seasonal.
EXECUTING COMMANDS
Every month, each state has one turn to execute commands. The daimyo or his
generals may execute commands. The effectiveness of a command depends on a
general's abilities and the amount of money expended. Each general may execute
only one command per turn, with the exception of the daimyo and state governor.
Governance Points (Maximum: 200)
Governance Points (GP) are required to execute commands and are expended when
commands are executed. Required GP depends on the type of command and the
person executing the command. The Daimyo and Governor require the most GP. The
INTO-Other and PSNL- Control commands do not require any GP, The number of GP
available depends on the Political power of the ruling Daimyo or Governor. When
the game begins, the initial GP is equivalent to the governor's political
skill. Each month, the political skill value is added to the remaining GP.
GENERAL DATA
Rank
Power hierarchy of generals. There are three ranks: Daimyo, Governor, and
General.
Age
A general ages one year every January. The older a general gets, the easier it
is to succumb to illness and old age.
Politics (Maximum: 100)
Ability in domestic affairs. Political know-how is also important for foreign
affairs. Raise a general's Politics level with the Education command. However
the maximum level is limited to 5 points lower than the highest politics level
of a general under your control.
Combat Ed (Maximum: 100)
This military ability affects fighting power in battle and troop training. A
general can raise his Combat level by capturing or eliminating a general with a
higher Combat level during a blitz attack.
Charm (Maximum: 100)
The ability to charm and persuade others. Extremely important for negotiations
with other Daimyos and raising the loyalty of your army.
Ambition (Maximum: 100)
The degree of sacrifice that a general is willing to make in order to conquer
japan. The higher this value, the more likely a general will rebel, and the
more likely a daimyo/governor will go to battle.
Loyalty (Maximum: 100)
Loyalty toward the Daimyo. increases if general is rewarded Decreases if lea
items are taken away, or if salaries cannot be met in January and |uly. Low
loyalty will increase the chances that a general will rebel or turn against a
Daimyo in battle.
Education (Maximum: 100)
Knowledge of the tea ceremony and other traditional art forms. The Education
level can be increased by hosting a tea ceremony and inviting a general to
attend, lithe Education level is low. Imai, the merchant, will not trade for
rifles or tea items. The higher the value, the greater the chances for success
with foreign affairs.
Number of States (Daimyos only)
Number of states under a Daimyo's rule.
Princess (Daimyos only)
For your daimyo, it indicates how many princesses you have and if any have been
given to other daimyos in arranged marriages. For other daimyos, it Indicates
whether you have sent, received or traded daughters with the daimyo.
Alliance (Daimyos of Other States only)
Indicates whether or not you have an alliance with the selected stale.
Tea Items (Daimyos only)
The lea item type of the highest class tea item held by a Daimyo will be
displayed to the right of his face. All tea items held can be viewed with INFO
Tea Item.
GAME EVENTS
There are several events that occur throughout the game. There are events which
are seasonal and can be planned for, and there are random events that occur
without warning.
Seasonal Events
Tax: Tribute Rates
As the Daimyo, you must decide and set the tax rate in January, and the tribute
rate, in luly. There are three ways to set the rates:
By Governor: Delegate the decision to the Governor of each state under a
Daimyo's rule.
Uniformly: Set the tax and tribute rates so that all states under your rule pay
the same rate.
By State: Set individual rates for each state.
If the rates are set high, the people of a state will become angered and their
loyalty will fall. If the rates are set low, the people will rejoice and their
loyalty will increase. The standard is 45%, but your military advisor will give
you advice on appropriate rates.
Tax Collection (Jan)
Every year in January, taxes are collected. The rate can be anywhere from 1 to
100%. Depending on the Tax rate. Economy, and Culture, the amount of taxes
collected will vary. The higher the rate, the more gold received from taxes,
but citizen loyalty will decrease.
Military Salary (Jan & July)
Generals are paid twice a year. In January they arc paid in gold according to
their abilities and in luly, they are paid in rice according to their number of
soldiers. If their salaries are not paid due to lack of money and rice,
loyalties of both the generals and their soldiers will drop.
Typhoon (Apr-Jun)
Japan is buffeted by Typhoons every year. States suffer damage to their
Agriculture, Economy, and Water Safety. A high Water Safety level can minimize
the damage from typhoons.
Tribute (Jul)
Rice is collected according to the Tribute rate, The amount of rice collected
increases when there is a good harvest and decreases when the harvest is poor
or when the state has been hit by a typhoon.
Harvest (Jul)
Depending on the weather, states may experience good or bad harvests. Blizzards
and other natural disasters will result in a poor harvest. High levels of Water
Safety and Agriculture increase the chance for a good harvest.
Blizzard (Oct-Dec)
Snow storms which prevent all movement may occur in the northern mountainous
areas, especially in the Tohoku area. The MLTY commands Move. Send, and Battle,
the TRDE commands, and the AFRS commands cannot be executed during this time.
Random Events
Ronin Visit
These masterless samurai, having heard tales of your greatness, may visit you
and ask to be hired. If you agree to hire ronin, they will become your
generals.
Riot
Riots erupt when the citizens are displeased with your decisions or those made
by your governors. If the Tax and Tribute rates are set high, and the loyalty
of the populace is low, riots may occur frequently. When a riot occurs, you may
select from four responses: Give Gold, Give Rice, Do Nothing, and Ready Army.
If the Daimyo does nothing. Citizen Loyalty, Agriculture, and Water Safety
levels will ail decrease.
Ikko Riot
People of the Ikko sect are extremist followers of an authoritarian school of
thought, led by Honganji. If western ideas are allowed into Japan and the Ikko
followers in a state do not accept the teachings, a riot is likely. Citizen
Loyalty. Agriculture, and Commerce decrease from the riot. Their riots may lead
to fires, which will decrease castle defenses. If Honganji, the leader of the
Ikko sect, is defeated, these riots will not occur.
Rebellions
The generals under a Daimyo or Governor may break away from a state. Generals
may defect to neighboring states taking with them troops, rifles and tea items,
or they may decide to become ronin and wander. If the loyalty of an ambitious
general is low, a rebellion is highly likely.
Epidemic
Epidemics spread quickly through states. If the people of a state arc affected,
then Soldier. Agriculture, Commerce, and Citizen Loyalty values fait.
Earthquake
Earthquakes can occur on land or off shore. In states which are damaged,
Soldier, Commerce, and Castle Defense values all decrease.
Tea Master Visit
Tea Masters, such as Tsuda Sokyu, travel around Japan and host tea ceremonies.
If a tea ceremony is successful, the Loyalty and Education levels of all
generals increase along with the state's Culture level. If your tea items are
not equal to or better than those of other generals attending a ceremony, the
loyalty of your generals and your state's Culture level will decrease.
Louis Furois
The western scholar Louis Furois may request your permission to teach western
ideas in Japan. If the Daimyo allows the teachings, and the people accept the
foreign ideas, the Skill level will increase. Sometimes, Louis Furois may
present you with a tea item in gratitude for allowing him to continue his
teachings. If you reject his teachings, citizen loyalty will decrease.
Artist Visit
Famous artists, such as Kano Kiloku or Ilasegawa Tohaku. travel throughout
Japan and paint folding screens for Daimyos. Depending on the value of a
screen, your state's Culture level will increase.
MAIN COMMANDS
Any commands which require governance points (GP) will display the GP necessary
if either the governor or Retainer (General) executes the command.
Gold Mine
Once your Skill level has reached 100, you can search and mine for gold. This
command may be used only once per turn. A gold mine can be depleted of its gold
from excessive mining. However, it is possible to search for another gold mine.
DVLP (Develop)
Fields GP: Daimyo 50 Retainer 25
Cultivate the earth to prepare it for a rice crop. High levels of Agriculture
result in greater revenues of rice at tribute time. Developing fields lowers
the Water Safety level.
Dams GP: Daimyo 50 Retainer 25
Build dams and reinforce river banks to raise the Water Safety level. Building
dams will increase the amount of rice produced and protect the state from
typhoon damage.
Economy GP: Daimyo 50 Retainer 25
Invest in town commerce and help the economy grow. The better the economy, the
more gold which can be collected in taxes in January.
Skill GP: Daimyo 50 Retainer 25
Scholars of a state will spend time to improve production techniques. When
Skill reaches 100, a stale can begin lo mine gold: at 250, rifle production
becomes possible; and at 500, warship production is possible. Rifles and
warships are exceptionally strong weapons in battle.
Castle Defense GP: Daimyo 50 Retainer 25
Fortify your castle defenses. A high Castle Defense level will increase
protection against enemy assaults.
MLTY (Military)
Move GP: All 20
Move a general lo another state under your control. The general may lake gold,
rice, soldiers, and rifles.
Send GP: Daimyo 20 Retainer 10
Send goods to another state under your control. It is possible to send gold,
rice, soldiers, and rifles.
Battle GP: All 50
Attack a neighboring state. The maximum number of generals that may join a
battle is six. When you (the Daimyo) do noi go to war, a Field Commander must
be chosen to command the assault. This command can also be used to send
reinforcements lo battle sites for forces caught in extended wars.
Joint GP: All 50
Join forces with another Daimyo and attack a third state, joint forces can be
sent only from states neighboring the attacking states or the target state.
After a messenger is sent to a Daimyo to ask for joint forces, you may still
cancel war preparations, but it will cost 10 GP.
Recruit GP: Daimyo 40 Retainer 20
Recruit soldiers to expand your army. Soldiers are recruited in divisions. The
recruiting cost displayed is for one division, or 100 men. The cost changes
according to market prices.
Train GP: Daimyo 40 Retainer 20
Increase the combat readiness of your soldiers. The higher the Combat skill of
the general chosen to train the soldiers, the more effective the training. High
training levels of soldiers will result in a more powerful attacking ability,
and a more accurate aim for rifle division soldiers.
Pay Men GP: Daimyo 20 Retainer 10
Give gold to soldiers in order to raise their loyalty. High loyalty will ensure
a soldier's effectiveness in battle. Low loyalty might cause soldiers to desert
in the middle of a battle.
TRDE (Trade)
Sell Rice GP: Daimyo 40 Retainer 20
Sell extra military provisions for gold. The rate of exchange will vary.
Buy Rice GP: Daimyo 40 Retainer 20
Buy rice to maintain military provisions. The rate of exchange will vary.
Rifle GP: Daimyo 40 Retainer 20
Buy rifles, in groups of 100, from the Sakai merchant Imai Sokyu. The price is
determined by your friendly relations with Imai and the Education level of the
general selected to make the purchase.
Tea Item GP: Daimyo 40 Retainer 20
Buy a tea item from Imai Sokyu, The Culture level of the state, level of
relations with Imai, and the Education level of the general making the purchase
all influence the trade. If a general's Education level is too low, Imai will
not trade. Tea items are classified in ranks from 10 to 1,1 representing the
most valuable items. You may give a tea item to a general as a reward or host a
tea ceremony with the item. A lea item also may be used to give tribute to
another Daimyo.
INFO (Information)
General GP: AH O
Data on all the generals in a state.
Land GP: AM O
List of the states under your rule and the methods by which they are governed.
Other GP: Daimyo 30 Retainer 15
Use this command to spy on states outside your control. You can send ninja, but
they may be captured. It is also possible to view data on states under your own
rule, but no GP is required at this time.
Tea Item GP: AII O
List of tea items held by generals in the state. See State Data-Tea Items for
all tea item types.
PSNL (Personnel)
Control GP: All 0
Give
Delegate control of states into the hands of individual governors. Governors
will rule by a domestic style of government.
Direct
Take direct control of all states under your control. Select a state, the
general to take direct control, and the type of government by which the state
will be governed.
Domestic: Focus is on strengthening the state through production. This is
usually the best choice for states with 110 neighboring enemies and a Governor
with high Political skill.
Military: focus is on expansion through military force. This is usually the
best choice lor states with neighboring enemies and a Governor with high
Combat skill and Ambition.
Educate GP: Daimyo Retainer 40
Educate generals in politics and foreign affairs. This command will raise a
general's Political skill.
Dismiss GP: ALL IO
Dismiss generals with low abilities. As a result, other generals with low
loyalty might rebel from your service. Generals who desert become ronin.
Reward GP: ALL 20
Raise a general's loyalty with a reward of gold or a tea iiem. A
Daimyo/Governor's charm greatly affects the general's rise in loyalty.
Gold
The more gold given, the greater the increase in loyalty.
Team Item
Give a tea Item from a Governor's or your collection. If the tea item is of a
high class, the increase in loyalty will be greater than if gold was given.
Take GP: ALL 20
Seize a tea item from a general. The general's loyalty will decrease and he may
leave to become a ronin.
Tea Ceremony GP: ALL 5O
Raise the Education levels of generals who participate in the ceremony.
Depending on the number of participants, a certain price will have to be paid.
The price varies according to the Education level of the participants and the
class level of the tea Items. When in Settsu and its neighboring states, you
may invite the merchant Imai. If Imai does attend, relations with him will
increase.
Note: In order to hold a tea ceremony, there must be at least one general
attending that has a tea item and an Education level > 60.
AFFR (Affairs)
Sabotage GP: Daimyo 90 Retainer 45
Bribe
Send a messenger into another state to make a deal with a general to join sides
during battle. If this ploy is successful, the enemy general will change sides
during battle and fight for you. But even if the general accepts your initial
offer, he may not always change sides in the middle of a battle.
Incite
Send ninja into two different states in an attempt to instigate a fight between
them. If this ploy succeeds, the two states will battle and even if it's a
stalemate, both states will be weaker and vulnerable to your attack.
Agitate
Send a ninja into another state to spread damaging rumors about the Daimyo and
lower citizen loyalty. If this ploy succeeds, a riot may result.
Politics GP: Daimyo 100 Retainer 50
Tribute
Improve relations with other stales by sending gifts of gold or tea items to
other daimyos. The chances of success depend on the amount of gold sent and the
class level of the tea item.
Alliance
Set up a non-aggression pact with another Daimyo. Once an alliance is set,
relations with that Daimyo will improve. Alliances may prove helpful in keeping
enemy neighbors in check, but some Daimyos ignore alliances and attack.
Marriage
Ask another Daimyo for their daughter's hand in marriage. If successful, this
will raise relations between the two countries. Daimyos associated by marriage
arc less likely to attack each other than with a regular alliance, yet there
are no guarantees.
Threat
Convince another Daimyo to surrender and hand over his domain to you. A threat
wiil rarely be successful unless your military strength is far superior to the
other state. However, even if you fail, the other slate may try to placate you
if they fear military action from you.
Cut Ties
Break off an alliance with another state. If you attack a state with which you
have an alliance, the alliance will be automatically broken and your generals'
loyalty will decrease. Therefore, if you plan io attack, it's always a good
idea to break off the alliance first.
MFTR (Manufacture)
It takes three months to finish production of rifles and warships.
Rifle
Forge rifles in your own state. Your skill level must be at least 250. The
amount of gold required to make 100 rifles depends on the Skill level of the
state, and the Politics level of the general assigned to oversee production.
Warship
Manufacture warships in your own state. Your Skill level must be at least 500,
Warships are powerful in sea battles with their cannons. The amount of gold
required to make one warship depends on the Skill level of the state and the
Politics level of the general assigned to the project. However, only the
coastal states and Oumi can use this command.
WAR
Battle Flow
Battles take place whenever you attack a state, are attacked, join a tattle, or
send reinforcements. The Battle Display will he shown if one of your directly
controlled states gets involved in battle or if you have chosen to watch other
states' battles.
Declare War
Select the state to attack. If you are planning a joint attack, you must select
the Daimyo whom you will ask for support.
War Preparations
Select up to six generals lo join the battle. You must also choose a Field
Commander to lead your troops when you do not Join the invasion force.
Assign soldiers to the generals (Max. 100) and name divisions: Infantry,
Cavalry, or Rifle. See Rattle Unit Types. The attacker must also decide how
much rice to bring with the army. One unit of rice can feed one division of
soldiers for one month.
Position Troops
You may select the individual positions for each unit or leave this
responsibility to the computer. Once the troops have been placed, you'll be
ready to fight.
Field or Castle Battle (for Defender only)
If attacked, you must decide whether to fight on the open plains or from the
security of your ensile walls. Once decided, the battle location cannot be
changed mid-battle.
Field Rattle
Takes place outside the castle. The time allotted fur the battle is 7 days.
There are 8 turns each day, or one turn every 3 hours.
Castle Battle
Takes place within the castle. The length of time allotted to the battle is 30
days. There is only one move per day. If at the end of the month neither side
has triumphed, then the battle will become an extended war and continue the
following month. When the battle resumes, you can request reinforcements from
neighboring states (no mote than six units at once).
Reinforcements
(Defender-Castle Battle)
Once the defending side has declared that it will withdraw lo the castle, it
has the option of requesting reinforcements. The request can be made- only to a
neighboring state. The status of relations between the Daimyo requesting
reinforcements and the Daimyo being asked will directly influence whether
reinforcements will be sent or not.
During the Castle Battle, the defender may also request reinforcements from
available generals with the Order command
Victory Conditions
Attacking Side:
* Total destruction of the defending units.
* Capture, eliminate, or force the Field Commander to retreat.
* Take over the defending main camp (Field Battle} or castle (Castle Battle).
* Defender's previsions (rice supply) run out.
Demand surrender and defender accepts (Castle Battle only).
Defending Side:
* Total destruction of the attacking units.
* Capture, eliminate, or force the Field Commander to retreat.
* The attacking side runs out of provisions (Provisions can he stolen by taking
over the enemy's main camp).
* The battle lasts more than a week (Field Battle only).
After the Battle
Once the smoke clears, the state in which the battle was fought becomes a state
of the winning side's Daimyo. The losing generals may escape to a neighboring
state if there is a state under their Daimyo's rule. If the generals are not
able to flee, they will be captured by the winning side. The captured generals
will be brought before the winning Daimyo, who will give judgment on their
fate: Finish. Release, or Recruit. If the attackers win, the Field Commander of
the attacking forces becomes the Governor of the state.
Battle Unit Types
The blue units are those of the attacker and the red ones are those of the
defender. Yellow units represent reinforcements, while green units represent
joint forces.
Infantry (Basic Mobility 4)
Foot soldiers. Infantry unit size is limited only by the number of soldiers.
During a siege on a castle, infantry units are capable of crossing moats and
scaling walls.
Cavalry (Basic Mobility 6)
Horse riding warriors. A cavalry unit can be only as large as the amount of
gold you hold. Cavalry units have the greatest mobility and execute strong
blitz attacks.
Rifle Unit (Basic Mobility 3)
Soldiers armed with guns. A rifle division can be only as large as the number
of rifles held by the state. Rifle units can attack targets from a distance.
They may also cross moats and scale walls, like infantry.
Assigning Soldiers to Division Types
Example; A stale with 23 Gold, 100 Men, and 25 Rifles could create a Rifle unit
with up to 25 soldiers, a Cavalry unit with up to 23 soldiers, and an Infantry
unit with 52 soldiers.
Ships
Normal Ship and Warship
The warship is a superior version of a normal ship. The mobility for a norma!
ship is three while it is six for a warship. Normal ships must be close to
their enemies in order to attack: however, the warship is similar to a rifle
unit in its ability to fire from a distance. The firepower of warships is even
stronger than that of rifle units.
Weather and Time
The conditions of the battlefield change depending on the season, weather, and
time of day. Rain and nightfall limit visibility to adjacent locations. Ik:
sure to remember this and plan your commands and moves accordingly.
Rain: The defending unit can see only adjacent locations. Rifles and cannons
cannot be used.
Night: Units can see only adjacent locations. Depending on the season, the
nights will vary in length.
The Landscape
Effective use of the landscape during battle can mean the difference between
winning and losing. Protection indicates the level of protection against enemy
attacks. Higher numbers represent terrain with a greater strategic importance.
Required Mobility represents the mobility points needed to enter that type of
terrain.
BATTLE COMMANDS
When a unit passes a command turn, its mobility increases 1 point (Max. 10).
Move
The distance a unit can travel depends on the mobility of the unit as well as
the landscape. If a unit moves next to an enemy unit and still has mobility
points left, il can attack the enemy unit. When rifle units are attacked in
this way. the rifle unit will automatically retaliate.
Attack
Normal
Attack a unit in an adjacent location.
Blitz
Launch a constant, pressing attack with the aim to destroy the enemy unit. If
the enemy unit is not completely wiped out, the attacking unit will either pass
over the enemy unit or be pushed back to its original position. This attack
cannot be used during sea battles.
Rifles
Rifle units can fire on enemy units within 2 spices (3 spaces for Castle
Battles). The attack is more powerful than that of normal attack, but a rifle
attack cannot be used in the rain or snow, nor can il be used when a unit is in
a lake, river or sea. Furthermore, Rifle units cannot fire through the
following terrain: mountains, hills, forests, castle gates, towers, or the
inner keep of the castle. A high training level will increase the accuracy of
the rifle shots. If two rifle units are adjacent, both units will fire when the
command is given for either one to shoot.
Cannon
Cannons can be used only during a sea battle, but have a range of up to 3
spaces. Cannons are more powerful than rifle units. However, like the rifle
units, cannons cannot be used in snow or rain, nor can they fire through
terrain such as mountains and hills. In addition, adjacent cannons will both
fire if the command is given for either unit to fire.
Storm
During a Castle Battle, this command is used to storm the castle gales and
lower its defensive capabilities. Once the defense of the gate is 0, the gates
are broken down and units can move into the castle grounds.
Retreat
Retreat is only possible to another state under the rule of the same Daimyo, or
to a vacant state. If a unit tries to retreat while adjacent to an enemy unit,
capture is highly likely.
Castle
Only generals of the defending side may retreat to the castle. Any general,
including the Field Commander, who retreats to the castle may not return to a
Field Battle for the remainder of the month.
Info
Unit
View unit data: learn whether a unit is an attacker or defender, if the unit is
commanded by the Field Commander, the number of soldier divisions, their
training, combat ability and loyalty to their Daimyo. Move the cursor ewer the
unit you wish to view and press A. Viewing your own units does not count as a
command turn.
Advice
Ask generals for an analysis of the battle situation. Only the Field Commander
can use this command.
Order
Demand
Ask for the surrender of defending enemy forces while in a Castle Battle. Only
the Field Commander can use this command.
Battle
The defending side can call generals waiting in the castle to battle. However,
there is a maximum of Kl generals who may be involved in a battle.
Gate
Open the castle gates. This command can only be used by units adjacent to the
gates. The attacking force can only use this if they are on the inside of the
gate.
Control
Give command control of a unit to the general leading the unit.
Other Battle Tactics
Viewing Data
To view the military make-up of both warring sides, press the Left Button. Data
includes: the name of the home province and Daimyo, the face graphic and name
of the field Commander, whether the army is the attacker or defender, and data
on the number of generals, soldier divisions, loyalty, and amount of rice.
Pressing the Right button will show the number of troops remaining in each
unit.
Movement at Sea
If a unit moves into a lake or the sea, its graphic will change to a normal
ship unit. If the general has a warship, he will use the warship and gain
greater mobility.
Stealing Provisions
If the defending side is able to take over the attacker's main camp, it can
steal provisions and force the attacking side to retreat.
Ambush
Move your unit next to an enemy unit during the night or in the rain to launch
a surprise attack. Regardless of who attacked first, the result is decided by
the combat skill and training of the general making the move. An ambush is more
powerful than a normal attack.
HINTS
Strengthening the State
It is important to consider economics in state affairs. You cannot go around
attacking other states without any money or rice. Raise the amount of gold and
rice collected during tribute, tax and harvest times by developing your
Agriculture, Water Safety and Commerce levels with the DVLP commands. Also use
smart trading practices (TRDT) to make a profit by buying low and selling high.
Other factors important in building up a state are the Culture: and Skill
levels. Use DVLP-Skill to increase the technology skill of the stale lo produce
items such as rifles and warships. Culture levels can be raised by using
PSNL-Ceremony to host a tea ceremony. In order to host a tea ceremony, you must
have a tea item, but It is also possible to purchase lea items from the Sakai
merchant Imai Sokyu.
Empower Your Military
Strengthen your army by improving your generals. Use PSNL commands to educate
your generals in Politics and invite them lo tea ceremonies to raise their
Education, and Loyalty levels. The higher the Education of a general, the more
effective his actions will be on diplomatic missions and the easier it will be
for him to purchase rifles and tea items from the merchant Imai. Always take
care of your generals. Raise the loyalty on generals with high abilities by
rewarding them with gifts and dismiss generals with little or no skills.
Build-up your military strength by recruiting more soldiers through
PSNL-Recruit. Carefully watch the soldier rate so that you hire at an
advantageous rate. With MLTY commands, Improve your army's performance on the
battlefield through training and the raising of loyalty through salary
payments.
Use Politics to Your Advantage
Once the state has been able to maintain steady growth, look to expand your
power with the AFFR-Politics commands. Continuously waging war will weaken your
domain. Take time to establish strategic alliances before forging into war. Set
up peace pacts, join powerful families through marriage, and improve your
relations with stronger states by offering tribute gifts of gold and lea items.
Carefully select your messengers for diplomatic missions. A messenger's
Political skill, Education, and Charm will affect the outcome of negotiations.
Keep track of your enemies and your allies. Remember, a friend today may be an
enemy tomorrow, [f you think that an alliance has outlived its usefulness,
break it off with Cut Ties.
Sabotage Your Rivals
Dirty, but effective AITR-Sabotage commands are useful in swinging situations
to your advantage. Weaken enemy states before you begin an attack or issue a
threat. Incite enemy Daimyos lo battle amongst themselves or decrease the
citizens' faith in their Daimyo. If your sabotage activities are successful,
the enemy states will weaken and become ripe for your attack. You may also
bribe enemy generals to betray their Daimyos and change sides in battle. But be
careful, your accomplices may not live up lo their promises.
