What's the advantage of retinues, since they have a fixed cost to raise, that take some time and have a higher upkeep?
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
They reinforce in the field, levies don't do that. Also, if you are not the clan leader they are the only troops you control. Also, it is good that the vassals use them when you are large sine it takes forever to march levies from one end of your clan to the other
They are yours - not your clan leader's. They also provide a boost in numbers. If you are a smaller warlord fighting someone who has slightly more territory then you might want a retinue
Being a personal army or for the clan doesn't seem to have any difference. Of course in some cases it can be your only option, or one more army if you are in need, but if you can choose between both, the reinforcement rate is worth its much bigger costs?
Retinues are also the only troops that benefit from the guild buildings, so late game they can get quite powerful.
If I can afford it, I always raise my full retinue before declaring war on someone, and then keep them in reserve in case a levied army is taking a beating somewhere, or use them to defend against a siege. I use Ronin the same way.
Manufactories only add their bonuses to retinues, not levies. And of course, retinues are the only ones that can get guns.
Ideally, levies shouldn't be going very far, they should return to their fields for the fall. It shouldn't be possible to cross Japan with levies, they are for localized warfare.
Want to play the big game, you should be investing in retinues. The problem right now is that both are indistinguishable and so you need only to levy troops freely and you'll have troops
Want to play the big game, you should be investing in retinues. The problem right now is that both are indistinguishable and so you need only to levy troops freely and you'll have troops
I think these 3 explain well why they cost more. Any other benefit or advantage? Thanks!
This. You can get them some nice bonuses, so they are your elite troops.
Not to mention that whenever you raise a levy, it's province is starved for castle defenders for awhile until it can replenish levy recruits. In that time, the AI can (and will) assault the castle if it's undermanned in such a way, and take the province far faster than normal (if it has castle upgrades). So I tend to try & leave the levies intact in the provinces closest to the enemy which they are attempting to take next, and only activate them if my main army is there with them or if my whole main army has collapsed and I need to concetrate everything in a last ditch effort.
I also think that hiring Ronin is a viable way to get more offensive power into your main doom stack, even though they're pricey, because they can theoretically help free up such front line castle defense troops and provide more striking power. Useful if you've got enough upgrades for a good income.
I see. And what are the odds of your character dying in a fight? It's even possible? Maybe you should refrain from doing it if you have no heir.
I've had a character event pop up when my clan leader was in charge of an army that was obliterated. It had something about the typical "fight to last man on the bridge, despite the arrows" type of message, and gave me +1 Martial and maybe some honor. So there are possible events in relation to getting wiped. I got the lucky one, but I'd almost guarantee there's at least one more that kills him. So be careful.
I've seen such events that lead to your character being maimed, but not death so far, however I don't doubt that it can happen.
If you're starting as a daimyo within a clan retinues are your path to getting more land and more power. The AI's movement in land grabbing is very predictable, if you use your retinues wisely and spread them thinly across the enemy's land you should have the AI going from siege to siege taking the kori which then default to your ownership as you were the first to siege. I've used this method to start as a small daimyo within a clan, and end by owning the majority of land, all with no more than 5000 men. Furthermore, when you start getting gunpowder weaponry your retinues become extremely powerful, assuming you produce a gunsmith as soon as you receive the notification that you can, you will end up with a small force that can take down much much larger traditional forces. I've used this in the past to break free from my clan to great effect, destroying many-a-doomstack.
If you're starting as a daimyo within a clan retinues are your path to getting more land and more power. The AI's movement in land grabbing is very predictable, if you use your retinues wisely and spread them thinly across the enemy's land you should have the AI going from siege to siege taking the kori which then default to your ownership as you were the first to siege. I've used this method to start as a small daimyo within a clan, and end by owning the majority of land, all with no more than 5000 men. Furthermore, when you start getting gunpowder weaponry your retinues become extremely powerful, assuming you produce a gunsmith as soon as you receive the notification that you can, you will end up with a small force that can take down much much larger traditional forces. I've used this in the past to break free from my clan to great effect, destroying many-a-doomstack.
I just had a clan leader Maiming in my game, that I'm sure was the cause of his early death a couple years later at 21 Now I'm plugging along with a 5 year old in charge, luckily the Regent has great stats.
Now I'm plugging along with a 5 year old in charge, luckily the Regent has great stats.
Your clan leader can also get the 'brave' trait by taking part in battles. It causes all of his vassals to have a higher opinon of him, and is thus pretty useful.
Because levies help defend castles, I generally only raise levies from provinces further behind the fighting line. I like to leave my "frontline" levies at home to slow down sieges and assaults.
But there is another important difference.
Levies, as far as I can tell, never have firearms. So, if you want lots of guns, you have to hire retinue. I have some retinue builds for the later game that assume the retinue will always be with levies. They focus on some cavalry and as many firearm wielding soldiers as I think I can get away with. Then I add levies to round out the army.
But there is another important difference.
Levies, as far as I can tell, never have firearms. So, if you want lots of guns, you have to hire retinue. I have some retinue builds for the later game that assume the retinue will always be with levies. They focus on some cavalry and as many firearm wielding soldiers as I think I can get away with. Then I add levies to round out the army.
That would be the arrow-cutter event
Yeah.. the monk defending the bridge legend. I knew the reference when I saw the event. Nice job on it!
I'd like to see more events like this, and involving many other facets, in the future. It would really give a lot more life to the game! I'm sure some modders may be whipping a pack of them up eventually, but I'd like to see the vanilla version get a good share.