Winning as Shimazu

[dsteve3]

I've been trying to learn the game by focusing on a single clan. I like Shimazu for some fairly obvious reasons:

1) They start with secure flanks
2) They start with some mass - biggest in their little space
3) They start out at peace
4) There are some nice smaller clans available to gobble up

I'm still learning the subtlties, but there are a few things I'm having problems with.

I read a thread about how to set up plots. Someone here went to great lengths to hire ningas to reduce his targets Honour (I think the target was Uesegi?) They also bribed many other Kokugin in the areas surrounding so they would be ready to join the plot once he made it.

My problem has been getting this to work. For one thing, bribing only seems to work ONCE. I also find their opinion tends to drop faster than I can raise it, even with my Master of Ceremonies.

As for ninjas, I have built theatres, but I still can't get ninjas often enough to actually have a significant effect on the targets Honour. As well, they fail more often than they succeed, and getting caught is a great way to raise their ire. This is good when I go to war because it reduces my Honour-hit. But it does nothing for the plot.


SO - I'm looking for some advice on plots, winning in general, and the whole diplomacy game.


I did manage to get a grip on how to keep my underlings happy. In my last game, I got to second place with 29% of Japan. Imagawa had 45% though, and decided to swallow me, so I'm going to start over.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[unmerged(169164)]

Shizamu is a good pick.

Plotting is not needed for Shimazu to win.

The whole map can be conquered by being opportunistic.

A key in this game: stay at war as long as you can. If you cant stay at war, then that is you're weak. If you are weak, you are going to be eaten.

Opportunism: wait for others (shoni, otomo, and the third) to wage war against each other and when they are weak, strike and conquer.

You are now sharing borders with Ouchi clan or Sono (in principle) on the right.

Ouchi position is weak because they have land on the main continent. Simply block the strait with 20 k troops and the rest of the ouchi are locked in.

You are now master of the small island. Land on main continent to finish off Ouchi.

As this can be done quite fast, you should have a large avantage in mass over the rest. Keeping waiting for opportunities by keeping conquering smaller clans and avoid blobs.

Blobs are going to be taken care of by the AI as they will strike it one day or another. Simply be ready.

When you reach something like 25 pc or 30 pc of Japan first, you are usually the winner.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Ninjas are scarce. Theatres do not make much a difference. Better to invest in barracks that afford a +4 retinue plus a bonus in recreating retinue.

Plots are a matter of opportunities (even though you can engineer them mechanically)

First you should spot leaders who might have enough honour to join the plot. It is essential. They have been at peace most of the time.

Second, the AI will try to plot against blobs. It is all up to you to be the one who will benefit from the wave. You do not need ninjas to plot with clan leaders. Just surfing the wave is enough.
Bribe last five years. You can also marry to get a boost.

Using ninjas is for internal plotting. Once again, it is a matter of opportunity. Clans who waged wars have a leader with lower honour. Using a ninja lowers honour. With low honour, clan members lose faith in him and start to have negative relation to him.

Keep an eye for specific events like use of ninja (some lords do not like that) or the lord suffering from a disease like leper, succession crisis.

But Shimazu needs neither plots or religion to steamroll the map.

All it takes is to strive to remain at war all the time.

 

[Captain Gars]

The Shimazu is hard to plot with because you are the biggest one around in Kyushu. Why would anyone want to join you? They will just help you get even bigger and then you're likely to turn on your old plot backer (I'm on to you, and so is the AI... ) At least as long you're targeting someone weaker than you. If you get a border against some of the bigger clans like Ouchi, Kono or Hosokawa, you should have an easier time getting a plot together.

 

[VRBones]

If you get a border against some of the bigger clans like Ouchi, Kono or Hosokawa, you should have an easier time getting a plot together.

That's an interesting mechanic. I like it, but hadn't figured that out through play.
One thing in opposition to that though is wshen playing as a vassal or a smaller clan I tend to have far fewer plots available. In one game as a vassal I had no plots for 10 years, so even though it sounds like they are easier to organise, actually getting one started is a problem. Initially I thought it was due to being underage, but even coming of age didn't open up the plots. Later in the same game as a clan leader of ~20 provinces, the number of plot targets can't fit on the screen!

 

[Evilfisher]

i was lucky enough to get like 20% with shirakawa but i lost control of my clan to some other leader.. was considiring civil war but started over after that since i lost the autosave

 

[unmerged(10501)]

I started a couple of games with the Shoni, a clan located close to the Shimazu, but I had no luck in both games. After reading your post, I'm gonna give a try with the Shimazu.

 

[Captain Gars]

That's an interesting mechanic. I like it, but hadn't figured that out through play.
One thing in opposition to that though is wshen playing as a vassal or a smaller clan I tend to have far fewer plots available. In one game as a vassal I had no plots for 10 years, so even though it sounds like they are easier to organise, actually getting one started is a problem. Initially I thought it was due to being underage, but even coming of age didn't open up the plots. Later in the same game as a clan leader of ~20 provinces, the number of plot targets can't fit on the screen!

Only direct vassals of the clan leader can organize a plot. So if you play a kokujin under a daimyo under a clan leader you won't have this option. You need to claw your way up to daimyo level first. Be opportunistic in wars, grab some koris and try petition for a daimyo title.

 

[tbuffalo]

Only direct vassals of the clan leader can organize a plot. So if you play a kokujin under a daimyo under a clan leader you won't have this option. You need to claw your way up to daimyo level first. Be opportunistic in wars, grab some koris and try petition for a daimyo title.

How do you petition for a daimyo title (assuming you meant with an AI clan leader)? Is this done through the diplomacy screen?

 

[unmerged(169164)]

Yes. When the conditions are fullfilled, you have a button petition for daimyo.