Matchlock Samurai (TWS2 Unit)

Matchlock Samurai (TWS2 Unit)
Class	Matchlock Infantry
Recruitment Cost	700
Upkeep Cost	150
Requires	Buildings: Gunsmith
Melee Attack	6
Charge Bonus	6
Bonus vs Cavalry	0
Range	100
Accuracy	50
Reloading Skill	20
Ammunition	15
Melee Defence	2
Armour	4
Morale	8
Speed	4

Description

These samurai are armed with matchlock guns and harass the enemy with long range, massed volleys of fire.

Matchlock samurai fire volleys into enemy ranks to disorientate and weaken them enough so a charge cannot be effectively resisted, as it can be devastating to see comrades falling in a hail of bullets. The matchlock samurai fight in a similar way to the ashigaru, but are much more accurate in their fire.

Once fired, reloading guns is a slow business, and it can leave the unit vulnerable to cavalry attacks. The matchlock samurai should retreat behind friendly melee troops once the real fighting begins.

Historically, the majority of arquebuses were used by ashigaru troops. The guns were reasonably simple to use and arming the ashigaru with them was quicker and cheaper than training archers. It also freed up the samurai to participate in combat using weapons that required more skill, such as the katana or bow. The samurai who did use arquebuses were expected to use their better skills to take out single, important enemies rather than completely rely on volleys like the ashigaru. This distinction between fighting styles for the same weapon could also be seen with the bow and the spear, where the emphasis for the samurai was to pick targets and engage them in matched single combat.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Armed with slow-firing but high damage matchlocks.
• Vulnerable to cavalry and to melee infantry.